Voltammetric Determination of Levofloxacin in Meat and Milk Using a Sensor Based on Electroreduced Graphene Oxide and Functionalized Fullerene

Abstract

Antibacterial drugs have become an integral part of the food industry and agriculture in the present-day world. The presence of even trace amounts of antibiotics in foods of animal origin can lead to the development of allergic reactions and direct toxic effects in a human body. In this regard, it is necessary to create sensitive and selective procedures for determining antibacterial drugs in order to prevent their excessive consumption. In this work, a glassy carbon voltammetric sensor based on layer-by-layer deposited electroreduced graphene oxide and fullerene functionalized with S-N,N'-bis(1-phenylethyl)malonamide is proposed for the determination of levofloxacin (Lev, S-(-)-ofloxacin) by differential pulse voltammetry. The calibration graph is linear in two ranges, 1.0 × 10^–6–6.0 × 10^–5 M and 6.0 × 10^–5–5.0 × 10^–4 M Lev, with sensitivity coefficients of 107 and 58.0 μA/mM, respectively. The limit of detection and limit of quantification are 1.8 × 10^–7 and 6.04 × 10^–7 M, respectively. The selectivity of the sensor to Lev relative to some fluoroquinolone antibiotics: ciprofloxacin, lomefloxacin, and enrofloxacin, was assessed. The sensor was used to determine Lev in meat and milk using differential pulse voltammetry.