An ultra-sensitive electrochemical sensor based on MOF-derived ZnO/Co3O4 decorated on graphene for low-level monitoring of the α1-AR antagonist alfuzosin in tablets and human samples

Abstract

We present a novel electrochemical sensor for the detection of alfuzosin (AFZ), an alpha1-adrenoceptor (α₁-AR) antagonist using metal–organic framework (MOF)-derived zinc oxide/cobalt oxide (ZnO/Co₃O₄) decorated on graphene (Gr). The co-precipitation method was utilized to synthesize a binary metal oxide derived from the MOF, and then ultrasonication was employed to prepare the ZnO/Co₃O₄@Gr nanocomposite. The prepared ZnO/Co₃O₄@Gr nanocomposite was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), attenuated total reflectance-infrared (ATR-IR) spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM). The nanocomposite was modified on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) to construct an electrochemical AFZ sensor, which exhibited a linear range of 0.05–40 μM and a low limit of detection (LOD) of 0.004 μM. The sensor showed good selectivity, as well as excellent reproducibility and storage stability. We also conducted the real sample analysis of the modified electrode for the detection of AFZ in pharmaceutical tablets, human serum, and urine samples, which delivered adequate recoveries. The ZnO/Co₃O₄@Gr nanocomposite-based electrochemical sensor is a promising candidate for the efficient and accurate detection of AFZ, owing to its superior sensitivity, selectivity, reproducibility, and stability.