Development of a PEDOT nanowire-modified pencil graphite electrode for the electrochemical determination of 5-Fluorouracil

An electrochemical sensor based on a pencil graphite electrode (PGE) coated with poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) nanowires (PEDOT NWs) was developed for the detection of 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU). The PEDOT NWs were electrodeposited onto the surface of the PGE as a modifier. PGE/PEDOT NWs exhibited a remarkable increment in anodic peak current corresponding to the electrochemical oxidation of 5-FU. The investigation of oxidation peaks in buffer solutions at varying pH levels indicated that the measured current values ​​allowed the determination of the optimal pH, which was found to be 7. The PEDOT nanowire-modified electrode demonstrated effective detection of 5-FU, with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.80 µmol L–1 and a linear response range of 4-100 µmol L–1. In this study, the specificity of the designed electrochemical sensor platform was evaluated in the presence of various electroactive species.