Facile hydrothermal growth graphene/ZnO nanocomposite for development of enhanced biosensor

Graphene/zinc oxide nanocomposite was synthesised via a facile, green and efficient approach consisted of novel liquid phase exfoliation and solvothermal growth for sensing application. Highly pristine graphene was synthesised through mild sonication treatment of graphite in a mixture of ethanol and water at an optimum ratio. The X-ray diffractometry (XRD) affirmed the hydrothermal growth of pure zinc oxide nanoparticles from zinc nitrate hexahydrate precursor. The as-prepared graphene/zinc oxide (G/ZnO) nanocomposite was characterised comprehensively to evaluate its morphology, crystallinity, composition and purity. All results clearly indicate that zinc oxide particles were homogenously distributed on graphene sheets, without any severe aggregation. The electrochemical performance of graphene/zinc oxide nanocomposite-modified screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE) was evaluated using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and amperometry analysis. The resulting electrode exhibited excellent electrocatalytic activity towards the reduction of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) in a linear range of 1–15 mM with a correlation coefficient of 0.9977. The sensitivity of the graphene/zinc oxide nanocomposite-modified hydrogen peroxide sensor was 3.2580 μAmM⁻¹ with a limit of detection of 7.4357 μM. An electrochemical DNA sensor platform was then fabricated for the detection of Avian Influenza H5 gene based on graphene/zinc oxide nanocomposite. The results obtained from amperometry study indicate that the graphene/zinc oxide nanocomposite-enhanced electrochemical DNA biosensor is significantly more sensitive (P < 0.05) and efficient than the conventional agarose gel electrophoresis.     

Metallated porphyrin noncovalent interaction with reduced graphene oxide‐modified electrode for amperometric detection of environmental pollutant hydrazine

A reduced graphene oxide/platinum(II) tetraphenylporphyrin nanocomposite (RGO/Pt‐TPP)‐modified glassy carbon electrode was developed for the selective detection of hydrazine. The RGO/Pt‐TPP nanocomposite was successfully prepared via noncovalent π–π stacking interaction. The prepared nanocomposite was characterized using nuclear magnetic resonance, electrochemical impedance, ultraviolet–visible and Raman spectroscopies, scanning electron microscopy and X‐ray diffraction. The electrochemical detection of hydrazine was performed via cyclic voltammetry and amperometry. The RGO/Pt‐TPP nanocomposite exhibited good electrocatalytic activity towards detection of hydrazine with low overpotential and high oxidation peak current. The fabricated sensor exhibited a wide linear range from 13 nM to 232 μM and a detection limit of 5 nM. In addition, the fabricated sensor selectively detected hydrazine even in the presence of 500‐fold excess of common interfering ions. The fabricated electrode exhibited good sensitivity, stability, repeatability and reproducibility. In addition, the practical applicability of the sensor was evaluated in various water samples with acceptable recoveries.     

Growth of non-enzymatic cholesterol biosensor using TiO2 decorated graphene oxide with bare GCE and PPy-GCE

In this work, we report an electrochemical cholesterol biosensor based on cholesterol oxidase(ChOx) enzyme immobilized on TiO₂- nanoparticles – reduced graphene oxide(rGO) – polypyrrole (PPy) nanocomposite modified electrode.The electrochemical properties of GCE modified PPy (PPy-GCE) were studied using CV (Cyclic Voltammetry) and DPV (Differential Pulse Voltammetry). The developed sensor exhibited piecewise linearity from 0.1 μM to 1 μM and from 1 μM to 600 μM with the sensitivity of 61.665 and 0.1466 (2 mA mM × cm) respectively. The limit of detection of the sensor was found to be 32 nm.     

