The nanocrystalline coordination polymer of AMT-Ag for an effective detection of ciprofloxacin hydrochloride in pharmaceutical formulation and biological fluid

The present report highlights a cost effective and portable AMT-Ag nanocrystalline coordination polymer (NCCP) based electrochemical sensor for an efficient sensing of biologically active drug molecule ciprofloxacin hydrochloride (CFX). The AMT-Ag NCCP, is synthesized using an easily accessible organic ligand 2-amino-5-mercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole (AMT) with silver nitrate. In the infinite polymer array of AMT-Ag, silver (I) centers are bridged by tecton AMT through the exocyclic thiol and amino linkage. A successful ultra‒trace detection of CFX has been achieved due to the prominent electron channeling through the pores of polymeric nano-crystallites. The efficient charge transfer arises at the interface of electrolyte and AMT-Ag nano-crystals anchored electrode through hydrophobic interaction and π-π electron coupling. The voltammogram reveals the critical redox features of CFX and provides a clear representation about the steps involved in the AMT-Ag assisted oxidation of CFX. This specific signature further applied in the voltammetric assay of CFX in pharmaceutical formulation (eye drops) and biological fluid (urine) by a significantly high sensitivity (0.002 µA/µM and 0.007 µA/µM) and detection limit (22 nM and 60 nM) respectively without any interference. Therefore, the developed AMT-Ag NCCP could serve as a highly valuable platform for the fabrication of high-performance electrochemical sensors for the detection of biologically important drug molecules.