Detection of anticancer drug tamoxifen using biosensor based on polyaniline probe modified with horseradish peroxidase

Amperometric biosensor based on horseradish peroxidase immobilized via glutaraldehyde on the polyaniline modified platinum electrode shows evidenced promising characteristics in detecting anticancer drug tamoxifen. The sensor was fabricated simply by adsorbing horseradish peroxidase enzyme on the electrode surface for which Cyclic Voltammetry was used to monitor the electro-catalytic reduction of tamoxifen under diffusion-adsorption controlled conditions. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Cyclic Voltammetry and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopic techniques are used to characterize the electrochemical interfacial properties of surface modified electrodes. The first-hand effort on modified biosensor within Platinum/Polyaniline/Horseradish peroxidase biosensor system has demonstrated excellent electro-analytical properties with biosensor sensitivity of 1.6 μA ng mL− 1. The optimum limit of detection and limit of quantification are 0.07 ng mL− 1 and 0.29 ng mL− 1 respectively for the determination of anticancer drug tamoxifen. It is felt that the present study will help in improving our knowledge of cost-effective quantitative determination of tamoxifen in metabolized biological fluids and other pharmaceutical formulations.

► A sensitive and specific biosensor method for the determination of tamoxifen.
► The proposed method has a potential of a good analytical alternative.
► The method can be adopted for pharmacokinetic and quality control studies.