Density Functional Theory-Assisted Electrochemical Assay Manipulated by a Donor–Acceptor Structure toward Pharmaceutical Diagnostic

Oxidative stress is a state of stress injury, which leads to the pathogenesis of most neurodegenerative diseases. Moreover, this is also one of the main reasons for the loss of dopaminergic neurons and the abnormal content of dopamine (DA). In the past decades, a number of studies have found that acetaminophen (AP) is metabolized and distributed in the brain when it is used as a neuroprotective compound. In this context, we proposed an electrochemical sensor based on 9-(4-(10-phenylanthracen-9-yl)­phenyl)-9H-carbazole with the goal of diagnosing these two drugs in the body. Carbazole groups can easily be formed into large π-conjugated systems by electropolymerization. The introduction of anthracene exactly combined the carbazole group to establish an efficient electron donor–acceptor pattern, which enhanced π–π interaction with the electrode surface and charge transporting ability. The diagnostic platform showed good sensing activity toward the oxidation of DA and AP. The detection range for DA and AP is from 0.2 to 300 μM and from 0.2 to 400 μM, respectively. The simultaneous detection range is from 0.5 to 250 μM, which is wider than most reports. After a series of electrochemical assessments were determined, the sensor was finally developed to the analysis of pharmaceutical and human serum, displaying a meaningful potential in clinical evaluation.