Acetylsalicylic acid assisted hydrothermal growth of NiO, CuO and Co3O4 nanostructures and their application in the electro-catalytic determination of nalbuphine hydrochloride

This study describes the hydrothermal synthesis of NiO, CuO and Co3O4 nanostructures using acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) as a growth-controlling/directing agent. The as-synthesised nanostructures were shown to possess unique structural features and distinct morphologies, portraying the efficiency of ASA as a suitable growth modifier. The formed metal oxide nanostructures, when used for electrode modification purposes, exhibited excellent electro-catalytic capabilities against the oxidation of nelbuphine hydrochloride (NAL) in aqueous buffer solution. The modified electrodes exhibited distinct electrochemical characteristics, with CuO-based electrodes exhibiting a superior signal sensitivity and lower over-potential value compared to the NiO and Co3O4 nanostructures. The study further explores the variation in the observed electro-catalytic oxidation signal referenced to the distinct morphologies of the metal oxides nanostructures. The CuO-based electrode was selected for the sensitive quantification of NAL in aqueous solution over the linear range 0.001-2.25 μM. The electrode demonstrated excellent working linearity, with signal sensitivity achieved down to 1 × 10− 4 μM. Moreover, the successful quantification of NAL in complex matrices, such as human urine and clinical waste water, further reflected the analytical capability of the proposed sensor.