Enhanced Biosensing of Bisphenol A Using a Nanointerface Based on Tyrosinase/Reduced Graphene Oxides Functionalized with Ionic Liquid

Electrochemical Sensors Based on Self-Assembling Peptide/Carbon Nanotube Nanocomposites for Sensitive Detection of Bisphenol A

In this study, a cationic amphiphilic self-assembling peptide (SAP) Z23 was designed, and a simple bisphenol a (BPA) sensor, based on SAP Z23/multiwalled carbon nanotubes (Z23/MWCNTs) composite, was successfully fabricated on the surface of a glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The composite material was formed by π-π stacking interaction between the aromatic group on the hydrophobic side of Z23 and the side-wall of MWCNTs, with the charged hydrophilic group of Z23 exposed. During the electrocatalytic process of BPA, a synergistic effect was observed between Z23 and MWCNTs. The current response of the sensor based on composite material was 3.24 times that of the MWCNTs-modified electrode, which was much higher than that of the peptide-based electrode. Differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) was used to optimize the experimental conditions affecting the analytical performance of the modified electrode. Under optimal conditions, the linear range of the sensor was from 10 nM to 100 μM by amperometric measurement with sensitivity and limit of detection (LOD) at 6.569 μAμM-1cm-2 and 1.28 nM (S/N = 3), respectively. Consequently, the sensor has excellent electrochemical performance and is easy to fabricate, making it a good prospect in the field of electrochemical detection in the future.

A voltammetric sensor for bisphenol A using gold nanochains and carbon nanotubes

Gold nanochains (AuNCs) were prepared, and this novel material was combined with carboxylated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (cMWCNTs) to be a nanocomposite for the first time. The transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and UV-Vis spectra were used to characterize the successful preparation of AuNCs and AuNC-cMWCNT composite. Based on this hybrid material, a voltammetric sensor of bisphenol A (BPA) was established. The proposed sensor displayed excellent performance for the measurement of BPA by obvious decreased anodic peak potential and enlarged peak current. Using the optimized conditions, BPA was detected using linear sweep voltammetry, and the linear range showed as wide as 0.5 μM to 2000 μM with the detection limit estimated to be 12 nM (S/N = 3). The as-proposed sensor also exhibited satisfactory performance in determining BPA of actual plastic samples.

A Review of Nanocomposite-Modified Electrochemical Sensors for Water Quality Monitoring

Electrochemical sensors play a significant role in detecting chemical ions, molecules, and pathogens in water and other applications. These sensors are sensitive, portable, fast, inexpensive, and suitable for online and in-situ measurements compared to other methods. They can provide the detection for any compound that can undergo certain transformations within a potential window. It enables applications in multiple ion detection, mainly since these sensors are primarily non-specific. In this paper, we provide a survey of electrochemical sensors for the detection of water contaminants, i.e., pesticides, nitrate, nitrite, phosphorus, water hardeners, disinfectant, and other emergent contaminants (phenol, estrogen, gallic acid etc.). We focus on the influence of surface modification of the working electrodes by carbon nanomaterials, metallic nanostructures, imprinted polymers and evaluate the corresponding sensing performance. Especially for pesticides, which are challenging and need special care, we highlight biosensors, such as enzymatic sensors, immunobiosensor, aptasensors, and biomimetic sensors. We discuss the sensors' overall performance, especially concerning real-sample performance and the capability for actual field application.

