Voltammetric determination of daclatasvir dihydrochloride at bimetallic Ag/Co nanoparticles modified carbon paste electrode

In this work, a sensitive and cost-effective voltammetric method was proposed for the determination of daclatasvir dihydrochloride (DAC.2HCl) at a bimetallic Ag/Co nanoparticles-modified carbon paste electrode. Potential cyclization was used for the electro-deposition of the nanoparticles. The number of potential cycles needed for deposition was optimized. Surface characterization of the prepared sensor was performed using scanning electron microscope imaging (SEM). The electroanalysis of DAC was performed using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). Results of the scan rate effect indicated a dual diffusionadsorption mechanism of DAC electrooxidation that involved two electrons. A very wide concentration range, from 5 x 10-9 to 10-4 M, was detected and divided into two segments with a low detection limit of 0.387 nM in 0.1 M phosphate buffer solution/pH 2.6. The electroactivity of the developed sensor toward DAC, sensitivity, reproducibility, repeatability, robustness, and selectivity were investigated. This sensor was successfully applied for the determination of DAC in pharmaceutical and urine samples.