A single-shot diagnostic platform based on copper nanoclusters coated with cetyl trimethylammonium bromide for determination of carbamazepine in exhaled breath condensate

A fluorescent nanoprobe is designed for the determination of carbamazepine (CBZ) in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) of patients receiving CBZ. The probe consists of copper nanoclusters (Cu NCs) coated with cetyl trimethylammonium bromide. The interaction of probe with CBZ results in blocking non-radiative e-/h+ recombination defect sites on the surface of Cu NCs and consequently enhancing the fluorescence intensity of Cu NCs. The experimental conditions were optimized by using a response surface methodology (central composite design). Under the optimized conditions, the calibration plot is linear in the 0.2 to 20 µg mL?1 CBZ concentration range (excitation/emission wavelength: 290/480 nm) and the detection limit is as low as 0.08 µg mL?1. The intra-day and inter-day relative standard deviations for six replicated measurements of 10 µg mL–1 CBZ are 3.9 % and 4.8 %, respectively. The method was applied for the determination of CBZ level in EBC of patients receiving CBZ. The accuracy of the method was confirmed by HPLC-UV analysis as a references method.