Voltammetric Determination of α‐Tocopheryl Acetate in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms

A simple and rapid voltammetric method has been developed for the quantitative determination of α‐tocopheryl acetate (α‐TOAc) in pharmaceutical preparations. Studies with linear scan (LSV), square‐wave (SQWV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) were carried out using platinum microelectrodes. A well‐defined, irreversible oxidation wave/peak was obtained at 1.30 V (vs. Ag/AgCl reference electrode.) The use of SQWV or DPV technique provides a precise determination of α‐tocopheryl acetate using the multiple standard addition method. The statistical parameters and the recovery study data clearly indicate good reproducibility and accuracy of the method. Accuracy of the results assessed by recovery trials was found within the 99.3% to 103.5%, and 99.1% to 101.4%, for SQWV and DPV, respectively. The quantification limits for the both voltammetric techniques were found to be 6×10^?5 M (SQWV) and 7×10^?5 M (DPV). Analysis of the authentic samples containing α‐TOAc showed no interference with common additives and excipients, such as unsaturated fatty acids (co‐formulated as glycerine esters) and vitamin A (as retinol or β‐carotene). The method proposed does not require any pretreatment of the pharmaceutical dosage forms. A gas chromatography determination of α‐TOAc in real samples was also performed for comparison.     

Electroanalytical Characteristics of Amisulpride and Voltammetric Determination of the Drug in Pharmaceuticals and Biological Media

The electrochemical oxidation of antipsychotic drug amisulpride (AMS) has been studied in pH range 1.8–11.0 at a stationary glassy carbon electrode by cyclic, differential pulse and square‐wave voltammetry. Two oxidation processes were produced in different supporting electrolyte media. Both of the oxidation processes were irreversible and exhibited diffusion controlled. For analytical purposes, very resolved voltammetric peaks were obtained using differential pulse and square‐wave modes. The linear response was obtained in the range of 4×10^?6 to 6×10^?4 M for the first and second oxidation steps in Britton‐Robinson buffer at pH 7.0 and pH 3.0 (20% methanol v/v), respectively, using both techniques. These methods were used for the determination of AMS in tablets. The first oxidation process was chosen as indicative of the analysis of AMS in biological media. The methods were successfully applied to spiked human serum, urine and simulated gastric fluid samples.     

Adsorptive Stripping Voltammetric Determination of 4‐Hexylresorcinol in Pharmaceutical Products Using Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube Based Electrodes

A sensitive electroanalytical method is presented for the determination of 4‐hexylresorcinol using adsorptive stripping voltammetry (AdsSV) at a multiwalled carbon nanotube modified basal plane pyrolytic graphite electrode (MWCNT‐BPPGE). This method is also extended to the use of a MWCNT modified screen‐printed electrode (MWCNT‐SPE), thereby demonstrating that this approach can easily be incorporated into a facile and inexpensive electrochemical sensor.     

A Validated Voltammetric Procedure for Quantification of the Antifungal Drug Griseofulvin in Bulk Form,Tablets, and Biological Fluids at a Mercury Electrode

Abstract

Griseofulvin is an antifungal antibiotic used to treat various pathogenic mycotic diseases. The voltammetric behavior of griseofulvin at a hanging mercury drop electrode in Britton‐Robinson buffers of pH 2–11.5 was studied and discussed. A fully validated sensitive square‐wave adsorptive cathodic stripping voltammetric procedure was described for direct determination of bulk griseofulvin substance. The procedure was based on the reduction of the >C?O double bond of griseofulvin molecule following its preconcentration onto a hanging mercury drop electrode in a Britton‐Robinson buffer of pH 10. Limits of detection (LOD) and quantitation (LOQ) of 5.8×10^?10 M and 1.93×10^?9 M bulk griseofulvin were achieved, respectively. The proposed stripping voltammetric procedure was successfully applied to assay griseofulvin in tablets and in spiked human serum and urine samples. LOD of 8.65×10^?10 M and 6.6×10^?9 M and LOQ of 2.88×10^?9 M and 2.2×10^?8 M griseofulvin in spiked human serum and urine samples, respectively, were achieved.     

