The electrochemical detection of the anti-inflammatory drug 5-aminosalicyli
c acid (5-ASA) has been evaluated through the application of linear sweep,
square wave and sonolinear sweep voltammetry. The introduction of ultrasoun
d is shown to significantly enhance the oxidation signal intensity thereby
enabling the detection of low concentrations with the linear range (1-57 mu
M) adequate for assessing free drug within physiological samples. interfere
nce from ascorbic acid can be effectively negated through the introduction
of cupric ion without any appreciable cost to the voltammetric response to
5-ASA. The efficacy of employing sonolinear sweep voltammetry to the determ
ination of this compound within a compositionally complex tissue culture me
dium has been assessed with the recovery of 5 muM 5-ASA found to be 102% (R
SD = 5%, N = 3). (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.