Multiwalled carbon nanotubes decoratedwith bismuth (III) oxide for electrochemicaldetection of an antipyretic and analgesicdrug paracetamol in biological samples

Abstract

Background: In the present work, an electrochemical sensor for detection of paracetamol was fabricated bymodifying a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) using multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) decorated with bismuthoxide (Bi2O3) based on using the drop dry technique.

Methods: The prepared composite electrode was characterized by scanning electron microscopy–energy dispersiveX-ray spectroscopy (SEM–EDS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and cyclic voltammetry (CV).Electrochemical techniques such as cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry, and square wave voltammetry (SWV)were used to study the behavior of paracetamol.

Results: The modification process improved the redox kinetics of paracetamol as shown by increased peak currents.The peak current varied linearly with increment of paracetamol concentration in the range of 0.02 to 28μMwithasensitivity of 1.133μAμM−1. A detection limit of 0.0052μM was obtained.

Conclusion: The proposed method was successfully applied to determination of paracetamol in biological sampleswith recoveries in the range 94.3–98.7%.