Amperometric responses of CYP2D6 drug metabolism nanobiosensor for sertraline: a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor.

Sertraline is selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor drug marketed as Zoloft by Pfizer and used mainly for the treatment of depression, anxiety and obsession. A number of side effects are associated with the use of the drug including gastrointestinal complaints, nervousness and sexual dysfunction. This means that a reliable fast method (such as biosensing) for determining sertraline metabolic profile of patients is essential for adequate dosing. Nanobiosensor for the determination of sertraline biotransformation was prepared with cytochrome P450-2D6 (CYP2D6) and poly(8-anilino-1-napthalene sulphonic acid) nanotubes (90 nm in diameter and 600-800 nm in length) potentiodynamically deposited on gold. The biosensor gave a linear response over the concentration range of 0.2 and 1.4 microM with a sensitivity value of 0.301 microA/microM and a detection limit of 0.13 microM. The nanobiosensor exhibited substrate inhibition response profile for sertraline biotransformation at high concentrations. Analysis of the Michaelis-Menten region of the nanosensor response curve for sertraline gave an apparent Michaelis-Menten constant (K(m)) value of 0.75 microM, which is higher than the peak plasma concentration (C(max)) value of 0.55 microM, thereby making the sensor suitable for sertraline determination in serum.