Fabrication of Conductive Polypyrrole Doped Chitosan Thin Film for Sensitive Detection of Sulfite in Real Food and Biological Samples

Design and synthesis of polypyrrole conductive ink based on sulfated chitosan for bactericide carbendazim detection

Conductive polymers (CPs) are typically insoluble in solvents, and devising biocompatible hydrophilic CPs is challenging and imperative to expand the applications of CPs. Herein, sulfated chitosan (SCS) is used as a green dopant instead of toxic poly(styrene sulfonate) (PSS), and SCS:polypyrrole (SCS:PPy) conductive ink is prepared by in situ polymerization. Due to the complex structure between PPy and SCS polyanion, the synthesized SCS:PPy dispersion forms a well-connected electric pathway and confers superior conductivity, dispersion stability, good film-forming ability, and high electrical stability. As proof of our concept, electrochemical sensing utilizing an SCS:PPy-modified screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE) was performed towards carbendazim (CBZ). The SCS:PPy on the SPCE surface displayed greater sensitivity to CBZ because the conductive complex structure eased the electrocatalytic action of SCS:PPy by dramatically increasing the current intensity of CBZ oxidation and notably ameliorating stability. The sensor unveils the lowest detection value of 1.02 nM with a linear range of 0.05 to 906 μM for sensing trace CBZ by utilizing the pulse voltammetry technique. Interestingly, this senor shows excellent selectivity towards CBZ due to the formation of substantial interactions between SCS:PPy and CBZ, as demonstrated by molecular simulation studies. Furthermore, this sensor can precisely monitor CBZ in actual fruit and river water samples with satisfactory results. This study sheds light on the design and synthesis of sustainable hydrophilic CPs in the fabrication of sensors.

Novel polyamide/silica/chitosan covalent hybrid: One-step BIC/sol-gel preparation at room temperature and dual applications in Hg2+ electrochemical probing and dye adsorption

Room-temperature preparation of polymer-based covalent hybrids, which with multiple functional characteristics, is instrumental to overcome the performance shortcomings of single-polymer materials and broaden their applications thus. Herein, by introducing chitosan (CS) as a starting substrate into benzoxazine-isocyanide chemistry (BIC)/sol-gel reaction system, a novel polyamide (PA)/SiO₂/CS covalent hybrid (PA-Si-CS) was successfully prepared in-situ at 30 °C. PA-Si-CS's chemical structure and elementary properties were characterized here. The introduction of CS combining with the presence of diverse N, O-containing segments (amide, phenol -OH, Si-OH, etc.) in PA-Si-CS provided its synergistic adsorption for Hg²⁺ and anionic dye Congo red (CR). The capture of PA-Si-CS for Hg²⁺ was rationally applied to the "enrichment"-type electrochemical probing of Hg²⁺. Relevant detection range, detection limit, interference, and probing mechanism were systematically analyzed. Compared with the experimental results of control electrodes, the electrode modified with PA-Si-CS (PA-Si-CS/GCE) showed a significantly enhanced electrochemical response to Hg²⁺, with a detection limit up to ~2.2 × 10^-8 mol/L. In addition, PA-Si-CS also exhibited the specific adsorption for CR. Systematic analyses of dye adsorption selectivity, kinetics, isothermal models, thermodynamics, and adsorption mechanism told that PA-Si-CS can be used as an efficient CR adsorbent, with a maximum adsorption capacity of ~348 mg/g.

Sensitive and Rapid Detection of Aspartic Acid with Co3O4-ZnO Nanorods Using Differential Pulse Voltammetry

Herein, the detection of aspartic acid by doped Co₃O₄-ZnO nanorod materials was proposed using differential pulse voltammetry. The nano-composite metal oxide was synthesized by the wet precipitation method in basic media. Aspartic acid is a non-essential amino acid naturally synthesized in the body with lot of health significance, including as a biomarker for several health deficiencies. The synthesized composite Co₃O₄-ZnO nanorod was well-investigated by using FESEM, XRD, XPS, FTIR, UV/vis., EIS, and CV. The synthesized composite exhibited a low limit of detection (0.03 µM, high sensitivity (0.0014 µA µM^-1 cm^-2) and wide linear range (0.05-50 µM) for aspartic acid. The substrate, the Co₃O₄-ZnO nanorod, enhanced the electro-catalytic oxidation of aspartic acid as a result of its catalytic and conductivity properties. The developed sensor based on Co₃O₄-ZnO has a repeatable, reproducible and stable current response for aspartic acid. Additionally, other electroactive compounds did not interfere with the sensor's current response. The suitability of the developed sensor for real sample analysis was also established. Therefore, this study proposed the potential use of Co₃O₄-ZnO nanorod material in healthcare management for the maintenance of human well-being.

