Blue Shifted Carbon Dots-Based Fluorescent Probe for Determination of Ticagrelor: A Dual Method Evaluation Via AGREE and BAGI

This research presents the development of an innovative, environmentally sustainable, economical fluorimetric method for the detection of Ticagrelor (TICA) using oxygen rich carbon quantum dots (O-CQDs) prepared via a green pyrolysis technique from gallic acid, urea, and sodium edetate. The resulting O-CQDs exhibited a blue shifted maximum excitation (λ ex /λ em of 290/417 nm) high quantum yield of 27.85 ± 0.89%, excellent photostability, and strong fluorescence emission, making them ideal candidates for analytical applications. Characterization of the synthesized O-CQDs was conducted with different techniques; high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), Dynamic light scattering (DLS), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The fluorescent probe showed a linear response for TICA over a concentration range of 0.50–16.00 µg/mL, and LOD of 0.21 µg/mL. The quenching mechanism was investigated and attributed primarily to the inner filter effect (IFE) and dynamic quenching. The method was successfully applied to commercial pill formulations with high accuracy and precision. Additionally, the greenness and applicability of the proposed method were successfully examined using the AGREE and BAGI tools, proving the method’s consistency with green chemistry concepts and real-world applicability.