Advanced electrochemical detection and profiling of the antihypertensive drug atenolol <i>via</i> a SPION-activated carbon nanocomposite interface

This study reports the synthesis of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs), activated carbon (AC) and SPION-AC nanocomposites using a simple hydrothermal method. Characterization of the synthesized materials includes dynamic light scattering, X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, high resolution transmission electron microscopy, and vibrating sample magnetometry, along with electrochemical characterization studies such as electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Among the SPION-AC nanocomposites, SPION-15%AC was employed to modify a glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The synergistic interaction between SPION and AC significantly enhanced the electrochemical properties of the system, leading to the development of a highly efficient platform for the detection of the antihypertensive drug atenolol (ATN) in commercial tablet samples. The sensor demonstrated excellent performance, with a linear detection range from 1.21 μM to 285 μM. With a low detection limit (LOD) of 0.401 μM, the sensor offers precise quantification of ATN, making it a promising tool for improving patient care. High selectivity, reproducibility, and excellent recovery in complex pharmaceutical matrices further highlight the potential of this sensor for biomedical and clinical applications.