One-pot synthesis of cerium doped 3D ZnO nano-flowers modified on glassy carbon electrode as portable electro-chemical sensing platform for sensitive detection of methotrexate as an anticancer drug

Abstract

• Cerium doped ZnO nano-flowers were characterized by XRD, SEM and EDX. • Ce 3+ -ZnO nano-flowers was used for modified glassy carbon electrode. • This modified electrode was used for the determination of methotrexate. Ce-doped ZnO catalysts were synthesized for the first time with simplistic hydrothermal method and characterized by XRD, SEM and EDX. The impact of cerium amount (0, 6 and 12%) on the structure and morphology of Ce-doped ZnO catalyst was investigated. According to the findings, the as-synthesized Ce-doped ZnO has nano-flower structures, big pore volumes and high surface area. In addition, an electro-chemical sensor has been constructed based on Ce-doped ZnO nano-flowers modified-glassy carbon electrode. Electro-chemical detection of methotrexate that is used as an anticancer medicine is conducted by the modified electrode. Electro-chemical methods for examining electro-chemical behaviors of methotrexate on the modified electrode surfaces have been chronoamperometry, cyclic voltammetry, and differential pulse voltammetry. This research findings demonstrated the synergetic impact of Ce-doped ZnO nano-flowers on the oxidation of methotrexate via declining oxidation over-potential and enhancing oxidation peak current. When instrumental and experimental conditions have been optimized, the suggested electro-chemical sensor has been used to measure methotrexate in the range between 0.01–500.0 μM with a detection limit of 6.3 nM. Sensitiveness and functionality of the suggested electro-chemical sensor toward methotrexate have been explored by analyzing pharmaceutical ampoules, which was accompanied by acceptable outcomes.