An optical fiber sensor for berberine based on immobilized 1,4-bis(naphth[2,1-d]oxazole-2-yl)benzene in a new copolymer.

A new copolymer made of 8-quinolyl methacrylate, methyl methacrylate and n-butyl acrylate(PQMB) has been used as a solid substrate for the preparation of an optical fiber berberine sensor. The sensing is based on the fluorescence of 1,4-bis(naphth[2,1-d]oxazole-2-yl)benzene(BNOB) immobilized in the copolymer quenched by berberine with the formation of 1:1 complex between them. The membrane composition was optimized using the orthogonal experimental design. Using the sensor described above, berberine in a sample solution from 4.02x10(-7) mol l(-1) to 2.82x10(-4) mol l(-1) can be detected. The sensor has satisfactory reversibility and a short response time of less than 30 s. The relative standard deviations for repeated measurements (n=15) of 8.05x10(-6) mol l(-1) and 4.02x10(-5) mol l(-1) beberine are 0.43% and 0.33%, respectively. The sensor shows good selectivity over alkali and alkali-earth metal salts and some common pharmaceutical species and can be used for the determination of berberine in pharmaceutical preparations.