Ultra-sensitive electrochemical sensor based on MOF-derived Ni@carbon nanoframework and MWCNTs for the detection of flutamide in environmental water samples.

Ni@carbon nanoframework-multi-walled carbon nanotubes (Ni@CNF-CNTs) nanomaterials were synthesized through the carbonization of flower-like nickel metal organic framework (Ni-MOF) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). Subsequently, a high-performance flutamide (FLT) - an anti-androgen drug -  electrochemical sensor was constructed using the nanomaterials. Both Ni@carbon nanoframework (Ni@CNF) and MWCNTs have adsorption capacity for FLT. Importantly, the excellent electrical conductivity of MWCNTs, combined with the multiple metal reactive sites of Ni@CNF, enables the synthesized materials to effectively detect the environmental pollutant FLT. The Ni@CNF-CNTs/glassy carbon electrode (Ni@CNF-CNTs/GCE) sensor demonstrates the capability to detect FLT concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 4.9 μM, with a limit of detection (LOD) of 23.2 nM (S/N = 3). The manufactured sensor is characterized by remarkable stability and selectivity, with recoveries ranging from 96.7% to 101.6% in actual samples. Furthermore, the detection results were validated using ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), indicating its applicability for detecting FLT in real environmental water samples. This work presents a novel approach to developing a sensitive, eco-friendly, and cost-effective FLT detection technique, demonstrating the effectiveness of electrochemical sensors.