Cysteine combined with carbon black as support for electrodeposition of poly (1,8-Diaminonaphthalene): Application as sensing material for efficient determination of nitrite ions

Poly 1,8-Diaminonaphtahlene/cysteine (poly 1,8-DAN/Cys) combined with carbon black (CB) nanoparticles are proposed as an excellent sensor for the detection of nitrite ions. To design the electrocatalyst, a simple approach consisting on drop-casting method was applied to disperse carbon black on the surface of glassy carbon electrode, followed by the immobilization of cysteine on the surface of CB nanoparticles. The electrochemical polymerization of 1,8-Diaminonaphthalene was conducted in acidic medium by using cyclic voltammetry. The prepared hybrid material was denoted poly 1,8-DAN /Cys/CB. Several methods were used to characterize the structural and electrochemical behavior of the reported hybrid material including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), amperometry and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). The prepared electrode displayed an outstanding electroactivity towards nitrite ions reflected by an enhancement in the intensity of the current and a decrease of the charge transfer resistance. Poly 1,8-DAN/Cys/CB displayed an excellent sensing performance towards the detection of nitrite with a very low detection limit of 0.25 µM. Two linear ranges of 1–40 µM and 20–210 µM when using amperometry and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) were obtained respectively. This work highlights the simple preparation of a polymeric film rich in amine and thiol groups for nitrite detection.     

Simultaneous electrochemical determination of nitrate and nitrite in aqueous solution using Ag-doped zeolite-expanded graphite-epoxy electrode

In this work a new electrochemical sensor based on an Ag-doped zeolite-expanded graphite-epoxy composite electrode (AgZEGE) was evaluated as a novel alternative for the simultaneous quantitative determination of nitrate and nitrite in aqueous solutions. Cyclic voltammetry was used to characterize the electrochemical behavior of the electrode in the presence of individual or mixtures of nitrate and nitrite anions in 0.1 M Na₂SO₄ supporting electrolyte. Linear dependences of current versus nitrate and nitrite concentrations were obtained for the concentration ranges of 1-10 mM for nitrate and 0.1-1 mM for nitrite using cyclic voltammetry (CV), chronoamperometry (CA), and multiple-pulsed amperometry (MPA) procedures. The comparative assessment of the electrochemical behavior of the individual anions and mixtures of anions on this modified electrode allowed determining the working conditions for the simultaneous detection of the nitrite and nitrate anions. Applying MPA allowed enhancement of the sensitivity for direct and indirect nitrate detection and also for nitrite detection. The proposed sensor was applied in tap water samples spiked with known nitrate and nitrite concentrations and the results were in agreement with those obtained by a comparative spectrophotometric method. This work demonstrates that using multiple-pulse amperometry with the Ag-doped zeolite-expanded graphite-epoxy composite electrode provides a real opportunity for the simultaneous detection of nitrite and nitrate in aqueous solutions.     

Electrospun Pd nanoparticles loaded on Vulcan carbon/ conductive polymeric ionic liquid nanofibers for selective and sensitive determination of tramadol

In the present work a sensitive and selective electrochemical sensor was fabricated based on a glassy carbon electrode which has been modified with Pd nanoparticles loaded on Vulcan carbon/conductive polymeric ionic liquid composite nanofibers. The nanostructures were characterized by UV–Vis, FT-IR, FESEM, EDX and XRD techniques. The electrochemical study of the modified electrode, as well as its efficiency for the electrooxidation of tramadol was described in 0.1 M phosphate buffered solution (PBS) (pH 7.0) using cyclic voltammetry, linear sweep voltammetry, chronoamperometry and square wave voltammetry as diagnostic techniques. It has been found that application of the composite nanofibers result in a sensitivity enhancement and a considerable decrease in the anodic overpotential, leading to negative shifts about 200 mV in peak potential. The results exhibit a linear dynamic range from 0.05 μM to 200 μM and a detection limit of 0.015 μM for tramadol. Finally, the modified electrode was used for the determination of tramadol in pharmaceutical and biological samples.     

