Challenge Approach of an Inexpensive Electrochemical Sensor for Rapid Selective Determination of two Non‐classical β‐Lactams in Presence of Different Degradants and Interference Substances

An inexpensive stability−indicating anodic voltammetric method for rapid determination of two non‐classical β‐lactam antibiotics; Meropenem (MP) and Ertapenem (EP) has been developed and validated. The method was based on the enhancement of voltammetric response at a disposable graphite pencil electrode (GPE). Differential pulse voltammetric (DPV) method was developed for quantification of both drugs in B−R buffer solution (pH 2.0) at GPE. The GPE displayed very good voltammetric behavior with significant enhancement of the peak current compared to glassy carbon electrode (GCE). Stress stability studies were performed using 0.5 M of either HCl or NaOH and H2O2. Mass and infrared spectroscopy were used for identification of degradants and their pathways were illustrated. Under optimal conditions, the peak currents showed a linear dependence with drug concentrations. The achieved limits of detection (LOD) were 1.23, 2.07 and 1.50 μM for MP and two waves of EP, respectively. The developed voltammetric method was successfully applied for direct determination of MP and EP in drug substances, pharmaceutical vials and in presence of either their corresponding hydrolytic, oxidative‐degradants or interfering substances with no potential interferences. The differential pulse voltammograms were highly advantageous and applicable in QC laboratories for rapid, selective micro‐determination of MP and EP.