Adsorption study of acetylcholine and cholinergic and anticholinergic drugs onto an electrode surface

As a type of interaction of acetylcholine and cholinergic and anticholinergic drugs with a charged surface, their adsorption onto a gold electrode has been examined by measuring the specular reflectivity and differential capacity of the electrode-solution interface.Based on the adsorption potential profiles, the drugs have been divided into three groups: (I) carbamylcholine and methacholine; (II) tetraethylammonium ion and hexamethonium; (III) nicotine, atropine, scopolamine and pilocarpine. Group I includes cholinergic drugs. Group II and III include antichilinergic drugs whose adsorptivity is stronger than that of acetylcholine. The results of the adsorption of acetylcholine and drugs onto a charged electrode surface should provide information about the competitive inhibitory effects on the attachement of acetylcholine to receptor sites.