A highly sensitive metronidazole sensor based on a Pt nanospheres/polyfurfural film modified electrode

Abstract

In this contribution, we combine the advantages of both Pt nanospheres and polyfurfural film and successfully develop a novel Pt nanospheres/polyfurfural film modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) for electrochemical sensing of a nitro group containing pentatomic cyclic compound, metronidazole. In particular, the polyfurfural film and Pt nanospheres were handily obtained by a one-step electropolymerization method and a potential step method, respectively. Benefiting from their excellent synergistic catalytical properties, the Pt nanospheres/polyfurfural film/GCE shows significantly enhanced electrocatalytic activity towards metronidazole. A series of experimental parameters including the electropolymerization cycles of furfural, the deposition time of platinum, accumulation time, accumulation potential and pH of the supporting electrolyte for metronidazole was also investigated and optimized. The proposed sensor exhibited excellent selectivity, stability and reproducibility for the determination of metronidazole, providing a wide linear detection range from 2.5 to 500 μmol dm⁻³ and a low detection limit of 50 nmol dm⁻³ (S/N = 3) under optimal experimental conditions. When the proposed sensor was applied to determine metronidazole in real human serum samples, it gave a satisfactory result.