Nanocomposite of Palladium Nanoparticles Anchored on Boron Nitride Nanosheets as a Sensor for Liver Treatment Drug Silymarin

The monitoring of antioxidant drugs in animal and human biological systems is significant and has raised a global scientific challenge. Herein, the design and construction of a novel electrochemical sensor are presented for a highly sensitive voltammetric measurement of the liver treatment drug silymarin (SMR). The structure of the resulting nanocomposite, palladium nanoparticles anchored on boron nitride nanosheets, was examined with field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, X-ray diffraction, and UV–vis spectroscopy, and the results obtained were favorable and convincing. In addition, the electrochemical performance of the sensor was investigated with cyclic voltammetry, differential pulse voltammetry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy to determine SMR. Following the optimization of the sensor’s structural parameters, its practical application for SMR determination exhibited an excellent detection limit of 2.0 × 10 –4 μM and a linear concentration response range of 4.0 × 10 –3 to 2.5 × 10 –1 μM of SMR. The electrode’s stability, reproducibility, and durability were found to be satisfactory after monitoring its daily usage for a minimum period of two months. Compared to previously reported works in the literature, the sensor demonstrated an acceptable performance. Moreover, the sensor provided reliable data in the analysis of small quantities of SMR in plasma and urine substrates.