Enhanced fluorescent detection of oxaliplatin <i>via</i> BSA@copper nanoclusters: a targeted approach for cancer drug monitoring

Abstract

A new fluorescence sensing approach has been proposed for the precise determination of the anti-cancer drug oxaliplatin (Oxal-Pt). This method entails synthesizing blue-emitting copper nanoclusters (CuNCs) functionalized with bovine serum albumin (BSA) as the stabilizing agent. Upon excitation at 360 nm, the resultant probe exhibits emission at 460 nm. Notably, the fluorescence response of BSA@CuNCs substantially increases upon incubation with Oxal-Pt due to multiple binding interactions between the drug and the fluorescent probe. These interactions involve hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic interaction, and the high affinity between the SH groups (cysteine residues of BSA) and platinum (in Oxal-Pt). Consequently, this interaction induces aggregation-induced emission enhancement (AIEE) of BSA@CuNCs. The probe demonstrates a broad response range from 0.08 to 140.0 μM, along with a low detection limit of 20.0 nM, determined based on a signal-to-noise ratio of 3. Furthermore, the probe effectively detects Oxal-Pt in injections, human serum, and urine samples, yielding acceptable results. This study represents a significant advancement in the development of a straightforward and efficient sensor for monitoring platinum-containing anti-cancer drugs during chemotherapy.