Immobilized Fullerene C60‐Enzyme‐Based Electrochemical Glucose Sensor

A mixed‐valence cluster of cobalt(II) hexacyanoferrate and fullerene C60‐enzyme‐based electrochemical glucose sensor was developed. A water insoluble fullerene C60‐glucose oxidase (C60‐GOD) was prepared and applied as an immobilized enzyme on a glassy carbon electrode with cobalt(II) hexacyanoferrate for analysis of glucose. The glucose in 0.1 M KCl/phosphate buffer solution at pH = 6 was measured with an applied electrode potential at 0.0 mV (vs Ag/AgCl reference electrode). The C60‐GOD‐based electrochemical glucose sensor exhibited efficient electro‐catalytic activity toward the liberated hydrogen peroxide and allowed cathodic detection of glucose. The C60‐GOD electrochemical glucose sensor also showed quite good selectivity to glucose with no interference from easily oxidizable biospecies, e.g. uric acid, ascorbic acid, cysteine, tyrosine, acetaminophen and galactose. The current of H₂O₂ reduced by cobalt(II) hexacyanoferrate was found to be proportional to the concentration of glucose in aqueous solutions. The immobilized C60‐GOD enzyme‐based glucose sensor exhibited a good linear response up to 8 mM glucose with a sensitivity of 5.60 × 10² nA/mM and a quite short response time of 5 sec. The C60‐GOD‐based glucose sensor also showed a good sensitivity with a detection limit of 1.6 × 10^‐6 M and a high reproducibility with a relative standard deviation (RSD) of 4.26%. Effects of pH and temperature on the responses of the immobilized C60‐GOD/cobalt(II) hexacyanoferrate‐based electrochemical glucose sensor were also studied and discussed.     

A Flexible Nafion Coated Enzyme‐free Glucose Sensor Based on Au‐dimpled Ti Structures

The detection of glucose at low concentrations using electrochemical sensors is of great importance due to the possibility of using different human body fluids than blood, such as e. g. urine, saliva, sweat or tears. The interest behind those biofluids is related to their utility in non‐invasive sugar determination. In this work, we present flexible, fully biocompatible electrode material based on Au nanoparticles immobilized onto titanium dimples. Au?Ti heterostructures were obtained via electrochemical anodization of titanium foil in presence of fluoride anions followed by chemical etching, magnetron sputtering of gold and subsequent thermal dewetting in continuous regime. In the last step of fabrication, electrodes were modified by permselective Nafion membrane. The selection of the best electrode material among different configurations was carried out basing on the electrochemical activity in the contact with 5 mM glucose dissolved in neutral air‐saturated 0.1 M PBS. For the 10 nm Au dewetted gold film, limit of detection of 30 μM and high sensitivity of 93 mA cm^?2 mM^?1 were achieved. Application of Nafion membrane caused complete inhibition of the impact of various interference species onto the glucose detection. Good selectivity and repeatability combined with the resistance to prolonged mechanical stress suggest that prepared material can be used in non‐invasive glucose sensing.     

Nanopore label‐free detection of single‐nucleotide deletion in Baxα/BaxΔ2

Baxα, a key tumor suppressor gene, will not be expressed correctly as a result of single nucleotide mutation in its microsatellite region; Instead, BaxΔ2, an isoform of Baxα, is often produced. In addition, lack of the exon 2 due to an alternative splicing, BaxΔ2 has the same sequence as Baxα except single base deletion from eight continuous guanines (G8) to G7. Most of the currently available methods for Bax∆2 detection are inefficient and time‐consuming, and/or require the use of labels or dyes. In this work, we reported a label‐free nanopore sensing strategy to differentiate between Baxα and BaxΔ2 with a DNA polymer as a molecular probe based on alternative spliced sequences. Two DNA molecules were designed to selectively detect Baxα and BaxΔ2, respectively. The method was rapid, accurate, and highly sensitive: picomolar concentrations of target nucleic acids could be detected in minutes. Our developed simple and fast nanopore‐based detection strategy is not only useful for distinguishing between Baxα and Bax∆2, but also provides a useful tool for detection of other single‐base mutations in genetic diagnosis.     

