A Rapid Therapeutic Drug Monitoring Strategy of Carbamazepine in Serum by Using Coffee-Ring Effect Assisted Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy

Abstract

Carbamazepine (CBZ) has a narrow therapeutic concentration range, and therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is necessary for its safe and effective individualized medication. This study aims to develop a procedure for CBZ detection in serum using coffee-ring effect assisted surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). Silver nanoparticles deposited onto silicon wafers were used as the SERS-active material. Surface treatment optimization of the silicon wafers and the liquid–liquid extraction method were conducted to eliminate the influence of impurities on the silicon wafer surface and the protein matrix. The proposed detection procedure allows for the fast determination of CBZ in artificially spiked serum samples within a concentration range of 2.5–40 μg·mL−1, which matches the range of the drug concentrations in the serum after oral medication. The limit of detection for CBZ was found to be 0.01 μg·mL–1. The developed method allowed CBZ and its metabolites to be ultimately distinguished from real serum samples. The developed method is anticipated to be a potential tool for monitoring other drug concentrations.

Single versus Double Coffee-Ring Effect Patterns in Thin-Layer Chromatography Coupled with Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopic Analysis of Anti-Diabetic Drugs Adulterated in Herbal Products

“…This colloidal AgNP instillation produces a coffee ring effect (CRE)—a formation of a ring-shaped spot, similar to a coffee stain (blank in the center, and darker on the edge), as reported in previous studies [ 3 , 6 ]. Typically, CRE-driven particle dethronement commences once the radial flow begins bringing the droplet solution to the bound of the three-phase contact line and at the same time taking colloidal particles away from the center area, resulting in their accumulation at the forming ring stain [ 3 , 7 ]. The TLC-SERS method with the CRE has been advanced for the quantitative analysis of complex systems and is widely considered an instrument for the self-assembly of nanostructures, including colloidal metal particle suspension and immobilization on solid substrates [ 8 , 9 , 10 ].…”