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First fluorometric sensor for dronedarone detection based on aggregation-induced quenching of red-emissive carbon dots: Application to pharmacokinetics

Research Abstract
Dronedarone (DND) is a widely used antiarrhythmic drug, and accurate determination of its concentration is crucial for therapeutic monitoring and pharmacokinetic studies. In this work, we report the first fluorometric method for the detection of dronedarone, based on the quenching effect of DND on the red emission of carbon dots (RCDs). The detection mechanism relies on electrostatic interactions between the positively charged DND molecules and negatively charged RCDs in an acidic medium, which induces aggregation of the RCDs and results in significant fluorescence quenching. This quenching enables highly sensitive quantification of DND, achieving a detection limit of 2.31  ng/mL and a wide linear range of 5–200  ng/mL with excellent linearity (R2 = 0.9985). The mechanism of detection and thorough characterization of the RCDs were comprehensively investigated. The proposed method also demonstrated outstanding selectivity when applied to both spiked and real rat plasma samples, supporting its potential use in pharmacokinetic evaluations of dronedarone.
Research Authors
Mohamed N. Goda, Laila S. Alqarni, Hossieny Ibrahim, Mohamed M. El-Wekil, Al-Montaser Bellah H. Ali
Research Date
Research Journal
Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A: Chemistry
Research Pages
116535
Research Publisher
elsevier
Research Rank
Q2
Research Vol
468
Research Website
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1010603025002758?casa_token=6eXbygjXvrEAAAAA:K3OPK1SgfALdT8piFHOhGzl_EBw6upp7GLtwVRc0n5vb9nEigpy3p3dJdFWkGm6pw1F9ELg7JmQ
Research Year
2025

Near-infrared carbon dots enable ultra-sensitive fluorometric detection of belzutifan: a novel approach for real-time therapeutic drug monitoring in cancer treatment

Research Abstract

Belzutifan, a hypoxia-inducible factor-2α (HIF-2α) inhibitor, represents a breakthrough therapeutic agent for treating von Hippel–Lindau disease-associated tumors and advanced renal cell carcinoma, necessitating precise therapeutic drug monitoring. This work presents the first application of near-infrared carbon dots (NIR-CDs) for belzutifan detection utilizing a dual-mechanism approach combining aggregation-induced quenching and inner filter effect for enhanced analytical performance. The NIR-CDs were synthesized from sulfosalicylic acid and ethylenediamine precursors, exhibiting strong near-infrared emission at 750 nm upon 290 nm excitation with excellent photostability and pH tolerance. The developed fluorometric sensor demonstrated outstanding analytical performance with a linear detection range of 5.0–130.0 ng mL−1 and a limit of detection of 1.35 ng mL−1, which is approximately 103 to 104 times lower than therapeutic plasma concentrations. Plasma sample analysis showed excellent extraction recovery ranging from 96.6% to 98.1% across three concentration levels with relative standard deviations below 4.27%. The method demonstrated successful clinical validation through analysis of plasma samples from rats, achieving excellent correlation with reference LC-MS/MS methods while providing real-time therapeutic drug monitoring capabilities. This represents the first fluorometric approach for belzutifan quantification and establishes a new paradigm for anticancer drug monitoring that combines the advantages of carbon dot nanotechnology with clinically relevant near-infrared detection, offering significant potential for point-of-care therapeutic drug monitoring in oncology practice.

Research Authors
Mohamed N. Goda, Laila S. Alqarni, K. S. Al-Namshah, Hossieny Ibrahim, Mohamed M. El-Wekil, Ramadan Ali and Al-Montaser Bellah H. Ali
Research Date
Research Journal
Analytical Methods
Research Pages
9887-9897
Research Publisher
RSC Advances
Research Rank
Q2
Research Vol
48
Research Website
https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2025/ay/d5ay01670c/unauth
Research Year
2025

Selective detection of Selegiline in Parkinson's patient urine via CuAAC-mediated fluorescence quenching of Azide-modified carbon dots