Fabrication of an Electrochemical L‐Cysteine Sensor Based on Graphene Nanosheets Decorated Manganese Oxide Nanocomposite Modified Glassy Carbon Electrode

The graphene nanosheets/manganese oxide nanoparticles modified glassy carbon electrode (GC/GNSs/MnOx) was simply prepared by casting a thin film of GNSs on the GC electrode surface, followed by performing electrodeposition of MnOx at applied constant potential. The GC/GNSs/MnOx modified electrode shows high catalytic activity toward oxidation of L ‐cysteine. Hydrodynamic amperometry determination of L ‐cysteine gave linear responses over a concentration range up to 120 µM with a detection limit of 75 nM and sensitivity of 27 nA µM^?1. The GC/GNSs/MnOx electrode appears to be a highly efficient platform for the development of sensitive, stable and reproducible L ‐cysteine electrochemical sensors.     

Electrochemical Biosensors Based on Layer‐by‐Layer Assemblies

Layer‐by‐layer (LBL) assemblies, which have undergone great progress in the past decades, have been used widely in the construction of electrochemical biosensors. The LBL assemblies provide a strategy to rationally design the properties of immobilized films and enhance the performance of biosensors. The following review focuses on the application of LBL assembly technique on electrochemical enzyme biosensors, immunosensors and DNA sensors.     

Electrochemical Sensor for Arabinose Based on Template‐free Pb/Cd Branched Nanorods on Glassy Carbon Electrode

In this paper, the electrochemical behavior of glassy carbon electrodes modified with Cd/Pb (GC/Cd/Pb) branched nanorodes (NRs) was studied using cyclic voltammetry technique. The obtained results showed that the branched nanorods of Cd/Pb can be readily prepared without any templates. The modified electrode was characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X‐ray analysis (EDAX) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) techniques. The electrocatalytic behavior of GC/Cd/Pb electrode showed an increase in oxidation signal of arabinose by increasing its concentration. The catalytic current was linearly related to arabinose concentration in the range of 0.6 to 6.8 μM with a limit of detection 0.2 μM.     

Impedimetric Enzyme‐Free Detection of Glucose via a Computation‐Designed Molecularly Imprinted Electrochemical Sensor Fabricated on Porous Ni Foam

Here we report a new molecularly imprinted electrochemical sensor (MIECS) for the impedimetric enzyme‐free analysis of glucose. A computational modeling strategy was first utilized to screen promising functional monomers for imprinting assembly, and simulation data suggested that methacrylic acid (MAA) exhibited a preferable capability to recognize the target molecule compared to other common monomers. Then the MIECS was prepared via introducing MAA‐based recognition sites onto a porous Ni foam with large surface. The fabricated sensor was subtly characterized by Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and cyclic voltammetry, and an impedimetric method was selected to detect the glucose target in a basic medium. Experimental results demonstrated that the proposed MIECS could selectively recognize glucose against coexisting species, with good linear responses of the charge transfer resistance upon the target concentration in the scope of 10∼55 mM. These results indicate its potential applications in the recognization and detection of glucose in complex matrices.     

Functional β-Cyclodextrin Coating by Electrodeposition on Stainless Steel for Drug Loading and Release

β-Cyclodextrin(β-CD) can be used for drug loading and release in biomedical application. β-Cyclodextrinsalicylate(β-CD-S) was synthesized by transesterification and then was electrodeposited on the surface of stainless steel(SS) by the anodic electrooxidation polymerization of the salicylate. ¹H NMR spectrometry was used to determine the structure of β-CD-S. FTIR spectroscopy and XPS were applied to verifying the synthesized β-CD-S and the existence of the electrodeposited layer on the SS surface, respectively. Tafel plots and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy(EIS) technologies were used to estimate the corrosion resistance of β-CD-covered stainless steel. Electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance was applied to determining the drug loading of the stainless steel before and after its modification. E. coli was selected as a harmful microbe to evaluate the antibacterial properties of the stainless steel with the comparison of optical density values.     

