Manganese dioxide (MnO2)/Fullerene-C60-Modified Electrodes for the Voltammetric Determination of Rifaximin

Electrochemical and optical protocols for the detection and removal of an antibiotic drug rifaximin from wastewater

Improper disposal of pharmaceutical drugs is increasing the pollution level of water reservoirs which in turn adversely impacts the ecosystem. The current study presents an electrochemical scaffold that comprises a glassy carbon electrode modified with amino-functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (NH2-fMWCNTs) for the detection of a pharmaceutical drug rifaximin in wastewater. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopic characterization revealed efficient charge transport through the modified electrode surface. Square wave voltammetry was employed for probing the electro-oxidation of antibiotic rifaximin. Under optimized experimental conditions, the designed sensor demonstrated the qualities of sensitivity, repeatability, and reproducibility as required for the practical applicability of the sensing device. After the detection of a contaminant, its removal from water is imperative. In this regard an adsorption method using ZnO nanoparticles as adsorbents was developed that led to the removal of rifaximin from wastewater. At lower adsorbate concentration, adsorption was found to occur according to the Langmuir model while at higher concentration adsorption data followed the Freundlich model. The rate of rifaximin adsorption over ZnO nanoparticles followed pseudo-second-order kinetics.

Recent Development of Nano-Carbon Material in Pharmaceutical Application: A Review

Carbon nanomaterials have attracted researchers in pharmaceutical applications due to their outstanding properties and flexible dimensional structures. Carbon nanomaterials (CNMs) have electrical properties, high thermal surface area, and high cellular internalization, making them suitable for drug and gene delivery, antioxidants, bioimaging, biosensing, and tissue engineering applications. There are various types of carbon nanomaterials including graphene, carbon nanotubes, fullerenes, nanodiamond, quantum dots and many more that have interesting applications in the future. The functionalization of the carbon nanomaterial surface could modify its chemical and physical properties, as well as improve drug loading capacity, biocompatibility, suppress immune response and have the ability to direct drug delivery to the targeted site. Carbon nanomaterials could also be fabricated into composites with proteins and drugs to reduce toxicity and increase effectiveness in the pharmaceutical field. Thus, carbon nanomaterials are very effective for applications in pharmaceutical or biomedical systems. This review will demonstrate the extraordinary properties of nanocarbon materials that can be used in pharmaceutical applications.