Novel spectrofluorometric method utilizing functionalized carbon quantum dots for determining histamine levels in nasal secretions: Implications for allergic rhinitis

Saleh L Alaqel; Majed A Algarni; Adnan Alharbi; Atiah H Almalki; Mohammad S Alzahrani; Mohamed H Abdelazim; Ahmed H Abdelazim

doi:10.1016/j.saa.2023.123418

Novel spectrofluorometric method utilizing functionalized carbon quantum dots for determining histamine levels in nasal secretions: Implications for allergic rhinitis

Spectrochim Acta A Mol Biomol Spectrosc. 2024 Jan 5:304:123418. doi: 10.1016/j.saa.2023.123418. Epub 2023 Sep 16.

Authors

Saleh L Alaqel¹, Majed A Algarni², Adnan Alharbi³, Atiah H Almalki⁴, Mohammad S Alzahrani², Mohamed H Abdelazim⁵, Ahmed H Abdelazim⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Northern Border University, Rafha 91911, Saudi Arabia.
² Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia.
³ Clinical Pharmacy Department, College of Pharmacy, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
⁴ Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia; Addiction and Neuroscience Research Unit, Health Science Campus, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia.
⁵ Department of Otolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, 34518 Damietta, Egypt.
⁶ Pharmaceutical Analytical Chemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, 11751 Cairo, Egypt. Electronic address: ahmed.hussienabdelazim@hotmail.com.

PMID: 37742588
DOI: 10.1016/j.saa.2023.123418

Abstract

Histamine plays a crucial role in regulating various physiological functions and is significantly involved in the development of allergic rhinitis. Accurately measuring histamine levels in nasal secretions can serve as a specific indicator for studying mast cell activation and diagnosing allergic reactions. However, the controversy surrounding histamine levels in nasal secretions during allergenic stimulation suggests potential inaccuracies and imprecision in the analytical methods used, as well as the presence of substances that may interfere with the determination of histamine. In this study, a sensitive and selective spectrofluorometric method was developed using carbon quantum dots (CQDs) derived from beetroot slices, which are non-toxic and eco-friendly materials. These CQDs were functionalized with histamine tetra phenyl borate to determine histamine levels in nasal secretions. Various characterization techniques were employed to confirm the successful synthesis and functionalization of the CQDs. The functionalized CQDs demonstrated enhanced fluorescence and selective interaction with histamine, leading to concentration-dependent fluorescence quenching. The developed method was successfully utilized to compare histamine levels in nasal secretions of healthy individuals and patients with allergic rhinitis. The results showed that the histamine level was significantly higher in patients with allergic rhinitis than in healthy individuals, suggesting a potential association between allergic rhinitis and histamine, (normal vs. patient: 350 ± 20 ng/mL vs. 2520 ± 37 ng/mL, p < 0.05). Furthermore, the proposed spectrofluorometric method exhibited improved linearity range, dynamic range, and detection limit compared to a previously reported spectrophotometric method.

Keywords: Allergic rhinitis; Beetroot; Carbon quantum dots; Histamine; Spectrofluorometric method.