Modified multiwall carbon nanotubes paste electrode as a sensor for simultaneous determination of 6-thioguanine and folic acid using ferrocenedicarboxylic acid as a mediator

Carbon nanotubes: a novel material for multifaceted applications in human healthcare

Remarkable advances achieved in modern material technology, especially in device fabrication, have facilitated diverse materials to expand the list of their application fields.

Assessment of protein silver nanoparticles toxicity against pathogenic Alternaria solani

Mycogenic synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) was carried out in the present investigation using an aqueous extract of endophytic non-pathogenic Alternaria solani F10 (KT721914). The mycosynthesized AgNPs were characterized by means of spectroscopic and microscopic techniques. The surface plasmon resonance found at 430 nm confirmed the formation of stable AgNPs for several weeks at room temperature. Also, the results revealed the formation of spherical and monodispersed AgNPs with an average size of 14.8 ± 1.2 nm. The FT-IR spectrum suggested that the fungal extracellular proteins and secondary metabolites had the role in Ag reduction and AgNPs capping of which protein Ag nanoconjugates were formed. Furthermore, the mycosynthesized AgNPs exhibited potent antifungal activity against different pathogenic isolates of the same Alternaria solani fungus, the causal pathogen of tomato early blight disease. The antifungal efficiency of the AgNPs at 1, 5 and 10 ppm were evaluated for 8 days after incubation by measuring the inhibition rate of fungal radial growth. The results were further supported by investigating fungal hyphae morphology alteration by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Treated fungal hyphae showed formation of pits and pores. Also, the mycosynthesized AgNPs were able to pass and distribute throughout the fungal cell area and interact with the cell components.

Interaction of glucose-derived carbon quantum dots with silver and gold nanoparticles and its application for the fluorescence detection of 6-thioguanine

The interaction of glucose-derived carbon quantum dots (CQDs) with silver (Ag) and gold (Au) nanoparticles (NPs) was explored by fluorescence spectroscopy. Both metal NPs cause an efficient quenching of CQD fluorescence, which is likely due to the energy transfer process between CQDs as donors and metal NPs as acceptors. The Stern-Volmer plots were evaluated and corresponding quenching constants were found to be 1.9 × 10¹⁰ and 2.2 × 10⁸ M^-1 for AgNPs and AuNPs, respectively. The analytical applicability of these systems was demonstrated for turn-on fluorescence detection of the anti-cancer drug, 6-thioguanine. Because the CQD-AgNP system had much higher sensitivity than the CQD-AuNP system, we used it as a selective fluorescence probe in a turn-on assay of 6-thioguanine. Under optimum conditions, the calibration graph was linear from 0.03 to 1.0 μM with a detection limit of 0.01 μM. The developed method was applied to the analysis of human plasma samples with satisfactory results.

Simultaneous determination of ascorbic acid, acetaminophen and codeine based on multi-walled carbon nanotubes modified with magnetic nanoparticles paste electrode

Based on incorporating ZnCrFeO4 into multi-walled carbon nanotubes paste matrix (MWCNTs/ZnCrFeO4/CPE), a chemically modified electrode was prepared for the simultaneous determination of ascorbic acid (AA), acetaminophen (AC) and codeine (CO). The prepared electrode, MWCNTs/ZnCrFeO4/CPE, was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The MWCNTs/ZnCrFeO4/CPE showed an efficient electrocatalytic activity for the oxidation of AA, AC, and CO. The separations of the oxidation peak potentials for AA-AC and AC-CO were about 250mV and 630mV, respectively. The calibration curves obtained for AA, AC, and CO were in the ranges of 0.4-730.0μmolL(-1), 0.1-368.0μmolL(-1), and 0.3-250.0μmolL(-1), respectively. The detection limits (S/N=3) were 0.03μmolL(-1), 0.009μmolL(-1), and 0.01μmolL(-1) for AA, AC, and CO, respectively. The method was also successfully employed as a selective, simple, and precise method to determinate AA, AC, and CO in pharmaceutical and biological samples.

