Conventional and First Derivative Synchronous Fluorometric Determination of Ethamsylate in Pharmaceutical Preparations and Biological Fluids. Application to Stability Studies

Two simple, accurate and highly sensitive spectrofluorometric methods were developed for the determination of ethamsylate (ETM). Method I is based on measuring the native fluorescence of ethamsylate in water at 354 nm after excitation at 302 nm. The calibration plot was rectilinear over the range of 0.05–1 μg/mL for ETM with limits of detection and quantitation of 7.9 and 26 ng/mL, respectively. Method II involved synchronous and first derivative synchronous fluorometric methods for the simultaneous determination of ethamsylate (ETM) and hydroquinone (HQ) which is considered as an impurity and/or acidic degradation product. The synchronous fluorescence of both the drug and its impurity were measured in methanol at Δ λ of 40 nm. The peak amplitudes (¹D) were estimated at 293.85 or 334.17 nm for ETM and at 309.05 nm for HQ. Good linearity was obtained for ETM over the ranges 0.1–1.4 μg/mL and 0.1–1.0 μg/mL at 293.85 and 334.17 nm, respectively. For HQ, the calibration plot was rectilinear over the range of 0.01–0.14 μg/mL at 309.05 nm. Limits of detection were 20, 2.01 ng/mL and limits of quantitation were 60, 6.7 ng/mL for ETM and HQ by method II, respectively. Both methods were successfully applied to commercial ampoules and tablets. The results were in good agreement with those obtained by the reference method. Method I was utilized to study the stability of ETM and its degradation kinetics using peroxide. The apparent first-order rate constant, half-life times and activation energy of the degradation process were calculated. Method I was further extended to the in-vitro and in-vivo determination of ETM in spiked and real plasma samples. The mean% recoveries were 99.57 ± 3.85 and 89.39 ± 5.93 for spiked and real human plasma, respectively.     

First Derivative Synchronous Fluorescence Spectroscopy for the Simultaneous Determination of Sulpiride and Mebeverine Hydrochloride in Their Combined Tablets and Application to Real Human Plasma

A rapid, simple and highly sensitive first derivative synchronous fluorometric method has been developed for the simultaneous analysis of binary mixture of sulpiride (SUL) and mebeverine hydrochloride (MEB). The method is based upon measurement of the synchronous fluorescence intensity of these drugs at ∆λ = 100 nm in water. The different experimental parameters affecting the fluorescence of the two drugs were carefully studied and optimized. The fluorescence-concentration plots were rectilinear over the range of 0.05–1 μg/mL and 0.2–3.2 μg/mL for SUL and MEB respectively with lower detection limits (LOD) of 0.006 and 0.01 μg/mL and quantification limits (LOQ) of 0.0.02 and 0.05 μg/mL for SUL and MEB, respectively. The proposed method was successfully applied for the determination of the two compounds in synthetic mixtures and in commercial tablets. The high sensitivity attained by the proposed method allowed the determination of both of SUL and MEB metabolite (veratic acid) in real human plasma samples applying second derivative synchronous fluorometric technique. The mean% recoveries (n = 3) for both MEB metabolite (veratic acid) and SUL were 99.82 ± 2.53 and 98.84 ± 6.20 for spiked human plasma respectively, while for real human plasma, the mean% recoveries (n = 3) were 91.49 ± 4.25 and 91.36 ± 8.46 respectively.     

Simultaneous Determination of Labetalol and Furosemide by First-Derivative Synchronous Spectrofluorimetry

A rapid, simple and highly sensitive first derivative synchronous spectrofluorimetric method was developed for the simultaneous analysis of a binary mixture of labetalol HCl (LBT) and furosemide (FUR) without prior separation. The method was based upon measuring the first derivative of synchronous fluorescence spectra of the two drugs at Δλ =130 nm in aqueous ethanol (55% V/V). The different experimental parameters affecting the synchronous fluorescence of the studied drugs were carefully studied and optimized. The first derivative amplitude-concentration plots were rectilinear over the range of 0.10 to 1.00 μg/mL and 0.05–0.50 μg/mL with lower detection limits of 0.0149 and 7×10⁻³ μg/mL and quantification limits of 0.045 and 0.021 μg/mL for LBT and FUR, respectively. The proposed method was successfully applied for the determination of the studied drugs in synthetic mixtures. The results obtained were in good agreement with those obtained by the reference methods.     