Carbon Materials in Electroanalysis of Preservatives: A Review

Electrochemical sensors in electroanalysis are a particularly useful and relatively simple way to identify electroactive substances. Among the materials used to design sensors, there is a growing interest in different types of carbon. This is mainly due to its non-toxic properties, low cost, good electrical conductivity, wide potential range, and the possibility of using it in both aqueous and nonaqueous media. The electrodes made of carbon, and especially of carbon modified with different materials, are currently most often used in the voltammetric analysis of various compounds, including preservatives. The objective of this paper is to present the characteristics and suitability of different carbon materials for the construction of working electrodes used in the voltammetric analysis. Various carbon materials were considered and briefly discussed. Their analytical application was presented on the example of the preservatives commonly used in food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical preparations. It was shown that for the electroanalysis of preservatives, mainly carbon electrodes modified with various modifiers are used. These modifications ensure appropriate selectivity, high sensitivity, low limits of detection and quantification, as well as a wide linearity range of voltammetric methods of their identification and determination.

Recent Advances in Electrochemical Chitosan-Based Chemosensors and Biosensors: Applications in Food Safety

Chitosan is a biopolymer derived from chitin. It is a non-toxic, biocompatible, bioactive, and biodegradable polymer. Due to its properties, chitosan has found applications in several and different fields such as agriculture, food industry, medicine, paper fabrication, textile industry, and water treatment. In addition to these properties, chitosan has a good film-forming ability which allows it to be widely used for the development of sensors and biosensors. This review is focused on the use of chitosan for the formulation of electrochemical chemosensors. It also aims to provide an overview of the advantages of using chitosan as an immobilization platform for biomolecules by highlighting its applications in electrochemical biosensors. Finally, applications of chitosan-based electrochemical chemosensors and biosensors in food safety are illustrated.

The electrochemical detection of prostate specific antigen on glassy carbon electrode modified with combinations of graphene quantum dots, cobalt phthalocyanine and an aptamer

Herein, a novel aptasensor is developed for the electrochemical detection of prostate specific antigen (PSA) on electrode surfaces modified using various combinations of a Cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPc), an aptamer and graphene quantum dots (GQDs). Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) as well as differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) are employed for the detection of PSA. In both analytical techniques, linear calibration curves were observed at a concentration range of 1.2-2.0 pM. The glassy carbon electrode where CoPc and GQDs are placed on the electrode when non-covalently linked followed by addition of the aptamer (GQDs-CoPc(ππ)-aptamer (sequential)) showed the best performance with a limit of detection (LoD) as low as 0.66 pM when using DPV. The detection limits were much lower than the dangerous levels reported for PSA in males tested for prostate cancer. This electrode showed selectivity for PSA in the presence of bovine serum albumin, glucose and L-cysteine. The aptasensor showed good stability, reproducibility and repeatability, deeming it a promising early detection device for prostate cancer.

Real time detection and monitoring of 2, 4-dinitrophenylhydrazine in industrial effluents and water bodies by electrochemical approach based on novel conductive polymeric composite

Much attention has been given to detection and monitoring of hydrazine-based compounds in recent time because of its significant negative impacts on human health and ecosystem (aquatic lives). This prompted the current study focusing on detection of 2, 4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (2, 4-dnphz) using electrochemically synthesized poly-para amino benzoic acid-manganese oxide (P-pABA-MnO₂) composite film. The synthesized P-pABA-MnO₂ composite film was characterized in terms of its structural and morphological properties by X-ray diffraction spectroscopy and field emission scanning electron microscopy respectively. In addition, functionalities and binding energy of p-PABA-MnO2 were confirmed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy respectively. Finally, electrochemical properties were investigated using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. The synthesized P-pABA-MnO₂ displayed good electrocatalytic reduction property towards 2, 4-dnphz with ultra-low limit of detection (0.08 μM; S/N = 3) and very high sensitivity (52 μAμ^-1Mcm^-2). The proposed sensor based on P-pABA-MnO₂ also demonstrated good stability in terms of repeatability, reproducibility and interferents effects. Lastly, the proposed sensor was satisfactorily used in detection of 2, 4-dnphz in environmental real samples.