A Sensitive Electrochemical Approach for Melamine Detection Using a Disposable Screen Printed Carbon Electrode

We report here a simple and easy electrochemical approach for sensitive detection of non‐electroactive melamine using a disposable screen printed carbon electrode (SPCE) with uric acid as the recognition element. It is based on the competitive adsorptive behavior of melamine at the preanodized SPCE causing suppression in the oxidation current of uric acid. A linear range up to 126 ppb with a detection limit of 1.6 ppb (S/N=3) is achieved at the preanodized SPCE by differential pulse voltammetry. The electrochemical method is successfully applied to detect the melamine content in tainted milk powder and dog food.     

Analysis of melamine in milk powder by using a magnetic molecularly imprinted polymer based on carbon nanotubes with ultra high performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry

A new magnetic molecularly imprinted polymer was coupled with ultra high performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry for the selective determination of melamine in milk powder. The magnetic molecularly imprinted polymer has been prepared by using carbon nanotubes as the matrix, Fe₃O₄ particles as the magnetic ingredient, melamine as the template molecule, methacrylic acid as the functional monomer, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as the cross‐linker and polyvinylpyrrolidone as the dispersant. The polymer was characterized with scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and a physical property measurement system. The isothermal adsorption, kinetics adsorption, and selectivity were studied to evaluate the rebinding properties of the magnetic molecularly imprinted polymer. Various parameters affecting the extraction efficiency such as the amount of polymer, extraction time, and eluting solution were evaluated. The limit of detection was 0.00075 mg/kg. The relative standard deviations of the intraday and interday precision are 0.4–2.7 and 2.3–5.1%, respectively. The proposed method was successfully applied to determine melamine in different milk powder samples from different provenances, and satisfactory recoveries of 89.0–95.6% were obtained. This method has great significance for quality control and is simple and suitable for the rapid determination of melamine in milk powder.     

Picomolar Detection of Melamine Using Molecularly Imprinted Polymer‐Based Electrochemical Sensors Prepared by UV‐Graft Photopolymerization

Molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) films of melamine were prepared by photopolymerization of vinylic monomers on diazonium‐modified gold electrodes. The gold‐grafted MIPs are specific and selective for melamine in either organic or aqueous media. The interferent molecules cyromazine and cyanuric acid were not recognized by the MIPs. The limit of detection was as low as 1.75×10^?12 mol L^?1 at S/N=3. Efficiency of melamine rebinding is related to the solubility parameter of the organic solvent or pH and ionic strength of the aqueous medium. It is concluded that diazonium salts permit to design robust electrochemical MIP sensors.     

Development of Uric Acid Sensor Based on Molecularly Imprinted Polymer‐Modified Hanging Mercury Drop Electrode

Uric acid (UA) sensor based on molecularly imprinted polymer‐modified hanging mercury drop electrode was developed for sensitive and selective analysis in aqueous and blood serum samples. The uric acid‐imprinted polymer was prepared from melamine and chloranil and coated directly onto the surface of a hanging mercury drop electrode, under charge‐transfer interactions at +0.4 V (vs. Ag/AgCl), in model 303A electrode system connected with a polarographic analyzer/stripping voltammeter (PAR model 264A). The binding event of uric acid was detected in the imprinted polymer layer through differential pulse, cathodic stripping voltammetry (DPCSV) at optimized operational conditions [accumulation potential +0.4 V (vs. Ag/AgCl), accumulation time 120 s, pH 7.0, scan rate 10 mV s^?1, pulse amplitude 25 mV]. The limit of detection for UA was found to be 0.024 μg mL^?1 (RSD=0.64%, S/N=3). Under the optimized operational conditions, the sensor was able to differentiate between uric acid and other closely structural‐related compounds and interfering substances. Ascorbic acid (AA), a major interferent in UA estimation, was not adsorbed on the surface of sensor electrode. The present sensor is, therefore, UA‐selective at all concentrations of AA present in human blood serum samples. The précised and accurate quantification of UA have been made in the dilute as well as concentrated regions varying within limits 0.1–4.0 and 9.8–137.0 μg mL^?1, respectively.     