A Fast Strategy for Determination of Vitamin B₉ in Food and Pharmaceutical Samples Using an Ionic Liquid-Modified Nanostructure Voltammetric Sensor

Vitamin B₉ or folic acid is an important food supplement with wide clinical applications. Due to its importance and its side effects in pregnant women, fast determination of this vitamin is very important. In this study we present a new fast and sensitive voltammetric sensor for the analysis of trace levels of vitamin B₉ using a carbon paste electrode (CPE) modified with 1,3-dipropylimidazolium bromide (1,3-DIBr) as a binder and ZnO/CNTs nanocomposite as a mediator. The electro-oxidation signal of vitamin B₉ at the surface of the 1,3-DIBr/ZnO/CNTs/CPE electrode appeared at 800 mV, which was about 95 mV less positive compared to the corresponding unmodified CPE. The oxidation current of vitamin B₉ by square wave voltammetry (SWV) increased linearly with its concentration in the range of 0.08-650 μM. The detection limit for vitamin B₉ was 0.05 μM. Finally, the utility of the new 1,3-DIBr/ZnO/CNTs/CPE electrode was tested in the determination of vitamin B₉ in food and pharmaceutical samples.

Polyaniline-graphene based α-amylase biosensor with a linear dynamic range in excess of 6 orders of magnitude

α-amylase is an established marker for diagnosis of pancreatic and salivary disease, and recent research has seen a substantial expansion of its use in therapeutic and diagnostic applications for infection, cancer and wound healing. The lack of bedside monitoring devices for α-amylase detection has hitherto restricted the clinical progress of such applications. We have developed a highly sensitive α-amylase immunosensor platform, produced via in situ electropolymerization of aniline onto a screen-printed graphene support (SPE). Covalently binding an α-amylase specific antibody to a polyaniline (PANI) layer and controlling device assembly using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), we have achieved a highly linear response against α-amylase concentration. Each stage of the assembly was characterized using a suite of high-resolution topographical, chemical and mechanical techniques. Quantitative, highly sensitive detection was demonstrated using an artificially spiked human blood plasma samples. The device has a remarkably wide limit of quantification (0.025-1000IU/L) compared to α-amylase assays in current clinical use. With potential for simple scale up to volume manufacturing though standard semiconductor production techniques and subsequently clinical application, this biosensor will enable clinical benefit through early disease detection, and better informed administration of correct therapeutic dose of drugs used to treat α-amylase related diseases.

Fast and selective determination of phenazopyridine at a novel multi-walled carbon nanotube modified ZnCrFeO4 magnetic nanoparticle paste electrode

Fabrication process of MWCNTs/ZnCrFeO₄ modified carbon paste electrode for electrocatalytic determination of phenazopyridine at the surface (a) CPE, and (b) MWCNTs/ZnCrFeO₄ modified carbon paste electrode.

A highly sensitive and selective turn-on fluorescent probe for sulfite and its application in biological imaging

A new fluorescein-based probe (1) has been developed for the highly sensitive and selective detection of sulfite.

A high sensitive electrochemical nanosensor for simultaneous determination of glutathione, NADH and folic acid

In the present study, we report electrosynthesis of 4,5-bis(4-chloroanilino)-1,2-benzendiol (BCB) and its application as a selective electrochemical mediator at a surface of carbon paste electrode (CPE) modified ZnO/CNTs nanocomposite as a simple and rapid voltammetric sensor. The sensor showed an efficient catalytic activity for the electro-oxidation of glutathione (GSH), which leads to a lowered overpotential by more than 203 mV compared to unmodified carbon paste electrode. For the mixture containing GSH, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) and folic acid (FA), the electrooxidation signals were well separated. The square wave voltammetry (SWV) currents increased linearly with their concentration at the ranges of 0.006-161, 1.0-650 and 3.0-700 μM, respectively with the detection limits of 0.002, 0.3 and 1.0 μM. Finally, the electrode was successfully applied for the voltammetric determination of analytes in real samples with satisfactory results.