A simple method to detect the stimulant modafinil in authentic saliva using a carbon-nanotube screen-printed electrode with adsorptive stripping voltammetry

Electrochemical detection of modafinil, a stimulant banned in sports competitions, is reported for the first time. An electrochemical sensor is developed based on carbon nanotubes screen-printed electrodes (SPE-CNT) with adsorptive stripping wave voltammetry (AdSWV). The proposed electrochemical method is applied to authentic human saliva for modafinil determination (LOD of 2.0 mu M) without interference from uric acid or ascorbic acid. The analytical performance of the SPE-CNT with AdSWV for detection of modafinil in authentic saliva samples suggests its possible application as a simple and fast method for doping control.