Investigation into the voltammetric behaviour and detection of selenium(IV) at metal electrodes in diverse electrolyte media

The voltammetric behaviour of selenium(IV) was studied at platinum and gold electrodes in sulphuric acid, perchloric acid and potassium chloride media as a basis for its voltammetric detection. The best voltammetric behaviour was recorded at gold electrodes with perchloric acid as the supporting electrolyte. The concomitant presence of metals, such as copper or lead, and of model biomolecules, such as bovine serum albumin, in the solution resulted in a deterioration of the electrochemical response for selenium(IV). Quantitative detection of selenium(IV) by square wave anodic stripping voltammetry at both a millimetre-sized gold disc electrode and a microband electrode array revealed linear responses to selenium concentration in the ranges 5–15 μM and 0.1–10 μM, respectively, with 60 s preconcentration. The sensitivities were 6.4 μA μM⁻¹ cm⁻² and 100 μA μM⁻¹ cm⁻² at the disc and the microband array, respectively. The detection limit at the microband electrode array was 25 nM, illustrating the potentiality of such microelectrodes for the development of mercury-free analytical methods for the trace detection of selenium(IV).     

Integrated multienzyme electrochemical biosensors for the determination of glycerol in wines

The construction and performance of integrated amperometric biosensors for the determination of glycerol are reported. Two different biosensor configurations have been evaluated: one based on the glycerol dehydrogenase/diaphorase (GDH/DP) bienzyme system, and another using glycerol kinase/glycerol-3-phosphate oxidase/peroxidase (GK/GPOx/HRP). Both enzyme systems were immobilized together with the mediator tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) on a 3-mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) self-assembled monolayer (SAM)-modified gold electrode by using a dialysis membrane. The electrochemical oxidation of TTF at +150 mV (vs. Ag/AgCl), and the reduction of TTF⁺ at 0 mV were used for the monitoring of the enzyme reactions for the bienzyme and trienzyme configurations, respectively. Experimental variables concerning both the biosensors composition and the working conditions were optimized for each configuration. A good repeatability of the measurements with no need of cleaning or pretreatment of the biosensors was obtained in both cases. After 51 days of use, the GDH/DP biosensor still exhibited 87% of the original sensitivity, while the GK/GPOx/HRP biosensor yielded a 46% of the original response after 8 days. Calibration graphs for glycerol with linear ranges of 1.0 × 10⁻⁶ to 2.0 × 10⁻⁵ or 1.0 × 10⁻⁶ to 1.0 × 10⁻⁵ M glycerol and sensitivities of 1214 ± 21 or 1460 ± 34 μA M⁻¹ were obtained with GDH/DP and GK/GPOx/HRP biosensors, respectively. The calculated detection limits were 4.0 × 10⁻⁷ and 3.1 × 10⁻⁷ M, respectively. The biosensors exhibited a great sensitivity with no significant interferences in the analysis of wines. The biosensors were applied to the determination of glycerol in 12 different wines and the results advantageously compared with those provided by a commercial enzyme kit.     

Immobilization of [Cu(bpy)2]Br2 complex onto a glassy carbon electrode modified with α-SiMo12O40 and single walled carbon nanotubes: Application to nanomolar detection of hydrogen peroxide and bromate

