Glucose Biosensor Based on Multi‐Walled Carbon Nanotube Modified Glassy Carbon Electrode

An amperometric glucose biosensor based on multi‐walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) modified glassy carbon electrode has been developed. MWCNT‐modified glassy carbon electrode was obtained by casting the electrode surface with multi‐walled carbon nanotube materials. Glucose oxidase was co‐immobilized on the MWCNT‐modified glassy carbon surface by electrochemical deposition of poly(o‐phenylenediamine) film. Enhanced catalytic electroreduction behavior of oxygen at MWCNT‐modified electrode surface was observed at a potential of ?0.40 V (vs. Ag|AgCl) in neutral medium. The steady‐state amperometric response to glucose was determined at a selected potential of ?0.30 V by means of the reduction of dissolved oxygen consumed by the enzymatic reaction. Common interferents such as ascorbic acid, 4‐acetamidophenol, and uric acid did not interfere in the glucose determination. The linear range for glucose determination extended to 2.0 mM and the detection limit was estimated to be about 0.03 mM.     

A Nitric Oxide Biosensor Based on Myoglobin Adsorbed on Multi‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes

Myoglobin (Myb) of horse heart is incorporated on multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) and immobilized at a glassy carbon (GC) electrode surface. Its electrochemical behavior and enzyme activity are characterized by employing electrochemical methods. The results indicate that MWNTs can obviously promote the direct electron transfer between Myb and electrode, and that the Myb on MWNTs behaves as an enzyme‐like activity towards the electrochemical reduction of nitric oxide (NO). Accordingly, an unmediated NO biosensor is constructed. Experimental results reveal that the peak current related to NO is linearly proportional to its concentration in the range of 2.0×10^?7–4.0×10^?5 mol/L. The detection limit is estimated to be 8.0×10^?8 mol/L. Considering a relative standard deviation of 2.1% in seven independent determinations of 1.0×10^?5 mol/L NO, this biosensor shows a good reproducibility. The biosensor based on Myb/MWNTs modified electrode can be used for the rapid determination of trace NO in aqueous solution with a good stability, nice selectivity and easy construction.     

Electrochemically Functionalized Single‐Walled Carbon Nanotube Gas Sensor

We demonstrate a facile fabrication method to make chemical gas sensors using single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT) electrochemically functionalized with polyaniline (PANI). The potential advantage of this method is to enable targeted functionalization with different materials to allow for creation of high‐density individually addressable nanosensor arrays. PANI‐SWNT network based sensors were tested for on‐line monitoring of ammonia gas. The results show a superior sensitivity of 2.44% ΔR/R per ppm_v NH₃ (which is more than 60 times higher than intrinsic SWNT based sensors), a detection limit as low as 50 ppb_v, and good reproducibility upon repeated exposure to 10 ppm_v NH₃. The typical response time of the sensors at room temperature is on the order of minutes and the recovery time is a few hours. Higher sensitivities were observed at lower temperatures. These results indicate that electrochemical functionalization of SWNTs provides a promising new method of creating highly advanced nanosensors with improved sensitivity, detection limit, and reproducibility.     

Electrochemical Determination and in silico Studies of Fludarabine on NH2 Functionalized Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube Modified Glassy Carbon Electrode

A sensitive voltammetric technique has been developed for the determination of Fludarabine using amine‐functionalized multi walled carbon nanotubes modified glassy carbon electrode (NH₂‐MWCNTs/GCE). Molecular dynamics simulations, an in silico technique, were employed to examine the properties including chemical differences of Fludarabine‐ functionalized MWCNT complexes. The redox behavior of Fludarabine was examined by cyclic, differential pulse and square wave voltammetry in a wide pH range. Cyclic voltammetric investigations emphasized that Fludarabine is irreversibly oxidized at the NH₂‐MWCNTs/GCE. The electrochemical behavior of Fludarabine was also studied by cyclic voltammetry to evaluate both the kinetic (k_s and E_a) and thermodynamic (ΔH, ΔG and ΔS) parameters on NH₂‐MWCNTs/GCE at several temperatures. The mixed diffusion‐adsorption controlled electrochemical oxidation of Fludarabine revealed by studies at different scan rates. The experimental parameters, such as pulse amplitude, frequency, deposition potential optimized for square‐wave voltammetry. Under optimum conditions in phosphate buffer (pH 2.0), a linear calibration curve was obtained in the range of 2×10^?7 M–4×10^?6 M solution using adsorptive stripping square wave voltammetry. The limit of detection and limit of quantification were calculated 2.9×10^?8 M and 9.68×10^?8 M, respectively. The developed method was applied to the simple and rapid determination of Fludarabine from pharmaceutical formulations.     

