Differential pulse voltammetric determination of atenolol in pharmaceutical formulations and urine using nanogold modified indium tin oxide electrode

A gold nanoparticles modified indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode has been used for the determination of atenolol (ATN) in drug formulations and urine by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). Compared to a bare ITO electrode, the nanogold modified electrode exhibited an apparent shift of the oxidation potential in the less positive direction and a marked enhancement in the current response for ATN. Linear calibration curve was obtained in the range 0.5 μM to 1.0 mM in 1.0 M phosphate buffer solution (pH 7.2) with a correlation coefficient of 0.9965. The detection limit of atenolol in the standard solution (pH 7.2) is estimated to be 0.13 μM. The percentage recoveries ranged from 95.7% to 105.2%. The practical analytical utility of the method is illustrated by quantitative determination of ATN in several commercially available pharmaceutical formulations and urine, without any preliminary treatment.