Cathodic adsorptive stripping voltammetric studies on lamivudine: an antiretroviral drug.

The electrochemical reduction and adsorption of lamivudine, a systemic antiviral drug, were studied in a phosphate buffer medium at a hanging mercury drop electrode (HMDE). Cyclic voltammetry studies showed one well-defined reduction peak in the potential range from -1.2 to -1.8 V under different pH conditions, but the best results were obtained at pH 3.4. The reduction was irreversible and exhibited diffusion-controlled adsorption. The response was evaluated with respect to preconcentration time, pH effect, accumulation potential, accumulation time, and scan rate. The number of electrons transferred in the reduction process was calculated and the probable reduction mechanism was proposed. A systemic study of the experimental parameters that affect the square-wave stripping response was carried out and experimental conditions were optimized.