Direct Voltammetric Determination of Redox‐Active Iron in Carbon Nanotubes

With the advances in nanotechnology over the past decade, consumer products are increasingly being incorporated with carbon nanotubes (CNTs). As the harmful effects of CNTs are suggested to be primarily due to the bioavailable amounts of metallic impurities, it is vital to detect and quantify these species using sensitive and facile methods. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the possibility of quantifying the amount of redox‐available iron‐containing impurities in CNTs with voltammetric techniques such as cyclic voltammetry. We examined the electrochemistry of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles in phosphate buffer solution and discovered that its electrochemical behavior could be affected by pH of the electrolyte. By utilizing the unique redox reaction between the iron and phosphate species, the redox available iron content in CNTs was determined successfully using voltammetry.     

Modified Glassy Carbon Electrode with Multiwall Carbon Nanotubes as a Voltammetric Sensor for Determination of Leucine in Biological and Pharmaceutical Samples

Abstract

A simple and highly sensitive method is described for voltammetric determination of leucine in blood and urine samples; namely, a glassy carbon electrode with an effective method is modified with multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs). The cyclic voltammetric results indicated that MWNTs remarkably enhanced electrocatalytic activity toward the oxidation of leucine. Under the optimum condition the calibration curve was linear in the concentration range 9.0 × 10^?6 ? 1.5 × 10^?3 mol L^?1, with the detection limit of 3.0 × 10^?6 mol L^?1 and a relative standard deviation (RSD%) lower than 3.0% (n = 5). Also, some kinetic parameters were determined and a multistep mechanism for oxidation of leucine was proposed.     

Simultaneous Square‐Wave Voltammetric Determination of Paracetamol,Caffeine and Orphenadrine in Pharmaceutical Formulations Using a Cathodically Pretreated Boron‐Doped Diamond Electrode

An electroanalytical method for the simultaneous determination of paracetamol (PAR), caffeine (CAF), and orphenadrine (ORPH) using the square‐wave voltammetry (SWV) and a cathodically pretreated boron‐doped diamond electrode was developed. The method exhibits linear responses to PAR, CAF, and ORPH in the concentration ranges 5.4×10^?7–6.1×10^?5 M, 7.8×10^?7–3.5×10^?5 M, and 7.8×10^?7–3.5×10^?5 M, respectively, with detection limits of 2.3×10^?7 M, 9.6×10^?8 M, and 8.4×10^?8 M, respectively. The proposed method was successfully applied in the simultaneous determination of these analytes in pharmaceutical formulations.     

A Simple and Sensitive Poly‐1,5‐Diaminonaphthalene Modified Sensor for the Determination of Sulfamethoxazole in Biological Samples

Sulfamethoxazole (SMZ), an antibacterial sulfonamide drug, has been selectively determined using poly‐1,5‐diaminonaphthalene (p‐DAN) modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The modified sensor was characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE‐SEM), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and cyclic voltammetry (CV). SMZ showed linear response in the concentration range of 0.5–150 µM by using square wave voltammetry (SWV) and the detection limit was found to be 0.05 nM with sensitivity of 0.085 µA µM^?1. The proposed sensor has been successfully employed to determine SMZ in the pharmaceutical tablets and human urine samples.     

Electrocatalytic Application of Girard's Reagent T to Simultaneous Determination of Furaldehydes in Pharmaceutical and Food Matrices by Highly Sensitive Voltammetric Methods

Sensitive and precise voltammetric methods for the determination of trace amounts of furaldehydes, mainly as furfural (F) and 5‐hydroxymethyl‐2‐furaldehyde (HMF), in foods, pharmaceutical and other matrices is described. Determination of total furaldehyde at <μg g^?1 levels in alkaline buffered aqueous media was individually investigated. By the use of ordinary SWV and adsorptive square wave stripping voltammetry (Ad‐SWSV), the detection limits for determination of F and HMF found to be 400 and 10 ng g^?1, respectively. At a 1.0 μg g^?1 level of furfural in sample, the relative standard deviation (n=4) was 2.79%. The application of Ad‐SWSV to the determination of F and HMF, after their in situ derivatization with trimethylaminoacetohydrazide chloride (Girard's reagent T) at a static mercury drop electrode (SMDE) in NH₃‐NH₄Cl buffer of pH 9.5, resulted in a limit of detection of 10 ng g^?1 for the resolved peaks of HMF and F. The results obtained by the proposed method for the real samples were compared with the corresponding results from UV‐spectrophotometry and HPLC experiments in various matrices.     

