Direct determination of nicotine in antismoking pharmaceutical products and in tobacco using an inhibition biosensor

A bienzymatic inhibition biosensor, consisting of a hydrogen peroxide amper ometric electrode coupled to a functionalised nylon membrane chemically bon ding the enzymes butyrylcholinesterase and choline oxidase and using butyry lcholine as substrate, was prepared and tested for the analysis of nicotine . The system was applied to the analysis of several pharmaceutical formulat ions containing nicotine used to treat addiction and to determine the nicot ine content of different types of commercial tobacco.