Simple and low-cost electrochemical sensor based on nickel nanoparticles for the determination of cabergoline

Cabergoline (CAB) is an ergot alkaloid derivative with dopamine agonist activity. In this work for the first time the electrocatalytic oxidation of CAB was carried out with nickel nanoparticles-modified carbon paste electrode using cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry, chronocoulometry and amperometry methods. At first, nickel nanoparticles were synthesized by non-aqueous polyol method and these nanoparticles were mixed with graphite powder to form modified carbon paste electrode. The resulting modified electrode was characterized by scanning electron microscope images. In the presence of 0.1 M NaOH a good redox behavior of the Ni(III)/Ni(II) couple at the surface of the electrode can be observed. CAB was successfully oxidized at the surface of the modified electrode. The electrocatalytic oxidation peak current of this drug was linearly dependent on its concentration. The proposed sensor exhibited a high sensitivity and was successfully applied for the determination of CAB in real samples.