A new nanostructure consisting of nitrogen-doped carbon nanoonions for an electrochemical sensor to the determination of doxorubicin

Cancer is a serious disease and a significant cause of mortality in humans, so the determination of doxorubicin (DOX) as an important anticancer drug is significant in pharmaceutical samples. An electrochemical sensor for doxorubicin was designed by modifying a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) with the nitrogen-doped carbon nanoonions (N-CNOs). The N-CNOs from the fullerene family were prepared using a simple and cost-effective method using aminated nanodiamonds (AM-NDs) as a substrate. Nitrogen atoms were introduced into CNO cages during the preparation of these nanostructures by annealing AM-NDs under an inert helium gas atmosphere and decreased pressure. Under the optimal conditions, the sensor displayed a linear response for DOX detection ranging (from 0.2 nmol L-1 to 10.0 mu mol L-1) with a detection limit of 60.0 pmol L-1 (an at S/N ratio of 3) and sensitivity 1.13 mu A mu mol L-1 cm(-2) was calculated, at a typical working potential of -0.59 V vs. Ag/AgCl (3.0 M). The reliability of the sensor for DOX detection in serum samples as the real sample was successfully evaluated. The qualities of this novel sensor, including its high surface area, wide linear range, low detection limit, rapid-response, sensitivity and ease of use. May be beneficial for potential applications in detecting other targets.