Electrochemical determination of acetaminophen at a carbon electrode modified in the presence of β-cyclodextrin: role of the activated glassy carbon and the electropolymerised β-cyclodextrin

Abstract

Acetaminophen is a well-known drug commonly used to provide pain relief, but it can also lead to acute liver failure at high concentrations. Therefore, there is considerable interest in monitoring its concentrations. Sensitive and selective acetaminophen electrochemical sensors were designed by cycling a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) to high potentials in the presence of β-CD in a phosphate electrolyte, or by simply activating the GCE electrode in the phosphate solution. Using cyclic voltammetry, adsorption-like voltammograms were recorded. The acetaminophen oxidation product, N-acetyl benzoquinone imine, was protected from hydrolysis, and this was attributed to the adsorption of acetaminophen at the modified GCE. The rate constants for the oxidation of acetaminophen were estimated as 4.3 × 10–3 cm2 s–1 and 3.4 × 10–3 cm2 s–1 for the β-CD-modified and -activated electrodes, respectively. Using differential pulse voltammetry, the limit of detection was calculated as 9.7 × 10–8 M with a linear concentration range extending from 0.1 to 80 μM. Furthermore, good selectivity was achieved in the presence of caffeine, ascorbic acid and aspirin, enabling the determination of acetaminophen in a commercial tablet. Similar electrochemical data were obtained for both the β-CD-modified and activated GCE surfaces, suggesting that the enhanced detection of acetaminophen is connected mainly to the activation and oxidation of the GCE. Using SEM, EDX and FTIR, no evidence was obtained to indicate that the β-CD was electropolymerised at the GCE.

Strategy of In Situ Electrochemical Regulation for Highly Enhanced Nonenzymatic Sensing of Carbaryl

“…If the electrochemical technology is applied for electropolymerization and electrodeposition in the process of (iii) modification, the activation effect may also occur. Healy et al have claimed that the enhanced detection performance of acetaminophen on a carbon electrode modified in the presence of β-cyclodextrin comes from the activation of the GCE rather than the electropolymerized β-cyclodextrin . Hence, we propose a strategy of electrochemical regulation, in which the analysis of electroactive pesticides could be realized by regulating relevant factors, such as electrochemical techniques with certain potential or current, handling time, and steps.…”

The Electrochemical Detection of 4-chloro-2-methylphenoxyacetic Acid (MCPA) Using a Simple Activated Glassy Carbon Electrode

“…24 These oxygenated groups have been shown to increase the rate of the electron transfer process and enhance the electrochemical properties of the activated electrode. [23][24][25][26] In this paper, a glassy carbon electrode was activated in a slightly acidic phosphate buffer solution, by cycling the electrode in a wide electrochemical window, facilitating both oxidation and reduction processes. This simple activated electrode was then employed in the electrochemical detection of MCPA, to give impressive detection with a wide linear range, a low detection limit and good selectivity.…”