Preparation and characterization of graphene nanosheets dispersed pyrrole-chorobenzaldehyde-heptaldehyde conjugated terpolymer nanocomposites for DNA detection

A new conductive terpolymer/graphene nanosheet hybrid composite has been synthesized by polymerizing pyrrole, chlorobenzaldehyde, and heptaldehyde (PPyCB&;H), in the presence of graphene nanosheets (GNS), using p-toluene sulfonic acid as a catalyst. Fourier transform infrared spectra, proton nuclear magnetic resonance, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction patterns confirm the formation of PPyCB&;H/GNS hybrid nanocomposites. Further, the resultant nanocomposite material is coated on ITO to construct an electrochemical sensor for the reliable detection of single-strand DNA (tDNA) which is cleaved from the genomic DNA of Escherichia coli. Under optimized conditions, linear detection of genomic DNA (tDNA) with concentration ranging from 1.3 × 10⁻¹² to 1.3 × 10⁻²³ M is observed and it is repeatable with a 1.3 × 10⁻²³ M lowest level detection limit. The present modified electrode of PPyCB&;H/GNS may show utility for constructing highly sensitive electrochemical sensors for the detection of E. coli.

Graphical abstract