A simple procedure has been used for preparation of modified glassy carbon electrode with carbon nanotubes and copper complex. Copper complex [Cu(bpy)₂]Br₂ was immobilized onto glassy carbon (GC) electrode modified with silicomolybdate, α-SiMo₁₂O₄₀⁴⁻ and single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs)_. Copper complex and silicomolybdate irreversibly and strongly adsorbed onto GC electrode modified with CNTs. Electrostatic interactions between polyoxometalates (POMs) anions and Cu-complex, cations mentioned as an effective method for fabrication of three-dimensional structures. The modified electrode shows three reversible redox couples for polyoxometalate and one redox couple for Cu-complex at wide range of pH values. The electrochemical behavior, stability and electron transfer kinetics of the adsorbed redox couples were investigated using cyclic voltammetry. Due to electrostatic interaction, copper complex immobilized onto GC/CNTs/α-SiMo₁₂O₄₀⁴⁻ electrode shows more stable voltammetric response compared to GC/CNTs/Cu-complex modified electrode. In comparison to GC/CNTs/Cu-complex the GC/CNTs/α-SiMo₁₂O₄₀⁴⁻ modified electrodes shows excellent electrocatalytic activity toward reduction H₂O₂ and BrO₃⁻ at more reduced overpotential. The catalytic rate constants for catalytic reduction hydrogen peroxide and bromate were 4.5(±0.2) × 10³ M⁻¹ s⁻¹ and 3.0(±0.10) × 10³ M⁻¹ s⁻¹, respectively. The hydrodynamic amperommetry technique at 0.08 V was used for detection of nanomolar concentration of hydrogen peroxide and bromate. Detection limit, sensitivity and linear concentration range proposed sensor for bromate and hydrogen peroxide detection were 1.1 nM and 6.7 nA nM⁻¹, 10 nM-20 μM, 1 nM, 5.5 nA nM⁻¹ and 10 nM-18 μM, respectively.     

Development of glucose amperometric biosensor based on a novel attractive enzyme immobilization matrix: amino derivative of thiacalix[4]arene

Calixarenes and their derivatives may be a promising material for enzyme immobilization owing to their particular configuration, unique molecule recognition function and aggregation properties. In this paper, p-tert-butylthiacalix[4]arene tetra-amine (TC4TA) was first used as enzyme immobilization material. This attractive material was exploited for the mild immobilization of glucose oxidase (GOD) to develop glucose amperometric biosensor. GOD was strongly adsorbed on the TC4TA modified electrode to form TC4TA/GOD composite membrane. The adsorption mechanism was driven from the covalent bond between amino-group of TC4TA and carboxyl group of GOD and molecule recognition function of TC4TA. Amperometric detection of glucose was evaluated by holding the modified electrode at 0.60 V (versus SCE) to oxidize the hydrogen peroxide generated by the enzymatic reaction. The sensor (TC4TA/GOD) showed a relative fast response (response time was about 5 s), low detection limit (20 μM, S/N = 3), and high sensitivity (ca. 10.2 mA M⁻¹ cm⁻²) with a linear range of 0.08–10 mM of glucose, as well as a good operational and storage stability. In addition, optimization of the biosensor construction, the effects of the applied potential as well as common interfering compounds on the amperometric response of the sensor were investigated and discussed herein.     

A sensitive mediator-free tyrosinase biosensor based on an inorganic-organic hybrid titania sol-gel matrix

A novel inorganic-organic hybrid titania sol-gel nanocomposite film was prepared to fabricate a sensitive tyrosinase biosensor for the amperometric detection of trace phenolic compounds without additional electron mediators. Acetylacetone worked as a complexing ligand to chelate with Ti atom in the synthesis process, and the pH of the titania solution could be adjusted to the value which was optimum for retaining tyrosinase activity and such a membrane was stably attached on to the surface of a glassy carbon electrode (GCE). This titania matrix could supply a good environment for enzyme loading, which resulted in a high sensitivity of 15.78 μA μM⁻¹ cm⁻² for monitoring phenols with a detection limit of 1×10⁻⁸ M at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3. The TiO₂ sol-gel derived biosensor exhibited a fast response less than 10 s and a good stability for more than 2 months.     

