Electrochemical sensor for neurotransmitters at physiological pH using a heterocyclic conducting polymer modified electrode

We report the simultaneous determination of two neurotransmitters, norepinephrine (NEP) and serotonin (5-HT), at physiological pH using the electropolymerized film of 3-amino-5-mercapto-1,2,4-triazole modified glassy carbon (p-AMTa) electrode. A bare glassy carbon (GC) electrode fails to resolve the voltammetric signals of NEP and 5-HT due to the surface fouling caused by the oxidized products of them. However, the p-AMTa electrode not only separates the voltammetric signals of NEP and 5-HT with a potential difference of 150 mV between NEP and 5-HT but also shows higher oxidation currents for them. The simultaneous determination of NEP and 5-HT was successfully achieved at p-AMTa electrode using differential pulse voltammetry method. The amperometric current response increased linearly with increasing NEP and 5-HT concentration in the range of 1.0 × 10(-8) to 1.0 × 10(-4) M and 1.0 × 10(-8) to 5.0 × 10(-5) M, respectively, and the detection limit was found to be 1.65 × 10(-11) for NEP and 1.32 × 10(-11) M for 5-HT (S/N = 3). The p-AMTa electrode shows better recovery results for spiked NEP and 5-HT in human blood plasma samples.     

Attachment of DNA to the carbon fiber microelectrode via gold nanoparticles for simultaneous determination of dopamine and serotonin.

A novel biochemical sensor was fabricated on a carbon fiber microelectrode, which consisted of an inner layer of electrodeposited gold nanoparticles, as a nano-array electrode, and an outer layer of electrodeposited calf thymus ds-DNA at +1.5 V vs. SCE. This modified electrode was characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope, atomic force microscopy, cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). It was found that this electrochemical sensor exhibits a strong catalytic activity toward the oxidation of dopamine (DA), serotonin (5-HT) and ascorbic acid (AA), as a result of resolving the anodic voltammetric peaks of DA, 5-HT and AA into three well-defined peaks. Simutaneous DPV determination of DA and 5-HT can be achieved in the presence of 2000-fold AA. The modified electrode shows good sensitivity, selectivity and stability.     

Development of a paper-based,inexpensive, and disposable electrochemical sensing platform for nitrite detection

Electrochemical techniques are attractive for nitrite detection owing to their intrinsic advantages. However, traditional electrochemical sensors often suffer from the effects of fouling due to the adsorption of oxidation products on the electrode surface. In this work, a paper-based, inexpensive, disposable electrochemical sensing platform was developed for nitrite analysis based on a simple and efficient vacuum filtration system. Taking advantage of the physicochemical properties of graphene nanosheets and gold nanoparticles, the mass transport regime of nitrite at the paper-based electrode was thin layer diffusion rather than planar diffusion. In comparison with the electrochemical responses of commercial gold electrodes and glassy carbon electrodes (GCE), a considerably larger current signal was seen at the paper-based sensing interface, which significantly improved its sensitivity for nitrite detection. In particular, the paper-based electrode was a disposable sensing device, so that it effectively avoided the fouling effect arising from the adsorption of oxidation products. Moreover, the paper-based sensing platform made it possible to determine nitrite in environmental and food samples in an accurate, convenient, inexpensive, and reproducible way, indicating that the proposed system is promising for practical applications in environmental monitoring and public health.     

In vitro continuous amperometric monitoring of 5-hydroxytryptamine release from enterochromaffin cells of the guinea pig ileum

A diamond microelectrode was used to sensitively, reproducibly and stably record overflow of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT, serotonin) from enterochromaffin cells (EC) of the intenstinal mucosal layer. 5-HT is an important neurotransmitter and paracrine signalling molecule in the gastrointestinal tract. The diamond microelectrode was formed by overcoating a sharpened 76 microm diameter Pt wire with a thin layer of conducting diamond. After insulation with polypropylene, the conically-shaped microelectrode had a diameter of about 10 microm at the tip and 80 microm at the cylindrical portion. The exposed length was 100-200 microm. Continuous amperometry with the microelectrode poised at a detection potential of 700 mV vs. Ag|AgCl was used to measure 5-HT overflow as an oxidation current. 5-HT overflow was elicited by both mechanical and electrical stimulation. Some minor electrode fouling, a common problem with the oxidative detection of 5-HT, was seen for diamond but the response stabilized enabling recording in vitro. Both 5-HT and the paracrine hormone, melatonin, were detected in the extracellular solution. The 5-HT oxidation current increased in the presence of the serotonin transporter (SERT) inhibitor, fluoxetine (1 microM), providing evidence that the oxidation current was associated with 5-HT.     