Determination of Meloxicam Using Europium Sensitized Luminescence in the Presence of Co-Luminescence Reagents

A sensitive time- resolved luminescence method for the determination of meloxicam (MX) in methanol and in aqueous solution is described. The method is based on the luminescence sensitization of europium (Eu³⁺) by formation of ternary complex with MX in the presence of 1,10- phenanthroline as coligand, Tween-80 as surfactant and gadolinium ion as a co-luminescence reagent. The signal for Eu- MX-1, 10- phenanthroline is monitored at λ_ex = 360 nm and λ_em = 620 nm. Optimum conditions for the formation of the complex in aqueous system were 0.01 M TRIS buffer, pH 8.0, 1,10- phenanthroline (6.0 × 10⁻⁶ M) , Gd³⁺ (7.0 × 10⁻⁶ M), Tween-80 (0.28%) and 1.75 mM of Eu³⁺ which allows the determination of 20–800 ppb of MX with limit of detection (LOD) of 7 ppb. The relative standard deviations of the method range between 0.1 and 1.1% indicating excellent reproducibility of the method. The proposed method was successfully applied for the assay of MX in pharmaceutical formulations, plasma and in urine samples. Average recoveries of 99.8 ± 1.1%, 100.2 ± 0.9% and 100.9 ± 1.1% were obtained for MX in tablet, plasma and urine sample respectively.     

Fluorophotometric Determination of Hydrogen Peroxide with Fluorescin in the Presence of Cobalt (II) and Reaction Against Other Reactive Oxygen Species

A fluorophotometric method for the determination of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) using fluorescin was developed. This method was based on the oxidative reaction of fluorescin, a colorless, non-fluorescent lactoid fluorescein, by H₂O₂ to give highly fluorescein fluorescence emission. In the determination of H₂O₂, the calibration curve exhibited linearity over the H₂O₂ concentration range of 1.5–310 ng mL⁻¹ at an emission wavelength of 525 nm with an excitation of 500 nm and with relative standard deviations (n = 6) of 2.51%, 2.48%, and 1.31% for 3.1 ng mL⁻¹, 30.8 ng mL⁻¹, and for 308 ng mL⁻¹ of H₂O₂, respectively. The detection limit for H₂O₂ was 1.9 ng mL⁻¹ six blank determinations was performed (ρ = 6). This proposed method was applied to detection of other reactive oxygen species and nitrogen species (ROS/RNS) such as singlet oxygen (¹O₂), hydroxyl radical (^•OH), peroxynitrite (ONOO⁻) etc., and it was possible to detect them with a high sensitivity. In addition, this proposed method was applied to the recovery tests of H₂O₂ in calf serum, human saliva, rain water, and wheat noodles; the results were satisfactory.     

Spectrofluorometric Determination of Methocarbamol in Pharmaceutical Preparations and Human Plasma

A simple, sensitive and rapid spectrofluorometric method for determination of methocarbamol in pharmaceutical formulations and spiked human plasma has been developed. The proposed method is based on the measurement of the native fluorescence of methocarbamol in methanol at 313 nm after excitation at 277 nm. The relative fluorescence intensity-concentration plot was rectilinear over the range of 0.05–2.0 μg/mL, with good correlation (r = 0.9999), limit of detection of 0.007 μg/ mL and a lower limit of quantification of 0.022 μg/ mL. The described method was successfully applied for the determination of methocarbamol in its tablets without interference from co-formulated drugs, such as aspirin, diclofenac, paracetamol and ibuprofen, The results obtained were in good agreement with those obtained using the official method (USP 30).The high sensitivity of the method allowed the determination of the studied drug in spiked human plasma with average percentage recovery of 99.42 ± 3.84.     

