α-Fe2O3/MoS2 Nanostructure for the Sensitive Electrochemical Detection of Metronidazole
Aditi Manpuria, Shaliha Irfana Umar Sharif, Gokul Sridharan, Ashok K. SundramoorthyIntroduction:
Metronidazole (MTZ), a nitroimidazole-class antibiotic, is widely prescribed for the treatment of anaerobic bacterial and protozoal infections. However, its excessive use and incomplete metabolism highlight the need for sensitive analytical methods to detect MTZ in clinical and environmental samples. This study focuses on the fabrication of an α-Fe2O3/MoS2 nanocomposite modified electrode for the selective electrochemical detection of MTZ for health risk analysis.
Methods:
α-Fe2O3 nanostructure and MoS2 nanosheets were prepared separately by hydrothermal methods. The nanocomposite was fabricated by integrating both components through ultrasonication, followed by drop casting onto the surface of a Glassy Carbon Electrode (GCE). Structural and optical properties were analysed using FT-IR, XRD, FE-SEM, and UV-vis spectroscopy. Electrochemical behaviour was assessed using Cyclic Voltammetry (CV) and Differential Pulse Voltammetry (DPV).
Results:
Spectroscopic analyses confirmed the successful interaction between α-Fe2O3 and MoS2, by characteristic bond shifts and absorbance variations. Moreover, the α-Fe2O3/MoS2-modified GCE exhibited a pronounced electrocatalytic response towards MTZ, showing a reduction peak at -0.75 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) with enhanced peak currents by CV. The developed sensor exhibited excellent sensitivity and a strong linear correlation for MTZ. The limit of detection was 0.312 μM.
Discussion:
The observed enhancement in electrochemical response is due to the synergistic interaction between the α-Fe2O3 and MoS2, which improved charge transfer, surface area, and catalytic activity. This synergy enabled selective and efficient MTZ detection, surpassing the performance of electrodes modified with single components.
Conclusion:
The α-Fe2O3/MoS2 nanocomposite-modified electrode provides a highly sensitive and selective platform for MTZ detection. Its promising performance suggests potential applications in pharmaceutical quality control, environmental monitoring, and therapeutic drug management, ultimately contributing to better regulation of antibiotic usage and resistance.