A dysprosium nanowire modified carbon paste electrode for determination of levodopa using fast Fourier transformation square-wave voltammetry method.

A new detection technique called the fast Fourier transform square-wave voltammetry (FFT-SWV) is based on the measurements of electrode admittance as a function of potential. The response of the detector (microelectrode) is fast, which makes the method suitable for most applications involving flowing electrolytes. The carbon paste electrode was modified by nanostructures to improve better sensitivity. The response is generated by a redox processes. The redox property of L-dopa was used for determination of it in human serum and urine samples. The support electrolyte that provided a more defined and intense peak current for L-dopa determination was at 0.05 mol l(-1) acetate buffer pH 7.0. Synthesized dysprosium nanowires make more effective surface like nanotubes [P.M. Ajayan, S. Iijima, Nature 361 (1993) 333; I.A. Merkoc, Microchim. Acta 152 (2006) 157; F.H. Wu, G.C. Zhao, X.W. Wei, Z.S. Yang, Microchim. Acta 144 (2004) 243; L. Liu, J. Song, Anal. Biochem. 354 (2006) 22] so they are good candidates for using as a modifier for electrochemical reactions. The drug presented one irreversible oxidation peaks at 360 mV versus Ag/AgCl by modified nanowire carbon paste electrode which produced high current and reduced the oxidation potential about 80 mV. Furthermore, signal-to-noise ratio has significantly increased by application of discrete fast Fourier transform (FFT) method, background subtraction and two-dimensional integration of the electrode response over a selected potential range and time window. To obtain the much sensitivity the effective parameters such as frequency, amplitude and pH was optimized. As a result, C(DL) of 4.0 x 10(-9)M and an LOQ of 7.0 x 10(-9) M were found for determination for L-dopa. A good recovery was obtained for assay spiked urine samples and a good quantification of L-dopa was achieved in a commercial formulation.