A simple and selective carbon paste electrode has been developed for the electrochemical determination of acyclovir (ACV). This electrode was designed by incorporation of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and ZnO nanoparticles into the carbon paste matrix, and then poly (o-aminophenol; OAP) film were subsequently electropolymerized on it. The surface structure of nanoparticles were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Surface morphology and electrochemical properties of the prepared nanocomposite modified electrode were investigated by SEM and cyclic voltammetry (CV). The calibration graph was linear over the concentration range 0.089 to 7.96 µg mL-1 for ACV determination with a detection limit of 0.067 µg mL-1. The proposed electrode was successfully applied for ACV determination in pharmaceutical formulations with satisfactory results.
Keywords: Acyclovir; Carbon paste electrode; Multi-walled carbon nanotubes; O-aminophenol; ZnO nanoparticles.