Fabrication and characterization of disposable stencil printed ion selective electrode with improved sensitivity for determination of antiallergic epinastine HCl in opthalmic solution

Recently, a great attention is focused on developing and utilizing solid state electrochemical sensors in performing analytical applications at low cost. Herein, we report the fabrication and characterization of a disposable potentiometric ion selective strip with improved detection limit for determination of epinastine HCl (EP) in ophthalmic solution. Several ion-exchangers including epinastine-tetraphenyl borate (EP-TPB), epinastinesilicotungestate (EP-SiTA) and potassium tetrakis (4-chlorophenyl) borate (KTCPB) in presence of different plasticizers were investigated. However, an optimal potentiometric response with a Nernstian slope of 59 ? 0.5 mV/decade (n = 3) over a wide concentration range (1 ? 10- 5?1 ? 10-2 M, r = 0.9998), with a detection limit of 3.7 ? 10-6 M was achieved with KTCPB as a lipophilic cation exchanger. Furthermore, the current reverse chronopotentiometric (CRC) measurement showed a high potential stability of printed carbon electrode compared to a coated glassy carbon as inner solid contact. The present method is validated for the assay of epinastine with high accuracy and precision.

Automated summary

Recent research focused on the development and use of solid state electrochemical sensors for low-cost analytical applications. A disposable potentiometric ion selective strip was fabricated and characterized for improved detection limit of epinastine HCl in ophthalmic solution. The use of potassium tetrakis (4-chlorophenyl) borate as a lipophilic cation exchanger showed optimal potentiometric response with Nernstian slope and high potential stability of the printed carbon electrode.