Electrochemical Determination of Label Free BRCA Hybridization by Single Use Antioxidant Modified Electrode

A novel DNA probe based on caffeic acid modified disposable pencil graphite electrodes were developed for the first time for the electrochemical determination of breast cancer gene sequence (BRCA) hybridization. Amino‐linked BRCA probe highly immobilized onto the caffeic acid modified electrode by means of the interaction between the amino group of BRCA probe and the carboxyl group of caffeic acid compared to the bare electrode. 44 % signal enhancement in guanine oxidation signal was measured by caffeic acid modified electrode. Besides, these probes exhibited high selectivity towards its complementary DNA sequences (target). Hybridization between probe and target (BRCA1) was studied to evaluate the selectivity of the probes for complementary, non‐complementary and mismatch sequences. The selectivity was also tested in the presence of mixture containing the target and one base mismatch BRCA sequences in the same ratio (1 : 1). It can be said this probe can select its complementary from the mixture.     

Electrochemical Behavior of Caffeic Acid Assayed with Gold Nanoparticles/Graphene Nanosheets Modified Glassy Carbon Electrode

A gold nanoparticle (AuNP) and graphene nanosheet (GN) modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) is proposed as voltammetric sensor for caffeic acid assay. The sensor exhibits a surface‐confined and reversible process for oxidation of caffeic acid revealed by cyclic voltammetry. The results show more favorable electron transfer kinetics than the bare GCE. The linear response of the sensor is from 5×10^?7 to 5×10^?5 M with a detection limit of 5×10^?8 M (S/N=3). The AuNP/GN nanocomposite shows more favorable electrochemical activity and should be a kind of more robust and advanced functional material, which provides a promising platform for electrochemical sensors and biosensors. The method was successfully applied to detect caffeic acid in pharmaceutical tablets with satisfactory results.     

Electrochemical Detection of 2‐Naphthol at a Glassy Carbon Electrode Modified with Tosflex Film

In this study, a Tosflex (a perfluoro‐anion‐exchange membrane) modified glassy carbon electrode has been used to detect 2‐naphthalenol (2‐naphthol) in aqueous solutions in order to demonstrate the electroanalytical application of Tosflex. 2‐naphthol polymerizes upon electrochemical oxidation at a glassy carbon electrode; however, the current related to this oxidation is too small for analytical purpose at low concentration level. A Tosflex polymer modified glassy carbon electrode (TFGCE) was found of having capability to improve the detection limit because 2‐naphthol molecules deprotonated in basic solutions to form 2‐naphtholate anions that were accumulated to TFGCE by the anion‐exchange characteristic of Tosflex. The accumulated 2‐naphtholate anions were determined with the following differential pulse voltammetry. With 3 minutes accumulation at +0.05 V, the dependence of oxidation current versus concentration was linear from 8×10^?7 M to 1×10^?5 M with a regression coefficient of 0.999 and a detection limit of 2×10^?7 M. Unlike many other anion‐exchange polymer modified electrodes, the TFGCE is stable at highly basic condition.     

Electrochemical oxidation of catechol at poly(indole-5-carboxylic acid) electrode

In this work we examined the electrochemical properties of poly(indole-5-carboxylic acid), PIn₅COOH. The polymer was produced by electrochemical polymerisation using cyclic voltammetry (CV). It was shown that PIn₅COOH is electroactive in aqueous solutions showing two redox processes in acidic solution and one redox process in solutions with pH > 4. The oxidation of catechol (CT) on Pt/In₅COOH modified electrodes was investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and rotating disc electrode (RDE) voltammetry. It was established that CT was oxidised only after the oxidation of polymer film was initiated and that polymer significantly enhanced the oxidation and reduction peak currents in comparison with bare Pt electrode. The variation of peak currents (i _pa, i _pc) as a function of CT concentration was found to be linear up to 6 mM. Experiments with a rotating disk electrode show that the oxidation reaction of catechol occures not only at the polymer/electrolyte interface but also in the polymer film.     

