Electrochemical detection of anticancer drug topotecan using nano-acetylene black film

Topotecan, a novel anticancer drug, has been widely used in the treatment of ovarian and cervical cancers. Herein, acetylene black (AB) nanoparticles were used to modify the electrode surface, and the electrochemical behavior of topotecan was examined. At the AB film surface, an irreversible oxidation peak was observed for topotecan, and the response signal greatly increased. The influences of pH value, amount of AB, accumulation potential and time were investigated. As a result, a novel electrochemical method with high sensitivity and rapid response was developed for the detection of topotecan. The linear range is from 2 μg L−1 to 0.4 mg L−1, and the limit of detection is 1.45 μg L−1 (or 3.17 × 10−9 M). The method was successfully used to detect topotecan in blood serum, and the results consisted with the values that obtained by high performance liquid chromatography.