Development and application of electrochemical sensor based on molecularly imprinted polymer and carbon nanotubes for the determination of carvedilol

Abstract

This work describes the preparation of a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) for determination of carvedilol (CAR). Electrochemical behavior of CAR on the modified electrode was evaluated using cyclic voltammetry. The best composition was found to be 65% (m/m) of MIP. Under optimized conditions (pH 8.5 in 0.25 mol·L-1 Britton-Robinson buffer and 0.1 mol·L-1 KCl) the voltammetric method showed a linear response for CAR in the range of 50-325 μmol·L-1 (R = 0.9755), with detection and quantification limits of 16.14 μmol·L-1 and 53.8 μmol·L-1, respectively. The developed method was successfully applied for determination of CAR in real samples of pharmaceuticals. The sensor presented good sensitivity, rapid detection of CAR, and quick and easy preparation. Furthermore, the material used as modifier has a simple synthesis and its amount utilized is very small, thus illustrating the economic feasibility of this sensor.