Metal ion sensors for trace determination of metals in drugs and pharmaceuticals

Abstract

The new specific metal sensors for copper, zinc, nickel, cobalt, iron, arsenic, antimony, bismuth, vanadium, molybdenum, selenium, and lead were synthesized by using N-phenyl[1,2 methane fullerene C60]C61 complexes. The metal sensors were characterized by pH range, electrode response, response time, and associated metals. The limit of detection of the sensors was found to range between 3×10-7 and 5×10-7, with lifetime between 6 and 8 months. These metal sensors were used for the detection and quantitative determination of trace metal impurities in drugs and pharmaceuticals.

Keywords

• drugs
• metal sensors
• trace metals