Polyvinyl pyrrolidone capped fluorescent anthracene nanoparticles for sensing fluorescein sodium in aqueous solution and analytical application for ophthalmic samples

Based on the known complexation ability between polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) and fluorescein sodium (FL Na⁺), fluorescent PVP capped anthracene nanoparticles (PVP‐ANPs) were prepared using a reprecipitation method for detection of fluorescein in aqueous solution using the fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) approach. A dynamic light scattering histogram of PVP‐ANPs showed narrower particle size distribution and the average particle size was 15 nm. The aggregation‐induced enhanced emission (AIEE) of PVP‐ANPs was red shifted from its monomer by 1087.22 cm^?1. The maximum emission was seen to occur at 420 nm. The presence of FL Na⁺ in the vicinity of PVP‐ANPs quenched the fluorescence of PVP‐ANPs because of its adsorption on the surface of PVP‐ANPs in aqueous suspension. The FL Na⁺ and PVP‐ANPs were brought close enough, typically to 7.89 nm, which was less than the distance of 10 nm that is required between the energy donor–acceptor molecule for efficient FRET. The quenching results fit into the Stern–Volmer relationship even at temperatures greater than ambient temperatures. The thermodynamic parameters determined from FRET results helped to propose binding mechanisms involving hydrophobic and electrostatic molecular interaction. The fluorescence quenching results were used further to develop an analytical method for estimation of fluorescein sodium from ophthalmic samples available commercially in the market. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.