Novel reagentless paper-based screen-printed electrochemical sensor to detect phosphate

Herein we describe a novel reagentless paper-based electrochemical phosphate sensor, manufactured with a simple and inexpensive approach. By following three easy steps, consisting of wax patterning, paper chemical modification, and electrode screen-printing, the filter paper provides an effective electroanalytical platform to sense phosphate ions in standard solutions and real samples (river water). The electrochemical properties of the paper-based platform were evaluated, firstly, by using ferricyanide as a redox mediator, proving no analyte-entrapment due to the cellulose lattice. Then, the reference colorimetric method for phosphate ions, which is based on the formation of phosphomolybdic complex, was successfully adapted to a reagentless electrochemically paper-based platform. This novel and highly sustainable configuration readily allows for the determination of phosphate ions with high reproducibility and long storage stability, achieving a detection limit of 4 μM over a wide linear range up to 300 μM. This in-house approach would be able to generically develop an affordable in situ and user-friendly sensing device without the addition of any reagent, to be applied for a broad range of analytes.     

Renewable sol-gel carbon ceramic electrodes modified with a Ru-complex for the amperometric detection of l-cysteine and glutathione

A renewable three-dimensional chemically modified carbon ceramic electrode containing Ru [(tpy)(bpy)Cl] PF₆ was constructed by sol-gel technique. It exhibits an excellent electro-catalytic activity for oxidation of l-cysteine and glutathione at pH range 2-8. Cyclic voltammetry was employed to characterize the electrochemical behavior of the chemically modified electrode. The electrocatalytic behavior is further exploited as a sensitive detection scheme for l-cysteine and glutathione by hydrodynamic amperometry. Optimum pH value for detection is 2 for both l-cysteine and glutathione. The catalytic rate constants for l-cysteine and glutathione were determined, which were about 2.1×10³ and 2.5×10³ M⁻¹ s⁻¹, respectively. Under the optimized condition the calibration curves are linear in the concentration range 5-685 and 5-700 μM for l-cysteine and glutathione determination, respectively. The detection limit (S/N=3) and sensitivity is 1 μM, 5 nA/μM for l-cysteine and 1 μM, 7.8 nA/μM for glutathione. The relative standard deviation (RSD) for the amperogram's currents with five injections of l-cysteine or glutathione at concentration range of linear calibration is <1.5%. The advantages of this amperometric detector are: high sensitivity, good catalytic effect, short response time (t<3 s), remarkable long-term stability, simplicity of preparation and reproducibility of surface fouling (RSD for six successive polishing is 3.31%). This sensor can be used as a chromatographic detector for analysis of l-cysteine and glutathione.     

Highly accessible Pt nanodots homogeneously decorated on Au nanorods surface for sensing

Some nanostructures are reported to possess enzyme-mimetic activities similar to those of natural enzymes. Herein, highly-dispersed Pt nanodots on Au nanorods (HD- PtNDs@AuNRs) with mimetic peroxidase activity were designed as an active electrode modifier for fabrication of a hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) electrochemical sensor. The HD-PtNDs@AuNRs were synthesized by a seed-mediated growth approach and confirmed by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and UV–vis spectroscopy. The electrochemical and catalytical performances of HD-PtNDs@AuNRs towards H₂O₂ reduction were investigated in detail by cyclic voltammetry and amperometry. The HD-PtNDs@AuNRs modified electrode displayed a high catalytic activity to H₂O₂ at −0.10 V (versus SCE), a rapid response within 5 s, a wide linear range of 2.0–3800.0 μM, a detection limit of 1.2 μM (S/N = 3), and a high sensitivity of 181 μA mM⁻¹ cm⁻². These results suggested a promising potential of fabricating H₂O₂ electrochemical sensor using HD- PtNDs@AuNRs.     