Determination of Enoxacin Using Tb Composite Nanoparticles Sensitized Luminescence Method

In our study, terbium-acetylacetone (Tb-acac) composite nanoparticles have been prepared under vigorous ultrasonic irradiation. The nanoparticles are water soluble, stable and have extremely narrow emission bands and high internal quantum efficiencies. They were used as fluorescence probes in the determination of enoxacin (Enox) based on the fluorescence enhancement of nanoparticles through fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). The influence of buffer solution on the fluorescence intensity was investigated. Under the optimum conditions, the fluorescence intensity of the Tb-acac-Enox system is linearly proportional to the Enox concentration in the Enox concentration range of 2 × 10⁻⁷–1 × 10⁻⁴ M. The correlation coefficient for the calibration curve was 0.9976. The limit of detection as defined by IUPAC, C _LOD = 3S _b/m (where S _b is the standard deviation of the blank signals and m is the slope of the calibration graph) was found to be 3 × 10⁻⁸ M. The relative standard deviation (RSD) for six repeated measurements of 1 × 10⁻⁴ M Enox was 1.35%. The method was applied to the determination of Enox in pharmaceutical formulation and recovery results were obtained from urine samples.     

Development of Flow Injection Spectrofluorimetric Detection System for the Determination of Homocysteine

In this work, a new simple and sensitive flow injection method is developed for the determination of homocysteine with spectrofluorimetric detection technique. This method is based on the oxidation of homocysteine with Tl (III) in acidic media, producing fluorescence reagent, TlCl₃^2- (λ_ex = 237 nm, λ_em = 419 nm). The effects of chemical parameters (including pH of the solutions, the buffer, Tl (III) and potassium chloride concentrations), instrumental parameters (such as flow rate of the solutions, reaction coil length, and sample loop volume) and temperature on the fluorescence intensity as an analytical signal are studied and optimized. In the optimum conditions of the above variables, homocysteine can be determined in the range 4.0 × 10^-7–40.0 × 10^-6 M with the LDR from 4.0 × 10^-7 to 25.0 × 10^-6 M. The detection limit (with S/N = 3) is 6.0 × 10^-8 M of homocysteine and precision for the injection of 5.0, 10.0 and 15.0 μM of homocysteine are 0.8%, 1.5% and 2.5% (n = 10) respectively. The rate of analysis is 90 samples per hour. The influence of potential interfering substances, including amino acids and carbohydrates is also studied. The proposed method has been successfully used for the determination of homocysteine in the real sample (blood serum and tap water) matrix.     

Micelle-Enhanced Spectrofluorimetric Method for Determination of Cholesterol-Reducing Drug Ezetimibe in Dosage Forms

A simple and sensitive spectrofluorimetric method was developed for the determination of ezetimibe in its pharmaceutical formulations. The proposed method is based on investigation of the fluorescence spectral behavior of ezetimibe in sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) micellar system. In aqueous solution of acetate buffer pH 5.0, the fluorescence intensity of ezetimibe was greatly enhanced, 200% enhancement, in the presence of SDS. The fluorescence intensity of ezetimibe was measured at 380 nm after excitation at 268 nm. The fluorescence-concentration plot was rectilinear over the range of 0.03–3.0 μg/mL with lower detection limit of 3.08 × 10⁻³ μg/mL. The method was successfully applied to the analysis of ezetimibe in its commercial tablets; the results were in good agreement with those obtained with the reported method. The application of the proposed method was extended to the stability studies of ezetimibe after exposure to different forced degradation conditions, such as acidic, alkaline, photo and oxidative conditions, according to ICH guidelines.     

Spectrofluorimetric Determination of Famotidine in Pharmaceutical Preparations and Biological Fluids. Application to Stability Studies

A simple, economic, selective, and stability indicating spectrofluorimetric method was developed for the determination of famotidine (FMT); is based on its reaction with 9, 10-phenanthraquinone in alkaline medium to give a highly fluorescent derivative measured at 560 nm after excitation at 283 nm. The fluorescence intensity - concentration plot was rectilinear over the concentration range of 50–600 ng/ml with minimum quantification limit (LOQ) of 13.0 ng/ml and minimum detection limit (LOD) of 4.3 ng/ml. The factors affecting the development of the fluorescence intensity of the reaction product were carefully studied and optimized. The method was applied for the determination of FMT in its dosage forms. The stability of the compound was studied, and the proposed method was found to be stability indicating one. The results obtained were in good agreement with those obtained by the official method. Furthermore, the method was applied for the determination of FMT in spiked and real human plasma. The mean % recovery (n = 4) was found to be 99.94 ± 0.24, and 105.13 ± 0.64 for spiked and real human plasma, respectively. The composition of the reaction product as well as its stability constant was also investigated. Moreover, the method was utilized to investigate the kinetics of both alkaline and oxidative induced degradation of the drug. The apparent first order rate constant and half life time of the degradation product was calculated. A proposal of the reaction pathway was postulated.     