Electrochemical Behavior and Determination of L‐Tyrosine at Single‐walled Carbon Nanotubes Modified Glassy Carbon Electrode

Based on single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE/SWCNTs), a novel method was presented for the determination of L ‐tyrosine. The GCE/SWCNTs exhibited remarkable catalytic and enhanced effects on the oxidation of L ‐tyrosine. In 0.10 mol/L citric acid‐sodium citrate buffer solution, the oxidation potential of L ‐tyrosine shifted negatively from +1.23 V at bare GCE to +0.76 V at GCE/SWCNTs. Under the optimized experimental conditions, the linear range of the modified electrode to the concentration of L ‐tyrosine was 5.0×10^?6–2.0×10^?5 mol/L (R₁=0.9952) and 2.7×10^?5–2.6×10^?4 mol/L (R₂=0.9998) with a detection limit of 9.3×10^?8 mol/L. The kinetic parameters such as α (charge transfer coefficient) and D (diffusion coefficient) were evaluated to be 0.66, 9.82×10^?5 cm² s^?1, respectively. And the electrochemical mechanism of L ‐tyrosine was also discussed.     

Electrooxidation of Chlorophenols Catalyzed by Nickel Octadecylphthalocyanine Adsorbed on Single‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes

We described the synthesis of nickel octadecylphthalocyanine (NiPc(C₁₀H₂₁)₈), followed by its adsorption on single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) to form SWCNT‐NiPc(C₁₀H₂₁)₈ conjugates. SWCNT‐NiPc(C₁₀H₂₁)₈ was used to modify a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) and for the electrooxidation of 4‐chlorophenol and 2,4‐dichlorophenol. The SWCNT and NiPc(C₁₀H₂₁)₈ have a synergistic effect on each other in terms of improving electrocatalysis for the detection of chlorophenols. The stability of the electrode improved in the presence of NiPc(C₁₀H₂₁)₈ or NiPc compared to the bare GCE. The presence of SWCNT improves the electrocatalytic behaviour of NiPc(C₁₀H₂₁)₈ but not of unsubstituted NiPc. All modified electrodes showed improved stability towards the detection of 2,4‐dichlorophenol. The best stability for 4‐CP detection was observed in the presence of SWCNT for NiPc(C₁₀H₂₁)₈.     

Multi‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNT)‐Ionic Liquid‐Modified Carbon Paste Electrode: Probing FurazolidoneDNA Interactions and DNA Determination

The interactions of furazolidone (Fu) with double‐stranded calf thymus DNA (dsDNA) on the multi‐walled carbon nanotubes‐ionic liquid‐modified carbon paste electrode (MWCNT‐IL‐CPE) have been studied by cyclic voltammetry. In the presence of DNA, the cathodic peak current of Fu decreased and the peak potential shifted to a positive potential, indicating the intercalative interaction of Fu with DNA. The binding constant of Fu with DNA and stoichiometric coefficient has been determined according to the Hill's model. This electrochemical method was further applied to the determination of DNA. Two linear calibration curves were obtained for DNA detection in the concentration ranges of 0.03–0.10 and 0.10–4.0 μg l^?1 with a detection limit of 0.027 μg l^?1. The method was successfully applied to analyze Fu in serum samples.     

