Ultra-sensitive and selective fluorescence approach for estimation of elagolix in real human plasma and content uniformity using boron-doped carbon quantum dots

Elagolix (ELX) is an orally administered non-peptidic GnRH antagonist that has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2018 for the treatment of endometriosis pain. A sensitive and selective method for estimating elagolix (ELX) in human plasma and content uniformity was developed and validated. The spectrofluorimetric technique was used to investigate ELX utilizing boron-doped carbon quantum dots (B@CQDs). After gradually adding ELX, the quantum dots fluorescence was enhanced with LOQ of 1.74 ng mL(−1), the calibration curve between ELX and corresponding fluorescence intensity was found over a range of 4–100 ng mL(−1). The method was successfully applied in real human plasma with pharmacokinetic study and content uniformity test. The pharmacokinetic parameters as C(max) were found to be 570 ± 5.32 ng. mL(−1) after 1 h, t(1/2) was found to be 6.50 h, and AUC was found to be 1290 ± 30.33 ng. h. mL(−1). B@CQDs were characterized using variety of instruments. The strategy is simple to implement in clinical labs and therapeutic drug monitoring systems. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13065-022-00849-3.