Fluorescent Carbon Dots Capped with PEG<Subscript>200</Subscript> and Mercaptosuccinic Acid

The synthesis and functionalization of carbon nanoparticles with PEG₂₀₀ and mercaptosuccinic acid, rendering fluorescent carbon dots, is described. Fluorescent carbon dots (maximum excitation and emission at 320 and 430 nm, respectively) with average dimension 267 nm were obtained. The lifetime decay of the functionalized carbon dots is complex and a three component decay time model originated a good fit with the following lifetimes: τ ₁ = 2.71 ns; τ ₂ = 7.36 ns; τ ₃ = 0.38 ns. The fluorescence intensity of the carbon dots is affected by the solvent, pH (apparent pK _a of 7.4 ± 0.2) and iodide (Stern-Volmer constant of 78 ± 2 M⁻¹).     

Binding of Quercetin to Lysozyme as Probed by Spectroscopic Analysis and Molecular Simulation

The binding of quercetin to lysozyme (LYSO) in aqueous solution was investigated by fluorescence spectroscopy, UV-vis absorption spectroscopy and molecular simulation at pH 7.4. The fluorescence quenching of LYSO by addition of quercetin is due to static quenching, the binding constants, K _a , were 3.63 × 10⁴, 3.31 × 10⁴ and 2.85 × 10⁴ L·mol⁻¹ at 288, 298 and 308 K, respectively. The thermodynamic parameters, enthalpy change, ∆H, and entropy change, ∆S, were noted to be −7.56 kJ·mol⁻¹ and 61.07 J·mol⁻¹·K⁻¹. The results indicated that hydrophobic interaction may play a major role in the binding process. The distance r between the donor (LYSO) and acceptor (quercetin) was determined as 3.34 nm by the fluorescence resonance energy transfer. The synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy showed the polarity around the tryptophan residues increased and the hydrophobicity decreased. Furthermore, the study of molecular simulation indicated that quercetin could bind to the active site (a pocket made up of 24 amino-acid residues) of LYSO mainly via hydrophobic interactions and that there were hydrogen interactions between the residues (Gln 57, Ile 98) of LYSO and quercetin. The accessible surface area (ASA) calculation verified the important roles of tryptophan (Trp) residues during the binding process.     

Preparation and Characterization of CdHgTe Nanoparticles and Their Application on the Determination of Proteins

CdHgTe nanoparticles (NPs) with the emission in the near-infrared regions were prepared in aqueous solution, and were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction spectrometry, spectrofluorometry and ultraviolet-visible spectrometry. Based on the fluorescence quenching of CdHgTe NPs in the presence of proteins, a novel method for the determination of proteins with CdHgTe NPs as a near-infrared fluorescence probe was developed. Maximum fluorescence quenching was observed with the excitation and emission wavelengths of 500 and 693 nm, respectively. Under the optimal conditions, the calibration graphs were linear in the range of 0.04 × 10⁻⁶–5.6 × 10⁻⁶ g ml⁻¹ for lysozyme (Lyz) and 0.06 × 10⁻⁶–6.1 × 10⁻⁶ g ml⁻¹ for bovine hemoglobin (BHb), respectively. The limits of detection were 13 ng ml⁻¹ for Lyz and 27 ng ml⁻¹ for BHb, respectively. Four synthetic samples were determined and the results were satisfied.     