Synergistic Effect of Graphene and Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes on a Glassy Carbon Electrode for Simultaneous Determination of Uric Acid and Dopamine in the Presence of Ascorbic Acid

A poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride)-graphene-multiwalled carbon nanotube modified glassy carbon electrode was fabricated and evaluated by cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry. The modified electrode offered high sensitivity, selectivity, excellent long-term stability, and electrocatalytic activity for uric acid and dopamine. This sensor showed wide linear dynamic ranges of 5.0 to 350.0 µmol L^?1 for uric acid and 10.0 to 400.0 µmol L^?1 for dopamine in the presence of 500 µmol L^?1 ascorbic acid. The limits of detection were 0.13 for uric acid and 0.55 µmol L^?1 for dopamine. This functionalized electrode has potential application in bioanalysis and biomedicine.     

A Validated LC Method for Determination of the Enantiomeric Purity of Montelukast Sodium in Bulk Drug Samples and Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms

A new and accurate chiral liquid chromatographic method has been developed for determination of the enantiomeric purity of montelukast sodium (R enantiomer) in bulk drugs and dosage forms. Normal phase chromatographic separation was performed on an immobilized amylose-based chiral stationary phase with n-hexane–ethanol–1,4-dioxane–trifluoroacetic acid–diethylamine 65:25:10:0.3:0.05 (v/v) as mobile phase at a flow rate of 1.0 mL min^?1. The elution time was approximately 15 min. The resolution (R _S) between the enantiomers was >3. The mobile phase additives trifluoroacetic acid and diethylamine played a key role in achieving chromatographic resolution between the enantiomers and also in enhancing chromatographic efficiency. Limits of detection and quantification for the S enantiomer were 0.07 and 0.2 μg, respectively, for a test concentration of montelukast sodium of 1,000 μg mL^?1 and 10 μL injection volume. The linearity of the method for the S enantiomer was excellent (R ² > 0.999) over the range from the LOQ to 0.3%. Recovery of the S enantiomer from bulk drug samples and dosage forms ranged from 97.0 to 103.0%, indicative of the high accuracy of the method. Robustness studies were also conducted. The sample solution stability of montelukast sodium was determined and the compound was found to be stable for a study period of 48 h.     

Facile and Simultaneous Stripping Determination of Zinc,Cadmium and Lead on Disposable Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes Modified Screen‐Printed Electrode

Screen‐printed electrodes (SPEs) are cheap and disposable. But their application for heavy metal detection is limited due to the low sensitivity and poor selectivity. Here we report the ultrasensitive and simultaneous determination of Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺ and Pb²⁺ on a multiwalled carbon nanotubes and Nafion composite modified SPE with in situ plated bismuth film (MWCNTs/NA/Bi/SPE). The linear curves range from 0.5–100 µg L^?1 for Zn²⁺ and 0.5–80 µg L^?1 for Cd²⁺. Uniquely, the linear curve for Pb²⁺ ranges from 0.05–100 µg L^?1 with a detection limit of 0.01 µg L^?1. The practical application was verified in real samples with satisfactory results.     

Highly Sensitive Differential Pulse and Square Wave Voltammetric Methods for Determination of Strontium Ranelate in Bulk and Pharmaceutical Dosage Form

The voltammetric behavior of Strontium Ranelate (SR) was studied using Cyclic (CV), differential pulse (DPV) and square wave (SWV) voltammetry. CV showed two well‐defined, irreversible, diffusion‐controlled anodic peaks using Britton‐Robinson buffer, pH 2.0 at Pencil graphite (PGE), Carbon paste (CPE) and glassy carbon (GCE) electrodes. The peak current‐concentration relationship was rectilinear over the range 1.0–10.0, 1.0–11.25 and 2.5–24.0 µg/mL at PGE, CPE and GCE respectively, with a minimum detectability of 0.17, 0.24 and 0.39 µg/mL for peak 1 and 0.19, 0.27 and 0.51 µg/mL for peak 2. Recoveries showed the high accuracy of the method; 99.8 %, 99.5 % and 99.7 % at PGE, CPE and GCE respectively for peak 1 and 100.1 %, 99.9 % and 99.7 % at PGE, CPE and GCE respectively for peak 2. Hence DPV and SWV were conducted for the quantitative determination of SR in its pure and pharmaceutical dosage form. the method was validated and the results were in good agreement with those obtained from the reported method.     