Amperometric detection of dopamine based on tyrosinase-SWNTs-Ppy composite electrode

A novel 3-dimensional single wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs)-polypyrrole (Ppy) composite was prepared as an electrode by chemically polymerizing polypyrrole onto SWNTs using a LiClO₄ oxidant. This composite electrode was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and cyclic voltammetry with 1 mM [Fe(CN)₆]⁻³/[Fe(CN)₆]⁻⁴. The SWNTs were thickly coated with chemically polymerized polypyrrole and the composite had many surface pores and crevices which could enhance mass transfer. The SWNTs-Ppy composite electrode showed a large specific surface area (30 m²/g) and a good reproducible current response, at about 100 times the peak current of a glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The diffusion coefficient was calculated to be 4.81 × 10⁻⁶ cm²/s. As a biosensor application, tyrosinase was immobilized on the functionalized SWNTs and tyrosinase-SWNTs-Ppy composite was prepared in the same manner. This tyrosinase-SWNT-Ppy composite electrode was used for amperometric detection of dopamine in the presence of ascorbic acid and showed high sensitivity (467 mA/M cm²) and lower detection limit (5 μM) compared to previous reports.     

Poly(dicarbazole-N-hydroxysuccinimide) film: a new polymer for the reagentless grafting of enzymes and redox mediators

Upon oxidative electropolymerisation of a new dicarbazole derivative functionalised by a N-hydroxysuccinimide group in acetonitrile, electroactive poly(dicarbazole) films were formed on electrodes. The subsequent chemical functionalisation of the poly(dicarbazole) film was easily performed by successive immersions in aqueous enzyme and mediator solutions. Investigations by cyclic voltammetry showed that thionine and toluidine blue o have been irreversible bound to the poly(dicarbazole) backbone. The amperometric responses of the poly(dicarbazole) films grafted with polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and thionine to catechol were then investigated at −0.2 V vs. SCE. The catechol sensitivity and the maximum current at saturating catechol concentrations were 14.57 mA M⁻¹cm⁻² and 15.43 μA cm⁻², respectively. The comparison of this catechol sensitivity with that of a poly(dicarbazole) film only modified with PPO (3.40 mA M⁻¹cm⁻²) highlighted the improvement of the biosensor performance brought by thionine as immobilised redox mediator.     

Fabrication of polyaniline/carbon nanotube composite modified electrode and its electrocatalytic property to the reduction of nitrite

A polyaniline (PANI)/carbon nanotubes (CNTs) composite modified electrode was fabricated by galvanostatic electropolymerization of aniline on multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs)-modified gold electrode. The electrode thus prepared exhibits enhanced electrocatalytic behavior to the reduction of nitrite and facilitates the detection of nitrite at an applied potential of 0.0 V. Although the amperometric responses toward nitrite at MWNTs/gold and PANI/gold electrodes have also been observed in the experiments, these responses are far less than that obtained at PANI/MWNTs/gold electrode. The effects of electropolymerization time, MWNTs concentration and pH value of the detection solution on the current response of the composite modified electrode toward sodium nitrite, were investigated and discussed. A linear range from 5.0 × 10⁻⁶ to 1.5 × 10⁻² M for the detection of sodium nitrite has been observed at the PANI/MWNTs modified electrode with a sensitivity of 719.2 mA M⁻¹ cm⁻² and a detection limit of 1.0 μM based on a signal-to-noise ratio of 3.     

Platinum nanoparticles functionalized nitrogen doped graphene platform for sensitive electrochemical glucose biosensing

In this work, we reported an efficient platinum nanoparticles functionalized nitrogen doped graphene (PtNPs@NG) nanocomposite for devising novel electrochemical glucose biosensor for the first time. The fabricated PtNPs@NG and biosensor were characterized using transmission electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, static water contact angle, UV–vis spectroscopy, electrochemical impedance spectra and cyclic voltammetry, respectively. PtNPs@NG showed large surface area and excellent biocompatibility, and enhanced the direct electron transfer between enzyme molecules and electrode surface. The glucose oxidase (GOx) immobilized on PtNPs@NG nanocomposite retained its bioactivity, and exhibited a surface controlled, quasi-reversible and fast electron transfer process. The constructed glucose biosensor showed wide linear range from 0.005 to 1.1 mM with high sensitivity of 20.31 mA M⁻¹ cm⁻². The detection limit was calculated to be 0.002 mM at signal-to-noise of 3, which showed 20-fold decrease in comparison with single NG-based electrochemical biosensor for glucose. The proposed glucose biosensor also demonstrated excellent selectivity, good reproducibility, acceptable stability, and could be successfully applied in the detection of glucose in serum samples at the applied potential of −0.33 V. This research provided a promising biosensing platform for the development of excellent electrochemical biosensors.     

