Electrochemical behavior of atenolol, carvedilol and propranolol on copper-oxide nanoparticles

Graphical abstract: General morphologies of synthesized CuO nanoflowers. A large number of CuO nanoflowers agglomerates with a uniform size of about 1–2 μm. An individual flower-like nanostructure is shown in the inset, which demonstrates that the CuO nanostructures with flower-like shapes are composed of many interconnected sheet-like crystallites with thicknesses in the range of 30 nm. Highlights: ► We prepared a new electrochemical sensor for determination of atenolol, carvedilol and propranolol. ► We exam ability of copper-oxide nanoparticles for electrocatalytical oxidation of β-blockers. ► Micromolar concentrations of above β-blockers were determined by differential pulse voltammetry method. ► The prepared modified electrode can be used as a chronoamperometric detector for β-blockers determination in a flow system. - Abstract: The electrochemical behavior of atenolol, carvedilol and propranolol was investigated on copper-oxide nanoparticle modified carbon paste electrodes. The process of oxidation and its kinetics were established by using cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry techniques and also steady state polarization measurements. The results revealed that copper-oxide nanoparticle promotes the rate of oxidation by increasing the peak current, so these drugs are oxidized at lower potentials. The apparent electron transfer rate constant (Ks) and transfer coefficient (a) were determined by cyclic voltammetry and were approximately 7.1 s−1 and 0.49, respectively. The modified electrodes showed excellent catalytic activity towards the oxidation of β-blockers at an unusually positive potential in buffer solution. The linear concentration range of the proposed sensor for the atenolol, carvedilol and propranolol detection were 12–96, 5–37, and 10–104 μM, respectively.