A novel optical approach for determination of prolactin based on Pr-MOF nanofibers.

The analytical quantification and follow-up of the hormone prolactin is very important in clinical diagnosis (e.g., in cases of breast cancer), treatment, and the medical laboratory. The development of a new simple, fast, and less costly method is of considerable importance. Novel praseodymium metal-organic framework nanofibers (Pr-MOF-NFs) were synthesized by a facile and simple method for the determination of human prolactin in serum samples. The Pr-MOF-NFs were well characterized with several spectroscopic tools, such as mass spectrometry, Fourier transform IR spectroscopy, UV-vis spectroscopy, elemental analysis, X-ray diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscopy combined with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The photoluminescence of Pr-MOF-NFs was investigated, and the results revealed that Pr-MOF-NFs could be used as a sensitive and selective nanofiber optical sensor for the detection of human prolactin. The calibration graph was studied over a wide prolactin concentration range of 0-200 ng/mL, with limits of detection and quantitation of 0.276 and 0.838 ng/mL, respectively, lower than the values mentioned in previous reports. The correlation coefficient was 0.9792. Moreover, the Pr-MOF-NFs were applied successfully for the detection of serum human prolactin at clinically applicable concentrations without interference from several types of hormones and various interfering analytes. Graphical abstract.