Amperometric biosensor based on tyrosinase immobilized on a boron-doped diamond electrode

Fabrication of a sensitive neurotransmitter detecting amperometric biosensor employing laccase nanoparticles on a pencil graphite electrode

Neurotransmitters including dopamine, adrenaline, and noradrenaline are members of the important class of biogenic amines known as catecholamines. They perform crucial roles in various physiological processes and are frequently associated with stress responses, neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases, including Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. This research presents the fabrication of a novel amperometric biosensor designed to detect catecholamine levels with high specificity and sensitivity. The fabrication of the biosensor is based on the immobilization of synthesized cysteine functionalized laccase nanoparticles (Lac-NPs) onto the pencil graphite electrode (PGE). The successful synthesis of Lac-NPs, along with their immobilization and the fabrication of the Lac-NPs/PGE biosensor, was validated through various techniques, including Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrophotometer (FTIR), UV-visible Spectroscopy, Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), Zeta potential, Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Cyclic Voltammetry (CV) and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS). The biosensor was optimized at various pH, temperature, scan rate and response times to ensure a high-performance sensor with rapid response times and stability for better detection. The Lac-NPs/PGE biosensor showed high sensitivity (2320.0 µA/mM cm2), a lower limit of detection (LOD) (0.12 µM), and a broad linear range (0.1-800.0 µM) with a coefficient of determination of R2= 0.999. In the analysis of real pharmaceutical samples of neurotransmitters, high recovery rates (94.0-99.0 %) have been attained. Superior analytical performance resulting from this simple fabrication process and cost-effective PGE shows this biosensor is a promising tool for the accurate and real-time monitoring of catecholamine levels, with potential applications in clinical diagnostics, neurobiology, and environmental analysis.

Electrochemical deposition of bimetallic sulfides on novel BDD electrode for bifunctional alkaline seawater electrolysis

Seawater electrolysis is an ideal technology for obtaining clean energy-green hydrogen. Developing efficient bifunctional catalysts is crucial for hydrogen production through direct seawater electrolysis. Currently, metal substrates loaded with active catalysts are widely employed as electrodes for seawater electrolysis. However, the challenge of metal corrosion cannot be ignored. In this work, the boron-doped diamond (BDD) with excellent corrosion resistance was explored as a substrate for loading active catalysts in seawater electrolysis. A step-by-step electrodeposition method was used to fabricate the FeCoS/Ni/BDD electrode, effectively addressing the poor adhesion of the FeCoS active layer to the BDD substrate. The resulting electrode demonstrated interesting bifunctional catalytic performance, achieving oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) overpotentials of 425 mV and 360 mV, respectively, in alkaline simulated seawater (1 M KOH and 3.5 wt% NaCl) at a current density of 100 mA cm- 2. Furthermore, by increasing the KOH concentration in the alkaline simulated seawater to 3 M, the OER and HER overpotentials of the electrode significantly decreased to 383 and 300 mV, respectively. This work offers a novel approach for utilizing BDD substrates in the design of corrosion-resistant electrodes for alkaline seawater electrolysis.

Good Choice of Electrode Material as the Key to Creating Electrochemical Sensors-Characteristics of Carbon Materials and Transparent Conductive Oxides (TCO)

The search for new electrode materials has become one of the goals of modern electrochemistry. Obtaining electrodes with optimal properties gives a product with a wide application potential, both in analytics and various industries. The aim of this study was to select, from among the presented electrode materials (carbon and oxide), the one whose parameters will be optimal in the context of using them to create sensors. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry techniques were used to determine the electrochemical properties of the materials. On the other hand, properties such as hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity and their topological structure were determined using contact angle measurements and confocal microscopy, respectively. Based on the research carried out on a wide group of electrode materials, it was found that transparent conductive oxides of the FTO (fluorine doped tin oxide) type exhibit optimal electrochemical parameters and offer great modification possibilities. These electrodes are characterized by a wide range of work and high chemical stability. In addition, the presence of a transparent oxide layer allows for the preservation of valuable optoelectronic properties. An important feature is also the high sensitivity of these electrodes compared to other tested materials. The combination of these properties made FTO electrodes selected for further research.

Detection of phenol by incorporation of gold modified-enzyme based graphene oxide thin film with surface plasmon resonance technique

In this study, the incorporation between gold modified-tyrosinase (Tyr) enzyme based graphene oxide (GO) thin film with surface plasmon resonance (SPR) technique has been developed for the detection of phenol. SPR signal for the thin film contacted with phenol solution was monitored using SPR technique. From the SPR curve, sensitivity, full width at half maximum (FWHM), detection accuracy (DA) and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) have been analyzed. The sensor produces a linear response for phenol up to 100 µM with sensitivity of 0.00193° µM^-1. Next, it can be observed that deionized water has the lowest FWHM, with a value of 1.87° and also the highest value of DA. Besides, the SNR of the SPR signal was proportional to the phenol concentrations. Furthermore, the surface morphology of the modified thin film after exposed with phenol solution observed using atomic force microscopy showed a lot of sharp peaks compared to the image before in contact with phenol proved the interaction between the thin film and phenol.