Electrocatalytic response of the modified ZnO-G electrodes towards the oxidation of serotonin with multi metallic corrosion protection

Serotonin receptors, also known as 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), play a significant part in neurotransmission and regulate various neurological activities. Researchers are working on finding the appropriate material for sensing 5-HT. Herein, we developed a dual role ZnO-G nanocomposites with electrocatalytic sensing and anticorrosive behavior against Mg, Al, and Cu alloy. ZnO has an oxidative response of 4.55 μA at 0.378 V, and So-Zn-G electrode has reduced overpotential and enhanced current response. The electroactive surface area was found to be ～596 cm²/g. The calculated limit of detection (LOD) was 6.48 μM and linear range of 20–100 μM. Positive corrosion protection activity of ZnO-G was noted for all three alloys, opening opportunities for its integrated effects (anticorrosive and serotonin sensing) in electronic devices.     

Biofouling and in situ electrochemical cleaning of a boron-doped diamond free chlorine sensor

Biofouling presents a significant obstacle to the long-term use of electrochemical sensors in complex media. Drinking water biofilms reduce performance of sensors by insulating electrode surfaces by inter alia inhibiting mass transport. Boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrodes are relatively resistant to biofouling and inert at high potentials. These qualities can be exploited to create a drinking water quality sensor that resists biofouling to meet performance criteria for longer, and to enable electrochemical cleaning of the sensor surface in situ using high potentials without disconnecting or disassembling the sensor.A purpose-built BDD wall-jet sensor was compared with a glassy carbon (GC) sensor in ability to determine free chlorine, detect biofilm and remove biofilm in situ. It was found that the BDD produced accurate and reliable readings with a 4.86% standard error and a LOD of 0.18 ppm. The BDD could be electrochemically cleaned in situ whereas this was less successful with the GC electrode. The BDD electrode could also detect electroactive pyocyanin, secreted in the biofilm of the drinking water biofilm indicator organism Pseudomonas aeruginosa, potentially enabling biofouling and non-biological fouling such as scaling to be distinguished. Observed changes in flow sensitivity and current-voltage curves that correspond to fouling provide multiple fouling detection methods, resulting in an accurate, sensitive, water quality sensor that can be cleaned without disassembly or replacement of parts and can identify when cleaning is required.     

NASICON-based H2 Sensor Using CoCrMnO4 Insensitive Reference Electrode and Buried Au Sensing Electrode

This work focuses on the H2 sensing performance of the sensor with buried Au sensing electrode and spi- nel-type oxide CoCrMnO4 insensitive reference electrode within sodium super ionic conductor（NASICON） film. The sensor showed the highest response to H2 gas on the insensitive material sintering at 800 ~C. Compared with those of the traditional structure device, the sensitivity and selectivity of the sensor using buried sensing electrode were greatly improved, giving a response of-177 mV in 9x10 5 g/L H2, which was about 3.5 times higher than that of sensors with traditional structure. Moreover, the AV value of the sensing device exhibited linear relationship to the logarithm of H2 concentration and the sensitivity（slope） was -135 mV/decade. A sensing mechanism related to the mixed potential was proposed for the present sensor.     

Simultaneous determination of dopamine and serotonin using a carbon nanotubes-ionic liquid gel modified glassy carbon electrode

An electrochemical sensor based on carbon nanotubes (CNTs)-ionic liquid (IL) composite has been developed for the simultaneous determination of serotonin (5-HT) and dopamine (DA). The CNTs-IL composite modified electrode presents excellent selectivity and sensitivity towards 5-HT and DA and eliminates the interference of ascorbic acid. The parameters which influence the determination of 5-HT and DA have been investigated. Under optimized conditions, linear calibration graphs were obtained in the range from 20 nM to 7 µM, with a detection of limit of 8 nM, for 5-HT, and in the range from 0.1 to 12 µM, with a detection of limit of 60 nM, for DA. The electrode has been applied to the assay of 5-HT and DA in human blood serum with good results.     