An Enzyme‐free H2O2 Sensor Based on Poly(2‐Aminophenylbenzimidazole)/Gold Nanoparticles Coated Pencil Graphite Electrode

A poly(2‐aminophenylbenzimidazole)/gold nanoparticles (P2AB/AuNPs) coated disposable pencil graphite electrode (PGE) was fabricated as an enzyme‐free sensor for the H₂O₂ determination. P2AB/AuNPs and P2AB were successfully synthesized electrochemically on PGE in acetonitrile for the first time. The coatings were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction spectroscopy, Energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, Surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy, and UV‐Vis spectroscopy. AuNPs interacted with P2AB as carrier enhances the electrocatalytic activity towards reduction of H₂O₂. The analytical performance was evaluated in a 100 mM phosphate buffer solution at pH 6.5 by amperometry. The steady state current vs. H₂O₂ concentration is linear in the range of 0.06 to 100 mM (R²=0.992) with a limit of detection 3.67×10^?5 M at ?0.8 V vs. SCE and no interference is caused by ascorbic acid, dopamine, uric acid, and glucose. The examination for the sensitive determination of H₂O₂ was conducted in commercially available hair oxidant solution. The results demonstrate that P2AB/AuNPs/PGE has potential applications as a sensing material for quantitative determination of H₂O₂.     

Electrochemical Sensor for Detection of Glucose Based on Ni@Pt Core‐shell Nanoparticles Supported on Carbon

In this work, Ni@Pt core‐shell nanoparticles with diameter of 3–4 nm and thin Pt shell was synthesized by a successive reduction approach using carbon as support to develop high‐performance non‐enzymatic glucose sensor. The resulting electrochemical sensor displayed good catalytic activity toward glucose oxidation, presenting a high current density of 66.9 µA mM^?1 cm^?2 at an applied potential of ?0.1 V. It showed a wide linear range of 0.1–30.1 mM and the limit of detection was down to 30 µM (S/N=3). Notably, it was found that the proposed sensor exhibited good selectivity to avoid the interference from ascorbic acid, uric acid, fructose and acetamidophenol. Furthermore, the feasibility of the as‐prepared non‐enzymatic glucose sensor in the determination of glucose in serum samples was successfully implemented.     

A Novel Non‐Enzymatic Glucose Sensor Based on Cobalt Nanoparticles Implantation‐Modified Indium Tin Oxide Electrode

A new type of cobalt nanoparticles modified indium tin oxide electrode (CoNPs/ITO) was fabricated using ion implantation technique. This method is low‐cost, facile and environmentally friendly without the use of any other chemicals. Electrochemical oxidation of glucose with this sensor was examined by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and chronoamperometry in alkaline aqueous solutions. The proposed sensor exhibited prominent electrocatalytic activity toward the oxidation of glucose with a low limit of detection of 0.25 µM. Furthermore, the fabricated electrode showed excellent selectivity, good reproducibility and long‐term stability. Thus CoNPs/ITO electrode is a promising candidate in the development of non‐enzymatic glucose sensors.     

A Rapid and Efficient Way to Dynamic Creation of Cross‐Reactive Sensor Arrays Based on Ionic Liquids

Based on the simple counterion exchange of ionic liquids, a rapid, facile, and efficient strategy to create a cross‐reactive sensor array with a dynamic tunable feature was developed, and exemplified by the construction of a sensor array for the identification and classification of nitroaromatics and explosives mimics. To achieve a good sensing system with fast response, good sensitivity, and low detection limit, the synthesized ionic liquid receptors were tethered onto a silica matrix with a macro‐mesoporous hierarchical structure. Through the facile anion exchange approach, abundant ionic‐liquid‐based individual receptors with diversiform properties, such as different micro‐environments, diverse molecular interactions, and distinctive physico‐chemical properties, were easily and quickly synthesized to generate a distinct fingerprint of explosives for pattern recognition. The reversible anion exchange ability further endowed the sensor array with a dynamic tunable feature as well as good controllability and practicality for real‐world application. With the assistance of statistical analysis, such as principal component analysis (PCA) and linear discrimination analysis (LDA), an optimized‐size array with a good resolution was rationally established from a large number of IL‐based receptors. The performed experiments suggested that the ionic‐liquid‐based sensing protocol is a general and powerful strategy for creating a cross‐reactive sensor array that could find a wide range of applications for sensing various analytes or complex mixtures.     