Nucleophilic Addition of Thiaproline to Electrochemically Derived o‐Quinone,Application to the Sensitive Voltammetric Detection of Thiaproline

The mechanism of electrochemical behavior of catechol in the presence of thiaproline is investigated by cyclic voltammetry, controlled‐potential coulometry and spectrophotometric tracing of the reaction coordinate. The results indicate that thiaproline participate in with an ECEC mechanism in a nucleophilic (Michael) addition to o‐quinone. Effect of pH of buffer solution on reaction pathway is studied and showed that addition of thiaproline to the o‐quinone is performed only in solutions with pHs higher than 5. These results indicate that the addition of thiaproline is occurred first from amine functional group. In the second step, the addition of carboxylate group of thiaproline to C‐5 of catechol results the final product with a lactone ring in its structure. Observation of two isosbestic point in absorption spectrum during the progress of the electrolysis together with the FT‐IR results for final product can be presented as evidence for two step addition of thiaproline to catechol. Final product, due to the electron donor property of thiaproline, more easily oxidized respect to the former catechol and as a result, a new redox couple is obtained for this compound in lower potentials. The easier anodic oxidation of addition product (relative to catechol) caused to an increase in anodic current for catechol, which is proportional to the thiaproline concentration. The differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) is applied as a sensitive voltammetric method for the detection of thiaproline. A linear range from 5×10^?8 to 5×10^?6 M with a detection limit of 1×10^?8 M is resulted for thiaproline. With respect to the reversibility of the electrochemical reactions in the mechanism, and also more facile oxidation of the addition products, the square‐wave voltammetry is presented as a method with considerably more sensitivity for the detection of sub‐micromolar amounts of thiaproline. The advantageous properties of the voltammetric method for thiaproline detection lie in its excellent catalytic activity, sensitivity and simplicity.     

Voltammetric Sensor for Sodium Nitroprusside Determination in Biological Fluids Using Films of Poly‐L‐Lysine

Sodium nitroprusside (NP), a commercial vasodilator, can be pre‐concentrated on vitreous carbon electrode modified by films of 97.5%: 2.5% poly‐L ‐lysine (PLL): glutaraldehyde (GA). This coating gives acceptable anion exchange properties whilst giving the required improvement of adhesion to the glassy carbon electrode surface. Linear response range and detection limit on nitroprusside in B‐R buffer pH 4.0, were 1×10^?6 to 2×10^?5 mol L^?1 and 1×10^?7 mol L^?1, respectively. The repeatability of the proposed sensor, evaluated in term of relative standard deviation, was measured as 4.1% for 10 experiments. The voltammetric sensor was directly applied to determination of nitroprusside in human plasma and urine samples and the average recovery for these samples was around 95–97% without any pre treatment.     

Simultaneous Anodic Adsorptive Stripping Voltammetric Determination of Luteolin and 3‐Hydroxyflavone in Biological Fluids Using Renewable Pencil Graphite Electrodes

Simultaneous anodic adsorptive stripping voltammetry was applied for selective and sensitive electrochemical determination of the flavones luteolin (LU) and the basic flavone core 3‐hydroxyflavone (3HF) using a renewable pencil graphite electrode (PGE). The increased separation of the anodic peak potential of LU and 3HF on a PGE surface together with the increased sensitivity renders their simultaneous determination feasible by square wave anodic adsorptive stripping voltammetry (SWAASV). The electrochemical parameters such as surface concentration (Γ), electron transfer coefficient (α), and the standard rate constant (k_s) of both LU and 3HF at a PGE were calculated. For simultaneous detection of both compounds by synchronous change of the concentration of LU and 3HF, the detection limits were 1.34 nM and 5.15 nM, respectively. The proposed procedure was successfully applied for the simultaneous detection of LU and 3HF in human serum and urine samples with satisfactory results.     

Electrodeposition of Cobalt Oxide Nanostructure on the Glassy Carbon Electrode for Electrocatalytic Determination of para‐Nitrophenol

Cobalt oxide nanostructure (CoO_xNS) deposited on the glassy carbon (GC) electrode surface is proposed as a novel electrocatalytic system for the reduction of para‐Nitrophenol. Cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy were used for characterization of deposited CoO_xNS. CoO_xNS deposited by cycling at positive potentials (0 to +1.3 V) show less charge‐transfer resistance (Rct) and more catalytic activity for the electroreduction of p‐nitrophenol compared to those CoO_xNS obtained by scanning the applied potential throughout a negative V range. The GC/CoO_xNS electrode showed good electrocatalytic activity toward the reduction of p‐nitrophenol at different pH values.     

