Multi-walled carbon nanotubes/Nafion composite film modified electrode as a sensor for simultaneous determination of ondansetron and morphine

The electrochemical behavior of ondansetron was studied on the multi-walled carbon nanotubes/Nafion polymer composite modified glassy carbon electrode (MWCNTs–Nafion/GCE). The oxidation peak potential was shifted from 1.32 V to 1.18 V compared to the bare electrode indicating excellent electrocatalytic activity of immobilized film toward drug molecule. The modified electrode exhibited a remarkable enhancement effect on voltammetric response due to the synergistic effect of nanomaterial and cation-exchange polymer on the electron transfer rate, the effective electrode area and the accumulation capability. After optimizing the experimental parameters, adsorptive stripping procedure was used for the determination of ondansetron in pharmaceutical formulation. The results were satisfactory in comparison with those obtained by high-performance liquid chromatography. In addition, the MWCNTs–Nafion/GCE exhibited high selectivity in the voltammetric measurements of ondansetron and co-administrated drug morphine with potential difference of 430 mV. The response peak currents had linear relationship with drug concentration in the range of 1.0×10−7–5.0×10−6 M and 1.0×10−7–4.0×10−6 M with detection limits 3.1×10−8 and 3.2×10−8 M for ondansetron and morphine, respectively. The electrode was successfully applied for simultaneous electrochemical sensing of both drugs in human serum samples after selective accumulation at the electrode surface.