In vitro chloramphenicol detection in a Haemophilus influenza model using an aptamer-polymer based electrochemical biosensor.

A sensitive and selective electrochemical biosensor is developed for the determination of chloramphenicol (CAP) exploring its direct electron transfer processes in in-vitro model and pharmaceutical samples. This biosensor exploits a selective binding of CAP with aptamer, immobilized onto the poly-(4-amino-3-hydroxynapthalene sulfonic acid) (p-AHNSA) modified edge plane pyrolytic graphite. The electrochemical reduction of CAP was observed in a well-defined peak. A quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) study is performed to confirm the interaction between the polymer film and the aptamer. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and square wave voltammetry (SWV) were used to detect CAP. The in-vitro CAP detection is performed using the bacterial strain of Haemophilus influenza. A significant accumulation of CAP by the drug sensitive H. influenza strain is observed for the first time in this study using a biosensor. Various parameters affecting the CAP detection in standard solution and in in vitro detection are optimized. The detection of CAP is linear in the range of 0.1-2500 nM with the detection limit and sensitivity of 0.02 nM and 0.102 µA/nM, respectively. CAP is also detected in the presence of other common antibiotics and proteins present in the real sample matrix, and negligible interference is observed.

Carbon nanotube embedded poly 1,5-diaminonapthalene modified pyrolytic graphite sensor for the determination of sulfacetamide in pharmaceutical formulations.

An electrochemically conductive single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) embedded poly 1,5-diaminonapthalene (DAN) modified sensor has been developed for the determination of sulfacetamide (SFA). The surface morphology of the modified sensor has been characterized by FE-SEM, which revealed good dispersion of the carbon nanotube in polymer matrix. SFA was quantified using square wave voltammetry in phosphate buffer of pH 7.2, which acted as supporting electrolyte during analysis. The modified sensor exhibited an effective catalytic response towards the oxidation of SFA with excellent reproducibility and stability. The peak current of SFA was found to be linear in the concentration range of 0.005-1.5 mM and detection limit and sensitivity of 0.11 µM (S/N=3) and 23.977 µA mM(-1), respectively were observed. The analytical utility of method was checked by determining the SFA in various pharmacological dosage forms. The results obtained from the voltammetry were validated by comparing the results with those obtained from HPLC. The proposed method is sensitive, simple, rapid and reliable and is useful for the routine analysis of SFA in pharmaceutical laboratories.

AuNPs-poly-DAN modified pyrolytic graphite sensor for the determination of Cefpodoxime Proxetil in biological fluids.

A sensitive and selective electrochemical method for Cefpodoxime Proxetil (CP) determination has been developed by incorporating gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) onto the poly-1,5-diaminonapthalene layer (p-DAN) coated pyrolytic graphite. The modified sensor was characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The sensor exhibited an effective catalytic response towards oxidation of CP with excellent reproducibility and stability. The peak current of CP was found to be linear in the range of 0.1-12 µM and detection limit and sensitivity of 39 nM (S/N=3) and 4.621 µA µM(-1), respectively, were observed. The method was successfully applied for the determination of CP in pharmaceutical formulations and human urine samples. The common metabolites present in human urine such as uric acid, ascorbic acid, xanthine and hypoxanthine did not interfere in the determination. A comparison of the results obtained by using developed method with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) indicated a good agreement. The method is simple, sensitive, rapid and precise and is useful for the routine determination of CP in pharmaceutical dosages and biological samples.

A review on determination of steroids in biological samples exploiting nanobio-electroanalytical methods.

The applications of nanomaterial modified sensors, molecularly imprinting polymer based, aptamer based, and immunosensors have been described in the determination of steroids using electroanalytical techniques. After a brief description of the steroids and assays in biological fluids, the principles of electrochemical detection with the advantages and the limitations of the various sensors are presented. The nanomaterial modified sensors catalyze the oxidation/reduction of steroids and are suitable for sensing them in environmental samples and biological fluids. The determination of steroids based on their reduction has been found more useful in comparison to oxidation as the common metabolites present in the biological fluids do not undergo reduction in the usual potential window and hence, do not interfere in the determination. The sensors based on immunosensors and aptamers were found more sensitive and selective for steroid determination. Conducting polymer modified bio-sensors and microchip devices are suggested as possible future prospects for the ultra sensitive and simultaneous determination of steroids and their metabolites in various samples.