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Smartphone-assisted colorimetric detection of fluoxetine with phyto-capped silver nanoparticles: selectivity and molecular mechanisms

Thepchuay Y, Khunthongchan K, Phonchai A, Nacapricha D, Zahn D, Wonglakhon T (2026)

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Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2026

Journal

DOI: 10.1140/epjs/s11734-026-02458-w

Abstract

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were green-synthesized using a Mesua ferrea L. leaf extract and employed as a novel colorimetric platform for the determination of the antidepressant fluoxetine in real-life applications. The resulting aqueous AgNP dispersion comprises predominantly spherical particles with a diameter of ~ 12 nm as determined by transmission electron microscopy. Building on UV–Vis spectrophotometric method, we further developed a smartphone-based colorimetric assay that enables rapid, portable, low-cost analysis at a minor reagent and sample consumption. This assay achieves a detection limit of 1.38 ppm, while quantification of fluoxetine is demonstrated over 0–70 ppm with strong linearity (R² = 0.9904) at a quantification limit of 4.60 ppm and intraday and interday precision < 3.3% RSD, respectively. Further, this assay is also highly selective against various common pharmaceutical and dietary supplement constituents. This method was validated for commercial fluoxetine products and various slimming products. For this, measured fluoxetine contents agree well with gas chromatographic method at the 95% confidence level, and spike recoveries fall within 95–109%. Complementary theoretical calculations provide atom-level insights into fluoxetine’s electronic structure and its interactions with the AgNP surface. The combined evidence shows our simple, green, and low-cost approach is readily applicable for rapid screening of fluoxetine adulteration in nonprescription slimming products when required.

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How to cite

APA:

Thepchuay, Y., Khunthongchan, K., Phonchai, A., Nacapricha, D., Zahn, D., & Wonglakhon, T. (2026). Smartphone-assisted colorimetric detection of fluoxetine with phyto-capped silver nanoparticles: selectivity and molecular mechanisms. European Physical Journal - Special Topics. https://doi.org/10.1140/epjs/s11734-026-02458-w

MLA:

Thepchuay, Yanisa, et al. "Smartphone-assisted colorimetric detection of fluoxetine with phyto-capped silver nanoparticles: selectivity and molecular mechanisms." European Physical Journal - Special Topics (2026).

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