Layer-by-layer sensor architecture of polymers and nanoparticles for electrochemical detection of uric acid in human urine samples

Excessive uric acid levels in the human body (hyperuricemia) are the main causes of kidney stones and diabetes. In this study, a layer-by-layer arrangement of polymers and nanocomposites is used as a new electrode sensing material for rapid and direct electrochemical determination of uric acid (UA). The electrode surface architecture was constructed by the incorporation of poly (amidoamine) dendrimer with 0.5 generation (poly (amidoamine) [PAMAM] [D-G0.5]) of multiwalled carbon nanotube-silver nanoparticles (MWCNT-AgNP) and a poly (neutral-red) (poly [NR]) polymer. The PAMAM (D-G0.5)/MWCNT-AgNP/poly (NR)-coated electrode has a good electrocatalytic activity for the determination of UA using cyclic voltammetry and showed remarkable enhancement in current response at a low-oxidation potential (0.3 V). Under optimal conditions, the developed electrochemical sensor showed an excellent and wide linear range for the determination of UA (i.e. 0.016 μM–2500 μM), and the limit of detection was found to be 0.005 μM. The modified sensor system demonstrated excellent sensitivity and selectivity toward the detection of UA in the presence of interfering substances, which are commonly found in urine and human fluid samples. Furthermore, the developed sensor has represented both reproducibility and excellent stability for the UA determination in real samples (human urine).     

Ultrasensitive electrochemical sensor for p-nitrophenyl organophosphates based on ordered mesoporous carbons at low potential without deoxygenization

p-Nitrophenyl organophosphates (OPs) including paraoxon, parathion and methyl parathion, etc, are highly poisonous OPs, for which sensitive and rapid detection method is most needed. In this work, an ultrasensitive electrochemical sensor for the determination of p-nitrophenyl OPs was developed based on ordered mesoporous carbons (OMCs) modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) (OMCs/GCE). The electrochemical behavior and reaction mechanism of p-nitrophenyl OPs at OMCs/GCE was elaborated by taking paraoxon as an example. Experimental conditions such as buffer pH, preconcentration potential and time were optimized. By using differential pulse voltammetry, the current response of the sensor at −0.085 V was linear with concentration within 0.01–1.00 μM and 1.00–20 μM paraoxon. Similar linear ranges of 0.015–0.5 μM and 0.5–10 μM were found for parathion, and 0.01–0.5 μM and 0.5–10 μM for methyl parathion. The low limits of detection were evaluated to be 1.9 nM for paraoxon, 3.4 nM for parathion and 2.1 nM for methyl parathion (S/N = 3). Common interfering species had no interference to the detection of p-nitrophenyl OPs. The sensor can be applicable to real samples measurement. Therefore, a simple, sensitive, reproducible and cost-effective electrochemical sensor was proposed for the fast direct determination of trace p-nitrophenyl OPs at low potential without deoxygenization.     

Construction of zinc selenide microspheres decorated with octadecylamine-functionalized reduced graphene oxide as an effective catalyst for the dual-mode detection of chloroquine phosphate

Zinc selenide microspheres were constructed using a simple hydrothermal technique at 180°C. It was ultrasonically treated with reduced graphene oxide modified with octadecylamine alkyl amine to form a hybrid nanocomposite. The optical, structural, and functional analysis by ultraviolet (UV) absorbance, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed the crystal nature of the microspheres and the successful formation of the nanocomposite. Field emission scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy were done to study the morphological properties of the material. It was further used to fabricate a dual-modality sensor using both electrochemical and absorbance techniques for the detection of antimalarial drug chloroquine phosphate (CQP), which was used for the treatment of COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) virus. For electrochemical detection, the sensor showed a very low detection limit of 1.43 nM at a linear working range of 0.199–250.06 μM and a high sensitivity of 43.912 μA/μM/cm². For UV-based detection, the sensor showed a very low detection limit of 6.88 nM at a linear working range of 0.045–7.324 μM. The sensor showed excellent analyte recovery rate for real-time analysis in biological as well as environmental samples. The results suggested that the sensor is effective for the detection of CQP with feasibility for future commercialization.     

