# A Novel Electrochemical Method for Protionamide Determination Based on Its Interaction with Alizarin Red S

Authors: Weili Zhang; Xueliang Niu; Hua Zhang; Qingqing Jiang; Pingping Zhang
Journal: International Journal of Electrochemistry
 (2015)

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## Abstract

The interaction of protionamide with alizarin red S (ARS) and its analytical application were carefully investigated in this contribution. The interaction conditions were carefully studied and optimized by cyclic voltammetry. Under the optimum conditions, the cyclic voltammetry curve of ARS showed an oxidation peak with the peak potential of 0.57 V. After the addition of protionamide to the ARS solution, the peak potential was negatively moved, and meanwhile the oxidation peak current decreased apparently to the concentration of protionamide and then a new method for the protionamide determination was established. The linear equation between the decreasing current (Δip) and protionamide concentration was got as Δip (μA) = 0.01514C (mg/L) −0.01553  (n=9;r=0.991) with the linear range of 10.0~50.0 mg/L, and the detection limit (3σ) was got as 8.25 μg/mL. The effects of coexisting substances on the determination were carefully investigated and the protionamide artificial and tablet samples were detected with satisfactory results.


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## Body

## 1. Introduction

Protionamide (PTH) is a thioisonicotinamide derivative and the structure is shown in Figure1. Owing to the effective therapeutic effect for mycobacteria, PTH is used as a common second-line anti-TB drug and is often prescribed in combination with other anti-TB drugs against treatment refractory lung tuberculosis in clinical treatment [1]. To the best of our knowledge, the number of analytical methods reported in the literature for PTH determination is very low and the papers are also about 20 years old. According to Chinese Pharmacopoeia, titration method is used for PTH determination, which suffers from low sensitivity [2]. A high-performance liquid chromatography method was proposed by H. Bartels and R. Bartels [3], which could be used for the human serum samples after an intricate pretreatment. Because of the advantages of high sensitivity, wide linear range, and simple equipment, electrochemical method has been widely applied to investigate the large biological molecules [4, 5]. In recent years, with the continuous development of electrochemical analysis technology and continuous broadening of the research scope, the study of drug analysis and quality control have aroused widespread concern [6, 7]. Alizarin red S (ARS) is a kind of basic biological stain, which is often selected as the electrochemical probe for the research of biological molecular in the life sciences. For example, Zhang et al. proposed a voltammetric determination method for catechol using poly(alizarin red S)/ionic liquid film modified electrode as working electrode [8]. A colorimetric determination method for dothiepin hydrochloride in pharmaceutical formulations with alizarin red S as a chromogenic agent was established by Abdulrahman and Basavaiah [9]. We also developed a new method forlysozyme determination using alizarin red S as electrochemical probe by linear sweep voltammetry [10].Figure 1
The chemical structure of protionamide.In this paper, the electrochemical behavior of ARS and its interaction with PTH were studied, and a new electrochemical method for PTH detection was established with ARS as an electrochemical probe.


## 2. Experimental

### 2.1. Apparatus and Chemicals

The electrochemical measurements were carried out on an EC 550 (Wuhan Gaossunion Technology Co., Ltd., China) and a three-electrode system used in the measurements consists of a glassy carbon electrode as working electrode, Pt as counter electrode, and a saturated calomel electrode (SCE) as reference electrode. All potentials are given with respect to SCE. The pHS-25 meter (Shanghai LeiCi Instrumentation Co., Ltd., China) was used to measure the pH of the solutions.Protionamide stock solution (0.50 mg/mL) was prepared by dissolving 0.0500 g of protionamide (Chembest Research Laboratories Co., Ltd., China) in ethanol and diluting to the mark in a 100 mL calibrated flask; then it was stored at 4°C. The working solution was further diluted with ethanol. Alizarin red S solution (1.0 × 10−4 mol/L) was prepared by dissolving 0.0360 g of alizarin red S (Tianjin Fu Chen Chemical Reagents Factory) in water and diluting to the mark in a 100 mL calibrated flask. 0.2 mol/L HAc-NaAc buffer solution was used to control the pH of the interaction solution. All other reagents were of analytical reagent grade and were used as received. Deionized water was used throughout this study.