The Electrochemical Properties of Polyalizarin Violet Modified Electrode and its Electrocatalytic Oxidation of Ascorbic Acid

Ascorbic acid is a vital vitamin in the diet of human and is present in mammalian brain. However, it is always too difficult to determine this compound electrochemically by direct oxidation at a conventional electrode because of the fouling by its oxidation products. In order to resolve this problem, a multitude of polymeric coating for a wide variety of electrode applications in electrochemistry have been purposed In this paper, we reported the fabrication of polyalizarine violet chemical modified electrode prepared by electropolymerization directly at a glassy carbon electrode and its use in catalytic oxidation of AA.     

A highly performing electrochemical sensor for NADH based on graphite/poly(methylmethacrylate) composite electrode

A fabrication strategy for developing new electrochemical interface based on graphite/poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA) composite electrode for some biological molecules was proposed. The results indicated that this electrochemical sensing interface has the advantages, such as quick electron-transfer rate, avoidance of electrode fouling, highly sensitive and stable amperometric sensing for some biomolecules. Compared with carbon paste electrode, this interface would effectively minimize the over-potential and enhance the electrochemical response to some biomolecules. In order to further evaluate the high performance of this interface, the electrochemical behaviors of NADH at this sensing interface were investigated in detail.     

Direct evaluation of meat spoilage and the progress of aging using biosensors

A direct sensing method for monitoring meat quality was developed. The sensor is composed of an Ag/AgCl electrode and a platinum electrode on which putrescine oxidase or xanthine oxidase were immobilized to estimate bacterial spoilage or the progress of aging, respectively. A potential-step chronoamperometric method was applied in which the potential was stepped from 300 mV to 600 mV. A linear relationship was obtained between 5 and 60 nmol g⁻¹ for putrescine (Put) and 0.05 and 1.0 μmol g⁻¹ for hypoxanthine (Hx). The coefficient of variation was 0.75% for 20 nmol ml⁻¹ Put solution and 2.2 for a meat sample using the putrescine sensor, and 1.09% for 0.25 μmol ml⁻¹ Hx solution and 2.6% for a meat sample using the xanthine sensor. The pH requirements and substrate selectivity were suitable for the direct measurement of substrates on the surface of meat. From the results of practical experiments, the direct sensing method was indicated to be useful with some modifications for the estimation of meat quality during aging.     

Effect of the doping level on the biological stability of hydrogenated boron doped diamond electrodes

Fouling of electrode surfaces by electrode reaction products or by biological spectator species is known to inactivate electrochemical sensors and thus limit their use in biological conditions. Here we present an investigation on the stability of boron doped diamond (BDD) electrodes with different levels of doping. Three different doping levels were used (0.1, 1 and 5% in the carbon phase). The highly doped (5%) BDD is of particular interest as it is here used for the first time for biological applications. Three different redox reactions were examined based on their electrode reaction characteristics: ruthenium(III) hexaammine (outer sphere), ferrocyanide (surface dependent), dopamine (adsorption mediated). The effect of albumin at blood concentration was studied. All results were compared with glassy carbon. There were no significant differences for the outer sphere electrochemistry, but all the BDDs showed improved resistance to fouling for the ferrocyanide oxidation. The electrocatalytic activity of BBD towards dopamine oxidation increased with increased boron content. However, this appears to be due to a larger number of defect sites which also increases the vulnerability to fouling by albumin and by electrode reaction products and the 5% BDD had similar properties to glassy carbon in this regard. These results suggest that it is possible to optimise the BDD performance for specific applications and that the large potential window for BDD may be due, at least in part, to its relatively poor electrocatalytic activity.     

