Nitrogen doped carbon nanofibers loaded with hierarchical vanadium tetrasulfide for the voltammetric detection of the non-steroidal anti-prostate cancer drug nilutamide.

An electrochemical sensor is described for the determination of nilutamide (NLM) in biological fluids. A flexible mat of nitrogen-doped carbon nanofibers (NCNFs) was prepared by electrospinning. This was followed by carbonization and the growth of one-dimensional vanadium tetrasulfide (VS4) nanorods in the circumference of the NCNFs by a solvothermal route. The material was used to modify a glassy carbon electrode (GCE). Cyclic voltammetry and amperometry revealed an excellent electrocatalytic activity of the VS4/NCNF mat towards NLM at a working potential of - 0.57 V (vs Ag/AgCl). The modified GCE has a wide linear range (0.001-760 μM), a low limit of detection (90 pM), good stability, and fast response. It was used to detect NLM in spiked serum and urine samples. Graphical abstract Schematic presentation of a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) composed of free-standing nitrogen-doped carbon nanofibers decorated with vanadium tetrasulfide (Patronite) nanorods (VS4/NCNF). It was fabricated by electrospinning followed by stabilization and carbonization. The GCE responds to nilutamide (NLM) with excellent selectivity and nanomolar sensitivity.