Highly Sensitive Electrochemical Sensor for Nitric Oxide Using the Self‐Assembled Monolayer of 1,8,15,22‐Tetraaminophthalocyanatocobalt(II) on Glassy Carbon Electrode

Glassy carbon (GC) electrode modified with a self‐assembled monolayer (SAM) of 1,8,15,22‐tetraaminophthalocyanatocobalt(II) (4α‐Co^IITAPc) was used for the selective and highly sensitive determination of nitric oxide (NO). The SAM of 4α‐Co^IITAPc was formed on GC electrode by spontaneous adsorption from DMF containing 1 mM 4α‐Co^IITAPc. The SAM showed two pairs of well‐defined redox peaks corresponding to Co^III/Co^II and Co^IIIPc^?1/Co^IIIPc^?2 in 0.2 M phosphate buffer (PB) solution (pH 2.5). The SAM modified electrode showed excellent electrocatalytic activity towards the oxidation of nitric oxide (NO) by enhancing its oxidation current with 310 mV less positive potential shift when compared to bare GC electrode. In amperometric measurements, the current response for NO oxidation was linearly increased in the concentration range of 3×10^?9 to 30×10^?9 M with a detection limit of 1.4×10^?10 M (S/N=3). The proposed method showed a better recovery for NO in human blood serum samples.     

Electrochemical Characterization of Gold 6‐Amino‐2‐mercaptobenzothiazole Self‐Assembled Monolayer for Dopamine Detection in Pharmaceutical Samples

A new sensor, gold‐6‐amino‐2‐mercaptobenzothiazole (6A2MBT), was fabricated via a self‐assembly procedure. Electrochemical properties of the monolayer were investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The modified electrode showed excellent antifouling property against the oxidation products of DA, allowed us to construct a dynamic calibration curve with two linear parts, 1.00×10^?6 to 3.72×10^?4 and 3.72×10^?4 to 6.42×10^?4 M DA, with correlation coefficients of 0.997 and 0.992 and a detection limit of 1.57×10^?7 M DA by using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), respectively. Finally, the performance of the Au‐6A2MBT modified electrode was successfully tested for electrochemical detection of DA in a pharmaceutical sample.     

Self‐assembled Azobenzenethiol Monolayer on Electrode Surfaces: Effect of Photo‐switching on the Surface and Electrical Property

Azobenzenethiol molecules carrying different para‐substituents were used to form mixed monolayers with n‐alkanethiol molecules on Au and Ag surfaces. UV‐ and visible light irradiation of the surfaces resulted in reversible alternation of contact angle and characteristic infrared absorption peak intensities, as well as the work function of the metal surfaces. The alternations can be correlated with the cis‐trans isomerization of the azobenzene moieties at the surface. Electron transport from the metal electrode to a redox center in a contacting solution was measured and analyzed based on the change in the work function of the electrode as well as the monolayer film structure upon isomerization.     

Electrochemical Characterization of Horse Spleen Ferritin Covalently Immobilized on Self‐Assembled Monolayer Modified Gold Electrodes

Horse spleen ferritin was covalently attached to SAM‐modified gold electrodes using cross‐linking agents. Reduction of ferritin occurs at negative potentials and is electrochemically irreversible. The voltammetry reveals the presence of a new electrochemical couple that has been determined to be a dissolved iron species released upon the reduction of ferritin. Covalently attached ferritin retains its ability to release iron as evidenced by the absence of the dissolved couple peaks when ferritin is reduced in the presence of nitrilotriacetate. As the SAM chain length increases, the reduction potential becomes more negative, suggesting a tunneling mechanism is involved in the electron transfer.     

Electrochemical Characterization of Self‐Assembled Monolayer of a Novel Manganese Tetrabenzylthio‐Substituted Phthalocyanine and Its Use in Nitrite Oxidation

Manganese phthalocyanine MnPc(SPh)₄ has been synthesized and used to form self assembled monolayers on gold electrodes. The well packed SAM monolayer was characterized by analyzing the blocking of a number of Faradic processes by cyclic voltammetry, evaluating the electrical characteristics of the modified electrode by electrochemical impedance and imaging the modified surface by electrochemical scanning microscopy. Finally, MnPc(SPh)₄‐SAM modified electrode displayed an electrocatalytic behavior toward the oxidation of nitrite.     