蒙脱土修饰碳纤维电极的制备及其应用于活体测定脑神经递质

制备了蒙脱土修饰碳纤维电极,研究了其对神经递质多巴胺(DA)及5羟色胺(5HT)的富集作用,以及对负电性的代谢产物3,4二羟基苯乙酸(DOPAC)、5羟吲哚乙酸(5HIAA)及脑内大量存在的抗坏血酸(AA)排斥性能.该电极具有很高的灵敏度、分辨率和抗干扰性,对DA的检测下限达16×10^-8mol/L,优于传统的Nafion修饰电极,对5HT的检测下限为1×10^-7mol/L.在动物活体分析中,使用该电极成功地检测了大鼠双侧颈总动脉结扎再灌损伤时,脑纹状体中神经递质DA浓度的变化.     

Label-free and sensitive impedimetric nanosensor for the detection of cocaine based on a supramolecular complexation with β-cyclodextrin,immobilized on a nanostructured polymer film

Cocaine, a powerful addictive stimulant drug, has a variety of adverse effects on the body, thus its sensitive detection is very important. Here, we report on a simple, label-free, and sensitive impedimetric sensor for determination of cocaine based on its affinity to form an inclusion complex with β-cyclodextrin (β-CD). First, we prepared nanostructured poly N-acetylaniline film via electropolymerization of its monomer on a glassy carbon electrode (PNAANI/GC), subsequently overoxidized it, and conjugated β-CD to the polymer backbone. The designed and synthesized nanostructured PNAANI film serves a dual function in the sensor: on one hand, it maintains a high effective surface area on a geometrically small electrode that significantly enhances the number of β-CD molecules immobilized on the electrode; on the other hand, it provides an upright-oriented β-CD conjugation to the polymer backbone, thus all the β-CD receptors are actively involved in responding to the target. Sensitivity of the sensor was further enhanced by preconcentration of cocaine on the modified electrode surface. We attributed the changes in the interfacial charge transfer resistance (R _ct) of the electrode to cocaine concentration. Under optimized condition (pH 7.4, 5-min accumulation at an open circuit voltage), the sensor responded to cocaine concentration in the range of 100 nM–1.0 mM with a detection limit of 50 nM. Selectivity of the sensor for cocaine relative to some potential inferring compounds was also investigated, and the results were promising. The proposed approach exhibited an extended dynamic range, low detection limit, good sensitivity, and a desirable selectivity, which provides an efficient application prospect for on-field cocaine sensing.     

A novel electrogenerated chemiluminescence sensor for pyrogallol with core-shell luminol-doped silica nanoparticles modified electrode by the self-assembled technique

The core-shell luminol-doped SiO₂ nanoparticles were synthesized and immobilized on the surface of chitosan film coating graphite electrode by the self-assembled technique. Then, a novel electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) sensor for pyrogallol was developed based on its ECL enhancing effect for the core-shell luminol-doped silica nanoparticles. The ECL analytical performances and the sensing mechanism of this ECL sensor for pyrogallol were investigated in detail. The corresponding results showed that: compared with the conventional ECL reaction procedures by luminol ECL reaction system, the electrochemical (EC) reaction of pyrogallol and its subsequent chemiluminescence (CL) reaction occurred in the different spatial region whilst offering a high efficiency to couple the EC with the CL reaction to form the ECL procedures. In this case, this new sensing scheme offered more potential to improve the analytical performances of the ECL reaction. Under the optimum experimental conditions, this ECL sensor showed less than 5% decrease in continuums over 100 times ECL measurements, the detection limit was 1.0 × 1.0⁻⁹ mol/L for pyrogallol. The linear range extended from 3.0 × 10⁻⁹ mol/L to 2.0 × 10⁻⁵ mol/L for pyrogallol.     

