Ultra-sensitive electrochemical sensing of acetaminophen and codeine in biological fluids using CuO/CuFe(2)O(4) nanoparticles as a novel electrocatalyst.

Copper ferrite-copper oxide (CuO-CuFe(2)O(4)) nanoparticles as a semiconductor composite with p-n junction were synthesized by co-precipitation reaction. Then, a novel CuO-CuFe(2)O(4) carbon paste modified electrode was fabricated which displays an effectual electrocatalytic response to the oxidation of acetaminophen (AC) and codeine (CO). A linear range of 0.01-1.5 μmol L(-1) and 0.06-10.0 μmol L(-1) with the detection limits of 0.007 μmol L(-1) and 0.01 μmol L(-1) were achieved for AC and CO, respectively. The practical usage of the proposed sensor revealed reasonable results for quantification of AC and CO in biological fluids.