Electroanalysis of Caffeic Acid in Red Wine and Investigation of Thermodynamic Parameters Using an Ag Nanoparticles Modified Poly(Thiophene) Film Glassy Carbon Electrode

A silver nanoparticle decorated poly(thiophene) modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was prepared for determination of caffeic acid. The Ag/PTh/GCE surface was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy‐dispersive X‐ray (EDX) spectroscopy. The modified electrode has shown higher electrocatalytic activity towards the oxidation of caffeic acid. The peak current of was found linear in the concentration range from 1.00×10^?8 to 4.83×10^?6 M with a detection limit of 5.3×10^?9 M (S/N=3). The modified electrode was used for determination of CA concentration in red wine samples. The thermodynamic constants, entropy change (ΔS), enthalpy change (ΔH) and Gibbs free energy change (ΔG) were calculated as ?166.34 J/(mol K), ?154.24 kJ/mol and ?104.75 kJ/mol at 25 °C, respectively.     

Electrochemical Detection of Glutathione Using a Poly(caffeic acid) Nanocarbon Composite Modified Electrode

A modified glassy carbon electrode was prepared through electropolymerization of caffeic acid in the presence of either carbon nanotubes or nano‐carbon drop cast onto the electrode surface. The voltammetric behaviour of the electrode was characterized using the ortho‐quinone moiety on the caffeic acid unit and the surface loading optimized for current response. The nanocomposite mediated electrode was used for the sensitive detection of glutathione at concentrations as low as 500 nM.     

Voltammetric Antioxidant Analysis in Mineral Oil Samples Immobilized into Boron‐Doped Diamond Micropore Array Electrodes

Mineral oil microdroplets containing the model antioxidant N,N‐didodecyl‐N′,N′‐diethyl‐phenylene‐diamine (DDPD) are immobilized into a 100×100 pore‐array (ca. 10 μm individual pore diameter, 100 μm pitch) in a boron‐doped diamond electrode surface. The robust diamond surface allows pore filling, cleaning, and reuse without damage to the electrode surface. The electrode is immersed into aqueous electrolyte media, and voltammetric responses for the oxidation of DDPD are obtained. In order to further improve the current responses, 20 wt% of carbon nanofibers are co‐deposited with the oil into the pore array. Voltammetric signals are consistent with the oxidation of DDPD and the associated transfer of perchlorate anions (in aqueous 0.1 M NaClO₄) or the transfer of protons (in aqueous 0.1 M HClO₄). From the magnitude of the current response, the DDPD content in the mineral oil can be determined down to less than 1 wt% levels. Perhaps surprisingly, the reversible (or midpoint) potential for the DDPD oxidation in mineral oil (when immersed in 0.1 NaClO₄) is shown to be concentration‐dependent and to shift to more positive potential values for more dilute DDPD in mineral oil solutions. An extraction mechanism and the formation of a separate organic product phase are proposed to explain this behavior.     

Beta‐lactoglobulin Electrochemical Detection Based with an Innovative Platform Based on Composite Polymer

In this work, we present a new electrochemical disposable platform based on poly(aniline‐co‐anthranilic acid) (PANI/PAA) composite polymer coupled with an aptamer for sensitive detection of β‐lactoglobulin. Firstly, PANI/PAA film was electrodeposited on the graphite screen‐printed electrode surface by cyclic voltammetry. The co‐polymer modified electrode was then employed as platform for the covalent immobilization of an amino‐modified aptamer. Various β‐lactoglobulin solutions, with a fixed amount of biotinylated oligonucleotide complementary sequence, were dropped onto the aptasensor surface. A streptavidin‐alkaline phosphatase conjugate was then employed to trace the affinity reaction. After the addition of 1‐naphthyl‐phosphate enzymatic substrate, 1‐naphthol electroactive product was detected by differential pulse voltammetry. A decrease in the signal was obtained when the target concentration was increased, in according to a signal‐off approach. After optimization of key experimental parameters, a dose‐response curve was obtained between 0.01–1.0 μg mL^?1 β‐lactoglobulin concentration range. The limit of detection of 0.053 μg L^?1 was obtained. Milk samples spiked with β‐lactoglobulin were analyzed.     

