Hetero-nanostructured iron oxide and bentonite clay composite assembly for the determination of an antiviral drug acyclovir

•Electrochemical behavior of ACV was studied using bentonite clay and γ-Fe2O3 nanoparticles incorporated in CPE.•Electrochemical process was diffusion−controlled.•The sensor exhibited low detection limit of 1.5 nM.•Effectively used to determine ACV in tablets and spiked human urine samples. Fabrication of chemically modified electrodes for a variety of applications has gained much interest in sensor applications. In search of new materials, carbon paste electrodes (CPEs) loaded with one or more nanoparticles have shown good results for the trace detection of molecules. In this research, a blend of bentonite clay particles and γ-Fe2O3 nanoparticles were employed as a modifier in CPE for the quantification of acyclovir (ACV), an antiviral agent. The sensor demonstrated a quantitative assessment of acyclovir with the limit of detection (LOD) value of 1.5 nM. The sensor had good reproducibility, the stability of signal response, and high selectivity for the electrochemical analysis of ACV in pharmaceutical formulations and spiked human urine samples. The results also revealed a sensitive performance of the sensor in pharmacokinetic studies, quality control, and clinical research. [Display omitted]