Development of a Diethylcarbamazine Citrate-Based Electrochemical Sensor for Quick and Affordable Detection of Sulfadiazine and Uric Acid in Environmental Monitoring

Abstract

The widespread use of antibiotics like sulfadiazine (SDZ) in various industries has raised environmental and health concerns due to their potential for bioaccumulation and the subsequent effects on human health and the environment. Diethylcarbamazine citrate (DCZ), a well-established antifilarial drug, has yet to be explored as a sensing agent despite its extensive use. This study proposes a cost-effective and efficient method for detecting SDZ and Uric acid (UA) using a DCZ-modified carbon paste electrode (poly-DCZ/MCPE). The poly-DCZ film is synthesized via cyclic voltammetry (CV) on the carbon paste electrode surface, demonstrating excellent electrocatalytic activity for SDZ and UA detection at pH 7.4. The diffusion-controlled electrode process is observed with a lower limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) for SDZ as 3.8×10−9 M and 12.94×10−9 M respectively. For UA, LOD and LOQ were found to be 6.291×10−9 M and 20.97×10−9 M respectively at the poly-DCZ/MCPE. Notably, the sensor exhibits simultaneous detection capabilities for SDZ and UA by CV and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) methods, addressing the need to monitor antibiotic residues in aquatic ecosystems and animal-derived products.