Electrochemical detection of 2,6-diisopropylphenol

Abstract

Propofol is a general anæsthetic used for long-term sedation. Currently, propofol is administered intravenously and dosage is determined by patient weight. In rare cases, patients under long-term treatment can develop propofol infusion syndrome, which may result in death. While sensitive, current detection methods for plasma concentrations of propofol are too slow. Faster detection methods for point of care testing need to be developed, and electrochemical methods may be the solution. Various electrochemical methods for the detection of propofol are explored. Detection by facilitated transport at the interface between two immiscible electrolyte solutions is shown to have potential as a detection method. Various chemically modified glassy carbon electrodes are also explored for propofol detection. A sensor for propofol was not developed, but this exploratory study suggests that an electrode modified by a combination of carbon nanotubes and methylene blue may prove to be an effective sensor.