Luminescent metal–organic framework (MOF) sensors for sensitive determination of nicotine in breast milk

Abstract

Breastfeeding is essential for the healthy development and growth of infants, fostering astrong bond between mother and child. Exposure to nicotine through maternal smokingrepresents a significant risk to the health of both. This study proposes the quantificationand monitoring of nicotine by molecular fluorescence in breast milk samples frommothers who smoke and who are passive smokers at different stages of lactation. A metalorganicnetwork (MOF) was synthesized and characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy andmolecular luminescence. The enhancement effect of the luminescence signal at em = 611nm could be correlated with nicotine concentration into the 38.5 – 8.95×103 ng L-1concentration range. Experimental variables that influence Nicotine quantification werestudied and deeply optimized. The study was conducted on samples from 10 mothers,subdivided into three groups: smokers, passive smokers and negative controls. In orderto minimize the contamination risk, manual extraction was used as collection method.The nicotine concentrations found show a close relationship with the addiction degreeand the variety of tobacco consumed. The proposed methodology constitutes a cost effectivealternative to the standard techniques used to determine nicotine and representsa valuable contribution in the area of maternal health.