A highly sensitive nano-structured sensor for electrocatalytic detection of pentoxifylline drug in environmental and biological samples

Lead titanate nano-sized powders were synthesized using citric acid gel method. The nanopowders were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Then, a nanocomposite system based on lead titanate nanopowders and carbon paste electrode (CPE) was designed and applied for determination of pentoxifylline (PTX). The measurements were performed by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) techniques. The prepared nanostructured electrode showd voltammetric responses with high sensitivity and selectivity for PTX. Analytical parameters such as repeatability, stability and linear dynamic range were also examined and a limit of detection of 2.1 nM was achieved. After investigation the effect of probable interferences in determination of PTX, it was found that the proposed method was free of the interferences. Finally, the proposed method was successfully applied for analysis of PTX in environmental and biological samples.