Electrochemical Study of Schiff Bases by Means of Self‐Assembled Monolayers

In this paper, Schiffbases were investigated using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and impedance electrochemical spectroscopy (EIS) techniques by means of self‐assembled monolayers for the first time, where a 0.1 M KCl solution and the redox couple of Fe(CN)₆^3?/Fe(CN)₆^4?were used as the electrolyte and probing‐pin, respectively. The monolayers formed by the employed Schiff base were proved to be relatively stable, and its electrochemical response in the studied system with different pH values was also de scribed clearly with CV and EIS plots. The results show that the monolayer of Schiff bases could exist in the solution with pH value from 2 to 10. In the EIS measurement in the concentration range from 10^?5 M to 5× 10^?4 M, a nearly linear relation ship between the charge transfer resistance (R_ct) and the logarithm concentration of Cu²+was observed, suggesting that Cu²+ could be titrated with the EIS method quasi‐quantitatively. The phenomenon agreed with the former report very well. Using the self‐assembled monolayers to study Schiff bases with the electrochemical method is the major contribution of our work.     

Voltammetric Determination of Epinephrine with a 3‐Mercaptopropionic Acid Self‐Assembled Monolayer Modified Gold Electrode

Epinephrine (EP) could exhibit an anodic peak at a bare gold electrode, but it was very insensitive. However, when the bare gold electrode was modified with 3‐mercaptopropionic acid (3MPA) self‐assembled monolayer (3MPA SAM), the peaks of EP became more reversible and sensitive due to the accumulation and mediate efficiency of 3MPA SAM. Conditions such as solution pH, concentration of supporting electrolyte and accumulation time were optimized. Under the selected conditions (i.e., 0.02 M pH 6.8 sodium phosphate buffer, accumulation time: 2 min under open‐ circuit.), the height of the anodic peak at about 0.18 V (vs. SCE) was linear to EP concentration in the range of 2×10^?7 ?1×10^?6 M and 1×10^?6?5×10^?4 M with correlation coefficient of 0.995 and 0.999, respectively. When the 3MPA/Au was further modified with cysteamine, the interference of H₂O₂ and BrO₃^? was eliminated. But the resulting electrode still suffered from the interference of ascorbic acid. This method was used to determine the content of EP in adrenaline hydrochloride injections, and the recovery was in the range of 97.0% to 105.1%.     

Electrochemical and Photoelectrochemical Study of Self‐assembled Monolayer of Phytic Acid on Brass

Phytic acid is an environment-friendly reagent for processing metals. The anticorrosion and inhibiting mechanism for phytic acid monolayers self-assembled on a brass (HSn70-1) electrode has been investigated by using electrochemical and photocurrent response methods. The electrochemical measurements indicate that phytic acid is liable to form surface complexes on the brass electrode, and the self-assembled monolayers (SAM) change the structure of the electric double-layer and shift the potential of zero charge positively. The photochemical measurement indicates that the brass electrode shows a p-type photoresponse owing to the formation of a Cu2O layer on its surface, and the presence of SAM weakens significantly the photoresponse, suggesting an excellent effect on anticorrosion, which is consistent with the EIS and polarization curve measurements. Adsorption of phytic acid was found to be typical of chemisorption, which can be reasonably described on the basis of the Langmuir isotherm.     

Electrochemical Characterization of In Situ Functionalized Gold Cysteamine Self‐Assembled Monolayer with 4‐Formylphenylboronic Acid for Detection of Dopamine

Functionalization of gold cysteamine (Au? CA) self‐assembled monolayer with 4‐formylphenylboronic acid (BA) via Schiff's base formation, through in situ method to fabricate Au‐CA‐BA electrode is presented and described. The fabricated electrode was used as a novel sensor for accumulation and determination of dopamine (DA). The accumulation of DA as a diol on the topside of Au‐CA‐BA as a Lewis acid, was performed via esterification (Au? CA? BA? DA), and followed for determination of DA. Functionalization, characterization, and determination steps were probed by electrochemical methods like cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The data will be presented and discussed from which a new sensor for DA is introduced.     

FIA Determination of Paracetamol in Pharmaceutical Drugs by Using Gold Electrodes Modified with a 3‐Mercaptopropionic Acid Monolayer

A flow injection analysis (FIA) method for the determination of paracetamol in pharmaceutical drugs using a gold electrode modified with a self‐assembled monolayer (SAM) of 3‐mercaptopropionic acid is described. At optimized experimental conditions the dynamic concentration range was 0.15 to 15.0 mg L^?1 with a detection limit of 0.2 μg mL^?1 (S/N=3). The repeatability of current responses for injections of 10 μmol L^?1 paracetamol was evaluated to be 3.2% (n=30) and the analytical frequency was 180 h^?1. The lifetime of the modified electrode was found to be 15 days. The results obtained by using the proposed amperometric method for paracetamol determination in four different drug samples compared well with those found by spectrophotometry.     

