Fabrication and evaluation of a molecularly imprinted polymer electrochemical nanosensor for the sensitive monitoring of phenobarbital in biological samples

Evaluation of Phenobarbital Adsorption Efficiency on Biosorbents or Activated Carbon Obtained from Adansonia Digitata Shells

The removal of pharmaceutically active compounds present in relatively low concentration in wastewater is critical. This is because they have a severe, negative impact on life and the environment. To address this issue, adsorption was used, which is an effective wastewater treatment method for removing substances found in low concentrations in water. This study compared the adsorption performance of active carbon to three biosorbents derived from Adansonia digitata shells. The adsorbents were prepared and characterized using TGA, SEM, EDX, and FTIR analyses and pHPZC. To better understand the adsorption process, equilibrium and reaction kinetics studies were conducted. The effect of contact time, initial phenobarbital concentration, adsorbent mass, and pH was investigated in static conditions. The adsorption results revealed that the biosorbent B3 has a higher affinity for the eliminated compound, with an equilibrium time of 60 min and an adsorption capacity of 47.08 mg/g at an initial concentration of 50 mg/L. The experimental data are consistent with Langmuir and Sips adsorption isotherm models, and with the pseudo-second order and Elovich models for kinetics description. This indicates strong interactions between the adsorbent materials and the pharmaceutical micropollutant. Based on these findings, it appears that, among the tested materials, B3 biosorbent is the most efficient for removing phenobarbital present in low concentrations in water.

The Effect of Polymerization Techniques on the Creation of Molecularly Imprinted Polymer Sensors and Their Application on Pharmaceutical Compounds

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) have become more prevalent in fabricating sensor applications, particularly in medicine, pharmaceuticals, food quality monitoring, and the environment. The ease of their preparation, adaptability of templates, superior affinity and specificity, improved stability, and the possibility for downsizing are only a few benefits of these sensors. Moreover, from a medical perspective, monitoring therapeutic medications and determining pharmaceutical compounds in their pharmaceutical forms and biological systems is very important. Additionally, because medications are hazardous to the environment, effective, quick, and affordable determination in the surrounding environment is of major importance. Concerning a variety of performance criteria, including sensitivity, specificity, low detection limits, and affordability, MIP sensors outperform other published technologies for analyzing pharmaceutical drugs. MIP sensors have, therefore, been widely used as one of the most crucial techniques for analyzing pharmaceuticals. The first part of this review provides a detailed explanation of the many polymerization techniques that were employed to create high-performing MIP sensors. In the subsequent section of the review, the utilization of MIP-based sensors for quantifying the drugs in their pharmaceutical preparation, biological specimens, and environmental samples are covered in depth. Finally, a critical evaluation of the potential future research paths for MIP-based sensors clarifies the use of MIP in pharmaceutical fields.

Study of phenobarbital removal from the aqueous solutions employing magnetite-functionalized chitosan

Due to its wide use in anticonvulsant pharmacotherapy, phenobarbital (PHEN) is an aquatic contaminant with a high prevalence in the environment. In this adsorption study, chitosan and chitosan-based magnetic adsorbents containing different amounts of incorporated magnetite (CS, CS·Fe₃O₄ 1:1, CS·Fe₃O₄ 1:5, and CS·Fe₃O₄ 1:10) were used for phenobarbital removal. The magnetic adsorbents were synthesized by co-precipitation method and characterized through FTIR, XRD, MEV, and VSM analysis. In PHEN adsorption, the equilibrium and adsorption kinetic were better adjusted by the Sips and pseudo-second-order model, respectively. Among the four nanoadsorbents used, the maximum phenobarbital adsorption capacity was 94.60 mg g^-1 using 25 mg of CS·Fe₃O₄ 1:5, with a concentration of PHEN (50 mg L^-1), pH 7.0 at room temperature. The parameters of pH, adsorbent dosage, ionic strength, and thermodynamic study were tested for the adsorbent with the highest performance (CS·Fe₃O₄ 1:5). The nanoadsorbent demonstrates efficiency in the removal of the contaminant for diverse adsorption cycles. Finally, the protocol employing magnetic adsorbents dispenses the subsequent steps of filtration and centrifugation.