Development of ZnO@C/GCE sensor for electrochemical determination of terbutaline in blood serum samples

This article described how ZnO and carbon nanocomposite modified glassy carbon electrodes (ZnO@carbon/GCE) were used to electrochemically identify terbutaline (TER) as a substance subject to doping restrictions among athletes. By using FE-SEM, EDS, and XRD to characterize the ZnO@carbon nanocomposite material, it was discovered that carbonaceous layers had been successfully distributed over the ZnO nanorods' surface. The voltammetric studies revealed that both ZnO/GCE and ZnO@carbon/GCE displayed an oxidation peak for TER, but the incorporation of carbonaceous layers into the ZnO nanorod structure with the necessary sensitivity and selectivity significantly improved the voltammetric response of TER in terms of both the electron-transfer reactions and electrocatalytic activity. The suggested platform (ZnO@carbon/GCE) produced results with a working concentration range of 5–720 μM and a limit of detection of 25 nM. Six separate blood serum samples from young cyclists between the ages of 21 and 29 were prepared in order to examine the practical applicability of the ZnO@carbon/GCE sensor. The results revealed impressive recovery rates between 94.75% and 99.45%, as well as excellent precision (RSD less than 5.04%). Additionally, the findings of the TER ELISA kit and DPV assays showed sufficient conformity. These results demonstrated that ZnO@carbon/GCE may be used as a reliable and accurate TER sensor to accurately quantify the TER level in blood serum samples.