A cortisol nanocomposite-based electrochemical sensor for enantioselective recognition of mandelic acid

Amino Acid-Based Molecular and Membranous Chiral Tools for Enantiomeric Recognition

Given the need, both academic and industrial, for new approaches and technologies for chiral discrimination of enantiomers, the present work demonstrates the development through rational design and integration of two new chiral platforms (molecular and membranous) for enantioselective recognition through visual as well as microscopic observation. The molecular platform (TPT) is based on the tryptophan derivative developed through the condensation of two tryptophan units with terepthaloyl chloride. While TPT based on l-tryptophan recognizes R-mandelic acid over the S-isomer, the host with reverse chirality (TPDT) recognizes S-mandelic acid over R-isomer. The role of chemical functionality in this sensitive recognition process was established experimentally by developing an analogue of TPT and by judiciously using different chiral analytes. Importantly, a detailed theoretical study at the molecular level revealed the U-shaped conformation of TPT, creating a cavity for accommodating a chiral guest with selective functional interaction resulting in the discrimination of enantiomers. Finally, a chiral polymeric mat of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)/polyacrylonitrile (PAN) (2:3) impregnated with TPT was developed via electrospinning. The resulting fibrous mat was successfully utilized for chiral recognition through microscopic and architectural observation. Hence, the present work reports simple chiral tools for enantiomeric recognition.

Graphene-Based Sensor for the Detection of Cortisol for Stress Level Monitoring and Diagnostics

In this work, we study the sensing properties of multi-layer graphene combined with pyrrole in order to elaborate low-cost, high-sensitive material for cortisol detection. Graphene nanoplatelets and pyrrole were dispersed in a solution containing 1M HNO3 by using a powerful ultrasound probe for 10 min, then centrifuged for 30 min at 4000 rpm; polymerization was performed by cyclic voltammetry. The graphene-pyrrole composite was tested to ultra-low levels of cortisol in artificial saliva, consistent to the levels excreted in human salivary samples. The composite was further investigated by Raman spectroscopy and we modeled the interaction between the sensitive layer and cortisol using MarvinBeans software. It shows a good sensitivity for salivary values of cortisol cyclic voltammetry being able to detect a level down to 0.5 ng/mL cortisol.

A disposable dual-signal enantioselective electrochemical sensor based on stereogenic porous chiral carbon nanotubes hydrogel

As the highest form of molecular recognition, the chiral molecular recognition is the most difficult measurements. Herein, a disposable dual-signal enantioselective platform was fabricated based on stereoscopic porous chiral carbon nanotubes hydrogel modified screen printed electrode. This kind of chiral hydrogel was prepared by a simple heating method with l-cysteine and chiral single-walled carbon nanotubes of chirality (6,5), and its dispersion and morphology were characterized by several techniques including scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The stereogenic chiral interface was successfully employed to discriminate mandelic acid enantiomers via both oxidation peak intensity and peak potential value of cyclic voltammetry. The chiral recognition mechanism was discussed specifically, which resulted from the formation of an efficient three-dimensional chiral nanospace. The inherent chirality of chiral carbon nanotubes hydrogel, together with their orderly spatial arrangement, can significantly improve the efficiency of chiral recognition compared with traditional electrochemical chiral sensors. As a novel chiral sensing interface, such chiral carbon nanotubes hydrogel was simple to prepare, fast to operate, with good sensitivity and excellent stability for the construction of efficient and practical electrochemical chiral sensors.