Voltammetry Determination of Moxifloxacin, Paracetamol, and Vitamin C in Serum Samples Using PEDOT/CNT-ILC/Fe3O4 Nanocomposite Sensor

Abstract

An efficient electrochemical sensor is presented for the detection of moxifloxacin (MXF) separately and simultaneously with paracetamol (PAR) and vitamin C (VC) in human serum samples. Combination therapy formed from moxifloxacin and paracetamol (PAR) is needed for treating patients diseased by bacterial infections. VC supports the immune system and acts as an antioxidant to eliminate harmful substances. The design of the electrochemical sensor is achieved via layer-by-layer modification of a glassy carbon electrode surface (GCE) with poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT), a mixture of multiwalled carbon nanotubes and ionic liquid crystals (CNT-ILC), and Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles (Mag). The synergistic interactions between the components significantly improve the overall sensor performance for MXF, PAR, and VC detection with kinetically and thermodynamically boosted oxidation processes. The sensor has good anti-interference capability, repeatability, stability, reproducibility, and large conductive active surface area. The sensor reaches detection limits as low as 6.1, 3.8, and 8.5 nM for the determination of MXF, PAR, and VC, respectively. Large peak potential separations of 280 and 600 mV between VC-PAR and PAR-MXF are attained. The analysis of drugs in pharmaceutical formulations and serum samples is effectively realized with accepted recovery percentages.