Determination of melamine in dairy products by an electrochemiluminescent method combined with solid-phase extraction

An electrochemiluminescence (ECL) enhancement method combined with solid-phase extraction has been developed for the determination of melamine in dairy products. It was found that melamine in a strong base solution is able to enhance the ECL of Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ at glass carbon electrode. The optimum experimental conditions for the determination of trace melamine by ECL, such as scan mode and scan rate of the applied potential, the type of buffer solutions and their pH conditions, were investigated. Under optimized conditions, the enhanced ECL intensity was linearly proportional to the logarithm of melamine concentration in the range of 0.01-1.0 ppb, and the detection limit was 0.003 ppb. The method has been successfully demonstrated to determine melamine in dairy products including liquid milk, yogurt and milk powder samples. The relative standard deviations ranging from 5.3% to 11.2% and the recoveries from 95.2% to 102.4% were acquired by this method. A possible mechanism for the ECL enhancement effect was also proposed.     

Electrochemical Detection of NADH,Cysteine, or Glutathione Using a Caffeic Acid Modified Glassy Carbon Electrode

A modified electrode was prepared using electrodeposition methods to immobilize caffeic acid (CAF) onto the surface of a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) to create a polymer suitable for biosensor development. The polymer film coverage of the surface bound species was further optimized using electrodeposition methods, thus increasing the surface coverage to ca. 10^?9 mol cm^?2. Using cyclic voltammetry, the modified carbon electrode was used to facilitate and observe the electrocatalytic oxidation of coenzymes such as NADH, cysteine, and glutathione at different concentrations. A calibration curve was determined in each case within the concentration range; 300 nM to 10 mM, with the limits of detection (LOD) of 246 µM, 99 µM, 2.2 µM for NADH, cysteine, and glutathione respectively.     

Genipin‐Cross‐Linked Chitosan as a Support for Laccase Biosensor

In this study a biosensor with laccase immobilized in a chitosan matrix was developed. Prior to the laccase immobilization the chitosan was cross‐linked with genipin, a naturally‐occurring cross‐linking agent, and incorporated into a carbon‐paste electrode. Analytical parameters for caffeic acid, such as repeatability (2.7 %), reproducibility (3.0 %), linearity (0.27 and 33 µM; r²≥0.9983), limit of detection (LOD=0.18 µM) and recovery (96–103 %), were determined. The method was applied in the determination of the total phenolic content of mate herb samples. The good performance of the method can be attributed to the effective immobilization of laccase in the cross‐linked support.     

Synthesis of magnetic polyphosphazene-Ag composite particles as surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy substrates for the detection of melamine

Magnetic polyphosphazene(MPZS) particles coated by Ag nanoparticles(MPZS-Ag) have been developed as surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy(SERS) substrates for sensitive detection of melamine in aqueous solutions and milk samples.5,5'-Dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid)(DTNB) was used as model analyte to test the SERS activity of the MPZS-Ag particles.The prepared MPZS-Ag particles possess both magnetic responsiveness and excellent SERS properties.SERS detection of different concentrations of melamine aqueous solutions and spiked milk samples were performed by the MPZS-Ag particles.The limit of detection(LOD) of the melamine in aqueous solutions was 10-7 mol/L(0.0126 mg/L) and 0.6 mg/L in real milk samples using the MPZS-Ag particles as SERS substrates.The LOD of the melamine are much lower than the safety values of Food and Drug Administration and Codex Alimentarius Commission.These results indicate that the MPZS-Ag particles have promising application prospect for SERS analysis in food safety fields.     

