Screen-printed biosensor based on the inhibition of the acetylcholinesterase activity for the determination of codeine

The current paper presents the chronoamperometric determination of codeine using screen-printed carbon electrodes that incorporate tetrathiafulvalene in the matrix of the working electrode, as mediator, and cross-linked acetylcholinesterase. Applying a potential of +250 mV, a 1 mM solution of acetylthiocholine in electrolyte solution pH 7 gives an oxidation signal due to the dimerization of its metabolite after the reaction with the enzyme. This electrochemical signal is decreased by consecutive additions of a solution of codeine, which allows the performance of curves of calibration for the validation of this electrochemical method, giving a reproducibility of 3.31% (n=6) and a capability of detection of 20 µM. This type of inhibition has been studied by means of a Lineweaver–Burk plot. Additionally, the developed biosensor was used for the determination of the quantity of codeine in pharmaceutical commercial tablets and urine samples.