Research Abstract
Selegiline, a selective monoamine oxidase-B inhibitor used in Parkinson's disease treatment, requires accurate detection for therapeutic drug monitoring and optimal dosing. This study presents a novel fluorometric method for selegiline detection based on azide-modified carbon dots that selectively interact with selegiline's terminal alkyne group through copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC). This specific click chemistry reaction results in fluorescence quenching of the carbon dots. The detection mechanism and comprehensive characterization of the azide-modified carbon dots are thoroughly discussed, including their synthesis, optical properties, and interaction behavior with selegiline. The method exhibits excellent analytical performance with good linearity across a wide concentration range of (0.1–80.0 ng/mL) and demonstrates a low limit of detection of 0.041 ng/mL. A selective extraction methodology employing FMOC derivatization coupled with mixed-mode cation exchange (MCX) solid-phase extraction was developed to eliminate amine metabolites and biological interferents while preserving selegiline's tertiary amine structure for selective retention and purification. The method shows high selectivity against interferents and achieves excellent percentage recovery values reaching (96.0–97.0 %) when applied to urine samples. Most importantly, the method was successfully applied to urine samples from Parkinsonism patients, providing a non-invasive route for selegiline determination that offers significant advantages over traditional invasive sampling methods.

 
Research Authors
Ali O. Alqarni, Rayed Ali A. Alqahtani, Ashraf M. Mahmoud, Meshal H. Almabadi, Fatmah M. Alshareef, Mohamed N. Goda, Ramadan Ali, Al-Montaser Bellah H. Ali
Research Date
Research Journal
Spectrochimica Acta Part A: Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy
Research Member
Research Pages
127051
Research Publisher
elsevier
Research Rank
Q1
Research Vol
347
Research Website
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1386142525013587
Research Year
2025

Preparation of 6, 8-Dithiooctanoic Acid-Functionalized Copper Nanoclusters with Near-Infrared Emission: Application for Determination of Melamine in Food Matrices

Research Authors
Yousef A. Bin Jardan, Aya M. Mostafa, James Barker, Almontaser Bellah H. Ali & Mohamed M. El-Wekil
Research Date
Research Journal
Journal of Cluster Science
Research Year
2025

Engineering sensitive ratiometric probe based on Tb@BNCDs and thiolated-protected AuNCs for melamine sensing via competitive coordination mechanism

Research Authors
Yousef A. Bin Jardan, Aya M. Mostafa, James Barker, Mohamed N. Goda, Almontaser Bellah H. Ali & Mohamed M. El-Wekil
Research Date
Research Journal
Microchimica Acta
Research Year
2025

Ultrasensitive detection of zineb using a CoMn-MOF/rGO molecularly imprinted electrochemical sensor

Research Abstract

Regulatory agencies have identified zineb (ZNB) as a potential health hazard due to its toxicological profile and environmental persistence. Therefore, establishing a highly selective and ultrasensitive method for ZNB detection is crucial for environmental monitoring, food safety assurance, and effective pesticide regulation enforcement. Herein, a selective electrochemical sensor was engineered based on a molecularly-imprinted polymer (MIP) film designed for targeted analyte recognition. The sensing platform integrates bimetallic cobalt–manganese metal–organic frameworks (CoMn-MOFs) with reduced graphene oxide (rGO) to enhance conductivity and surface activity. Initially, GO was synthesized and subsequently reduced to conductive rGO utilizing sodium borohydride via a modified Hummers’ method, forming a high-conductivity matrix for efficient electron transfer. Second, CoMn-MOFs were incorporated to significantly enhance the active surface area and facilitate electron transfer. A selective MIP layer was formed on the electrode surface via electro-polymerization, enabling precise molecular recognition of ZNB. The resulting MIP/rGO/CoMn-MOFs-modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) exhibited excellent analytical performance, including a broad linear range (0.01–200 nM), a low LOD (4.0 pM), and high selectivity against potential interferents. When applied to real food and water samples, the sensor achieved high accuracy, with recoveries  ranging from 95.5% to 105.6% and RSDs between 1.87% and 4.00%. The method was validated using the standard addition technique, confirming its applicability for accurate ZNB quantification in complex food and water matrices. These findings validate the sensor’s potential as a practical, rapid, and environmentally friendly platform for monitoring ZNB residues in agricultural and environmental contexts.

Research Authors
Ramadan Ali, Hassabelrasoul Elfadil, Nizar Sirag, Reem Alshaman, Abdullah S. Albalawi, Nwaeam Albalawi, Amjad albalawi, Salma Alharbi, Alanoud Al-anzi, Shatha alatawi, Yusra Alhuaiti, Nawaf Aldwsari & Mohamed M. El-Wekil
Research Date
Research Journal
microchimica acta
Research Pages
469
Research Publisher
Springer
Research Rank
Q1
Research Vol
192
Research Website
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-025-07326-3
Research Year
2025
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