Eco-friendly and ultra-sensitive electrochemical sensor for sertraline detection in pharmaceuticals and plasma

Abstract In this work, methylene blue (MB) is electropolymerized to produce a modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) that will enhance the electrochemical determination of sertraline (SRT), a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. The entire material characterization using Fourier transform infrare...

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Main Authors: Ramy E. El-Bahnasawy, Hany A. Batakoushy, Hytham M. Ahmed
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-08-01
Series:BMC Chemistry
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13065-025-01602-2
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author Ramy E. El-Bahnasawy
Hany A. Batakoushy
Hytham M. Ahmed
author_facet Ramy E. El-Bahnasawy
Hany A. Batakoushy
Hytham M. Ahmed
author_sort Ramy E. El-Bahnasawy
collection DOAJ
description Abstract In this work, methylene blue (MB) is electropolymerized to produce a modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) that will enhance the electrochemical determination of sertraline (SRT), a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. The entire material characterization using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) verified that the polymeric film of MB dye had successfully formed on the electrode surface. The modified electrode exhibited enhanced electron transfer kinetics, exhibiting ultra-sensitive SRT detection. According to ICH guidelines, Differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) has been used to estimate the limit of detection (LOD) for SRT, with concentrations ranging from 0.5 µM to 30.0 µM. The LOD value was calculated to be 0.28 µM. Voltammetric methods such as cyclic voltammetry, differential pulse voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were employed to investigate the electrooxidation behavior of SRT at various pH levels and scan rates. The results showed that poly methylene blue (PMB)/GCE exhibits improved electroactive surface area and enhanced charge transfer kinetics compared to bare GCE. High sensitivity, selectivity, and recovery percentage (99.08–101.09%) were demonstrated by the modified sensor (PMB/GCE) in detecting SRT in various matrices, including pharmaceutical samples and spiked plasma. The outstanding eco-friendliness and sustainability of the proposed method were thoroughly demonstrated using multiple assessment tools, including Analytical GREEnness (AGREE), AGREEprep, the Complex MoGAPI, and the newly developed Need, Quality, and Sustainability (NQS) index. In comparison to previously reported methods, the Red-Green-Blue (RGB) 12 algorithm proved to be more cost-effective, environmentally sustainable, analytically robust, and exhibited a higher degree of “whiteness.”
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publishDate 2025-08-01
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spelling doaj-art-affc10b1dcec4b0497e57b3c4a98266c2025-08-20T04:01:47ZengBMCBMC Chemistry2661-801X2025-08-0119111210.1186/s13065-025-01602-2Eco-friendly and ultra-sensitive electrochemical sensor for sertraline detection in pharmaceuticals and plasmaRamy E. El-Bahnasawy0Hany A. Batakoushy1Hytham M. Ahmed2Pharmaceutical Analysis Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Menoufia UniversityPharmaceutical Analysis Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Menoufia UniversityPharmaceutical Analysis Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Menoufia UniversityAbstract In this work, methylene blue (MB) is electropolymerized to produce a modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) that will enhance the electrochemical determination of sertraline (SRT), a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. The entire material characterization using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) verified that the polymeric film of MB dye had successfully formed on the electrode surface. The modified electrode exhibited enhanced electron transfer kinetics, exhibiting ultra-sensitive SRT detection. According to ICH guidelines, Differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) has been used to estimate the limit of detection (LOD) for SRT, with concentrations ranging from 0.5 µM to 30.0 µM. The LOD value was calculated to be 0.28 µM. Voltammetric methods such as cyclic voltammetry, differential pulse voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were employed to investigate the electrooxidation behavior of SRT at various pH levels and scan rates. The results showed that poly methylene blue (PMB)/GCE exhibits improved electroactive surface area and enhanced charge transfer kinetics compared to bare GCE. High sensitivity, selectivity, and recovery percentage (99.08–101.09%) were demonstrated by the modified sensor (PMB/GCE) in detecting SRT in various matrices, including pharmaceutical samples and spiked plasma. The outstanding eco-friendliness and sustainability of the proposed method were thoroughly demonstrated using multiple assessment tools, including Analytical GREEnness (AGREE), AGREEprep, the Complex MoGAPI, and the newly developed Need, Quality, and Sustainability (NQS) index. In comparison to previously reported methods, the Red-Green-Blue (RGB) 12 algorithm proved to be more cost-effective, environmentally sustainable, analytically robust, and exhibited a higher degree of “whiteness.”https://doi.org/10.1186/s13065-025-01602-2SertralineGlassy carbon electrodeElectrochemical polymerizationMethylene blue dyeDifferential pulse voltammetry
spellingShingle Ramy E. El-Bahnasawy
Hany A. Batakoushy
Hytham M. Ahmed
Eco-friendly and ultra-sensitive electrochemical sensor for sertraline detection in pharmaceuticals and plasma
BMC Chemistry
Sertraline
Glassy carbon electrode
Electrochemical polymerization
Methylene blue dye
Differential pulse voltammetry
title Eco-friendly and ultra-sensitive electrochemical sensor for sertraline detection in pharmaceuticals and plasma
title_full Eco-friendly and ultra-sensitive electrochemical sensor for sertraline detection in pharmaceuticals and plasma
title_fullStr Eco-friendly and ultra-sensitive electrochemical sensor for sertraline detection in pharmaceuticals and plasma
title_full_unstemmed Eco-friendly and ultra-sensitive electrochemical sensor for sertraline detection in pharmaceuticals and plasma
title_short Eco-friendly and ultra-sensitive electrochemical sensor for sertraline detection in pharmaceuticals and plasma
title_sort eco friendly and ultra sensitive electrochemical sensor for sertraline detection in pharmaceuticals and plasma
topic Sertraline
Glassy carbon electrode
Electrochemical polymerization
Methylene blue dye
Differential pulse voltammetry
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13065-025-01602-2
work_keys_str_mv AT ramyeelbahnasawy ecofriendlyandultrasensitiveelectrochemicalsensorforsertralinedetectioninpharmaceuticalsandplasma
AT hanyabatakoushy ecofriendlyandultrasensitiveelectrochemicalsensorforsertralinedetectioninpharmaceuticalsandplasma
AT hythammahmed ecofriendlyandultrasensitiveelectrochemicalsensorforsertralinedetectioninpharmaceuticalsandplasma