2. Academic Validation
  3. Ionophore-Based Polymeric Sensors for Potentiometric Assay of the Anticancer Drug Gemcitabine in Pharmaceutical Formulation: A Comparative Study

Ionophore-Based Polymeric Sensors for Potentiometric Assay of the Anticancer Drug Gemcitabine in Pharmaceutical Formulation: A Comparative Study

  • Molecules. 2023 Nov 12;28(22):7552. doi: 10.3390/molecules28227552.
Gamal A E Mostafa 1,  Maha F El-Tohamy 2,  Essam A Ali 1,  Rashad Al-Salahi 1,  Mohamed W Attwa 1,  Haitham AlRabiah 1
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia.
  • 2 Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11495, Saudi Arabia.
PMID: 38005274 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28227552
Abstract

Gemcitabine is a chemotherapeutic agent used to treat various malignancies, including breast and bladder Cancer. In the current study, three innovative selective gemcitabine hydrochloride sensors are developed using 4-tert-butylcalix-[8]-arene (sensor 1), β-cyclodextrin (sensor 2), and γ-cyclodextrin (sensor 3) as ionophores. The three sensors were prepared by incorporating the ionophores with o-nitrophenyl octyl ether as plasticizer and potassium tetrakis(4-chlorophenyl) borate as ionic additive into a polyvinyl chloride polymer matrix. These sensors are considered environmentally friendly systems in the analytical research. The linear responses of gemcitabine hydrochloride were in the concentration range of 6.0 × 10-6 to 1.0 × 10-2 mol L-1 and 9.0 × 10-6 to 1.0 × 10-2 mol L-1 and 8.0 × 10-6 to 1.0 × 10-2 mol L-1 for sensors 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Over the pH range of 6-9, fast-Nernst slopes of 52 ± 0.6, 56 ± 0.3, and 55 ± 0.8 mV/decade were found in the same order with correlation regressions of 0.998, 0.999, and 0.998, respectively. The lower limits of detection for the prepared sensors were 2.5 × 10-6, 2.2 × 10-6, and 2.7 × 10-6 mol L-1. The sensors showed high selectivity and sensitivity for gemcitabine. Validation of the sensors was carried out in accordance with the requirements established by the IUPAC, while being inexpensive and easy to use in drug formulation. A statistical analysis of the methods in comparison with the official method showed that there was no significant difference in accuracy or precision between them. It was shown that the new sensors could selectively and accurately find gemcitabine hydrochloride in bulk powder, pharmaceutical formulations, and quality control tests. The ionophore-based sensor shows several advantages over conventional PVC membrane sensor sensors regrading the lower limit of detection, and higher selectivity towards the target ion.

Keywords

PVC sensors; gemcitabine; host–guest; ionophore; potentiometry; quality control.

Figures
Products