Spectrofluorimetric Assessment of Metoclopramide Hydrochloride Using Terbium Doped in PMMA Matrix Optical Sensor

A new, simple and accurate spectrofluorimetric method for the determination of metoclopramide hydrochloride was developed. The metoclopramide hydrochloride can remarkably enhance the luminescence intensity of the Tb³⁺ ion doped in PMMA matrix at λ_ex = 360 nm in methanol at pH 6.9. The intensity of the emission band at 545 nm of Tb³⁺ ion doped in PMMA matrix is increased due to the energy transfer from metoclopramide hydrochloride to Tb³⁺ in the excited stated. The effect of different parameters, e.g., pH, temperature, Tb³⁺ concentration, foreign ions that control the fluorescence intensity of the produced ion associate was critically investigated. The calibration curve of the emission intensity at 545 nm shows linear response of metoclopramide over a concentration range of 5 × 10⁻⁵–5.0 × 10⁻⁸ M with detection limit of 8.7 × 10⁻¹⁰ M. The method was used successfully for the determination of metoclopramide in pharmaceutical preparations and human serum. The average recovery of 99.48% with standard deviation of 0.32% and 96.98% with standard deviation of 0.4%, of pharmaceutical preparations and human serum respectively, were obtained which compared will with the results obtained from standard LC method of average recovery 99.04% and standard deviation of 0.6% and average recovery of 98.19% with standard deviation of 0.6% of pharmaceutical preparations and human serum, respectively.     

An Immunonanogold Resonance Scattering-Quenching Probe for Rapid and Sensitive Assay of Microalbumin

A novel and sensitive immunonanogold resonance scattering (RS) spectral probe was obtained for rapid detection of microalbumin (Malb), using 10 nm gold nanaoparticle to label goat anti-human Malb. It was based on that the gold-labeled anti-Malb took place nonspecific aggregation and exhibited a strong RS peak at 577 nm in pH 5.2 C₆H₈O₇–Na₂HPO₄ buffer solution containing polyethylene glycol (PEG), and the immunocomplex formed after specific reaction of gold-labeled anti-Malb with Malb, which led to a decrease in the intensity of RS peak at 577 nm considerably. The decreased RS intensity at 577 nm (ΔI _577nm) was linear to the concentration of Malb in the range of 4–128 ng/mL, with a detection limit of 3.2 ng/mL. The proposed method was applied to detect Malb in healthy human urine samples with satisfactory results.     

Fluorescent Method for the Determination of Sulfide Anion with ZnS:Mn Quantum Dots

Water-soluble Mn²⁺-doped ZnS quantum dots (QDs) were prepared using mercaptoacetic acid as the stabilizer. The optical properties and structure features were characterized by X-Ray, absorption spectrum, IR spectrum and fluorescence spectrum. In pH 7.8 Tris-HCl buffer, the QDs emitted strong fluorescence peaked at 590 nm with excitation wavelength at 300 nm. The presence of sulfide anion resulted in the quenching of fluorescence and the intensity decrease was proportional to the S²⁻ concentration. The linear range was from 2.5 × 10⁻⁶ to 3.8 × 10⁻⁵ mol L⁻¹ with detection limit as 1.5 × 10⁻⁷ mol L⁻¹. Most anions such as F⁻, Cl⁻, Br⁻, I⁻, CH₃CO₂ ⁻, ClO₄ ⁻, CO₃ ²⁻, NO₂ ⁻, NO₃ ⁻, S₂O₃ ²⁻, SO₃ ²⁻ and SO₄ ²⁻ did not interfere with the determination. Thus a highly selective assay was proposed and applied to the determination of S²⁻ in discharged water with the recovery of ca. 103%.     

Fluorescent Properties of a Hybrid Cadmium Sulfide-Dendrimer Nanocomposite and its Quenching with Nitromethane

A fluorescent hybrid cadmium sulphide quantum dots (QDs) dendrimer nanocomposite (DAB-CdS) synthesised in water and stable in aqueous solution is described. The dendrimer, DAB-G5 dendrimer (polypropylenimine tetrahexacontaamine) generation 5, a diaminobutene core with 64 amine terminal primary groups. The maximum of the excitation and emission spectra, Stokes’ shift and the emission full width of half maximum of this nanocomposite are, respectively: 351, 535, 204 and 212 nm. The fluorescence time decay was complex and a four component decay time model originated a good fit (χ = 1.20) with the following lifetimes: τ ₁ = 657 ps; τ ₂ = 10.0 ns; τ ₃ = 59.42 ns; and τ ₄ = 265 ns. The fluorescence intensity of the nanocomposite is markedly quenched by the presence of nitromethane with a dynamic Stern-Volmer constant of 25 M⁻¹. The quenching profiles show that about 81% of the CdS QDs are located in the external layer of the dendrimer accessible to the quencher. PARAFAC analysis of the excitation emission matrices (EEM) acquired as function of the nitromethane concentration showed a trilinear data structure with only one linearly independent component describing the quenching which allows robust estimation of the excitation and emission spectra and of the quenching profiles. This water soluble and fluorescent nanocomposite shows a set of favourable properties to its use in sensor applications.     