Fabrication of Non‐enzymatic Electrochemical Glucose Sensor Based on Pd−Mn Alloy Nanoparticles Supported on Reduced Graphene Oxide

Mixed metals alloy nanoparticles supported on carbon nanomaterial are the most attractive candidates for the fabrication of non‐enzymatic electrochemical sensor with enhanced electrochemical performance. In this study, palladium‐manganese alloy nanoparticles supported on reduced graphene oxide (Pd?Mn/rGO) are prepared by a simple reduction protocol. Further, a novel enzyme‐free glucose sensing platform is established based on Pd?Mn/rGO. The successful fabrication of Pd?Mn alloy nanoparticles and their attachment at rGO are thoroughly characterized by various microscopic and spectroscopic techniques such as XRD, Raman, TEM and XPS. The electrochemical activity and sensing features of designed material towards glucose detection are explored by amperometric measurments in 0.1 M NaOH at the working voltage of ?0.1 V. Thanks to the newly designed Pd?Mn/rGO nanohybrid for their superior electrorochemical activity towards glucose comprising the admirable sensing features in terms of targeted selectivity, senstivity, two linear parts and good stability. The enhanced electrochemical efficacy of Pd?Mn/rGO electrocatalyst may be credited to the abundant elecrocatalytic active sites formed during the Pd?Mn alloying and the electron transport ability of rGO that augment the electron shuttling phenomenon between the electrode material and targeted analyte.     

方波脉冲法制备Cu_2O@Cu/TiO_2三维阵列纳米复合材料及其作为高灵敏无酶型葡萄糖传感器的研究

采用阳极氧化法制备了TiO_2三维阵列纳米管(TiO_2 NTAs),再利用方波脉冲法在TiO_2 NTAs表面电沉积Cu薄膜,经过煅烧处理后得到Cu_2O@Cu/TiO_2 NTAs纳米复合材料。X-射线衍射仪(XRD)测试表明该材料中Cu和Cu_2O共存。扫描电镜(SEM)和透射电镜(TEM)分析显示,TiO_2管壁的外表面均匀生长Cu_2O,选区电子衍射结果表明该纳米复合材料为混晶材料。差分脉冲伏安法表明,Cu_2O@Cu/TiO_2 NTAs在+0.56 V处出现明显的葡萄糖氧化峰,表明该纳米复合材料对葡萄糖具有强的电催化作用,可用于葡萄糖的测定。计时电流法得到葡萄糖的线性范围为0.19～3.5 mmol/L,灵敏度为372.0μA·L·mmol~(-1)·cm~(-2),检出限为3μmol/L。交流阻抗测得Cu_2O/TiO_2 NTAs的传荷阻抗为526.2Ω,Cu_2O@Cu/TiO_2 NTAs为1.8Ω,二者相差292倍,说明Cu作为中间过渡层降低了电子传导的传荷阻抗。将该电极用于血清中葡萄糖含量的检测,测试结果与医院测定结果无显著差异。Cu_2O@Cu/TiO_2 NTAs可作为一种灵敏度高、响应速度快、选择性较好的无酶型葡萄糖传感器。     

Studies on formation mechanism of polypyrrole microtubule synthesized by template‐free method

The influence of the polymerization time and rate as well as the solution's ionic strength on the morphology, conductivity, and molecular structure of the polypyrrole (PPy) microtubule [synthesized by the template‐free method in the presence of β‐naphthalene sulfonic acid (β‐NSA) as the dopant] were investigated. It was found that the formation of the PPy‐NSA microtubule was a slow and self‐assembled growth process. Moreover, the β‐NSA dopant played a “templatelike” role in the formation of tubular PPy‐NSA, which might be relative to its surfactant characters. This assumption was further confirmed by the phenomenon that the morphology of PPy‐NSA could be modified by increasing the ionic strength by adding inorganic salt. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 39: 997–1004, 2001     

Development of a solid‐phase microextraction fiber by the chemical binding of graphene oxide on a silver‐coated stainless‐steel wire with an ionic liquid as the crosslinking agent

Graphene oxide was bonded onto a silver‐coated stainless‐steel wire using an ionic liquid as the crosslinking agent by a layer‐by‐layer strategy. The novel solid‐phase microextraction fiber was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy and Raman microscopy. A multilayer graphene oxide layer was closely coated onto the supporting substrate. The thickness of the coating was about 4 μm. Coupled with gas chromatography, the fiber was evaluated using five polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (fluorene, anthracene, fluoranthene, 1,2‐benzophenanthrene, and benzo(a)pyrene) as model analytes in direct‐immersion mode. The main conditions (extraction time, extraction temperature, ionic strength, and desorption time) were optimized by a factor‐by‐factor optimization. The as‐established method exhibited a wide linearity range (0.5–200 μg/L) and low limits of determination (0.05–0.10 μg/L). It was applied to analyze environmental water samples of rain and river water. Three kinds of the model analytes were quantified and the recoveries of samples spiked at 10 μg/L were in the range of 92.3–120 and 93.8–115%, respectively. The obtained results indicated the fiber was efficient for solid‐phase microextraction analysis.     