Electrochemical Properties of Ordered Mesoporous Carbon Film Adsorbed onto a Self‐Assembled Alkanethiol Monolayer on Gold Electrode

A stable ordered mesoporous carbon (OMC) film electrode was successfully constructed by adsorbing OMC onto a self‐assembled monolayer (SAM) of C₁₈H₃₇SH chemisorbed on the Au electrode. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and electrochemical methods were used to characterize the properties of the OMC film electrode. The adsorbed OMC can restore the heterogeneous electron transfer almost totally blocked by the alkanethiol monolayer. Nyquist plots show a sharply decrease of the charge transfer resistance (R_ct) of the Fe(CN) couple at the OMC film electrode. Furthermore, the OMC film electrode is found to possess a significantly reduced interfacial capacitance and largely enhanced current response of hydrogen peroxide. This novel approach to the fabrication of stable OMC film electrode with excellent electrochemical properties is believed to be very attractive for electrochemical studies and electroanalytical applications.     

Electrochemical Investigation of Cytochrome c Immobilized onto Self‐Assembled Monolayer of Captopril

The electrochemical behavior of cytochrome c (cyt‐c) that was electrostatically immobilized onto a self‐assembled monolayer (SAM) of captopril (capt) on a gold electrode has been investigated. Cyclic voltammetry, scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were employed to evaluate the blocking property of the capt SAM. SECM was used to measure the bimolecular electron transfer (ET) kinetics (k_BI) between a solution‐based redox probe and the immobilized protein. In addition, the tunneling ET between the immobilized protein and the underlying gold electrode was calculated. A k_BI value of (5.0±0.6)×10⁸ mol^?1 cm³ s^?1 for the bimolecular ET and a standard tunneling rate constant (k⁰) of 46.4±0.2 s^?1 for the tunneling ET have been obtained.     

Electrochemical Studies of Ochratoxin A Mycotoxin at Gold Electrodes Modified with Cysteamine Self‐Assembled Monolayers. Its Ultrasensitive Quantification in Red Wine Samples

The quantification of ochratoxin A is studied at cysteamine self‐assembled monolayer modified gold electrodes in red wine samples by square wave voltammetry. Detection and quantification limits of 0.004 µg L^?1 and 0.012 µg L^?1, respectively, were determined. The recovery percentages were in the range from 146 % to 94.0 % at spiking levels ranging from 0.02 to 5 µg L^?1. The variation coefficients for within‐laboratory repeatability varied from 31.4 to 11.5 % for spiked level from 0.02 to 2.0 µg L^?1. The developed electrochemical method is efficient, reproducible, and ultrasensitive for the quantification of OTA in red wine samples.     

Highly‐Sensitive Determination of 6‐Mercaptopurine and Its Metabolites by Electrochemical Reductive Desorption Measurements

The electrochemical detection of 6‐mercaputopurine (6‐MP), which is one of the most well‐known drugs of antimetabolites, and its analogues was studied. The presented method is based on chemisorption (accumulation)/desorption processes of drugs onto/from the Au electrode surface. Using this method, we succeeded in detecting 6‐MP even in very diluted solution (concentration of 6‐MP: 1×10^?8 M). The lower detection limit of 6‐MP was considerably improved compared with the previous HPLC studies by using our proposed system. Desorptive potentials of 6‐MP‐metabolites and its analogues were different from those of 6‐MP. This provides the possibility of simultaneous detection of 6‐MP and its typical metabolites.     

Electrochemical Studies of Thiol Self‐Assembled Monolayers at a Heated Gold‐Wire Microelectrode

Mercaptoundecanoic acid (MUA) and glutathione (GSH) self‐assembled monolayers were prepared on gold‐ wire microelectrode. Cyclic voltammetry was used to investigate the influence of temperature on electrochemical behaviors of Fe(CN)₆^3?/4? and Ru(NH₃)₆^3+/2+ at these SAMs modified electrodes in aqueous solution. It is found that temperature shows great influence on electron transfer (ET) and mass transport (MT) for the two SAMs modified electrodes and the influence of temperature depends on the charge properties of the redox couples and terminal groups of SAMs and the structure of the monolayer on gold surface. The temperature can greatly increase MT rate of Fe(CN)₆^3?/4? at both MUA and GSH modified electrodes. However, the increased MT rate doesn't have any effect on the CV's for Fe(CN)₆^3?/4? /MUA system. For Ru(NH₃)₆^3+/2+ , temperature can greatly improve the electrochemical reaction in both MUA and GSH modified electrodes, which is ascribed to temperature‐induced diffusion and convection and the electrostatic interaction between Ru(NH₃)₆^3+/2+ and negatively charged carboxyl groups on the electrode surface.     

