Oxidized multi-walled carbon nanotubes for improving the electrocatalytic activity of a benzofuran derivative modified electrode

In the present paper, the use of a novel carbon paste electrode modified by 7,8-dihydroxy-3,3,6-trimethyl-3,4- dihydrodibenzo[b,d]furan-1(2H)-one (DTD) and oxidized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (OCNTs) is described for determination of levodopa (LD), acetaminophen (AC) and tryptophan (Trp) by a simple and rapid method. At first, the electrochemical behavior of DTD is studied, then, the mediated oxidation of LD at the modified electrode is investigated. At the optimum pH of 7.4, the oxidation of LD occurs at a potential about 330 mV less positive than that of an unmodified carbon paste electrode. Based on differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), the oxidation current of LD exhibits a linear range between 1.0 and 2000.0 μM of LD with a detection limit (3σ) of 0.36 μM. DPV was also used for simultaneous determination of LD, AC and Trp at the modified electrode. Finally, the proposed electrochemical sensor was used for determinations of these substances in human serum sample.