A Mediator‐Free Bienzyme Amperometric Biosensor Based on Horseradish Peroxidase and Glucose Oxidase Immobilized on Carbon Nanotube Modified Electrode

Multiwalled carbon nanotube (CNT) modified glassy carbon electrode immobilized with horseradish peroxidase (HRP) in Nafion coating showed direct electron transfer between HRP enzyme and the CNT‐modified electrode. A mediator‐free bienzyme glucose biosensor based on horseradish peroxidase and glucose oxidase was constructed. The bienzyme biosensor exhibited a high sensitivity for glucose detection at zero applied potential.     

A perspective on MALDI alternatives—total solvent‐free analysis and electron transfer dissociation of highly charged ions by laserspray ionization

Progress in research is hindered by analytical limitations, especially in biological areas in which sensitivity and dynamic range are critical to success. Inherent difficulties of characterization associated with complexity arising from heterogeneity of various materials including topologies (isomeric composition) and insolubility also limit progress. For this reason, we are developing methods for total solvent‐free analysis by mass spectrometry consisting of solvent‐free ionization followed by solvent‐free gas‐phase separation. We also recently constructed a novel matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) source that provides a simple, practical and sensitive way of producing highly charged ions by laserspray ionization (LSI) or singly charged ions commonly observed with MALDI by choice of matrix or matrix preparation. This is the first ionization source with such freedom—an extremely powerful analytical ‘switch’. Multiply charged LSI ions allow molecules exceeding the mass‐to‐charge range of the instrument to be observed and permit for the first time electron transfer dissociation fragment ion analysis. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Oxidation of alkenes catalysed by molybdenum(VI)–oxodiperoxo complex anchored on the surface of magnetic nanoparticles under solvent‐free conditions

A new epoxidation catalyst has been prepared by grafting a molybdenum(VI)–oxodiperoxo complex containing an oxazine ligand, [MoO(O₂)₂(phox)], on chloro‐functionalized Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles. The synthesized heterogeneous catalyst (MoO(O₂)₂(phox)/Fe₃O₄ was characterized using powder X‐ray diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopies, vibrating sample magnetometry, energy‐dispersive X‐ray analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy. The immobilized complex gave high product yields and high selectivity for epoxide compared to the corresponding homogeneous one in the epoxidation of various olefins in the presence of tert ‐butyl hydroperoxide at 95°C without any co‐solvent. Also, the heterogeneous catalyst can be recycled without a noticeable change in activity and selectivity.     

Effects of aprotic solvents on the stability of metal‐free superoxide dismutase probed by native electrospray ionization–ion mobility–mass spectrometry

Considering that aprotic solvents are often used as cosolvents in investigating the interactions between small molecules and proteins, we assessed the effects of five aprotic solvents represented by dimethylformamide (DMF) on the structure stabilities of metal‐free SOD1 (apo‐SOD1) by native electrospray ionization–ion mobility–mass spectrometry (ESI‐IM‐MS). These aprotic solvents include DMF, 1,3‐dimethyl‐2‐imidazolidinone (DMI), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), acetonitrile (ACN), and tetrahydrofuran (THF). Results indicated that DMI, DMSO, and DMF at low percentage concentration could reduce the average charge and the dimer dissociation of apo‐SOD1. By contrast, ACN and THF at low concentration have no similar effect. DMF was selected as a representative solvent to further investigate the detailed effects on the structure stability of apo‐SOD1 by using collision‐induced dissociation and unfolding. The results reveal that the addition of minimal DMF to an aqueous protein solution can protect against the unfolding and dissociation of dimer, even under destabilizing conditions (such as low pH or high cone voltage). When the different percentage concentrations of DMF were added, the average collision cross section of apo‐SOD1 showed that apo‐SOD1 became compacted when the DMF concentration increased from 0% to 1% and eventually started extending when increased from 1% to 20%. The results indicated that DMF has similar effects to DMSO in native mass spectrometry (MS) and it can also be used as a cosolvent besides DMSO in investigating the stabilities of proteins and the interactions between small molecules and proteins.