Determination of ampicillin sodium using the cupric oxide nanoparticles–luminol–H2O2 chemiluminescence reaction

A simple and sensitive chemiluminescence (CL) method has been developed for the determination of ampicillin sodium at submicromolar levels. The method is based on the inhibitory effect of ampicillin sodium on the cupric oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs)–luminol–H₂O₂ CL reaction. Experimental parameters affecting CL inhibition including concentrations of CuO NPs, luminol, H₂O₂ and NaOH were optimized. Under optimum conditions, the calibration plot was linear in the analyte concentration range 4.0 × 10^‐7–4.0 × 10^‐6 mol/L. The limit of detection was 2.6 × 10^‐7 mol/L and the relative standard deviation (RSD) for six replicate determinations of 1 × 10^‐6 mol/L ampicillin sodium was 4.71%. Also, X–ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis were employed to characterize the CuO NPs. The utility of the proposed method was demonstrated by determining ampicillin sodium in pharmaceutical preparation. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.