Electrosorption of Os(III)-complex at single-wall carbon nanotubes immobilized on a glassy carbon electrode: application to nanomolar detection of bromate, periodate and iodate

A simple procedure was developed to prepare a glassy carbon electrode modified with single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and Os(III)-complex. The glassy carbon (GC) electrode modified with CNTs was immersed into Os(III)-complex solution (direct deposition) for a short period of time (60 s). 1,4,8,12-Tetraazacyclotetradecane osmium(III) chloride, (Os(III)LCl₂)·ClO₄, irreversibly and strongly adsorbed on SWCNTs immobilized on the surface of GC electrode. Cyclic voltammograms of the Os(III)-complex-incorporated-SWCNTs indicate a pair of well defined and nearly reversible redox couple with surface confined characteristic at wide pH range (1-8). The surface coverage (Γ) and charge transfer rate constant (k_s) of the immobilized Os-complex on SWCNTs were 3.07 × 10⁻⁹ mol cm⁻², 5.5 (±0.2) s⁻¹, 2.94 × 10⁻⁹ mol cm⁻², 7.3 (±0.3) s⁻¹ at buffer solution with pH 2 and 7, respectively, indicate high loading ability of SWCNTs for Os(III) complex and great facilitation of the electron transfer between electroactive redox center and carbon nanotubes immobilized on the electrode surface. Modified electrodes showed higher electrocatalytic activity toward reduction of BrO₃⁻, IO₃⁻ and IO₄⁻ in acidic solutions. The catalytic rate constants for catalytic reduction bromate, periodate and iodate were 3.79 (±0.2) × 10³, 7.32 (±0.2) × 10³ and 1.75 (±0.2) × 10³ M⁻¹ s ⁻¹, respectively. The hydrodynamic amperometry of rotating modified electrode at constant potential (0.3 V) was used for nanomolar detection of selected analytes. Excellent electrochemical reversibility of the redox couple, good reproducibility, high stability, low detection limit, long life time, fast amperometric response time, wide linear concentration range, technical simplicity and possibility of rapid preparation are great advantage of this sensor.     

Prussian Blue electrodeposited on MWNTs-PANI hybrid composites for H2O2 detection

A Prussian Blue (PB)/polyaniline (PANI)/multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) composite film was fabricated by step-by-step electrodeposition on glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The electrode prepared exhibits enhanced electrocatalytic behavior and good stability for detection of H₂O₂ at an applied potential of 0.0 V. The effects of MWNTs thickness, electrodeposition time of PANI and rotating rate on the current response of the composite modified electrode toward H₂O₂ were optimized to obtain the maximal sensitivity. A linear range from 8 × 10⁻⁹ to 5 × 10⁻⁶ M for H₂O₂ detection has been observed at the PB/PANI/MWNTs modified GCE with a correlation coefficient of 0.997. The detection limit is 5 × 10⁻⁹ M on signal-to-noise ratio of 3. To the best of our knowledge, this is the lowest detection limit for H₂O₂ detection. The electrode also shows high sensitivity (526.43 μA μM⁻¹ cm⁻²) for H₂O₂ detection which is more than three orders of magnitude higher than the reported.     

