Development of an electrochemical medetomidine nanosensor based on N and P-doped carbon nano-onions, MoS2, and poly (melamine) nanocomposite

Medetomidine is one of the anesthesia drugs that is primarily used by veterinary. This drug has analgesic effects too. In this work, a screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE) was modified by a composite of N and P-doped carbon nano-onions (N,P-CNO), MoS2, and poly (melamine) (PME) (SPCE/N,P-CNO/MoS2/PME). First, synthesized nanomaterials and fabricated electrodes were evaluated and analyzed by FT-IR, FE-SEM, and XRD techniques. Then, the voltammetric response of medetomidine was evaluated using SPCE/N,P-CNO/MoS2/PME. A cathodic peak appeared in a buffered solution with pH = 7.0 containing medetomidine. The synergetic effect of N,P-CNO and MoS2, providing wide active surface area, and PME as an electron conduction booster enhanced the modified electrode response toward medetomidine. The limit of detection of 10 nM was achieved for medetomidine in the concentrations range of 0.04 to 700 & mu;M. The SPCE/N,P-CNO/MoS2/PME was able to determine the medetomidine concentration in mouse blood samples accurately with 90-98.2 % recovery.