Non-enzymatic square-wave voltammetric determination of progesterone using an MWCNT-IMZ composite

The growing need for rapid and accurate hormonal analysis has spurred the development of sensitive electrochemical sensing platforms for clinical diagnostics. This study presents a non-enzymatic electrochemical sensor constructed from a multi-walled carbon nanotube and 1-methylimidazole (MWCNT-IMZ) composite for the sensitive detection of progesterone (P4), a crucial biomarker in reproductive and hormonal disorders. The MWCNT-IMZ-modified electrode exhibited enhanced electron-transfer kinetics and an increased electroactive surface area, as confirmed by cyclic voltammetry using ferricyanide as a redox probe. The MWCNT-IMZ/SPE exhibited improved definition of the ferricyanide redox peak and reduced peak-to-peak separation compared with MWCNT/SPE, confirming enhanced interfacial electron-transfer characteristics. Square-wave voltammetry was used to quantitatively detect P4 over a range of 50-200 nM, with a limit of detection (LOD) of 13.3 nM and a limit of quantification (LOQ) of 44.2 nM. The proposed sensor demonstrated good reproducibility and stability, and its non-enzymatic design means that it does not require biological recognition elements or complex preconcentration steps. These results show that the developed sensing platform could be a simple, inexpensive, and compact tool for point-of-care hormonal testing.