Modification of carbon ceramic electrode prepared with sol-gel technique by a thin film of chlorogenic acid: application to amperometric detection of NADH

The carbon ceramic electrode prepared with sol-gel technique is modified by a thin film of chlorogenic acid (CGA). By immersing the carbon ceramic electrode in aqueous solution of chlorogenic acid at less than 2 s a thin film of chlorogenic acid adsorbed strongly and irreversibly on the surface of electrode. The cyclic voltammetry of the resulting modified CCE prepared at optimum conditions shows a well-defined stable reversible redox couple due to hydroquinone/quinone system in both acidic and basic solutions. The modified electrode showed excellent electrocatalytic activity toward NADH oxidation and it also showed a high analytical performance for amperometric detection of NADH. The catalytic rate constant of the modified carbon ceramic electrode for the oxidation of NADH is determined by cyclic voltammetry measurement. Under the optimised conditions the calibration curve is linear in the concentration range 1-120 μm. The detection limit (S/N = 3) and sensitivity are 0.2 μM and 25 nA μM⁻¹.The results of six successive measurement-regeneration cycles show relative standard deviations of 2.5% for electrolyte solution containing 1 mM NADH, indicating that the electrode renewal gives a good reproducible and antifouling surface. The advantages of this amperometric detector are: high sensitivity, excellent catalytic activity, short response time t < 2 s, remarkable long-term stability, simplicity of preparation at short time and good reproducibility.     

Phenols monitoring and Hill coefficient evaluation using tyrosinase-based amperometric biosensors

Sensitive amperometric biosensors for phenols compounds, based on tyrosinase (polyphenoloxidase, PPO) immobilized on a Pt electrode in an electropolymerized poly-amphiphilic pyrrole matrix or cross-linked with glutaraldehyde, were constructed and compared. Steady-state amperometric measurements, performed at -50 mV vs. SCE in aqueous phosphate buffer containing LiClO(4) 0.1 M (pH 7) as well as in a chloroform solution containing 0.1 M C(6)H(5)CH(2)N(CH(3))(3)Cl, were used in order to compare the electroanalytical and kinetic parameters of the investigated amperometric biosensors in aqueous and nonaqueous media. It was established that the polypyrrole matrix has a higher efficiency for enzyme retention resulting in higher bioelectrode sensitivity, both in aqueous buffer (690 microA M(-1)) and in chloroform (149 microA M(-1)).     

An enzyme-free highly glucose-specific assay using self-assembled aminobenzene boronic acid upon polyelectrolytes electrospun nanofibers-mat

A highly selective enzyme-free amperometric glucose sensor based on electrostatic self-assembling of 3-aminobenzene boronic acid (ABBA) onto a poly(styrene-co-acrylamide)/polystyrene sulfonic acid (PSA/PSSA) electrospun nanofibers-mat was investigated. Emerging ability of phenylboronic acid to bind with the diols of sugars has been extended for rapid response of glucose with a pH-sensitive redox mediator, hematein natural dye. ABBA was adsorbed on the PSA/PSSA nanofibers-mat/Pt-disc electrode that resulted in an ABBA/PSA/PSSA glucose active electrode. The interaction of ABBA onto the PSA/PSSA nanofibers-mat/Pt-disc electrode was characterized with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), ζ-potential, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), contact angle and cyclic voltammetry (CV) measurements. The prepared enzyme-free sensor exhibited a fast amperometric response, i.e., about 4 s and linearity ranging from 0.75 to 14 mM to glucose with a sensitivity of 0.987 μA mM⁻¹ cm⁻². Compared to other types of glucose biosensors viz. use glucose oxidase as sensing elements, present glucose sensor offers basic advantages including ease of fabrication, high affinity-selectivity to the glucose upon the electrode surface and quick response.     

Novel CeO2–CuO-decorated enzymatic lactate biosensors operating in low oxygen environments

