Highly sensitive determination of acyclovir using Ti3C2-CS-MWCNTs-COOH/GCE composite as a sensing platform.

Acyclovir (Acyclovir, ACV) is an antiviral drug which, despite its favorable safety profile, can have systemic adverse effects, following improper use. This study prepared a clay-like two-dimensional transition metal carbide Ti 3 C 2 by etching Ti 3 AlC 2 with LiF and HCl. Carboxylated multi walled carbon nanotubes (Carboxylated multi-walled carbon nanotubes, MWCNTs-COOH) were combined with Ti 3 C 2 using chitosan (Chitosan, CS) as solvent and ultrasonic treatment. The nanocomposite was then modified onto the surface of a glassy carbon electrode (Glassy carbon electrode, GCE) to develop an electrochemical sensor for the detection of ACV. The Ti 3 C 2 -CS-MWCNTs-COOH/GCE nanocomposite was characterized by X-ray diffractometry (X-ray diffractometry, XRD), scanning electron microscope (Scanning electron microscope，SEM), and cyclic voltammetry (Cyclic voltammetry，CV), as well as the electrochemical impedance method (Electrochemical impedance，EIS). The successful preparation of Ti 3 C 2 -CS-MWCNTs-COOH, and the good electrochemical performance of the electrode were verified. Linear scanning voltammetry (Linear scan voltammetry，LSV) was used to quantify the ACV. The linear range of the method is wider than other works (0.05 ∼ 20.0 and 20.0 ∼ 500.0 μM), with a low detection limit (0.088 μM). The sensor achieves sensitive detection of ACV and can be used for the analysis of ACV in pharmaceutical and urine dosage forms, with recoveries of 95.5∼97.6% and 95.6∼97.5%, respectively. For the first time, this sensor utilizes clay-like Ti 3 C 2 with a larger specific surface area in combination with MWCNTs-COOH for ACV detection, which exhibits excellent immunity to interference, repeatability, reproducibility, and stability. This method provides a rapid and sensitive method for the determination of ACV, and lays foundations for developing miniaturized field rapid test detectors. [Display omitted] • Ti 3 C 2 -CS-MWCNTs-COOH/GCE sensor is for electrochemical determination of acyclovir. • Clay-like Ti 3 C 2 has higher conductivity, larger specific surface area and higher security than accordion-like Ti 3 C 2. • Wide linear range (0.05–20.0 µM and 20.0–500.0 µM), low detection limit (0.088 µM) are obtained. • The developed sensor could be used for the detection of acyclovir in urine and pharmaceuticals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]