Electrochemistry and Determination of an Antiviral Drug at Ionic Liquids Crystals-Carbon Nanotubes Modified Glassy Carbon Electrode

Favipiravir (Fav) is an antiviral drug administered for the treatment of pulmonary infection and is also among the approved drugs for the treatment of lung inflammation in humans infected with COVID-19. Here we introduce the electrochemical behavior of Fav at ionic liquid crystals (ILCs)-carbon nanotubes (CNTs) modified electrode. The proposed electrode is ready for use in a one-step preparation protocol, is employed with low-cost instrumentation, and is distinctly sensitive and selective for the determination of the drug both in human serum and in commercially available medications. Ionic liquid crystals allow ionic interaction with the drug to realize its surface preconcentration. The limits of detection and quantification for the determination of Fav in blood-serum within the concentration range 0.9 to 150 μmol.L–1 are 0.0161 and 0.119 μmol.L–1, respectively. The sensor proved effective in the concurrent determination of several drugs used as prescribed “add-on” medication for the virus or for the treatment of other chronic diseases of some patients.