以聚邻苯二胺修饰的镀铂玻碳电极为基底的葡萄糖传感器

生物电化学传感器所面临的主要问题,就是干扰和污染。具有选择渗透性的聚合物膜可以防止电活性物质到达电极表面和大分子物质对基底电极的污染,提高电极的选择性,延长使用寿命。这方面的报道已很多。电聚合的邻苯二胺膜的选择渗透性已有报道。其优点是薄(<10nm),且具有自身的绝缘性,可以被均匀地聚合在电极表面。我们用这种聚合物膜修饰电极为基底电极,化学交联法将葡萄糖氧化酶(GOD)固定在基底电极表面,制备了葡萄糖     

Enzyme electrode for the determination of salicylate

Salicylate hydorxylase is used with a carbon dioxide sensor for the determination of salicylate in aqueous solution and pooled serum. The enzyme is physically entrapped with a dialysis membrance at the sensing tip of the carbon dioxide electrode. The enzyme catalyses the stoichiometric formation of catechol and carbon dioxide from salicylate and reduced pyridine nucleotide in the presence of flavin adenine dinucleotide as a specific cofactor. The carbon dioxide is detected by the sensor and related to the concentration of salicylate via a calibration curve. The method compares favorably with the spectrophotometric method for assay of salicylate. Although suitable for salicylate concentrations in the range of 5–300 μg ml^?1, its response below 5 μg ml^?1 is limited by the detection limit of the carbon dioxide sensor.     

Gold nanoparticle chemiresistors operating in biological fluids

Functionalised gold nanoparticle (Au(NP)) chemiresistors are investigated for direct sensing of small organic molecules in biological fluids. The principle reason that Au(NP) chemiresistors, and many other sensing devices, have limited operation in biological fluids is due to protein and lipid fouling deactivating the sensing mechanism. In order to extend the capability of such chemiresistor sensors to operate directly in biofluids, it is essential to minimise undesirable matrix effects due to protein and lipidic components. Ultrafiltration membranes were investigated as semi-permeable size-selective barriers to prevent large biomolecule interactions with Au(NP) chemiresistors operating in protein-loaded biofluids. All of the ultrafiltration membranes protected the Au(NP) chemiresistors from fouling by the globular biomolecules, with the 10 kDa molecular weight cut-off size being optimum for operation in biofluids. Titrations of toluene in different protein-loaded fluids indicated that small molecule detection was possible. A sensor array consisting of six different thiolate-functionalised Au(NP) chemiresistors protected with a size-selective ultrafiltration membrane successfully identified, and discriminated the spoilage of pasteurised bovine milk. This proof-of-principle study demonstrates the on-chip protein separation and small metabolite detection capability, illustrating the potential for this technology in the field of microbial metabolomics. Overall, these results demonstrate that a sensor array can be protected from protein fouling with the use of a membrane, significantly increasing the possible application areas of Au(NP) chemiresistors ranging from the food industry to health services.     

Mediatorless amperometric bienzyme glucose biosensor based on horseradish peroxidase and glucose oxidase cross-linked to multiwall carbon nanotubes

We report on a bienzyme-channeling sensor for sensing glucose without the aid of mediator. It was fabricated by cross-linking horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and glucose oxidase (GOx) on a glassy carbon electrode modified with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs). The bienzyme was cross-linked with the MWNTs by glutaraldehyde and bovine serum albumin. The MWNTs were employed to accelerate the electron transfer between immobilized HRP and electrode. Glucose was sensed by amperometric reduction of enzymatically generated H₂O₂ at an applied voltage of ?50 mV (vs. Ag/AgCl). Factors influencing the preparation and performance of the bienzyme electrode were investigated in detail. The biosensor exhibited a fast and linear response to glucose in the concentration range from 0.4 to 15 mM, with a detection limit of 0.4 mM. The sensor exhibited good selectivity and durability, with a long-term relative standard deviation of <5 %. Analysis of glucose-spiked human serum samples yielded recoveries between 96 and 101 %.

Preparation of an ion-selective electrode by chemical treatment of copper wire for the measurement of copper(II) and iodide by batch and flow-injection potentiometry

The preparation of an ion-selective electrode by chemical treatment of copper wire and its application for the measurements of copper (II) and iodide ions is described. The proposed reaction mechanism at the sensing surface, which explains the response of the electrode to Cu²⁺ and iodide ions, is discussed. The prepared electrode was suitable for direct potentiometric measurements of iodide and copper (II) in batch experiments down to concentrations of 1 × 10^–5 mol L^–1. A tubular electrode, prepared in the same way, may be used as a potentiometric sensor in a flow-injection analysis for Cu (II) and/or iodide determinations.