Synthesis, characterization and application of novel nano-materials for the electrochemical determination of antimalarial drugs.

Abstract

ABSTRACT This thesis reports the development of electroanalytical methods applicable for determination of selected antimalarial drugs; primaquine, mefloquine and amodiaquine. The electrochemical behaviour of the drugs were carried out using three differently modified glassy carbon electrodes (GCE) as working electrodes. First working electrode was modified using synthesized gold nano-urchins (AuNU/GCE) and was used for the determination of mefloquine and primaquine separately. The second and third working electrodes were both used for the quantification of amodiaquine and were modified using the following composites; multi-walled carbon nanotubes with poly(methyl orange) (MWCNT/PMO/GCE) and gold nanoparticles decorated graphene oxide with poly-cysteamine (rGO-AuNP/Poly-Cyst/GCE). All measurements were carried out with a Ag/AgCl (3 M KCl)) reference using cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) linear sweep voltammetry (LSV), differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) and square wave voltammetry (SWV). The designed sensors showed enhanced voltammetric responses and very low limits of detection which are attributed to the high surface area and high conductivity of the nanomaterials. The proposed sensors also demonstrated practical utility in quantification of the antimalarial drug in pharmaceutical formulations and human urine sample. Thus, the present study demonstrates a promising and alternative approach for clinical analysis and quality control of primaquine, mefloquine and amodiaquine.