### 2.2. Electrochemical Measurements

0.20 mL 1.0 × 10−3 mol/L ARS solution, 5.0 mL pH 5.0 HAc-NaAc buffer, and an appropriate amount of PTH (or samples) were added to a 10 mL volumetric flask in order. Then dilute the solution to the mark with water and mix thoroughly. After reacting at room temperature for 20 min, the three-electrode system was immersed. The voltammetric responses were recorded in the range +0.3 V~+0.7 V (versus SCE) at 50 mV/s. The reduction peak current of ARS at a potential of +0.57 V (versus SCE) was recorded as the blank response (ip0) and the peak current of the ARS-PTH complex was recorded as ip. The difference of the peak current (Δip=ip0-ip) was used for quantitative analysis. All the experiments were performed at 25 ± 2°C, except when otherwise stated.


## 2.1. Apparatus and Chemicals

The electrochemical measurements were carried out on an EC 550 (Wuhan Gaossunion Technology Co., Ltd., China) and a three-electrode system used in the measurements consists of a glassy carbon electrode as working electrode, Pt as counter electrode, and a saturated calomel electrode (SCE) as reference electrode. All potentials are given with respect to SCE. The pHS-25 meter (Shanghai LeiCi Instrumentation Co., Ltd., China) was used to measure the pH of the solutions.Protionamide stock solution (0.50 mg/mL) was prepared by dissolving 0.0500 g of protionamide (Chembest Research Laboratories Co., Ltd., China) in ethanol and diluting to the mark in a 100 mL calibrated flask; then it was stored at 4°C. The working solution was further diluted with ethanol. Alizarin red S solution (1.0 × 10−4 mol/L) was prepared by dissolving 0.0360 g of alizarin red S (Tianjin Fu Chen Chemical Reagents Factory) in water and diluting to the mark in a 100 mL calibrated flask. 0.2 mol/L HAc-NaAc buffer solution was used to control the pH of the interaction solution. All other reagents were of analytical reagent grade and were used as received. Deionized water was used throughout this study.


## 2.2. Electrochemical Measurements

0.20 mL 1.0 × 10−3 mol/L ARS solution, 5.0 mL pH 5.0 HAc-NaAc buffer, and an appropriate amount of PTH (or samples) were added to a 10 mL volumetric flask in order. Then dilute the solution to the mark with water and mix thoroughly. After reacting at room temperature for 20 min, the three-electrode system was immersed. The voltammetric responses were recorded in the range +0.3 V~+0.7 V (versus SCE) at 50 mV/s. The reduction peak current of ARS at a potential of +0.57 V (versus SCE) was recorded as the blank response (ip0) and the peak current of the ARS-PTH complex was recorded as ip. The difference of the peak current (Δip=ip0-ip) was used for quantitative analysis. All the experiments were performed at 25 ± 2°C, except when otherwise stated.


