Detection of Diclofenac and Carbamazepine using Voltammetry and Flow Injection Analysis at Boron-Doped Diamond Thin-Film Electrodes

Abstract

The electrochemical detection of two pharmaceuticals, diclofenac (DCF) and carbamazepine (CBZ), was investigated as an oxidation current using boron-doped nanocrystalline diamond (BDD) thin-film electrodes. Both voltammetry and flow injection analysis with amperometric detection (FIA-EC) were used to measure the drugs in standard solutions and a urine simulant. The oxidation potential for DCF was ca. 0.7 V vs. Ag/AgCl (3 M KCl) in 0.1 M phosphate buffer (pH 7.2) and was ca. 1.2 V for CBZ in 0.1 M perchloric acid. The DCF oxidation reaction was diffusion controlled at the detection potential with evidence of some surface fouling by reaction products. The CBZ oxidation reaction was also controlled by diffusion at the detection potential, but with no surface fouling. The voltammetric peak currents for both drugs increased linearly with the concentration in the micromolar range (r²≥0.994). FIA-EC analysis of DCF and CBZ revealed a linear dynamic range from at least 0.1 to 100 μM with the actual minimum concentration detectable (S/N=3) being less than the lowest concentration measured. The recovery percentage for DCF in the urine simulant ranged from 94–108% and from 97–100% for CBZ, both assessed using square wave voltammetry. FIA-EC data revealed that the BDD electrodes offer excellent intra and inter-electrode repeatability with an RSD for DCF and CBZ of 4.90% and 3.81%, respectively. The BDD electrode provided good reproducibility and response stability over eight days of continuous use detecting both DCF and CBZ. Overall, BDD electrodes are a viable material for the sensitive, selective, and reproducible electrochemical detection of these two pharmaceuticals.