Multiwalled carbon nanotubes decorated with bismuth (III) oxide for electrochemical detection of an antipyretic and analgesic drug paracetamol in biological samples

Abstract Background In the present work, an electrochemical sensor for detection of paracetamol was fabricated by modifying a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) using multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) decorated with bismuth oxide (Bi2O3) based on using the drop dry technique. Methods The prepared composite electrode was characterized by scanning electron microscopy–energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM–EDS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and cyclic voltammetry (CV). Electrochemical techniques such as cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry, and square wave voltammetry (SWV) were used to study the behavior of paracetamol. Results The modification process improved the redox kinetics of paracetamol as shown by increased peak currents. The peak current varied linearly with increment of paracetamol concentration in the range of 0.02 to 28 μM with a sensitivity of 1.133 μA μM−1. A detection limit of 0.0052 μM was obtained. Conclusion The proposed method was successfully applied to determination of paracetamol in biological samples with recoveries in the range 94.3–98.7%.