A new approach to detect the imbalance of hemoglobin and methemoglobin levels in human plasma based on a fluorescent modified nanocellulose chemosensor

Abstract

This work has developed a new, rapid, highly sensitive, and precise approach to identify the imbalance levels of hemoglobin and methemoglobin through fluorescence emission spectroscopy. A study on a new Schiff base-modified nanocellulose (PY-PDA-DANC) applied as a fluorescent chemosensor is reported. To prepare the chemosensor, nanocellulose (NC) was first converted into 2,3-dialdehyde nanocellulose (DANC), and then modified by grafting o-phenylenediamine (PDA), followed by 1-pyrenecarboxaldehyde giving rise to the new blue-fluorescent complex PY-PDA-DANC. All the synthesized products were characterized using FTIR, 1H NMR, XRD, EDX and UV–vis spectroscopy. The fluorescence response of PY-PDA-DANC against various metal ions (Co2+, Cr3+, Cu2+, Fe2+, Fe3+, Hg2+, K+, Mg2+, Mn2+, Na+, Ni2+, Pb2+ and Zn2+) in DMSO/H2O media was evaluated using PL spectroscopy. The fluorescent sensor showed high and selective quenching response to both Fe2+ and Fe3+ ions with low limit of detection (LOD). PY-PDA-DANC was also successfully applied for sensing of heme–iron coordinated to hemoglobin (HB) and methemoglobin (MHB), displaying a LOD of 28.45 nM and 65.36 nM, respectively. Subsequently, it was applied for the analysis of [Fe2+@HB] and [Fe3+@MHB] in human plasma sample with good recoveries.