A novel mesna-based electrochemical sensor embellished with silver nanoparticles for ultrasensitive analysis of modafinil

Abstract

Modafinil (MOD) is a CNS stimulant used for the treatment of narcolepsy, shift work sleep disorder, excessive daytime sleepiness, and post-COVID 19 neurological symptoms. In the literature, there is no report of square wave voltammetric (SWV) methods being used for the determination of MOD. This study describes, for the first time, the construction and evaluation of the analytical performance of a novel sensor for ultrasensitive SWV detection of MOD. The sensor was constructed by integration of silver nanoparticles (Ag_NPs) on Mesna (MSN) layers over a pencil graphite electrode (PGE) surface. The interface and morphological characteristics of the fabricated Ag_NPs@MSN/PGE sensor were investigated via cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). This sensor was found to enhance the electro-oxidation of MOD. The combination of Ag_NPs@MSN/PGE with SWV enabled the determination of MOD in its bulk form and in pharmaceutical and biological matrices at the nanomolar scale (LOD = 28.59 nM) with excellent recoveries. This study represents the first report describing an electrochemical procedure for MOD detection in human plasma. The established SWV method was also validated, and the results were consistent with ICH criteria. Finally, the presented SWV procedure provides a facile, sensitive, rapid, and cost-effective approach compared to other existing methods.