Novel Fe2O3@CeO2 Coreshell‐based Electrochemical Nanosensor for the Voltammetric Determination of Norepinephrine

A new selective carbon paste electrode (CPE), was applied as an electrochemical sensor for the detection of norepinephrine (NOE). The sensor was modified with 6‐amino‐4‐(3,4‐dihydroxyphenyl)‐3‐methyl‐1,4‐dihydropyrano[2,3‐c],pyrazole‐5‐carbonitrile (ADPC) assisted Fe₂O₃@CeO₂ coreshell nanoparticles (CNs) synthesized by simple method. To identify the redox properties of the modified electrode, and to examine its electrochemical properties, cyclic voltammetry (CV), chronoamperometry and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) were conducted. Through electrochemical investigations, the coefficient of electron transfer between ADPC and the CNs/CPE (i. e. carbon paste electrode which was modified with CNs), the apparent charge transfer rate constant (k_s), and the diffusion coefficient (D) were calculated. The NOE oxidation occurred at the optimum pH of 7.0 and a potential that was about 235 mV less positive than that of the unmodified carbon paste electrode. The interaction between the two metals in the Fe₂O₃@CeO₂ coreshell led to an increase in the surface area and, consequently a sharp increase in the current. The differential pulse voltammogram of NOE showed two linear dynamic ranges an excellent detection limit (3σ) of 40 nM. In addition, NOE, AC and Trp were simultaneously determined at the modified electrode. Finally, NOE was quantitated in a number of real samples.     

Simultaneous Voltammetric Determination of Paracetamol,Codeine and Caffeine on Diamond‐like Carbon Porous Electrodes

A porous electrode material combining the features of vertically aligned multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (VAMWCNT) and diamond‐like carbon films (DLC) have been developed for a highly sensitive electrochemical sensor. For working electrode preparation, DLC has been grown onto VAMWCNT, forming a porous, conductive and stable composite. The electrochemical performance of this DLC:VAMWCNT electrode has been investigated toward detection and analysis of three well‐known molecules, namely paracetamol, codeine and caffeine. A ternary mixture of these analytes was simultaneously determined under optimum experimental conditions using square‐wave voltammetry. Wide linear concentration ranges and the limits of detection of 3.34×10⁻⁷ mol L⁻¹, 1.57×10⁻⁷ mol L⁻¹ and 3.67×10⁻⁷ mol L⁻¹ were obtained for paracetamol, codeine and caffeine, respectively. We conclude that the proposed voltammetric method and the DLC:VAMWCNT electrode comprise a reliable methodology for simultaneous determination of paracetamol, codeine and caffeine in biological matrix samples.     

Determination of Melatonin Hormone in Bulk Form,Tablets and Human Serum by Square‐Wave Cathodic Adsorptive Stripping Voltammetry

Melatonin hormone plays an important role in many distinct physiological functions. A fully validated, sensitive and reproducible square‐wave cathodic adsorptive stripping voltammetric procedure was described for determination of melatonin in bulk form, tablets and human serum. The procedure was based on the reduction of the adsorptive hormone onto a hanging mercury drop electrode. Reduction behavior of melatonin was studied in both Britton‐Robinson (pH 2–11) and acetate (4.5–5.5) buffers. Acetate buffer of pH 5.0 was found reasonable as a supporting electrolyte for assay of the drug. The square‐wave cathodic adsorptive stripping voltammogram of melatonin showed a single well‐defined peak at ?1.45 V (vs. Ag/AgCl/KCl_s) using an accumulation potential of ?0.65 V. This peak may be attributed to the reduction of C?O double bond of the amide functional group of the reactant molecule. A mean recovery for 1×10^?8 M melatonin in bulk form followed 30 s accumulation of 98.87%±0.78 and a detection limit of 3.13×10^?10 M were achieved. The proposed procedure was successfully applied for the determination of the drug in tablets and human serum with mean recoveries of 97.68%±0.57 and 101.67%±0.85, respectively. A detection limit of 8.80×10^?10 M was achieved for the determination of the drug in human serum. Results of the proposed method were comparable and coincided with those obtained by reported method. Vitamin B₆ and common excipients, which are co‐formulated with melatonin, did not interfere. Also the effect of some interfering compounds such as serotonin, tryptophan and 5‐hydroxytryptophan on the determination of melatonin in human serum was studied, and all have no significant effect on the assay recovery.