Selective Electrochemical Epinephrine Sensor Using Self‐Assembled Monomolecular Film of 1,8,15,22‐Tetraaminophthalocyanatonickel(II) on Gold Electrode

This article describes the highly sensitive and selective determination of epinephrine (EP) using self‐assembled monomolecular film (SAMF) of 1,8,15,22‐tetraamino‐phthalocyanatonickel(II) (4α‐Ni^IITAPc) on Au electrode. The 4α‐Ni^IITAPc SAMF modified electrode was prepared by spontaneous adsorption of 4α‐Ni^IITAPc from dimethylformamide solution. The modified electrode oxidizes EP at less over potential with enhanced current response in contrast to the bare Au electrode. The standard heterogeneous rate constant (k°) for the oxidation of EP at 4α‐Ni^IITAPc SAMF modified electrode was found to be 1.94×10^?2 cm s^?1 which was much higher than that at the bare Au electrode. Further, it was found that 4α‐Ni^IITAPc SAMF modified electrode separates the voltammetric signals of ascorbic acid (AA) and EP with a peak separation of 250 mV. Using amperometric method the lowest detection limit of 50 nM of EP was achieved at SAMF modified electrode. Simultaneous amperometric determination of AA and EP was also achieved at the SAMF modified electrode. Common physiological interferents such as uric acid, glucose, urea and NaCl do not interfere within the potential window of EP oxidation. The present 4α‐Ni^IITAPc SAMF modified electrode was also successfully applied to determine the concentration of EP in commercially available injection.     

Self‐Assembled Monolayer of L‐Cysteine on a Gold Electrode as a Support for Fatty Acid. Application to the Electroanalytical Determination of Unsaturated Fatty Acid

This article describes the formation of a SAM with chemisorbed cysteine to a gold surface by the thiol group to obtain a surface electrode with an amino and an acid group free for later reaction and accumulation with other molecules on the electrode surface. We explore the accumulation of unsaturated fatty acid and the electrochemical response of the electrode after modification with cysteine. The electrochemical study confirmed the accumulation of linoleic acid on the modified electrode. The optimum conditions for the determination of linoleic acid by differential pulse voltammetry of linoleic acid are studied a detection limit (3σ) of 0.03 μg mL^?1 and a determination limit (10σ) of 0.10 μg mL^?1 were obtained and applied to determination in olive oil and ham from Iberian breed hams.     

Metal Enhanced Electrochemical Cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) Sensor for Biological Applications

Pain measurement is commonly required in biomedical and other emergency situations, yet there has been no pain biosensor reported in literature. Conventional approaches for pain measurement relies on Wong‐Baker face diagrams, which are grossly inadequate for situations involving children or unconscious people. We report a label‐free immunosensor for monitoring the pain biomarker cylooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) in blood. The sensor is based on the concept of metal‐enhanced detection (MED). MED relies on the idea that the immobilization of underpotential deposition (upd) metallic films deposited either as a monolayer or electrostatically held onto a solid gold substrate could significantly amplify bimolecular recognition such as involving antigen‐antibody (Ab‐Ag) interactions. The surface bound Ab‐Ag complex insulates the electrode; causing a decrease in concentration‐dependent redox signals. A linear detection range of (3.64–3640.00)×10^?4 ng/mL was recorded with a detection limit of 0.25×10^?4 ng/mL, which was 4 orders of magnitude lower than that reported for ELISA for the same biomarker. The immunosensor exhibited selectivity of less than 6 % for potential interferents.     

Microstructures by Selective Desorption of Self‐Assembled Monolayer from Polycrystalline Gold Electrodes

Potential‐controlled partial reductive desorption of a self‐assembled monolayer of mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) formed on polycrystalline gold electrodes is used to expose subdomains of bare gold to the electrolyte solution. Two sets of cathodic waves are observed in the reduction scan with MPA self‐assembled on a polycrystalline gold electrode. The origin of the two waves is ambiguous but there are indications that the waves are correlated with reductive desorption from the (111) and then simultaneously (100) and (110) index faces of a polycrystalline gold electrode. Consecutive reduction scans with reversing the potential direction after the first peak (but before the onset of the second wave) results in disappearance of the first wave. The exposed domains are then blocked by an assembling process of longer chain alkanethiols to create a mixed self‐assembled monolayer on polycrystalline gold electrodes. Desorption of the remaining MPA creates a partially blocked electrode and the blocking behavior towards hexacyanoferrate(III) is analyzed using the theory of partially blocked electrodes and indicates an array of interacting centers. The approach of partial reductive desorption may be exploited for use in biosensing applications where the exposed gold domains could be used for anchoring of DNA probes.     

Self‐Assembling of Redox‐Active Atrazine Poly(ethylenimine) Conjugates – Interfacial Electrochemical and Spectroscopic Characterization

Thin films of polymers tethered with both atrazine haptens and ferrocenyl (Fc) probes were formed on polycrystalline gold electrodes by taking advantage of the facile formation of self‐assembled monolayers (SAMs) of thiolates. These films were characterized by polarization modulation Fourier transform infrared reflection–absorption spectrometry (PM‐IRRAS), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and cyclic voltammetry. The combination of these techniques gave a full insight into the structure and the binding mode of the polymers and provided useful quantitative information about both Fc entity and atrazine hapten surface density. This may open the way to a new type of immunosensor for atrazine monitoring.