A fluorescent “turn-on” probe based on a Cu(BTC)/UiO-66 MOF/agarose nanocomposite hydrogel for warfarin monitoring in plasma

Warfarin, a widely used oral anticoagulant with a narrow therapeutic index, requires careful monitoring to prevent severe adverse effects like bleeding or thrombosis. This study reported a fluorescent nanoprobe utilizing a Cu(BTC)/UiO-66 metal-organic framework (MOF) incorporated into an agarose hydrogel for the reliable detection and quantification of warfarin in human plasma. The sensing mechanism relied on a “turn-on” fluorescence response. This enhancement resulted from the interaction between warfarin and the Cu(BTC) MOF segment of the probe. The competitive light absorption process, which served as the cause of fluorescence quenching, was effectively disrupted after warfarin interaction with Cu(BTC) MOF, leading to the eventual restoration of the NH 2 -UiO-66 MOF fluorescence. Under optimized conditions, the probe exhibited a linear relationship between fluorescence intensity and warfarin concentration ranging from 0.05 to 3.5 µg.mL − 1 , with a low detection limit of 0.012 µg.mL − 1 . The method demonstrated acceptable selectivity against commonly co-administered drugs and high precision, with relative standard deviations of less than 2.2%. The probe exhibited reliable recovery rates (96–99%) in clinical plasma samples obtained from patients undergoing warfarin therapy. This simple, rapid, and reliable fluorometric platform offered a promising alternative to conventional chromatographic techniques for therapeutic drug monitoring.