An electrochemical sensor has been successfully demonstrated for sensitive determination of cadaverine with beta-cyclodextrin-graphene oxide-SO3H composite modified glassy carbon electrode (beta-CD/GO-SO3H/GCE). Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) used to investigate the electrochemical behavior of cadaverine on beta-CD/GO-SO3H, which was modified through GCE. The beta-CD/GO-SO3H-GCE showed better performance for the electrochemical oxidation of cadaverine, when compared with bare glassy carbon electrode and GO-GCE. The experimental conditions influencing the determination of cadaverine were optimized and under optimal conditions, the oxidation peak current was proportional to cadaverine concentration in the range of 50-500 nM, while the detection limit was 20 nM (S/N = 3). The proposed sensor was successfully applied to determine cadaverine in fish samples, yielding satisfactory results. The spiked recoveries were in the range of (94.5-104.1%). (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.