Design of a pebbles-like erbium stannate integrated with graphene nanoribbons for the anti-cancer drug nilutamide detection in water and biological samples

Abstract

The invention of antibiotics revolutionized modern medicine, yet their unchecked usage poses risks to the environment and human health. Nilutamide (NLT), an anti-androgen drug for prostate cancer, undergoes hepatic metabolism, producing harmful by-products. Recent studies have detected elevated NLT levels in ecosystems, demanding comprehensive monitoring. Electrochemical sensors have evolved, offering compact, sensitive, and selective detection. Integration of nanotechnology has further enhanced these sensors, particularly graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) and pyrochlore oxides like erbium stannate (Er2Sn2O7). This study focuses on fabricating a GNR/Er2Sn2O7 nanocomposite-modified electrode and proposing its application for NLT detection in water and human samples. The nanocomposite's hierarchical arrangement, facilitated by synergistic effects and quantum confinement within the hybrid heterojunction, enhances the electrode modifier's activation, enabling the detection of NLT with an outstanding limit of detection (LOD) as well as a wide linear range and appreciable recoveries in real samples.