Carbon quantum dot-based fluorometric detection of nitrosamine impurities in active pharmaceutical ingredients

Abstract

Nitrosamines are genotoxic, mutagenic impurities and are widely encountered in the global landscape of the pharmaceutical industry. There is a need for rapid detection of nitrosamines in a pharmaceutical product. Here, we report the synthesis of carbon quantum dots (CQDs) using a readily available carbon precursor. These CQDs showed attractive fluorescence properties and were employed to fabricate a portable device for the fluorometric detection of nitrosamine impurities in a drug matrix.