Voltammetric Quantification of the Anesthetic Drug Propofol (2,6-Diisopropylphenol) in Pharmaceutical Formulations on a Boron-Doped Diamond Electrode

Abstract

In this paper, the detailed electrochemistry of propofol (PRO), which is one of the intravenous agents commonly used for sedative-hypnotic purposes, was examined. In cyclic voltammetry, the agent showed one irreversible and diffusion-controlled oxidation peak, resulting in the formation of a couple with a reduction and re-oxidation wave at less positive potentials. The effect of electrode pretreatment procedures on the electrochemical response of PRO was investigated using square wave voltammetry (SWV) and the optimum procedure was used to improve the signal response in subsequent studies. Quantification of PRO was realized based on the first oxidation peak using SWV. After optimization of all variables, the linear working range of PRO was found to be between 2.5 mu g mL(-1) (1.4x 10 s mol L-1) and 160.0 mu g mL(-1) (1.1x 10(-3) mol L-1 , n = 15) with a detection limit 0.71 mu g mL(-1) (3.9 x 1 0(-6) mol L-1). No noteworthy interference effect was detected. Furthermore, the developed method was used for quantification of PRO in pharmaceutical samples.