Energy transfer in polymeric film: Selective photoluminescent approach applied in durable optical sensing of flumequine in pharmaceutical and veterinary formulations

Abstract

This work reports for energy transfer from the antibiotic flumequine (FLQ) to Tb3+ ions in homogenous solution in comparison to heterogeneous polymeric matrix. Accordingly, antenna sensitization of Tb3+ PL is recorded and successfully augmented to the optical sensation of FLQ. The polymeric host “PMMA” raises positive impacts to the antenna sensitization due to its co-sensitization of Tb3+ ions, isolating the probing system from occasional quenchers and delimiting the nonradiative deactivation of excited state. Thereby, the energy transfer is markedly improved and the Tb3+ PL intensity is increased by ≈2.5 times over the working in DMF homogenous solutions where LOD and LOQ reveals estimates of 3.0 × 10−9 versus 8.5 × 10−9 mol L−1 and 1.25 × 10−8 versus 2.82 × 10−8 mol L−1, respectively. FTIR and SEM analysis confirm the FLQ chelation to surfacial Tb3+ ions impregnated in PMMA. The method applicability was validated via the assaying of FLQ analyte in veterinary medicines and spiked poultry serum samples. Closeness of the %recovery to 100% with appropriate %RSD indicates fairly good accuracy of the proposed sensor. Furthermore, the improved photostability and good mechanical strength of the Tb3+/PMMA probing system enables the sensation of FLQ within a facile, high selectivity, sensitivity and durability over analysis using homogenous solutions of probe.