Facile fabrication of a novel disposable pencil graphite electrode for simultaneous determination of promising immunosuppressant drugs mycophenolate mofetil and tacrolimus in human biological fluids.

An innovative electrochemical sensor was proposed for simultaneous determination of mycophenolate mofetil (Mph) and tacrolimus (TAC) for the first time. A novel sensor based on electro-polymerization of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and a novel Cu-1N-allyl-2-(2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-4,5-diphenyl-1H-imidazole metal organic framework (Cu-ADPPI MOF) on disposable pencil graphite electrode (dPGE). Many techniques were used to characterize the electrochemical activity and surface structure of the fabricated sensor. The proposed sensor exhibited good catalytic performance towards Mph and TAC oxidation due to the synergistic effect. Under optimal conditions, the proposed sensor has achieved a linear range of 0.85-155 × 10-8 M and 1.1-170.0 × 10-8 M with LODs of 0.28 × 10-8 M and 0.36 × 10-8 M for Mph and TAC, respectively. The designated sensor showed good reproducibility, repeatability, stability, and selectivity for the determination of Mph and TAC. Moreover, the simultaneous determination of Mph and TAC in different human biological fluids was carried out with acceptable results. As a result, the proposed sensor opens a new venue for the use of electro-polymerized MOFs in combination with other conductive materials such as MWCNTs for electrochemical sensing of different analytes with the desired sensitivity and selectivity. Graphical abstract Construction of disposable graphite electrode, based on electro-deposition of multilayer films of multi-walled carbon nanotubes and a new generation of Cu-MOFs, for simultaneous analysis of tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil for the first time.