Adsorption of Barbiturates on an Electrode Surface

Abstract

In order to elucidate the interaction of structurally nonspectific drugs with a charged surfaces, the adsorption of six barbiturates (barbital, phenobarbital, amobarbital, allobarbital, cyclobarbital and hexobarbital) on a gold electrode surface has been studied by specular reflectivity measurement in 0.1 M NaClO₄. These barbiturates are adsorbed in the potential range around the point of zero charge. From the potential and concentration dependences of their adsorption, it can be deduced that the surface behavior of all these barbiturates is essentially the same. Electrosorption of barbiturates may provide a very simple model of the combination of barbiturates with the synaptic membranes.