Electrochemical Characterization of the Repurposed Antimicrobial Compound Auranofin in Aqueous Solutions

Abstract

Electrochemical sensors are gaining attention for the detection and quantification of pharmaceuticals in the environment. To that end, there is an interest in understanding the electrochemical characteristics of drugs. Herein, the multi-purpose drug auranofin is investigated for the first time in aqueous media. This compound offers therapeutic benefits in strains of cancer, parasites, bacteria and fungi, which have grown immune to many antibiotics. Auranofin detection was optimized at carbon black-modified electrodes. Voltammetry provides information about redox potentials, levels of detection and quantification, and pH dependence. Parameters identified in this study will be useful for auranofin sensing in environmental samples, and for studies related to drug resistance.

Pico-molar electrochemical detection of ciprofloxacin at composite electrodes

“…Electroanalytical strategies 12,26,27 to detect pharmaceuticals often involve the modification of working electrodes using carbon-based conductive materials, such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs), 11 graphene, 27 and carbon black. 28 Metal nanoparticles are attractive for this purpose, because of their large surface area, high conductivity, and robust nature. [29][30][31][32][33][34][35] OCNTs have shown advantages of interacting with the analyte prior to electrochemical measurements, due to the presence of polar functional groups and thereby increasing the overall sensitivity of the chemical sensor.…”