Deep UV resonance Raman spectroscopy for sensitive detection and quantification of the fluoroquinolone antibiotic drug moxifloxacin and the β-lactam meropenem in human plasma

Quantification of antibiotics in body fluids is of major clinical interest. A sensitive detection of the fluoroquinolone moxifloxacin and the β-lactam meropenem in the complex matrix human blood plasma was achieved with help of deep UV resonance Raman spectroscopy. Multivariate curve resolution was applied for quantification and low limits of detection in order of magnitude of the clinical concentration were detected in human plasma. Moxifloxacin and meropenem were detected down to minimum concentrations of 4 µM (2 mg/L) and 2 µM (1 mg/L). The acquired results and the benefits of enhanced Raman spectroscopy, i.e., short analysis time, small sample volume, and high sensitivity with the potential for multicomponent detection based on multivariate quantification, will pave the path as future point-of-care approach for sensitive detection of antibiotics in complex body fluids.