Sensing of sulfasalazine-Cysteine transporter inhibitor with platinum nanoflowers decorated on carbon nanotubes by electrochemical reduction

A simplistic approach for the detection of sulfasalazine (SSZ) employing platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs) fabricated with single walled carbon nanotubes on glassy carbon electrode has been delineated employing square wave voltammetry. The site of reduction on SSZ molecule was elucidated employing density functional theory calculations. The PtNPs bedecked sensor manifests outstandingly high sensitivity and remarkably low detection limit of 123.6 mu A mu M-1 and 0.086 nM respectively under the optimized conditions. The dynamic detection range of 0.5 nM - 20 mu M at - 455 mV acknowledges the sensor to be pragmatic. The sensor for SSZ reduction indicated pronounced specificity in presence of biological interferents along with robustness in terms of stability and reproducibility in physiological environment. The developed sensor was suitably implemented for the quantitation of SSZ in commercially available pharmaceuticals. High recognition selectivity of the sensor was further demonstrated by applying it efficaciously for the first time to detect SSZ in urine sample of patients undergoing treatment for ulcerative colitis.