Ternary Nanocomposite of Activated Charcoal/Reduced Graphene Oxide-Silver Nanoparticles [ACH/Ag@rGO] as a Novel Platform for the First Sensitive Prucalopride Drug Detection in Generic and Innovator Tablets and Human Plasma

Ag@rGO nanocomposite was prepared using an in situ reduction approach of silver ions and the as-synthesized graphite oxide (GO). TEM analysis reveals the crumpled and folded layered structure of rGO with homogeneous dispersed spherical Ag NPs on these rGO nanosheets. The intensity ratio of the D to G bands (ID/IG) in Raman spectra for Ag@rGO indicates a large defect due to Ag NPs intercalation and deposition on rGO surface. XRD pattern indicates the face centered cubic crystal structure of Ag with average crystalline size of 19.63 nm. An electrochemical sensor based on Ag@rGO is first designed for Prucalopride drug oxidation and characterized applying EIS and cyclic voltammetry. Its electrocatalytic effect was enhanced upon utilizing a characterized activated charcoal (ACH) as an electro-modified carbon nanomaterial for CPE. The ternary nanocomposite [ACH/Ag@rGO] as a platform of CPE supposed three times higher response to Prucalopride compared to CPE. Prucalopride was quantified over wide linear ranges of (5.0 × 10 −9 – 1 × 10 −6 M) and (2.0 × 10 −8 – 1.4 × 10 −6 M), with LOD values of 7.95 × 10 −10 M and 8.51 × 10 −9 M in bulk form and spiked human plasma, respectively. This sensor can thus be adopted easily for the quality control analysis of Prucalopride in formulation and human plasma and for pharmacokinetic study.