Graphene Functionalized Graphite Electrode with Diphenylacetylene for Sensitive Electrochemical Determination of Adenosine‐5′‐triphosphate

In this paper a molecular wire modified carbon paste electrode (MW‐CPE) was firstly prepared by mixing graphite powder with diphenylacetylene (DPA). Then a graphene (GR) and chitosan (CTS) composite film was further modified on the surface of MW‐CPE to receive the graphene functionalized electrode (CTS‐GR/MW‐CPE), which was used for the sensitive electrochemical detection of adenosine‐5′‐triphosphate (ATP). The CTS‐GR/MW‐CPE exhibited excellent electrochemical performance and the electrochemical behavior of ATP on the CTS‐GR/MW‐CPE was carefully studied by cyclic voltammetry with an irreversible oxidation peak appearing at 1.369 V (vs. SCE). The electrochemical parameters such as charge transfer coefficient (α) and electrode reaction standard rate constant (k_s) were calculated with the results of 0.53 and 5.28×10^?6 s^?1, respectively. By using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) as detection technique, the oxidation peak current showed good linear relationship with ATP concentration in the range from 1.0 nM to 700.0 µM with a detection limit of 0.342 nM (3σ). The common coexisting substances, such as uric acid, ascorbic acid and guanosine‐5′‐triphosphate (GTP), showed no interferences and the modified electrode was successfully applied to injection sample detection.     

Electrochemical Behavior of Chloranil Chemically Modified Carbon Paste Electrode. Application to the Electrocatalytic Determination of Ascorbic Acid

A p‐chloranil modified carbon paste electrode was constructed and the electrochemical behavior of this electrode was studied in the aqueous solution with different pH. From the E_1/2–pH diagram for this compound the values of formal potential E^0' and pK_a of some different redox and acid‐base couples depending on the solution pH were estimated. The diffusion coefficient, D, value for p‐chloranil was estimated 1.5×10^?7 cm² s^?1. It has been shown by direct current cyclic voltammetry and double potential step chronoamperometry, that this p‐chloranil incorporated carbon paste electrode, can catalyze the oxidation of ascorbic acid in the aqueous buffered solution. Under the optimum condition (pH 7.00), the oxidation of ascorbic acid at the surface of such an electrode occurs at a potential about 325 mV less positive than that at an unmodified carbon past electrode. The catalytic oxidation peak currents was linearly dependent on the ascorbic acid concentration and a linear calibration curve was obtained in the range of 7×10^?5 M–4×10^?3 M of ascorbic acid with a correlation coefficient of 0.9998. The limit of detection (3σ) was determined as 3.5×10 ^?5 M. This method was used as simple, selective and precise voltammetric method for determination of ascorbic acid in pharmaceutical preparations.     

Synthesis of magnetic polyphosphazene-Ag composite particles as surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy substrates for the detection of melamine

Preparation process of the MPZS-Ag composite particles based on polyphosphazene and application for the detection of melamine as a novel SERS substrate.     

Comparison of Boron‐Doped Diamond and Glassy Carbon Electrodes for Determination of Procaine Hydrochloride

The electrochemical oxidation of procaine hydrochloride (PC?HCL, 2‐diethylaminoethyl 4‐aminobenzoate hydrochloride) was investigated at as‐deposited boron‐doped diamond (ad‐BDD) electrode, anodically oxidized BDD (ao‐BDD) electrode and glassy carbon (GC) electrode using cyclic voltammetry (CV). Well‐defined cyclic voltammograms were obtained for PC?HCL oxidation with high signal‐to‐background (S/B) ratio, low tendency for adsorption, good reproducibility and long‐term stability at ad‐BDD electrode, demonstrating its superior electrochemical behavior and significant advantages in contrast to ao‐BDD and GC electrode. At 100 μM PC?HCL, the voltammetric S/B ratio was nearly one order of magnitude higher at an ad‐BDD electrode than that at a GC electrode. In a separate set of experiments for oxidation of 100 μM PC?HCL, 96%, 92% and 84% of the initial oxidation peak current was retained at the ad‐BDD, ao‐BDD and GC electrode, respectively, by stirring the solution after the tenth cycle. The current response was linearly proportional to the square root of the scan rate within the range 10–1000 mV s^?1 in 10 μM PC?HCL solutions, indicating that the oxidation process was diffusion‐controlled with negligible adsorption at an ad‐BDD surface. The good linearity was observed for a concentration range from 5 to 200 μM with a linear equation of y=0.03517x+0.65346 (r=0.999), and the detection limit was 0.5 μM for oxidation of PC?HCL at the ad‐BDD electrode. The ad‐BDD electrode could maintain 100% of its original activity after intermittent use for 3 months.