Simple Electro-Assisted Immobilization of Ciprofloxacin on Carbon Nanotube Modified Electrodes: Its Selective Hydrogen Peroxide Electrocatalysis

Ciprofloxacin (Cf) is a synthetic fourth generation fluoroquinolone class antibiotic used for the treatment of gram-positive, gram-negative and mycobacterium species infections. Electrochemical characteristic of the Cf antibiotic on carbon nanotube modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE/CNT) in pH 7 phosphate buffer solution has been investigated. Electrochemically oxidized radical byproduct of the Cf drug, which is formed as intermediate, gets immobilized on the GCE/CNT (GCE/Cf@CNT) and showed stable and well defined surface confined redox peak at -0.220 V versus Ag/AgCl. Control electrochemical experiment with unmodified GCE failed to show any such immobilization and redox features. Physicochemical characterizations of the Cf@CNT by transmission electron microscope, scanning electron microscope, infrared spectroscopy, UV-Vis and gas chromatography coupled mass spectroscopic analyses of Cf@CNT collectively revealed presence of native form of the Cf antibiotic molecule onto the CNT. The interaction between the Cf molecule and the CNT tubes are revealed from the decreased intensity in the Raman spectrum. The GCE/Cf@CNT showed excellent electrocatalytic response to hydrogen peroxide reduction reaction in pH 7 phosphate buffer solution. Amperometric i-t analysis for the detection of H2O2 showed a current linearity plot upto [H2O2] = 200 μM at an applied potential - 0.1 V versus Ag/AgCl with a current sensitivity value 678 μA mM(-1) cm(-2). No interferences were noticed with ascorbic acid, uric acid, cysteine and nitrite. The present study can be highly helpful to understand the interaction between the Cf and H2O2 in physiological systems and for the removal of Cf from the antibiotic polluted water samples especially in the aquaculture and agricultural systems.