Upcycled cans and apricot pits into a fluorescent Al-MOF@biochar probe for nirmatrelvir determination with multi-dimensional method assessment following good evaluation practice

Metal-organic framework is a type of crystalline porous solid material that might be used as a molecular sensor. Waste recycling is an attractive field of research; in this study, a MOF hybrid composed of an aluminum-based metal organic framework from Coca-Cola can waste-biochar extracted from apricot kernel was developed for sensing a weakly chromophoric analyte, nirmatrelvir (NIRMA). High-resolution scanning electron microscopy (HR-SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy were used to characterize the fabricated sensor. Experimental design was used for finding the optimum conditions; the aqueous sample was adjusted to pH 5.5, and 125 µL of the nanoprobe was used for sensing NIRMA. On the other hand, incubation temperature and time have no significant effect. So, the measurement was performed immediately at room temperature. The synthesized nanoprobe was effectively applied as a sensitive, selective, accurate and precise sensor for the determination of NIRMA in dosage forms. An acceptable linearity range (2–30 µg/mL) was obtained with a good correlation coefficient of 0.9985 with a limit of quantitation of 4.0 µM. The % recovery was calculated and found in the range 99.01 and 100.71% where %RSDs were found in the range of 0.25–0.1.06%. Accordingly, the method was accurate and precise according to ICHQ2(R1). The circular economy potential of the approach was evaluated using the 10 R principles, demonstrating significant alignment with sustainable material management, and paving the way for more sustainable analytical method development.