Electrochemical determination of antiviral drug Famciclovir in human serum samples at boron-doped diamond electrode

At a Glance

Metadata	Details
Publication Date	2022-06-21
Journal	Turkish Journal of Analytical Chemistry
Authors	Çiğdem Kanbeş Dindar
Citations	2
Analysis	Full AI Review Included

Technical Documentation & Analysis: Boron-Doped Diamond for Electrochemical Drug Determination

Executive Summary

This research successfully validates the use of Boron-Doped Diamond Electrodes (BDDE) for the highly sensitive and reproducible determination of the antiviral drug Famciclovir in human serum using Differential Pulse Voltammetry (DPV).

Superior Material Performance: BDDE demonstrated chemical inertness and a wide electrochemical potential range, enabling stable, reproducible measurements across a broad pH range (2.0-10.0).
High Sensitivity Achieved: The method yielded ultra-low limits of detection (LOD) of 0.022 µM in standard solution and 0.42 µM in human serum, significantly outperforming previously reported voltammetric methods.
Diffusion-Controlled Process: The oxidation behavior of Famciclovir at the BDDE surface was confirmed to be irreversible and diffusion-controlled, validating the electrode’s stability.
Green Analytical Chemistry: The proposed BDDE-based DPV method offers a simple, cost-effective, and eco-friendly alternative to complex, solvent-intensive chromatographic techniques (e.g., HPLC, UPLC-MS/MS) for Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM).
Complex Matrix Validation: The method was successfully applied to complex human serum samples, demonstrating its practical utility for clinical analysis without requiring time-consuming extraction or separation steps.

Technical Specifications

The following hard data points were extracted from the electrochemical analysis conducted using the Boron-Doped Diamond Electrode (BDDE):

Parameter	Value	Unit	Context
Electrode Material	Boron-Doped Diamond (BDDE)	N/A	Working Electrode
Electrode Diameter	3	mm	Commercial Electrode Used
Optimal Working pH	4.7	N/A	Acetate Buffer Solution (ABS)
pH Range Tested	2.0 - 10.0	N/A	BR, Phosphate, Acetate Buffers
LOD (Standard Solution)	0.022	µM	Differential Pulse Voltammetry (DPV)
LOD (Human Serum)	0.42	µM	Differential Pulse Voltammetry (DPV)
LDR (Standard Solution)	0.5 - 12	µM	Linear Dynamic Range
LDR (Human Serum)	6 - 100	µM	Linear Dynamic Range
Oxidation Process	Irreversible, Diffusion-Controlled	N/A	Confirmed by CV scan rate studies
DPV Step Potential	10	mV	Electrochemical Parameter
DPV Modulation Amplitude	50	mV	Electrochemical Parameter
DPV Modulation Time	50	ms	Electrochemical Parameter
DPV Interval Time	500	ms	Electrochemical Parameter
CV Scan Rate Range	5 - 1000	mVs^-1	Used to determine reaction control

Key Methodologies

The electrochemical determination relied on precise material preparation and optimized DPV parameters:

Instrumentation: Measurements were performed using an AUTOLAB 204 PGSTAT electrochemical analyzer in a three-electrode configuration.
Electrode Setup: The system utilized a 3 mm BDDE working electrode, an Ag/AgCl (3 M NaCl) reference electrode, and a platinum wire auxiliary electrode.
Electrode Surface Preparation: The BDDE surface was mechanically cleaned before each measurement using alumina powder and a polishing cloth to ensure high reproducibility and minimize surface contamination.
Electrolyte Selection: The optimal supporting electrolyte was determined to be 0.1 M Acetate Buffer Solution (ABS) at pH 4.7, which provided the best peak symmetry and highest current intensity.
Serum Sample Preparation: Protein precipitation was achieved by mixing serum, drug stock solution, and acetonitrile, followed by 15 minutes of sonication and 20 minutes of centrifugation at 5000 rpm. The supernatant was then used for electrochemical analysis.
Voltammetric Analysis: Differential Pulse Voltammetry (DPV) was the primary quantification technique, optimized with a 50 mV modulation amplitude and 10 mV step potential. Cyclic Voltammetry (CV) was used to investigate the oxidation mechanism and scan rate dependence.

6CCVD Solutions & Capabilities

The successful replication and extension of this high-sensitivity electrochemical drug detection method require premium, highly controlled Boron-Doped Diamond (BDD) materials. 6CCVD is uniquely positioned to supply the necessary custom BDD substrates and engineering support.

Research Requirement	6CCVD Solution & Capability	Technical Advantage for Replication/Extension
Material: High-Quality Boron-Doped Diamond (BDDE)	Heavy Boron-Doped Diamond (BDD) Wafers. We specialize in MPCVD growth of BDD, offering precise control over boron concentration and material resistivity.	Guarantees the wide potential window, low background current, and long-term stability essential for sensitive DPV analysis in complex biological matrices.
Electrode Size: 3 mm diameter disc	Custom Dimensions & Precision Laser Cutting. 6CCVD provides custom plates/wafers up to 125 mm and offers in-house laser cutting services to achieve precise geometries (e.g., 3 mm, 5 mm, or custom micro-electrode arrays).	Allows researchers to rapidly prototype and scale electrode designs beyond standard commercial sizes, optimizing surface area for specific current densities.
Surface Finish: Requirement for reproducible, clean surface	Ultra-High Quality Polishing (Ra < 1 nm). Our SCD and PCD materials achieve exceptional surface finishes, crucial for minimizing adsorption and maximizing signal-to-noise ratio in voltammetry.	Ensures the high repeatability and reproducibility (RSD% < 2.5%) demonstrated in the paper, reducing the risk of electrode fouling observed during repetitive scans.
Future Scaling: Integration into microfluidics or sensors	Custom Metalization Services. We offer internal metalization capabilities (Au, Pt, Pd, Ti, W, Cu) for creating robust electrical contacts or integrating BDD into micro-electrochemical systems.	Facilitates the transition from bench-scale R&D to integrated sensor platforms for continuous or high-throughput Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM).
Material Thickness: Robust Substrates	SCD/PCD/BDD Substrates up to 10 mm thick. We provide robust, thick diamond substrates suitable for durable electrochemical cell construction.	Offers mechanical stability and excellent thermal management, crucial for maintaining performance during high-current or high-volume testing.

Engineering Support

6CCVD’s in-house PhD team can assist with material selection, doping level optimization, and surface preparation protocols for similar electrochemical drug determination projects. Leveraging our expertise in MPCVD diamond growth ensures that researchers receive materials tailored precisely to their analytical needs.

For custom specifications or material consultation, visit 6ccvd.com or contact our engineering team directly.

View Original Abstract

The electrochemical oxidation of famciclovir was investigated in pH range 2.0-10.0 using differential pulse voltammetry at boron-doped diamond electrode. The experimental results from pH and scan rate studies showed that the oxidation behavior of famciclovir at boron doped diamond electrode was irreversible and diffusion-controlled. Also, by using differential pulse technique at electrode, the anodic peak current is obtained to be linear over the range of concentration 0.5 µM - 12 µM and 6 µM - 100 µM in pH 4.7 acetate buffer solution (ABS) for standard drug solution and human serum, respectively. Limits of detection were 0.022 µM and 0.42 µM for standard drug solution and human serum, respectively. The repeatability, reproducibility, selectivity, precision and accuracy of developed method in all media were investigated and calculated. This method was successfully applied for the analysis of famciclovir human serum samples.

Tech Support

Original Source

DOI: https://doi.org/10.51435/turkjac.1105730