Electrochemical Biosensing Platform Using Carbon Nanotube Activated Glassy Carbon Electrode

Carbon nanotube enhanced electrochemically activated glassy carbon electrode (GCE) has been prepared and applied for sensitive electrochemical determination of DNA and DNA bases. The results indicate that the relative activation could efficiently enhance electron transfer at the pretreated GCE so that this carbon nanotube activated glassy carbon electrode could provide relatively low detection limit with good reproducibility for the respective biomolecular determination. Besides, greatly enhanced sensitivity could be obtained for the relevant electrochemical detection of the bio‐recognition process including DNA biosensing by using the carbon nanotube activated GCE. This approach provided a detection limit of 7.5 nM for guanine and 150 ng/mL for acid denatured DNA. These observations suggest that the carbon nanotube activated glassy carbon electrode could be utilized as a very sensitive and stable biosensor for some specific biological process.     

Adsorptive Stripping Differential Pulse Voltammetric Determination of Risperidone with a Multi‐Walled Carbon Nanotube‐Ionic Liquid Paste Modified Glassy Carbon Electrode

A new composite electrode has been fabricated based on coating multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and n‐octylpyridinum hexafluorophosphate (OPPF₆) ionic liquid composite on a glassy carbon (GC) electrode (OPPF₆‐MWCNTs/GCE). This electrode shows very attractive electrochemical performances for electrooxidation of risperidone (RIS) compared to conventional electrodes using carbon and mineral oil, notably improved sensitivity and stability. The oxidation peak potentials in cyclic voltammogram of RIS on the OPPF₆‐MWCNTs/GCE was occurred around 230 mV vs. SCE at Britton–Robinson (B–R) buffer (pH 4.0) at scan rate of 100 mV s^?1. The electrochemical parameters such as diffusion coefficient (D), charge transfer coefficient (α) and the electron transfer rate constant (k/_s) were determined using cyclic voltammetry. Under the optimized conditions, the peak current was linear to risperidone concentration over the concentration range of 10–200 nM with sensitivity of 0.016 μA/nM^?1 using differential pulse voltammetry. The detection limit was 6.54 nM (S/N = 3). The electrode also displayed good selectivity and repeatability. In the presence of clozapine (CLZ) the response of RIS kept almost unchanged. Thus this electrode could find application in the determination of RIS in some real samples. The analytical performance of the OPPF₆‐MWCNTs/GCE was demonstrated for the determination of RIS in human serum and pharmaceutical samples.     

An Electrochemical Biosensor with Cholesterol Oxidase/ Sol‐Gel Film on a Nanoplatinum/Carbon Nanotube Electrode

The carbon nanotubes decorated nanoplatinum (CNT‐Pt) were prepared using a chemical reduction method and a novel base electrode was constructed by intercalating CNT‐Pt on the surface of a waxed graphite electrode. The results showed that the nano‐particles of platinum at a waxed graphite electrode exhibits high catalytic activity for the reduction of hydrogen peroxide. The cholesterol oxidase (ChOx), chosen as a model enzyme, was immobilized with sol‐gel on the CNT‐Pt base electrode to construct a biosensor. The current response of the biosensor for cholesterol was very rapid (<20 s). The linear range for cholesterol measurement was 4.0×10^?6 mol/L ?1.0×10^?4 mol/L with a detection limit of 1.4×10^?6 mol/L. The experiments also showed that the ChOx/sol‐gel/CNT‐Pt biosensor was sensitive and stable in detecting cholesterol in serum samples.     

A New Amperometric Hydrazine Sensor Based on Prussian Blue/Single‐walled Carbon Nanotube Nanocomposites

A slow reaction process has been successfully used to synthesize Prussian blue/single‐walled carbon nanotubes (PB/SWNTs) nanocomposites. Electrochemical and surface characterization by cyclic voltammetry (CV), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV‐vis absorption spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and X‐ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed the presence of PB nanocrystallites on SWNTs. PB/SWNTs modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) exhibits efficient electron transfer ability and high electrochemical response towards hydrazine. The fabricated hydrazine sensor showed a wide linear range of 2.0×10^?6–6.0×10^?3 M with a response time less than 4 s and a detection limit of 0.5 μM. PB/SWNTs modified electrochemical sensors are promising candidates for cost‐effective in the hydrazine assays.     

