Tuning fluorescence of fexofenadine by switching OFF intramolecular photoinduced electron transfer: Application to development of one‐step green and high throughput microwell spectrofluorimetric assay for analysis of tablets and plasma

Abstract

Fexofenadine (FEX) is a non‐sedating antihistamine commonly used for the treatment of allergic conditions such as seasonal rhinitis and chronic idiopathic urticaria. This study describes the tuning “ON” the intrinsic fluorescence of FEX by switching “OFF” its intramolecular photoinduced electron transfer (PET) through the protonation of the piperidinyl nitrogen atom using sulfuric acid. The resulting fluorescence was utilized as a basis for the development of a highly sensitive microwell spectrofluorimetric assay (MW‐SFA) for the one‐step determination of FEX in pharmaceutical tablets and plasma. The linear range of the assay was 10–500 ng ml−1, and its limit of quantitation was 25.9 ng ml−1. The proposed MW‐SFA was successfully applied to analyze FEX in pharmaceutical tablets and plasma samples, demonstrating good accuracy and precision. The greenness of the assay was confirmed using three metric assessment tools. In conclusion, the MW‐SFA is a straightforward, single‐step analysis that requires no experimental adjustments. It offers high sensitivity, efficient sample processing, and environmental sustainability. This assay is highly recommended for pharmaceutical quality control and clinical lab use, particularly for measuring FEX levels.