The detection of the lactate level in blood plays a key role in diagnosis of some pathological conditions including cardiogenic or endotoxic shocks, respiratory failure, liver disease, systemic disorders, renal failure, and tissue hypoxia. Here, we described for the first time the use of a novel mixed metal oxide solution system to address the oxygen dependence challenge of first generation amperometric lactate biosensors. The biosensors were constructed using ceria-copper oxide (CeO₂–CuO) mixed metal oxide nanoparticles for lactate oxidase immobilization and as electrode material. The oxygen storage capacity (OSC, 492 μmol-O₂/g) of these metal oxides has the potential to reduce the oxygen dependency, and thus eliminate false results originated from the fluctuations in the oxygen concentration. In an effort to compare the performance of our novel sensor design, ceria nanoparticle decorated lactate sensors were also constructed. The enzymatic activity of the sensors were tested in oxygen-rich and oxygen-lean solutions. Our results showed that the OSC of the electrode material has a big influence on the activity of the biosensors in oxygen-lean environments. While the CeO₂ containing biosensor showed an almost 21% decrease in the sensitivity in a O₂-depleted solution, the CeO₂–CuO containing electrode, with a higher OSC value, experienced no drop in sensitivity when moving from oxygen-rich to oxygen-lean conditions. The CeO₂–CuO decorated sensor showed a high sensitivity (89.3 ± 4 μA mM⁻¹ cm⁻²), a wide linear range up to 0.6 mM, and a low limit of detection of 3.3 μM. The analytical response of the CeO₂–CuO decorated sensors was studied by detecting lactate in human serum with good selectivity and reliability. The results revealed that CeO₂–CuO containing sensors are promising candidates for continuous lactate detection.     

Impedimetric immunosensor for human serum albumin detection on a direct aldehyde-functionalized silicon nitride surface

In this work we report the fabrication and characterization of a label-free impedimetric immunosensor based on a silicon nitride (Si₃N₄) surface for the specific detection of human serum albumin (HSA) proteins. Silicon nitride provides several advantages compared with other materials commonly used, such as gold, and in particular in solid-state physics for electronic-based biosensors. However, few Si₃N₄-based biosensors have been developed; the lack of an efficient and direct protocol for the integration of biological elements with silicon-based substrates is still one of its the main drawbacks. Here, we use a direct functionalization method for the direct covalent binding of monoclonal anti-HSA antibodies on an aldehyde-functionalized Si-p/SiO₂/Si₃N₄ structure. This methodology, in contrast with most of the protocols reported in literature, requires less chemical reagents, it is less time-consuming and it does not need any chemical activation. The detection capability of the immunosensor was tested by performing non-faradaic electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements for the specific detection of HSA proteins. Protein concentrations within the linear range of 10⁻¹³–10⁻⁷ M were detected, showing a sensitivity of 0.128 Ω μM⁻¹ and a limit of detection of 10⁻¹⁴ M. The specificity of the sensor was also addressed by studying the interferences with a similar protein, bovine serum albumin. The results obtained show that the antibodies were efficiently immobilized and the proteins detected specifically, thus, establishing the basis and the potential applicability of the developed silicon nitride-based immunosensor for the detection of proteins in real and more complex samples.     

Enzymatic biosensor of horseradish peroxidase immobilized on Au-Pt nanotube/Au-graphene for the simultaneous determination of antioxidants

A new electrochemical method has been proposed for the simultaneous determination of butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and propyl gallate (PG) in food matrices based on enzymatic biosensors. Spiny Au-Pt nanotubes (SAP NTs) was first synthesized and demonstrated to exhibit intrinsic peroxidase and catalase-like activity. The structure of SAP NTs provides large surface area and favorable medium for electron transfer, on which HRP were immobilized and acted as enzymatic biosensor for the simultaneous detection of BHA and PG. The results revealed that BHA and PG both have well-defined oxidation waves with peak potentials of 624 and 655 mV, respectively. Under the optimal conditions, the method behaved satisfactory analytical performance towards BHA and PG with a wide linear range of 0.3–50 mg L⁻¹ and 0.1–100 mg L⁻¹, as well as a detection limit of 0.046 mg L⁻¹ and 0.024 mg L⁻¹ (3σ/slope), respectively. Besides, the proposed method exhibits good sensitivity, stability and reproducibility, providing an alternative to fabricate electrode and construct sensitive biosensors.     

