Facile stripping voltammetric determination of haloperidol using a high performance magnetite/carbon nanotube paste electrode in pharmaceutical and biological samples

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes decorated with Fe3O4 nanoparticles were prepared to construct a novel sensor for the determination of haloperidol (Hp) by voltammetric methods. The morphology and properties of electrode surface were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. This modified sensor was used as a selective electrochemical sensor for the determination of trace amounts of Hp. The peak currents of differential pulse and square wave voltammograms of Hp increased linearly with its concentration in the ranges of 1.2 × 10− 3–0.52 and 6.5 × 10− 4–0.52 μmol L− 1, respectively. The detection limits for Hp were 7.02 × 10− 4 and 1.33 × 10− 4 μmol L− 1 for differential pulse and square wave voltammetric methods, respectively. The results show that the combination of multi-walled carbon nanotubes and Fe3O4 nanoparticles causes a dramatic enhancement in the sensitivity of Hp quantification. This sensor was successfully applied to determine Hp in pharmaceutical samples and biological fluids. The fabricated electrode showed excellent reproducibility, repeatability and stability.