Fabrication of an electrochemical sensor based on gold nanoparticle-functionalized nanocarbon black hybrid nanocomposite for sensitive detection of anti-cancer drug formestane in biological and pharmaceutical samples

Abstract

• A novel Au@f-NCB hybrid nanocomposite was successfully synthesized and characterized. • The Au@f-NCB modified MW-GCPE exhibited superior performance toward electrosensing of FMST with high sensitivity. • The new sensor was used successively for analysis of FMST in biological fluids, Lentaron depot ampoules and plasma of patient. • Electrosensing of FMST in the presence of anticancer drug DOX was explored. A gold nanoparticle decorated functionalized nanocarbon black (Au@f-NCB) hybrid nanocomposite–modified molecular wire glassy carbon paste electrode (MW-GCPE) was constructed for sensitive determination of anticancer drug formestane (FMST) by square-wave adsorptive anodic stripping voltammetry (SW-AASV). The synthesized Au@f-NCB hybrid nanocomposite was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), and dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The fabricated Au@f-NCB/MW-GCPE was found to have higher electrocatalytic activity towards the oxidation of FMST than bare GCPE. The developed electrochemical sensor allowed the ultrasensitive and selective detection of FMST with a linear range (0.02–5.2 µM), low limit of detection (7.14 nM), and high sensitivity (90.0 μA μ M −1 cm −2 ). The constructed Au@f-NCB nanocomposite modified MW-GCPE revealed good repeatability, reproducibility, and higher stability. Furthermore, the developed sensor has been shown to be highly sensitive for detecting FMST in human fluids, Lentaron depot ampoules, and patient plasma. In addition, electrosensing of FMST in the presence of the anti-cancer chemotherapy drug doxorubicin (DOX) was explored, and simultaneous detection of the two drugs was achieved.