Differential pulse voltammetric determination of atenolol in pharmaceutical formulations and urine using nanogold modified indium tin oxide electrode

A gold nanoparticles modified indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode has been used for the determination of atenolol (ATN) in drug formulations and urine by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). Compared to a bare ITO electrode, the nanogold modified electrode exhibited an apparent shift of the oxidation potential in the less positive direction and a marked enhancement in the current response for ATN. Linear calibration curve was obtained in the range 0.5 mu M to 1.0 mM in 1.0 M phosphate buffer solution (pH 7.2) with a correlation coefficient of 0.9965. The detection limit of atenolol in the standard solution (pH 7.2) is estimated to be 0.13 mu M. The percentage recoveries ranged from 95.7% to 105.2%. The practical analytical utility of the method is illustrated by quantitative determination of ATN in several commercially available pharmaceutical formulations and urine, without any preliminary treatment. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.