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 blue-greenfluorescence of Cu NCs (excitation/emission wavelengths: 290/480 nm). The experimental conditions were optimized using a response surface methodology (central composite design). Under the optimized conditions, the calibration plot is linear in the 0.2 to 20gmL(-1) CBZ concentration range and the detection limit is as low as 0.08gmL(-1). The intra-day and inter-day relative standard deviations for six replicated measurements of 10gmL(-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 reference method.