Development of Simple Electrochemical Sensor for Selective Determination of Methadone in Biological Samples Using Multi‐walled Carbon Nanotubes Modified Pencil Graphite Electrode

The electrochemical sensor was developed for determination of methadone (MTD) using multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) modified pencil graphite electrode (MWCNT‐PGE). It was found that the oxidation peak current of MTD at the MWCNT‐PGE was greatly improved compared with that of the bare‐PGE. At the MWCNT‐PGE, well‐defined anodic peak of MTD was observed at about 0.7 V (in pH 7 solution). The influence of several parameters on the determination of MTD was investigated. At optimum experimental conditions, differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) was used for determination of MTD, which exhibited a linear calibration graph of Ip versus MTD concentration in the range of 0.1–15 µM with a correlation coefficient of 0.9992. The calculated detection limit for S/N = 3 was 87 nM. It has been shown that the peaks obtained for oxidation of ascorbic acid (AA), uric acid (UA) and MTD in their mixture could be well resolved by differential pulse voltammetry, permitting us to develop a sensitive and selective electrochemical sensor for determination of MTD in the presence of AA and UA. Finally, MWCNT‐PGE was used for determination of MTD in biological samples, such as human serum and urine, using the standard addition procedure and the results were quite promising.     

Palladium Sub‐Nanoparticle Decorated ‘Bamboo’ Multi‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes Exhibit Electrochemical Metastability: Voltammetric Sensing in Otherwise Inaccessible pH Ranges

A generic approach for the detection of electroactive species in potential ranges that would normally be inhibited due to the stripping of the electrocatalytic material is presented. We demonstrate, via the example of the electrochemical oxidation of hydrazine, that palladium nanoparticle (< 1 nm) decorated bamboo multi‐walled carbon nanotubes exhibit a metastability such that they allow the sensing of hydrazine in the pH range where palladium metal would normally be voltammetrically stripped (oxidized) from the surface of convectional electrodes.     

Inlaid Multi‐Walled Carbon Nanotube Nanoelectrode Arrays for Electroanalysis

The rapid development in nanomaterials and nanotechnologies has provided many new opportunities for electroanalysis. We review our recent results on the fabrication and electroanalytical applications of nanoelectrode arrays based on vertically aligned multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). A bottom‐up approach is demonstrated, which is compatible with Si microfabrication processes. MWCNTs are encapsulated in SiO₂ matrix leaving only the very end exposed to form inlaid nanoelectrode arrays. The electrical and electrochemical properties have been characterized, showing well‐defined quasireversible nanoelectrode behavior. Ultrasensitive detection of small redox molecules in bulk solutions as well as immobilized at the MWCNT ends is demonstrated. A label‐free affinity‐based DNA sensor has shown extremely high sensitivity approaching that of fluorescence techniques. This platform can be integrated with microelectronics and microfluidics for fully automated microchips.     

Electrocatalytic Oxidation and Determination of Nitrite at Multi‐walled Carbon Nanotubes Modified Carbon Ceramic Electrode

In the present work, the electrochemical oxidation of nitrite on carbon ceramic electrode (CCE) modified with multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) was investigated. The modified electrode exhibited catalytic activity toward the electrooxidation of nitrite. Experimental parameters such as solution pH, scan rate, concentration of nitrite and nanotubes amount were studied. It was shown nitrite can be determined by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) and hydrodynamic amperometry (HA) using the modified electrode. Under the optimized conditions the calibration plots are linear in the concentration ranges of 15‐220 and 50‐3000 μM with limit of detections of 4.74 and 35.8 μM for DPV and HA, respectively. The modified electrode was successfully applied for analysis of nitrite in spinach sample. The results were favorbly compared to those obtained by UV‐Visible spectrophotometric method. The results of the analysis suggest that the proposed method has promise for the routine determination of nitrite in the examined products.     