Pyrolytic preparation of gold nanoparticle-coated taro carbon and its application for the selective detection of dopamine

Gold nanoparticle-coated taro carbon was prepared and characterized for dopamine sensing.

A rapid-response ultrasensitive biosensor for influenza virus detection using antibody modified boron-doped diamond

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), almost 2 billion people each year are infected worldwide with flu-like pathogens including influenza. This is a contagious disease caused by viruses belonging to the family Orthomyxoviridae. Employee absenteeism caused by flu infection costs hundreds of millions of dollars every year. To successfully treat influenza virus infections, detection of the virus during the initial development phase of the infection is critical, when tens to hundreds of virus-associated molecules are present in the patient's pharynx. In this study, we describe a novel universal diamond biosensor, which enables the specific detection of the virus at ultralow concentrations, even before any clinical symptoms arise. A diamond electrode is surface-functionalized with polyclonal anti-M1 antibodies, which then serve to identify the universal biomarker for the influenza virus, M1 protein. The absorption of the M1 protein onto anti-M1 sites of the electrode change its electrochemical impedance spectra. We achieved a limit of detection of 1 fg/ml in saliva buffer for the M1 biomarker, which corresponds to 5-10 viruses per sample in 5 minutes. Furthermore, the universality of the assay was confirmed by analyzing different strains of influenza A virus.

A microporous silk carbon–ionic liquid composite for the electrochemical sensing of dopamine

A metal-free silk carbon–ionic liquid composite, synthesized from natural silk cocoons, was prepared for electrochemical determination of dopamine.

Electrochemical Imprinted Polycrystalline Nickel-Nickel Oxide Half-Nanotube-Modified Boron-Doped Diamond Electrode for the Detection of L-Serine

This paper presents a novel and versatile method for the fabrication of half nanotubes (HNTs) using a flexible template-based nanofabrication method denoted as electrochemical imprinting. With use of this method, polycrystalline nickel and nickel(II) oxide (Ni-NiO) HNTs were synthesized using pulsed electrodeposition to transfer Ni, deposited by radio frequency magnetron sputtering on a porous polytetrafluoroethylene template, onto a boron-doped diamond (BDD) film. The Ni-NiO HNTs exhibited semicircular profiles along their entire lengths, with outer diameters of 50-120 nm and inner diameters of 20-50 nm. The HNT walls were formed of Ni and NiO nanoparticles. A biosensor for the detection of L-serine was fabricated using a BDD electrode modified with Ni-NiO HNTs, and the device demonstrated satisfactory analytical performance with high sensitivity (0.33 μA μM(-1)) and a low limit of detection (0.1 μM). The biosensor also exhibited very good reproducibility and stability, as well as a high anti-interference ability against amino acids such as L-leucine, L-tryptophan, L-cysteine, L-phenylalanine, L-arginine, and L-lysine.

Surface Modification of Boron-Doped Diamond with Microcrystalline Copper Phthalocyanine: Oxygen Reduction Catalysis

Surface modification of boron-doped diamond (BDD) with copper phthalocyanine was achieved using a simple and convenient dropcast deposition, giving rise to a microcrystalline structure. Both unmodified and modified BDD electrodes of different surface terminations (namely hydrogen and oxygen) were compared via the electrochemical reduction of oxygen in aqueous solution. A significant lowering of the cathodic overpotential by about 500 mV was observed after modification of hydrogen-terminated (hydrophobic) diamond, while no voltammetric peak was seen on modified oxidised (hydrophilic) diamond, signifying greater interaction between copper phthalocyanine and the hydrogen-terminated BDD. Oxygen reduction was found to undergo a two-electron process on the modified hydrogen-terminated diamond, which was shown to be also active for the reduction of hydrogen peroxide. The lack of a further conversion of the peroxide was attributed to its rapid diffusion away from the triple phase boundary at which the reaction is expected to exclusively occur.

Trends in protein-based biosensor assemblies for drug screening and pharmaceutical kinetic studies

The selection of natural and chemical compounds for potential applications in new pharmaceutical formulations constitutes a time-consuming procedure in drug screening. To overcome this issue, new devices called biosensors, have already demonstrated their versatility and capacity for routine clinical diagnosis. Designed to perform analytical analysis for the detection of a particular analyte, biosensors based on the coupling of proteins to amperometric and optical devices have shown the appropriate selectivity, sensibility and accuracy. During the last years, the exponential demand for pharmacokinetic studies in the early phases of drug development, along with the need of lower molecular weight detection, have led to new biosensor structure materials with innovative immobilization strategies. The result has been the development of smaller, more reproducible biosensors with lower detection limits, and with a drastic reduction in the required sample volumes. Therefore in order to describe the main achievements in biosensor fields, the present review has the main aim of summarizing the essential strategies used to generate these specific devices, that can provide, under physiological conditions, a credible molecule profile and assess specific pharmacokinetic parameters.

