Enzymatic rotating biosensor for ciprofloxacin determination

The high sensitivity that can be attained using an enzymatic system and mediated by catechol has been verified by on-line interfacing of a rotating biosensor and continuous flow/stopped-flow/continuous-flow processing. Horseradish peroxidase, HRP [EC 1.11.1.7], immobilized on a rotating disk, in the presence of hydrogen peroxide, catalyzed the oxidation of catechol, whose back electrochemical reduction was detected on a glassy carbon electrode surface at −200 mV. Thus, when ciprofloxacin (CF) was added to the solution, this piperazine-containing compound participate in Michael addition reactions with catechol to form the corresponding piperazine–quinone derivatives, decreasing the peak current obtained, in proportion with the increase of its concentration. The highest response for CF was obtained around pH 7. This method could be used to determine CF concentration in the range of 0.02–65 μM (r = 0.999). The determination of CF concentration was possible with a detection limit of 0.4 nM, in the processing of as many as 25 samples per hour. Application of this analysis to different pharmaceutical samples containing CF supports the utility of the HRP-rotating biosensor.