Influence of Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Dot and Silver Nanoparticle Modified Carbon Paste Electrodes on the Potentiometric Determination of Tobramycin Sulfate: A Comparative Study

Two inexpensive and simple methods for synthesis of carbon nanodots were applied and compared to each other, namely a hydrothermal and microwave-assisted method. The synthesized carbon nanodots were characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis), photoluminescence (PL), Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The synthesized microwave carbon nanodots had smaller particle size and were thus chosen for better electrochemical performance. Therefore, they were used for our modification process. The proposed electrodes performance characteristics were evaluated according to the IUPAC guidelines, showing linear response in the concentration range 10(-6)-10(-2), 10(-7)-10(-2), and 10(-8)-10(-2) M of tobramycin with a Nernstian slope of 52.60, 58.34, and 57.32 mV/decade for the bare, silver nanoparticle and carbon nanodots modified carbon paste electrodes, respectively. This developed potentiometric method was used for quantification of tobramycin in its co-formulated dosage form and spiked human plasma with good recovery percentages and without interference of the co-formulated drug loteprednol etabonate and excipients.

Automated summary

Carbon nanodots were synthesized using two methods - hydrothermal and microwave-assisted, with the latter resulting in smaller particle size. These microwave-synthesized carbon nanodots demonstrated better electrochemical performance, particularly in quantifying tobramycin successfully.