Voltammetric analysis of certain 4-quinolones in pharmaceuticals and biological fluids

The voltammetric behaviour of Enrofloxacin (I), Sparfloxacin (II) and Fleroxacin (III) was studied using direct current (DCt), differential pulse (DPP) and alternating current (AC(t)). All the drugs manifest cathodic waves in Britton-Robinson buffer over the pH range of 4.0-11.98. The waves were characterized as being irreversible, diffusion-controlled with limited adsorption properties. The diffusion current-concentration relationships were found to be rectilinear over the ranges 4 x 10(-5) - 5 x 10(-4) M, 1 x 10(-5) - 2 x 10(-4) M, 1 x 10(-5) - 4 x 10(-4) M using DCt mode for I, II and III, respectively and 1 x 10(-6)-4 x 10(-5) M. 1 x 10(-6)-1 x 10(-4) M. and 2 x 10(-6)-8 x 10(-5) M, using DPP mode For I. II and III respectively, with minimum detectability (S/N = 3) of 1 x 10(-7); M for I, II and 2 x 10(-7) M for III. The proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of the studied compounds either per se or in formulations and biological fluids. The results obtained were concordant to those given using reference methods. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.