Simultaneous determination of aesculin and aesculetin and their interactions with DNA using carbon fiber microelectrode modified by Pt–Au bimetallic nanoparticles

Heparin-stabilized gold nanoparticles embedded in graphene for the electrochemical determination of esculetin

A conductive nanocomposite consisting of heparin-stabilized gold nanoparticles embedded in graphene was prepared and characterized to develop an electrochemical sensor for the determination of esculetin in tea and jam samples. The gold nanoparticles were characterized by spectroscopic and microscopic techniques. The different proportions of graphene in the nanocomposite were evaluated and characterized by electrochemical practices. The heterostructure material on the glassy carbon electrode with esculetin showed π-π stacking interactions with an adsorption-controlled process. The voltammetric profile of esculetin using the proposed nanomaterial presented oxidation and reduction peaks at +0.61 and +0.58 V vs. Ag/AgCl, respectively, facilitating the electron transfer with esculetin through the transfer of two moles of protons and two moles of electrons per mole of esculetin. Using optimized conditions and square wave voltammetry, the calibration curve was obtained with two linear ranges, from 0.1 to 20.5 μmol L-1, with a detection limit of 43.0 nmol L-1. The electrochemical sensor showed satisfactory results for repeatability and stability, although interferences were observed in the presence of high concentrations of ascorbic acid or quercetin. The sensor was successfully applied in the determination of esculetin in samples of mulberry jam, white mulberry leaf tea, and white mulberry powder tea, presenting adequate recovery ranges. This directive provides valuable insights for the development of novel electrochemical sensors using heparin-based conductive nanomaterials with improved sensitivity and sensibility.

Simultaneous detection of norepinephrine and 5-hydroxytryptophan using poly-alizarin/multi-walled carbon nanotubes-graphene modified carbon fiber microelectrode array sensor

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes, graphene and alizarin polymer composites coated carbon fiber microelectrode array sensor (p-AZ/MWCNT-GR/CFMEA) was constructed and used for the simultaneous detection of norepinephrine (NE) and 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HT). The morphology and structural characteristics of sensor are characterized using scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. Its electrochemical behavior has been studied with cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The sensor exhibits excellent electrochemical activity for the oxidation of NE and 5-HT, two well separated oxidation peaks with the peak potential difference of 220 mV are observed on the cyclic voltammogram. NE and 5-HT both show two electrons and two protons electrochemical reaction on the p-AZ/MWCNT-GR/CFMEA. Under the optimized experiment conditions, the linear ranges of the sensor for NE and 5-HT are 0. 08- 8 μM and 0. 1-20 μM with detection limits of 4. 22 nM and 14. 2 nM (S/N = 3), respectively. In addition, the microsensor array show good reproducibility, stability and selectivity for the determination of NE and 5-HT. Finally, the p-AZ/MWCNT-GR/CFMEA is applied to the simultaneous detection of NE and 5-HT in human serum samples and macrophages.

Ultrasensitive amperometric determination of hand, foot and mouth disease based on gold nanoflower modified microelectrode

Given the widespread use of point-of-care testing for diagnosis of disease, micro-scale electrochemical deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) biosensors have become a promising area of research owing to its fast mass transfer, high current density and rapid response. In this study, a gold nanoparticles modified gold microelectrode (AuNPs/Au-Me) was constructed to determine the hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD)-related gene. The noble metal nanoparticles modification yielded ca. 7.4-fold increase in electroactive surface area of microelectrode, and the signal for HFMD-related gene was largely magnified. Under optimal conditions, the biosensor exhibited salient selectivity and sensitivity with a low detection limit of 0.3 fM (S/N = 3), which is sufficient for clinical diagnosis of HFMD. Additionally, the developed AuNPs/Au-Me was successfully applied to determining the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplified products of target gene. Thus, the electrochemical DNA biosensor possesses great potential in early-stage diagnosis and long-term monitoring of various disease.

SERS and Indicator Paper Sensing of Hydrogen Peroxide Using Au@Ag Nanorods

The detection of hydrogen peroxide and the control of its concentration are important tasks in the biological and chemical sciences. In this paper, we developed a simple and quantitative method for the non-enzymatic detection of H₂O₂ based on the selective etching of Au@Ag nanorods with embedded Raman active molecules. The transfer of electrons between silver atoms and hydrogen peroxide enhances the oxidation reaction, and the Ag shell around the Au nanorod gradually dissolves. This leads to a change in the color of the nanoparticle colloid, a shift in LSPR, and a decrease in the SERS response from molecules embedded between the Au core and Ag shell. In our study, we compared the sensitivity of these readouts for nanoparticles with different Ag shell morphology. We found that triangle core-shell nanoparticles exhibited the highest sensitivity, with a detection limit of 10^-4 M, and the SERS detection range of 1 × 10^-4 to 2 × 10^-2 M. In addition, a colorimetric strategy was applied to fabricate a simple indicator paper sensor for fast detection of hydrogen peroxide in liquids. In this case, the concentration of hydrogen peroxide was qualitatively determined by the change in the color of the nanoparticles deposited on the nitrocellulose membrane.