Microcontact printed diaphorase monolayer on glass characterized by atomic force microscopy and scanning electrochemical microscopy

Micropatterns of diaphorase (Dp) were fabricated on glass substrates by the microcontact printing (μCP) method and characterized with atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM). AFM images of the printed samples revealed that the mean height of the Dp patterns was 3–5 nm, indicating the formation of a monolayer pattern. The Dp molecules on the surface organized themselves into two-dimensional arrays. We used two kinds of inking solutions: Dp–phosphate buffer solution (PBS) (pH 7.0) and Dp–PBS (pH 7.0) with glutaraldehyde (GA, 1% v/v) as a cross-linking reagent. Although the AFM imaging showed high-quality Dp monolayer patterns in both cases, SECM measurements indicated that the enzymatic activity of Dp was almost lost when Dp–PBS with GA was used as the inking solution, whereas clear enzymatic activity was found when Dp–PBS was used.     

Electrochemical Oxidation and Sensitive Determination of Pyrogallol at Preanodized Screen‐Printed Carbon Electrodes

In this study, we report a simple, low‐cost and rapid electrochemical sensor based on the anodically pretreated screen‐printed carbon electrodes (SPCE*) for the determination of pyrogallol in pH 7.0 buffer solutions. Cyclic voltammetric studies show that SPCE* lowers overpotentials and improve electrochemical behaviour of pyrogallol, compared to untreated SPCE. All experimental parameters were optimized to improve voltammetric responses; excellent analytical features were achieved by flow‐injection amperometric methods. A linear calibration plot was obtained for 10‐1000 μM pyrogallol with a slope of 0.0562 μA/μM. The detection limit (S/N = 3) was 0.33 μM. Interferences from some inorganic salts and organic compounds were studied. The assay was applied to the determination of pyrogallol in tap water and lake water, respectively.     

Highly selective and sensitive simple sensor based on electrochemically treated nano polypyrrole-sodium dodecyl sulphate film for the detection of para-nitrophenol

An ultrasensitive and highly selective electrochemical sensor for the determination of p-nitrophenol (p-NP) was developed based on electrochemically treated nano polypyrrole/sodium dodecyl sulphate film (ENPPy/SDS film) modified glassy carbon electrode. The nano polypyrrole/sodium dodecyl sulphate film (NPPy/SDS film) was prepared and treated electrochemically in phosphate buffer solution. The surface morphology and elemental analysis of treated and untreated NPPy/SDS film were characterized by FESEM and EDX analysis, respectively. Wettability of polymer films were analysed by contact angle test. The hydrophilic nature of the polymer film decreased after electrochemical treatment. Effect of the pH of electrolyte and thickness of the ENPPy/SDS film on determination of p-NP was optimised by cyclic voltammetry. Under the optimised conditions, the p-NP was determined from the oxidation peak of p-hydroxyaminophenol which was formed from the reduction of p-NP in the reduction segment of cyclic voltammetry. A very good linear detection range (from 0.1 nM to 100 μM) and the best LOD (0.1 nM) were obtained for p-NP with very good selectivity. This detection limit is below to the allowed limit in drinking water, 0.43 μM, proposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and earlier reports. Moreover, ENPPy/SDS film based sensor exhibits high sensitivity (4.4546 μA μM⁻¹) to p-NP. Experimental results show that it is a fast and simple sensor for p-NP.     

Isomeric Transformation Of 4-Aminobiphenyl by U.V. Radiation and its Influence on the Determination by Flow Injection Analysis with Amperometric and Spectrophotometric Detection.

Abstract

Two flow-injection methods for the determination of 4-aminobiphenyl by amperometry (glassy carbon electrode) and spectrophotometry are proposed. A sample volume of 200 or 400 μl containing an analyte concentration of 0.1–1.0 μg ml^?1 or 0.8–24.0 μg ml^?1 for amperometric or spectrophotometric detection, respectively, is injected into a carrier stream containing 0.04 or 0.02 M Britton-Robinson buffer at pH 10.0 or 8.0, respectively.

