An rGO-Ag@SiO2 nanocomposite-based electrochemical sensor was developed to detect etidronic acid (EA) using the differential pulse voltammetric (DPV) technique. Rapid self-assembly of the rGO-Ag@SiO2 nanocomposite was accomplished through probe sonication. The developed rGO-Ag@SiO2 nanocomposite was used as an electrochemical sensing platform by drop-casting on a gold (Au) printed circuit board (PCB). Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) confirmed the enhanced electrochemical active surface area (ECASA) and low charge transfer resistance (Rct) of the rGO-Ag@SiO2/Au PCB. The accelerated electron transfer and the high number of active sites on the rGO-Ag@SiO2/Au PCB resulted in the electrochemical detection of EA through the DPV technique with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.68 μM and a linear range of 2.0-200.0 μM. The constructed DPV sensor exhibited high selectivity toward EA, high reproducibility in terms of different Au PCBs, excellent repeatability, and long-term stability in storage at room temperature (25 °C). The real-time application of the rGO-Ag@SiO2/Au PCB for EA detection was investigated using EA-based pharmaceutical samples. Recovery percentages between 96.2% and 102.9% were obtained. The developed DPV sensor based on an rGO-Ag@SiO2/Au PCB could be used to detect other electrochemically active species following optimization under certain conditions.
Keywords: differential pulse voltammetry; etidronic acid; self-assembly; ultrasonic irradiation.