Graphene Based Electrochemical Sensor for Detection and Quantification of Dopaminergic Agonist Drug Pramipexole: An Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy and Atomic Force Microscopy Study

The oxidative behavior of pramipexole was studied at modified electrodes in various buffer solutions and at different pH values using cyclic and square wave voltammetry. Glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was modified using graphene (GRP) and bismuth (III) oxide (Bi2O3) nanoparticles. Different conditions were investigated to optimize the analytical methodology for determination of pramipexole in pharmaceutical formulation. Square-wave voltammograms of pramipexole showed higher current response at GRP/GCE, 88.66% and Bi2O3/GCE, 20.70% whereas; cyclic voltammograms at GRP/GCE, 82.94% and Bi2O3/GCE, 18.03% as compared to bare GCE. Electrochemical impedance spectra (EIS) showed the reduction in charge transfer resistance of modified electrodes and enhancement in current response due to higher electrocatalytic behavior of GRP/GCE and Bi2O3/GCE. The relationship between oxidation peak current and concentration of pramipexole was linear in the range of 40-300 ng mL(-1) with the detection limit 12.79 ng mL(-1). The morphological characteristics of GRP and Bi2O3 nanoparticles were studied by atomic force microscopy (AFM). This method was employed for quantification of pramipexole in different pharmaceutical formulations. (C) 2013 The Electrochemical Society. [DOI: 10.1149/2.010304jes] All rights reserved.