The throughput thus achieved is 200 (amperometry) and 240 samples/h (spectrophotometry) and the relative standard deviation less than 2.5% and 4.2% respectively.

Both methods were applied to the determination of 4-aminobiphenyl in commercially available, legally permitted food colouring additive.     

Highly sensitive electrochemical determination of Sunset Yellow based on gold nanoparticles/graphene electrode

An electrochemical sensor was prepared using Au nanoparticles and reduced graphene successfully decorated on the glassy carbon electrode (Au/RGO/GCE) through an electrochemical method which was applied to detect Sunset Yellow (SY). The as-prepared electrode was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and electrochemical measurements. The results of cyclic voltammetry (CV) proved that Au/RGO/GCE had the highest catalytic activity for the oxidation of SY as compared with GCE, Au/GCE, and RGO/GCE. Differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) showed that the linear calibration curves for SY on Au/RGO/GCE in the range of 0.002 μM–109.14 μM, and the detection limit was estimated to be 2 nM (S/N = 3). These results suggested that the obtained Au/RGO/GCE was applied to detect SY with high sensitivity, low detection limit and good stability, which provided a promising future for the development of portable sensor in food additives.     

Amperometric determination of hydrogen and hydroxyl ion concentrations in unbuffered solutions in the pH range 5–9

Hydrogen and hydroxyl ion concentrations can be determined by ion-selective amperometry in the pH range 5–9 in unbuffered solutions. The working electrode is a plasticized PVC membrane electrode loaded with the neutral hydrogen ion carrier tridodecylamine. Measurements are made in a flow-injection system.     

Carbon black as successful screen-printed electrode modifier for phenolic compound detection

We report a miniaturized and disposable electrochemical sensor for phenolic compound detection. The sensor was constructed by modifying the working electrode surface of screen-printed electrode (SPE) with carbon black (CB) dispersion. This new probe showed higher sensitivity and better resistance to fouling than the bare SPE, displaying the suitability of CB as an excellent nanomodifier of SPE for phenolic compound detection. Catechol, gallic acid, caffeic acid, and tyrosol were detected by square wave voltammetry with a detection limit of 0.1 μM, 1 μM, 0.8 μM, and 2 μM, respectively. The sensor was able to selectively discriminate the mono-phenols and ortho-diphenols with rapid and easy measurement, paving the way to use a cost-effective device for quality control of foods and beverages containing phenolic compounds.     

A Novel Flexible Electrochemical Ascorbic Acid Sensor Constructed by Ferrocene Methanol doped Multi-walled Carbon Nanotube Yarn

An ascorbic acid (AA) electrochemical sensor was fabricated by ferrocene methanol (Fc−OH) modified multi-walled carbon nanotube yarn (CNTY). The prepared sensor (Fc−OH/CNTY) exhibited outstanding flexibility, highly stretchability, excellent bendability and obviously electrocatalytic activity for oxidation of ascorbic acid. The morphology of Fc−OH/CNTY was evaluated by scanning electron microscope. The electrochemical behaviour of Fc−OH/CNTY sensor was studied by cyclic voltammetry and amperometry measurements. Moreover, the influence of Fc−OH concentration, applied potential and electrolyte solution pH were also investigated to obtain the best sensor performance. The prepared sensor exhibited a wide linear range from 3 μM to 3.0 mM toward AA, and a detection limit of 1.32 μM (S/N=3). It also possessed a good lifetime and a fast response speed (2.83 s). In addition, the Fc−OH/CNTY sensor remained 90 % and 60 % of its initial activity after 100 and 500 times bending, respectively, which indicated a potential application on flexible, implantable and/or wearable electrochemical sensors.