Electrocatalysis of 2‐Diethylaminoethanethiol at Nickel Nanoparticle‐Electrodecorated Single‐Walled Carbon Nanotube Platform: An Adsorption‐Controlled Electrode Process

Electrocatalytic behavior of diethylaminoethanethiol (DEAET) at nickel nanoparticle‐electrodecorated single‐walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT‐Ni) platform is presented. We demonstrate that the electrocatalytic response is governed by adsorption‐controlled kinetics and that adsorptive stripping voltammetry (AdsSV) represents a viable analytical voltammetry for the sensitive detection of this hydrolysis product of a V‐type nerve agent.     

Voltammetric Determination of Xanthine with a Single‐Walled Carbon Nanotube‐Ionic Liquid Paste Modified Glassy Carbon Electrode

Single‐walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) and room temperature ionic liquid (i.e., 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium hexaflourophosphate, BMIMPF₆) were used to fabricate paste modified glassy electrode (GCE). It was found that the electrode showed sensitive voltammetric response to xanthine (Xt). The detection limit was 2.0×10^?9 M and the linear range was 5.0×10^?9 to 5.0×10^?6 M. The electrode also displayed good selectivity and repeatability. In the presence of uric acid (UA) and hypoxanthine (Hx) the response of Xt kept almost unchanged. Thus this electrode could find application in the determination of Xt in some real samples. The analytical performance of the BMIMPF₆‐SWNT/GCE was demonstrated for the determination of Xt in human serum and urine samples.     

DFT Studies of Ag‐Loading Intrinsic and Functionalized Single‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes

The first principles study was performed on the stability of Ag adsorbed on the internal walls of single‐walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) and loaded on acid modified SWCNT. The calculation results show that Ag can be adsorbed stably on the internal walls of SWCNT. With the increase of SWCNT diameter, the adsorption energy increases in a certain range. Ag can also be loaded on the modified SWCNT surface in the form of COOAg and OAg groups, and COOAg group is more stable than OAg group. For either the adsorption on the inner SWCNT or the load on the modified SWCNT surface, only a small proportion of the Ag ions can be stably bonded to the walls of SWCNT.     

Electrochemical Determination of 4-Nitrophenol Using a Single-Wall Carbon Nanotube Film-Coated Glassy Carbon Electrode

A single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNT) film coated glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was fabricated for the direct determination of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP). The electrochemical behaviors of 4-NP at the SWNT-film coated GCE were examined. In 0.1M phosphate buffer with a pH of 5.0, 4-NP yields a very sensitive and well-defined reduction peak at the SWNT-modified GCE. It is found that the SWNT film exhibits obvious electrocatalytic activity towards the reduction of 4-NP since it not only increases the reduction peak current but also lowers the reduction overpotential. Based on this, an electrochemical method was proposed for the direct determination of 4-NP. The reduction peak current varies linearly with the concentration of 4-NP ranging from 1×10^–8 to 5×10^–6M, and the detection limit is 2.5×10^–9M after 3min of open-circuit accumulation. The relative standard deviation at 2×10^–7M 4-NP was about 6% (n=10), suggesting excellent reproducibility. This new method was successfully employed to determine 4-NP in several lake water samples.     

A Label‐Free Electrochemical Aptasensor for Thrombin Using a Single‐Wall Carbon Nanotube (SWCNT) Casted Glassy Carbon Electrode (GCE)

An electrochemical aptasensor with a thrombin binding aptamer (TBA) was developed using a single‐wall carbon nanotube (SWCNT) casted GCE. The TBA was immobilized on SWCNTs through π‐stacking without any special modification, resulting in helical wrapping to the surface. In the presence of thrombin, the TBA binds with thrombin and the TBA concentration on the SWCNT surface decreases. The remaining amount of TBA can be analyzed by an electrochemical method without any label, because the guanine bases of the nucleic acid are measurable by electrochemical methods. The electrochemical oxidation of guanine nucleotides was enhanced by electrocatalytic mediation using Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ for higher sensitivity and reduction of the overpotential for electrochemical detection.