Two-Dimensional Nanostructures for Electrochemical Biosensor

Current advancements in the development of functional nanomaterials and precisely designed nanostructures have created new opportunities for the fabrication of practical biosensors for field analysis. Two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) nanomaterials provide unique hierarchical structures, high surface area, and layered configurations with multiple length scales and porosity, and the possibility to create functionalities for targeted recognition at their surface. Such hierarchical structures offer prospects to tune the characteristics of materials-e.g., the electronic properties, performance, and mechanical flexibility-and they provide additional functions such as structural color, organized morphological features, and the ability to recognize and respond to external stimuli. Combining these unique features of the different types of nanostructures and using them as support for bimolecular assemblies can provide biosensing platforms with targeted recognition and transduction properties, and increased robustness, sensitivity, and selectivity for detection of a variety of analytes that can positively impact many fields. Herein, we first provide an overview of the recently developed 2D nanostructures focusing on the characteristics that are most relevant for the design of practical biosensors. Then, we discuss the integration of these materials with bio-elements such as bacteriophages, antibodies, nucleic acids, enzymes, and proteins, and we provide examples of applications in the environmental, food, and clinical fields. We conclude with a discussion of the manufacturing challenges of these devices and opportunities for the future development and exploration of these nanomaterials to design field-deployable biosensors.

Exploring the Ability of Luminescent Metal Assemblies to Bind and Sense Anionic or Ionizable Analytes A Ru(phen)2bipy-Based Dizinc Complex for Bisphenol A (BPA) Recognition

The synthesis of a new Ru^II complex, in which the metal is coordinated by two 1,10-phenanthroline ligands and a 2,2′-bipyridyl unit linked, via methylene bridges in its 4 and 4′ positions, to two 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane (cyclen) macrocycles ([Ru(phen)₂L]²⁺) is reported. Protonation and Zn^II binding by [Ru(phen)₂L]²⁺ have been analyzed by potentiometric titration, evidencing the formation of mixed hetero-binuclear and hetero-trinuclear Zn^II/Ru^II complexes. These complexes were tested as bis-phenol A (BPA) binders. Only the dizinc complex with [Ru(phen)₂L]²⁺ is able to bind BPA in aqueous solution, affording a remarkably stable {Zn₂[Ru(phen)₂L]BPA(H₋₂)}⁴⁺ adduct at neutral pH, in which BPA is bound in its doubly deprotonated form to the two Zn^II ions. BPA binding was found to quench the luminescence emission of the Ru^II(phen)₂bipy core. Although the quenching effect is modest, this study demonstrates that appropriately designed dizinc complexes can be used for binding and optical sensing of BPA in water.

Polyphenol oxidase-based electrochemical biosensors: A review

The detection of phenolic compounds is relevant not only for their possible benefits to human health but also for their role as chemical pollutants, including as endocrine disruptors. The required monitoring of such compounds on-site or in field analysis can be performed with electrochemical biosensors made with polyphenol oxidases (PPO). In this review, we describe biosensors containing the oxidases tyrosinase and laccase, in addition to crude extracts and tissues from plants as enzyme sources. From the survey in the literature, we found that significant advances to obtain sensitive, robust biosensors arise from the synergy reached with a diversity of nanomaterials employed in the matrix. These nanomaterials are mostly metallic nanoparticles and carbon nanostructures, which offer a suitable environment to preserve the activity of the enzymes and enhance electron transport. Besides presenting a summary of contributions to electrochemical biosensors containing PPOs in the last five years, we discuss the trends and challenges to take these biosensors to the market, especially for biomedical applications.

Recent Advances in Electrochemical Sensors and Biosensors for Detecting Bisphenol A

In recent years, several studies have focused on environmental pollutants. Bisphenol A (BPA) is one prominent industrial raw material, and its extensive utilization and release into the environment constitute an environmental hazard. BPA is considered as to be an endocrine disruptor which mimics hormones, and has a direct relationship to the development and growth of animal and human reproductive systems. Moreover, intensive exposure to the compound is related to prostate and breast cancer, infertility, obesity, and diabetes. Hence, accurate and reliable determination techniques are crucial for preventing human exposure to BPA. Experts in the field have published general electrochemical procedures for detecting BPA. The present timely review critically evaluates diverse chemically modified electrodes using various substances that have been reported in numerous studies in the recent decade for use in electrochemical sensors and biosensors to detect BPA. Additionally, the essential contributions of these substances for the design of electrochemical sensors are presented. It has been predicted that chemically modified electrode-based sensing systems will be possible options for the monitoring of detrimental pollutants.

