A promising electrochemical sensing platform based on copper nanoparticles-decorated polymer in carbon nanotube electrode for monitoring methimazole

In this paper, a novel and convenient electrochemical sensor for detection of methimazole (MMI) by differential pulse voltammetry is presented. This sensor was fabricated by dripping well-dispersed MWCNTs onto glassy carbon electrode (GCE) surface, and then poly-L-Arg (P-L-Arg) film was deposited on the electrode. Finally, Cu nanoparticles (CuNPs) were electrochemically deposited on the resulting film by using cyclic voltammetry to prepare CuNPs-P-L-Arg/MWCNTs/GCE. The surface morphology of the electrodes has been studied by scanning electron microscopy. Studies reveal that the irreversible oxidation of MMI was highly facile on CuNPs-P-L-Arg/MWCNTs/GCE. The dynamic detection range of this sensor to MMI was 5.2–50 µM, with the detection limit of 2 µM. A new voltammetric method for determination of MMI was erected and shows good sensitivity and selectivity, very easy surface update and good stability. The analytical application of the modified electrode is demonstrated by determining MMI in biological fluids (serum).