## 3. Results and Discussion

### 3.1. The Cyclic Voltammograms of ARS-PTH Interaction System

The cyclic voltammograms of ARS at the bare GCE in 0.20 mol/L pH 5.0 HAc-NaAc buffer solution were shown in Figure2. The results indicated that ARS had a pair of asymmetric redox peaks at 0.545 and 0.51 V, respectively, and the ΔEp was calculated as 35 mV. From Figure 2, it also can be seen that after the addition of PTH to ARS solution the peak current values of ARS decreased and the peak potential values moved negatively (curves 2 and 3).Figure 2
Cyclic voltammograms of ARS and ARS-PTH. Condition: 1. 3.0 mL pH 5.0 PBS; 2. 1 + 1.0 × 10− 5 mol/L ARS; 3. 2 + 30 mg/L PTH.Acidity experiments showed that the pH values of HAc-NaAc buffer had significant effects on the electrochemical response of ARS. Over the range from pH 3.0 to 6.0, the oxidation peak potentials(Epa) shifted negatively and with a linear regression equation of Epa=0.821–0.058 pH. According to the equation of Epa=E0-(0.059m/n) pH [11], we suggest that the same number of protons and electrons was involved in the electrochemical reaction.The effects of scan rate(v) on the peak current (Ipa) of ARS were further studied. The results displayed that the CV curves of ARS changed regularly with the increase of scan rate. As shown in Figure 3, the plots of oxidation peak currents had good linear relationship with the scan rate (v) with regression equations of ipa(μA)=0.0092v(mV/s)+0.59(r=0.993), suggesting that the electrochemical process of ARS was controlled by diffusion [12].Figure 3
Relationship betweenipa and v (mV/s).


### 3.2. Optimal Conditions of General Procedure

The influences of acidity and the volume of HAc-NaAc buffer solution on the binding reaction of ARS with PTH were separately studied according to the difference of peak current of ARS before and after the addition of PTH (as Δip). The results were showed in Figure4, which indicated that the value of Δip reached maximum at pH 5.0 (a) and the volume at 5 mL (b), so pH 5.0 and 5 mL were chosen for the assay.Figure 4
Effect of pH and the volume of buffer on the cyclic voltammograms of the interaction system.
(a)
(b)The effect of ARS concentration on Δip value was studied with 20.0 mg/L PTH with the results showing that when the ARS concentration was at 1.0 × 10−5mol/L, Δip reached the maximum, so 1.0 × 10−5mol/L ARS concentration was recommended in this paper.The value of Δip reached the maximum within 30 min and remained stable for at least 2 hours. Therefore, this system gave enough time for routine measurement. The effect of reaction temperature on the value of Δip was tested at 15, 25, 30, 35, and 40°C, respectively. The results indicated that there were no obvious differences among them, so 25°C was used throughout.


## 3.1. The Cyclic Voltammograms of ARS-PTH Interaction System

The cyclic voltammograms of ARS at the bare GCE in 0.20 mol/L pH 5.0 HAc-NaAc buffer solution were shown in Figure2. The results indicated that ARS had a pair of asymmetric redox peaks at 0.545 and 0.51 V, respectively, and the ΔEp was calculated as 35 mV. From Figure 2, it also can be seen that after the addition of PTH to ARS solution the peak current values of ARS decreased and the peak potential values moved negatively (curves 2 and 3).Figure 2
Cyclic voltammograms of ARS and ARS-PTH. Condition: 1. 3.0 mL pH 5.0 PBS; 2. 1 + 1.0 × 10− 5 mol/L ARS; 3. 2 + 30 mg/L PTH.Acidity experiments showed that the pH values of HAc-NaAc buffer had significant effects on the electrochemical response of ARS. Over the range from pH 3.0 to 6.0, the oxidation peak potentials(Epa) shifted negatively and with a linear regression equation of Epa=0.821–0.058 pH. According to the equation of Epa=E0-(0.059m/n) pH [11], we suggest that the same number of protons and electrons was involved in the electrochemical reaction.The effects of scan rate(v) on the peak current (Ipa) of ARS were further studied. The results displayed that the CV curves of ARS changed regularly with the increase of scan rate. As shown in Figure 3, the plots of oxidation peak currents had good linear relationship with the scan rate (v) with regression equations of ipa(μA)=0.0092v(mV/s)+0.59(r=0.993), suggesting that the electrochemical process of ARS was controlled by diffusion [12].Figure 3
Relationship betweenipa and v (mV/s).