Three-dimensional graphene micropillar based electrochemical sensor for phenol detection

A three-dimensional (3D) graphene incorporated electrochemical sensor was constructed for sensitive enzyme based phenol detection. To form the 3D graphene structure, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) micropillars were fabricated in the microchannel by using a conventional photolithography and the surface was modified with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane. Then, the negatively charged graphene oxide sheets were electrostatically adsorbed on the PDMS micropillar surface, and reduced in the hydrazine vapor. The resultant 3D graphene film provides a conductive working electrode as well as an enzyme-mediated sensor with a large surface area. After bonded with an electrode patterned glass wafer, the 3D graphene based electrochemical sensor was produced. Using the 3D graphene as a working electrode, an excellent electron transfer property was demonstrated by cyclic voltammetry measurement in an electrolyte solution containing 1mM K3Fe(CN)6 and 0.1 M KCl. To utilize the 3D graphene as an enzyme sensor, tyrosinase enzymes were immobilized on the surface of the graphene micropillar, and the target phenol was injected in the microchannel. The enzyme catalytic reaction process was monitored by amperometric responses and the limit of detection for phenol was obtained as 50 nM, thereby suggesting that the 3D graphene micropillar structure enhances the enzyme biosensing capability not only by increasing the surface area for enzyme immobilization, but also by the superlative graphene conductivity property.

In situ detection of dopamine using nitrogen incorporated diamond nanowire electrode

Significant difference was observed for the simultaneous detection of dopamine (DA), ascorbic acid (AA), and uric acid (UA) mixture using nitrogen incorporated diamond nanowire (DNW) film electrodes grown by microwave plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition. For the simultaneous sensing of ternary mixtures of DA, AA, and UA, well-separated voltammetric peaks are obtained using DNW film electrodes in differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) measurements. Remarkable signals in cyclic voltammetry responses to DA, AA and UA (three well defined voltammetric peaks at potentials around 235, 30, 367 mV for DA, AA and UA respectively) and prominent enhancement of the voltammetric sensitivity are observed at the DNW electrodes. In comparison to the DPV results of graphite, glassy carbon and boron doped diamond electrodes, the high electrochemical potential difference is achieved via the use of the DNW film electrodes which is essential for distinguishing the aforementioned analytes. The enhancement in EC properties is accounted for by increase in sp(2) content, new C-N bonds at the diamond grains, and increase in the electrical conductivity at the grain boundary, as revealed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and near edge X-ray absorption fine structure measurements. Consequently, the DNW film electrodes provide a clear and efficient way for the selective detection of DA in the presence of AA and UA.

New trends in the electrochemical sensing of dopamine

Since the early 70s electrochemistry has been used as a powerful analytical technique for monitoring electroactive species in living organisms. In particular, after extremely rapid evolution of new micro and nanotechnology it has been established as an invaluable technique ranging from experiments in vivo to measurement of exocytosis during communication between cells under in vitro conditions. This review highlights recent advances in the development of electrochemical sensors for selective sensing of one of the most important neurotransmitters--dopamine. Dopamine is an electroactive catecholamine neurotransmitter, abundant in the mammalian central nervous system, affecting both cognitive and behavioral functions of living organisms. We have not attempted to cover a large time-span nor to be comprehensive in presenting the vast literature devoted to electrochemical dopamine sensing. Instead, we have focused on the last five years, describing recent progress as well as showing some problems and directions for future development.

Electrochemical Biosensor Based on Boron-Doped Diamond Electrodes with Modified Surfaces

Boron-doped diamond (BDD) thin films, as one kind of electrode materials, are superior to conventional carbon-based materials including carbon paste, porous carbon, glassy carbon (GC), carbon nanotubes in terms of high stability, wide potential window, low background current, and good biocompatibility. Electrochemical biosensor based on BDD electrodes have attracted extensive interests due to the superior properties of BDD electrodes and the merits of biosensors, such as specificity, sensitivity, and fast response. Electrochemical reactions perform at the interface between electrolyte solutions and the electrodes surfaces, so the surface structures and properties of the BDD electrodes are important for electrochemical detection. In this paper, the recent advances of BDD electrodes with different surfaces including nanostructured surface and chemically modified surface, for the construction of various electrochemical biosensors, were described.