Application of Carbon Nanotubes Modified Electrode in Pharmaceutical Analysis

Abstract

The development of electrochemical sensors has attracted considerable attention as a lowcost method to the sensitive detection of a variety of pharmaceutical analytes. Since the discovery of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in 1991 [1], research on CNTs has grown rapidly. In recent years, CNTs have also been used as electrode modified materials because CNTs offer unique advantages including enhanced electronic properties, a large edge plane/basal plane ratio, and electron transfer reactions [2]. Thus, CNTs-based sensors generally have higher sensitivities in a low concentration or in the complex matrix, lower limits of detection, and faster electron transfer kinetics than traditional carbon electrodes. Many factors need to be investigated in order to create an optimal CNTs-based sensor. Electrode performance can be influenced by the pretreatment of the nanotube, CNTs surface modification, the method of electrode attachment, and the addition of electron mediators. With the further development of CNTs and nanotechnology, studies on preparation, properties and application of CNTs-based modified electrodes have still been a hot topic attracting lots of researchers in the world. This article is presented on the application of CNTs modified electrode in different pharmaceutical analytes, which mainly includes the electrochemical studies on weak basic pharmaceuticals, weak acidic pharmaceuticals and other related small biological molecules. The physical and catalytic properties make CNTs ideal for use in sensors. Most notably, CNTs display high electrical conductivity, chemical stability, and mechanical strength.