Preparation of molecularly imprinted polymeric microspheres based on distillation-precipitation polymerization for an ultrasensitive electrochemical sensor

A highly sensitive electrochemical sensor based on a carbon paste electrode (CPE) modified with molecularly imprinted polymeric microspheres (MIPMSs) was developed for the determination of bisphenol A (BPA). For the first time BPA-imprinted MIPMSs were prepared via distillation precipitation polymerization, and then the polymeric microspheres were involved in producing the MIPMS-modified CPE (MIPMS/CPE). The polymers obtained were observed via a scanning electron microscope and its dynamic and static adsorption performances were investigated. Cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were performed to study the preparation process and electrochemical behavior of the modified carbon paste electrodes with [Fe(CN)₆]^3-/4- ions acting as electrical indicators. Compared with the bulk MIP packed sensor, the MIPMS/CPE exhibits a higher sensing response and better reproducibility. The detection linear range for BPA is 1 × 10^-11-1 × 10^-7 M with a detection limit of 2.8 × 10^-12 M (S/N = 3) under the optimal experimental conditions. Moreover, the MIPMS/CPE exhibited good selectivity and stability. The developed sensor can determine BPA in real samples including soil, milk and water rapidly and accurately after simple sample pretreatment.

Advances in sensing and biosensing of bisphenols: A review

Bisphenols (BPs) are well known endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) that cause adverse effects on the environment, biotic life and human health. BPs have been studied extensively because of an increasing concern for the safety of the environment and for human health. They are major raw materials for manufacturing polycarbonates, thermal papers and epoxy resins and are considered hazardous environmental contaminants. A vast array of sensors and biosensors have been developed for the sensitive screening of BPs based on carbon nanomaterials (carbon nanotubes, fullerenes, graphene and graphene oxide), quantum dots, metal and metal oxide nanocomposites, polymer nanocomposites, metal organic frameworks, ionic liquids and molecularly imprinted polymers. This review is devoted mainly to a variety of sensitive, selective and reliable sensing and biosensing methods for the detection of BPs using electrochemistry, fluorescence, colorimetry, surface plasmon resonance, luminescence, ELISAs, circular dichroism, resonance Rayleigh scattering and adsorption techniques in plastic products, food samples, food packaging, industrial wastes, pharmaceutical products, human body fluids and many other matrices. It summarizes the advances in sensing and biosensing methods for the detection of BPs since 2010. Furthermore, the article discusses challenges and future perspectives in the development of novel sensing methods for the detection of BP analogs.

Au Nanoparticles Decorated TiO2 Nanotube Arrays as a Recyclable Sensor for Photoenhanced Electrochemical Detection of Bisphenol A

A photorefreshable and photoenhanced electrochemical sensing platform for bisphenol A (BPA) detection based on Au nanoparticles (NPs) decorated carbon doped TiO2 nanotube arrays (TiO2/Au NTAs) is described. The TiO2/Au NTAs were prepared by quick annealing of anodized nanotubes in argon, followed by controllable electrodeposition of Au NPs. The decoration of Au NPs not only improved photoelectrochemical behavior but also enhanced electrocatalytic activities of the resulted hybrid NTAs. Meanwhile, the high photocatalytic activity of the NTAs allowed the electrode to be readily renewed without damaging the microstructures and surface states after a short UV treatment. The electrochemical detection of BPA on TiO2/Au NTAs electrode was significantly improved under UV irradiation as the electrode could provide fresh reaction surface continuously and the further increased photocurrent resulting from the improved separation efficiency of the photogenerated electron-hole pairs derived from the consumption of holes by BPA. The results showed that the refreshable TiO2/Au NTAs electrode is a promising sensor for long-term BPA monitoring with the detection limit (S/N = 3) of 6.2 nM and the sensitivity of 2.8 μA·μM(-1)·cm(-2).