Construction of a Voltammetric Sensor Based on Niobium Supported on Zirconium Oxide‐Carbon Nanotubes for the Determination of Favipiravir, an Antiviral Drug Used Against Covid‐19

Abstract

AbstractThis study aims to develop of a novel electrochemical method for the detection of the antiviral drug favipiravir (FAV). For this purpose, a sensitive electrochemical sensor with niobium (Nb) nanoparticles supported on zirconium oxide‐carbon nanotubes (ZrO2‐(CNT)MW) was constructed on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The proposed electrochemical sensor (Nb@ZrO2‐(CNT)MW/GCE) exhibited excellent repeatability, high stability and high sensitivity for FAV owing to the impact of Nb on ZrO2‐(CNT)MW composite. The oxidation potential (Ep) of FAV was occurred at 1.2 V, 1.12 V, 1.03 V and 1 V at GCE, (CNT)MW/GCE, ZrO2‐(CNT)MW/GCE and Nb@ZrO2‐(CNT)MW/GCE, respectively. Interestlingly, the gradual shift clearly indicates that Nb@ZrO2‐(CNT)MW/GCE can exhibit high catalytic activity towards FAV. The proposed electrode has also good selectivity towards FAV. The Nb@ZrO2‐(CNT)MW/GCE system exhibited a linear working range of 5 nM–300 nM with a limit of detection (LOD) of 1.8 nM (based on 3sb/m) for FAV. The Nb@ZrO2‐(CNT)MW/GCE system was successfully applied for the detection of FAV in pharmaceuticals and biological fluids. The experimental results demonstrated that Nb@ZrO2‐(CNT)MW/GCE can be an ideal sensing platform for the sensitive detection of FAV.