A rapid and easy procedure of biosensor fabrication by micro-encapsulation of enzyme in hydrophilic synthetic latex films. Application to the amperometric determination of glucose

Novel enzyme electrodes based on synthetic hydrophilic latex matrices are described for the detection of glucose. Glucose oxidase was immobilised through micro-encapsulation, by the simple adsorption of enzyme–latex suspensions on the surface of a platinum electrode. Two latex films functionalised by a hydroxy or a gluconamide group were used. The response of these biosensors to glucose additions was measured by potentiostating the modified electrodes at 0.6 V/SCE in order to oxidise the hydrogen peroxide generated by the enzymatic oxidation of glucose in the presence of dioxygen. The response of such electrodes was evaluated as a function of film thickness and temperature. The sensitivity for a two-layer latex-based biosensor was found to be 38.78 mA M⁻¹ cm⁻² with a response time of 3–5 s. Moreover, a marked improvement of the thermal stability of the biosensor was observed. Only at temperatures higher than 65°C the enzyme started to be denatured and being inactive.     

Highly sensitive and selective amperometric sensors for nanomolar detection of iodate and periodate based on glassy carbon electrode modified with iridium oxide nanoparticles

Iridium oxide nanoparticles are grown on a glassy carbon electrode by electrodepositing method. The electrochemical behavior and electrocatalytic activity of modified electrode towards reduction of iodate and periodate are studied. The reductions of both ions occur at the unusual positive peak potential of 0.7 V vs. reference electrode. The modified electrode is employed successfully for iodate and periodates detection using cyclic voltammetry, hydrodynamic amperometry and flow injection analysis (FIA). In the performed experiments, flow injection amperometric determination of iodate and periodate yielded calibration curves with the following characteristics: linear dynamic range up to 100 and 80 μM, sensitivity of 140.9 and 150.6 nA μM⁻¹ and detection limits of 5 and 36 nM, respectively. The repeatability of the modified electrode for 21 injections of 1.5 μM of iodate solution is 1.5%. The interference effects of NO₂⁻, NO₃⁻, ClO₃⁻, BrO₃⁻, ClO₄⁻, SO₄²⁻, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, Mn²⁺, Mg²⁺, Cd²⁺, Ca²⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, NH₄⁺ and K⁺, CH₃COO⁻ and glucose were negligible at the concentration ratio of more than 1000. The obtained attractive analytical performance together with high selectivity and simplicity of the proposed method provide an effective and e novel modified electrode to develop an iodate and periodate sensor. Sensitivity, selectivity, the liner concentration range and the detection limit of the developed sensor are all much better than all known similar sensors in the literature for iodate and periodate determination.     

An amperometric biosensor based on acetylcholinesterase immobilized onto iron oxide nanoparticles/multi-walled carbon nanotubes modified gold electrode for measurement of organophosphorus insecticides

An acetylcholinesterase (AChE) purified from maize seedlings was immobilized covalently onto iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄NP) and carboxylated multi walled carbon nanotubes (c-MWCNT) modified Au electrode. An organophosphorus (OP) biosensor was fabricated using this AChE/Fe₃O₄/c-MWCNT/Au electrode as a working electrode, Ag/AgCl as standard and Pt wire as an auxiliary electrode connected through a potentiostat. The biosensor was based on inhibition of AChE by OP compounds/insecticides. The properties of nanoparticles modified electrodes were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), cyclic voltammograms (CVs) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The synergistic action of Fe₃O₄NP and c-MWCNT showed excellent electrocatalytic activity at low potential (+0.4 V). The optimum working conditions for the sensor were pH 7.5, 35 °C, 600 μM substrate concentration and 10 min for inhibition by pesticide. Under optimum conditions, the inhibition rates of OP pesticides were proportional to their concentrations in the range of 0.1–40 nM, 0.1–50 nM, 1–50 nM and 10–100 nM for malathion, chlorpyrifos, monocrotophos and endosulfan respectively. The detection limits were 0.1 nM for malathion and chlorpyrifos, 1 nM for monocrotophos and 10 nM for endosulfan. The biosensor exhibited good sensitivity (0.475 mA μM⁻¹), reusability (more than 50 times) and stability (2 months). The sensor was suitable for trace detection of OP pesticide residues in milk and water.