Thioflavin T Displays Enhanced Fluorescence Selectively Inside Anionic Micelles and Mammalian Cells

Thioflavin T (ThT) has been widely employed to detect amyloid fibrils in tissues and recently in presence of SDS micelles. However, the contribution of membranes or micelles to ThT fluorescence has never been investigated. In this paper, we show for the first time that the anionic micellar microenvironment of SDS has a profound impact on the absorption and fluorescence spectra of ThT in sharp contrast to cationic (CTAB) and neutral micelles (Triton X-100 & Tween 20). Unlike CTAB or Triton X-100 or Tween 20 micelles, formation of SDS micelles shifts the λ_max for ThT absorption from 412 nm in buffer to 428 nm inside the micelle, with a 28% increase in the peak molar absorptivity and a ∼13 fold increase in ThT fluorescence (λ_max = 489 nm). Extending these observations to cell plasma membranes, we show that ThT can quickly enter and appear selectively fluorescent inside mammalian cells like BHK21 and HT29, against a dark background owing to negligible fluorescence from free ThT in aqueous medium. The above results suggest that ThT can be a useful probe for live cell imaging and for selectively labeling micelles on the basis of the charge in the polar headgroup. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Biophysical Studies on the Interactions of a Classic Mitochondrial Uncoupler with Bovine Serum Albumin by Spectroscopic,Isothermal Titration Calorimetric and Molecular Modeling Methods

The interaction between a classic uncoupler (2,4-dinitrophenol, DNP) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) was investigated by fluorescence spectroscopy under the physiological conditions. The fluorescence quenching constants were calculated by the Stern-Volmer equation, and based upon the temperature dependence of quenching constants, it was proved that DNP caused a static quenching of the intrinsic fluorescence of BSA. Owing to the static quenching mechanism, different associative binding constants at various temperatures were determined and thus the thermodynamic parameters, namely enthalpy (ΔH = −21.12 kJ mol⁻¹) and entropy changes (ΔS = 23.51 J mol⁻¹ K⁻¹) could be calculated based on the binding constants. Moreover, the enthalpy and entropy changes are consistent with the “Enthalpy-Entropy Compensation” equation obtained from our previous work. The negative enthalpy and positive entropy indicated that the electrostatic interactions played a major role in DNP-BSA binding process. Site marker competitive displacement experiments were carried out by using fluorescence and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) methods. These results showed that DNP bound with high affinity to Sudlow’s site I (subdomain IIA) of BSA. The distance (r = 3.78 nm) between donor (BSA) and acceptor (DNP) was obtained according to the mechanism of fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). Furthermore, the results of synchronous fluorescence and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopic studies indicated that the microenvironment and the secondary conformation of BSA were altered. The above results were supported by theoretical molecular modeling methods.     

PARAFAC Analysis of the Quenching of EEM of Fluorescence of Glutathione Capped CdTe Quantum Dots by Pb(II)

Glutathione capped CdTe quantum dots (QD) were synthesised using a simple experimental procedure and two samples were subjected of study (QD₅₅₀ and QD₆₀₀). The maximum of the excitation and emission spectra and the emission full width of half maximum of these two QD were: QD₅₅₀, 307, 550 and 37 nm; QD₆₀₀, 307, 600 and 39 nm. The steady state fluorescence properties of the two QD undergo variation when the pH of the aqueous solution is varied and are characterised by different apparent pKa: QD₅₅₀, 5.2 ± 0.1; QD₆₀₀, 6.3 ± 0.3. The fluorescence intensity of the QD₅₅₀ is markedly quenched by the presence of micromolar quantities of Pb(II) ion (Stern–Volmer constant of about 7 × 10⁵ M⁻¹). PARAFAC analysis of the excitation emission matrices (EEM) of QD₅₅₀ acquired as function of the Pb(II) ion showed that only one linearly independent component describes the quenching of the QD₅₅₀ by the Pb(II) ion allowing robust estimation of the excitation and emission spectra and of the quenching profiles.