## 3.2. Optimal Conditions of General Procedure

The influences of acidity and the volume of HAc-NaAc buffer solution on the binding reaction of ARS with PTH were separately studied according to the difference of peak current of ARS before and after the addition of PTH (as Δip). The results were showed in Figure4, which indicated that the value of Δip reached maximum at pH 5.0 (a) and the volume at 5 mL (b), so pH 5.0 and 5 mL were chosen for the assay.Figure 4
Effect of pH and the volume of buffer on the cyclic voltammograms of the interaction system.
(a)
(b)The effect of ARS concentration on Δip value was studied with 20.0 mg/L PTH with the results showing that when the ARS concentration was at 1.0 × 10−5mol/L, Δip reached the maximum, so 1.0 × 10−5mol/L ARS concentration was recommended in this paper.The value of Δip reached the maximum within 30 min and remained stable for at least 2 hours. Therefore, this system gave enough time for routine measurement. The effect of reaction temperature on the value of Δip was tested at 15, 25, 30, 35, and 40°C, respectively. The results indicated that there were no obvious differences among them, so 25°C was used throughout.


## 4. Analytical Application

### 4.1. Calibration Curve and Detection Limit

Under the optimal conditions, with ARS concentration at 1.0 × 10−5mol/L, a calibration curve for PTH determination was obtained using the Δip value and PTH concentration in the range of 10.0~50.0 mg/L with the linear regression equation as Δip(μA) = 0.01514C (mg/L) −0.01553 (n=9; r=0.991), which was showed in Figure 5. The relative standard deviation (RSD) for eleven parallel determinations of 30.0 mg/L LT was 3.56% and the detection limit was calculated as 8.5 mg/L (3σ).Figure 5
The working curve for the determination of PTH.


### 4.2. Effect of Coexisting Substances

The effect of coexisting substances such as amino acids, glucose, and metal ions on the determination of 30.0 mg/L PTH was tested. As shown in Table1, most of the cations and amino acids had little influences on the determination of PTH. But human serum albumin (HSA) showed obvious influence on the interaction, which may be caused by the absorption on the surface of electrode.Table 1
Effect of coexisting substances on the determination of 3.0 mg/L PTH.
Coexisting substances
Concentration (mg/L)
Relative error (%)
Coexisting substances
Concentration (mg/L)
Relative error (%)
Glucose
5.0
3.49
Ca2+
5.0
3.16
L-Arginine
5.0
−2.78
Cu2+
5.0
2.50
L-Tyrosine
5.0
2.95
Zn2+
5.0
−1.60
L-Glutamic acid
5.0
3.38
Mn2+
5.0
−2.58
HSA
5.0
5.72
Mg2+
5.0
−2.27


### 4.3. Sample Determination

Artificial protionamide samples containing metal ions, amino acids, and so forth were determined and the results are listed in Table2. It can be seen that y-RNA in the artificial samples could be determined with satisfactory results and the recoveries were in the range of 102.7%–107.0%, which indicates that this method is practical and reliable.Table 2
Results of the determination of PTH in synthetic samples (n=5).
Sample
Coexisting substances
PTH (mg/L)
Recovery (%)
Added
Found
1
L-Arginine, L-tyrosine, glucose, and Zn2+
30.0
32.1
107.0
2
L-Tyrosine, L-glutamic acid, Zn2+, and Cu2+
30.0
30.8
102.7The proposed method was further applied to determine the compound protionamide tablet samples (0.1 g per tablet), which were purchased from Shanxi Taiyuan Jinyang Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (H14022093). The procedure for preparing protionamide sample solution was as follows: one piece of protionamide tablet was carefully ground in the agar, transferred to a 100 mL volumetric flask, and diluted to the scale. A 0.3 mL solution was further diluted with water in a 10 mL calibrated tube and then detected by the experimental procedure with the detection results shown in Table3. The recovery was performed with the standard addition method to evaluate the accuracy of the method. It can be seen that the results were satisfactory.Table 3
Analysis results of protionamide content in protionamide tablet.
Sample
Single determination (mg/L)
Average
RSD
Specified
Recovery
1
2
3
4
5
(mg/L)
%
(mg/L)
%
H14022093
31.3
32.2
31.8
31.6
31.4
31.64
3.92
30.0
105.5


