A novel graphene-chitosan-Bi<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> nanocomposite modified sensor for sensitive and selective electrochemical determination of a monoamine neurotransmitter epinephrine

A novel sensitive electrochemical sensor has been developed by modification of glassy carbon electrode (GCE) with graphene (GRP), chitosan (CHIT), and bismuth oxide (Bi₂O₃) nanoparticles. The morphological characteristics of nanocomposite (GRP-CHIT-Bi₂O₃ or GCB) were studied by scanning electron microscope and atomic force microscopy. The electrochemical behavior of epinephrine at nanocomposite modified GCE (GCB/GCE) was investigated in pH 7.4 phosphate buffer solution using cyclic voltammetry and square wave voltammetry. GCB/GCE showed an enhancement in the current response as compared to bare GCE. Electrochemical impedance spectra showed a reduction of charge transfer resistance and higher electrocatalytic behavior of the sensor. The electrooxidation process of epinephrine at the modified sensor was found to be diffusion controlled. GCB/GCE showed a linear response to epinephrine in the range 100 to 500 nM. The limit of detection and limit of quantification were found to be 3.56 and 11.85 nM, respectively, which is lower than many other sensors reported for epinephrine in literature. The modified sensor showed high sensitivity (1.3 nA/nM) and selectivity for epinephrine. The method was employed for quantification of epinephrine in pharmaceutical formulation and human blood serum samples.     

ZrO2-Graphene-Chitosan nanocomposite modified carbon paste sensor for sensitive and selective determination of dopamine

A sensitive and stable electrochemical sensor was developed by modification of carbon paste electrode with ZrO₂/graphene/chitosan nanocomposite. The modified sensor served as a potential electrocatalytic platform for dopamine. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy studies indicated reduction of charge transfer resistance at the modified electrode surface thereby facilitating the electron transfer process which resulted in higher current response to dopamine. The electrochemical behavior of dopamine at the modified electrode was studied using cyclic and square wave voltammetry. The maximum current response for the electro-oxidation of dopamine was observed at pH 7.4 and the process was realized to be diffusion controlled. The modified sensor demonstrated linearity in the range 1000–5000 nM, with high sensitivity (22 nA/nM), detection limit of 11.3 nM and selectivity for dopamine in the presence of ascorbic and uric acid which are found to co-exist with dopamine in physiological media. The method was employed for quantification of dopamine in a pharmaceutical formulation.