Differential pulse voltammetric determination of paracetamol at nanogold modified indium tin oxide electrode

A nanogold modified indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode was used for the determination of paracetamol at pH 7.2. The electrode exhibited an effective catalytic response to the oxidation of paracetamol with good reproducibility and stability. Under conditions of differential pulse voltammetry, the oxidation potential of paracetamol is lowered by approximately 110 mV and current response is enhanced significantly relative to the situation prevailing when a bare ITO electrode is used. Linear calibration curve is obtained over the range 2.0 x 10(-7)-1.5 x 10(-3) M with a correlation coefficient of 0.997. The detection limit (3 sigma) was estimated to be 1.8 x 10(-7) M. The physiologically common interferents viz., ascorbic acid, glucose and urea negligibly affected the current response of paracetamol. The practical analytical utility of the method is illustrated by determination of paracetamol in pharmaceutical preparations. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.