## 4.1. Calibration Curve and Detection Limit

Under the optimal conditions, with ARS concentration at 1.0 × 10−5mol/L, a calibration curve for PTH determination was obtained using the Δip value and PTH concentration in the range of 10.0~50.0 mg/L with the linear regression equation as Δip(μA) = 0.01514C (mg/L) −0.01553 (n=9; r=0.991), which was showed in Figure 5. The relative standard deviation (RSD) for eleven parallel determinations of 30.0 mg/L LT was 3.56% and the detection limit was calculated as 8.5 mg/L (3σ).Figure 5
The working curve for the determination of PTH.


## 4.2. Effect of Coexisting Substances

The effect of coexisting substances such as amino acids, glucose, and metal ions on the determination of 30.0 mg/L PTH was tested. As shown in Table1, most of the cations and amino acids had little influences on the determination of PTH. But human serum albumin (HSA) showed obvious influence on the interaction, which may be caused by the absorption on the surface of electrode.Table 1
Effect of coexisting substances on the determination of 3.0 mg/L PTH.
Coexisting substances
Concentration (mg/L)
Relative error (%)
Coexisting substances
Concentration (mg/L)
Relative error (%)
Glucose
5.0
3.49
Ca2+
5.0
3.16
L-Arginine
5.0
−2.78
Cu2+
5.0
2.50
L-Tyrosine
5.0
2.95
Zn2+
5.0
−1.60
L-Glutamic acid
5.0
3.38
Mn2+
5.0
−2.58
HSA
5.0
5.72
Mg2+
5.0
−2.27


## 4.3. Sample Determination

Artificial protionamide samples containing metal ions, amino acids, and so forth were determined and the results are listed in Table2. It can be seen that y-RNA in the artificial samples could be determined with satisfactory results and the recoveries were in the range of 102.7%–107.0%, which indicates that this method is practical and reliable.Table 2
Results of the determination of PTH in synthetic samples (n=5).
Sample
Coexisting substances
PTH (mg/L)
Recovery (%)
Added
Found
1
L-Arginine, L-tyrosine, glucose, and Zn2+
30.0
32.1
107.0
2
L-Tyrosine, L-glutamic acid, Zn2+, and Cu2+
30.0
30.8
102.7The proposed method was further applied to determine the compound protionamide tablet samples (0.1 g per tablet), which were purchased from Shanxi Taiyuan Jinyang Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (H14022093). The procedure for preparing protionamide sample solution was as follows: one piece of protionamide tablet was carefully ground in the agar, transferred to a 100 mL volumetric flask, and diluted to the scale. A 0.3 mL solution was further diluted with water in a 10 mL calibrated tube and then detected by the experimental procedure with the detection results shown in Table3. The recovery was performed with the standard addition method to evaluate the accuracy of the method. It can be seen that the results were satisfactory.Table 3
Analysis results of protionamide content in protionamide tablet.
Sample
Single determination (mg/L)
Average
RSD
Specified
Recovery
1
2
3
4
5
(mg/L)
%
(mg/L)
%
H14022093
31.3
32.2
31.8
31.6
31.4
31.64
3.92
30.0
105.5


## 5. Conclusion

The electrochemical behaviors of ARS and its interaction with protionamide were investigated by cyclic voltammetric method. Under the selected conditions, the oxidation peak current was proportional to protionamide concentration in the range from 10.0 to 50.0 mg/L, and a novel voltammetric method for the determination of protionamide was developed with the detection limit as 8.25 mg/L (3σ). The proposed method was further applied to protionamide artificial and tablet samples detection with high sensitivity, excellent reproducibility, and good stability.



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*Source: 151390-2015-08-20.xml*