A step toward Molnupiravir, COVID-19 Antiviral, detection using Cauliflower-Like cobalt Sulfide-Decorated carbon nanotube modified glassy carbon electrodes

Abstract

Inhibiting the replication of COVID-19 viruses, Molnupiravir (MOL) has drawn extensive attention as an efficient antiviral medication during the global coronavirus pandemic. Adjusting the antiviral drug dosage is at the leading edge of achieving the optimum therapeutic effects while avoiding unwanted side effects. Developing inexpensive, highly-sensitive analytical methods, benefiting from high reliability and fast response of prime significance in monitoring and quality control of MOL in various matrices. Herein, an innovative strategy is developed to fabricate high-performance MOL sensing platforms through a facile and scalable approach. Accordingly, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are first drop-casted on the surface of glassy carbon electrode. Afterward, cauliflower-like cobalt sulfide nanosheets are electrodeposited onto the MWCNT-casted electrode. The MOL-sensing ability of the prepared sensing platforms is evaluated using various electrochemical methods. Under the optimal experimental conditions, two linear responses within broad detection ranges of 0.5 – 16 µM and 16 – 90 µM are obtained using the linear sweep voltammetry technique. A detection limit of 0.16 µM with a maximum sensitivity of 0.63 µA µM−1 in parallel to a relative standard deviation of 6.3 % is also achieved. Having the merit of high MOL sensitivity compared to other coexist interferences in human body fluids, together with fast response time, long-term stability, excellent repeatability, and high reproducibility, makes the fabricated electrode promising for reliable, fast, and accurate MOL monitoring.