Preparation of Pt nanoparticles embedded on ordered mesoporous carbon hybrids for sensitive detection of acetaminophen

Oatmeal-derived carbon loaded with Pt nanoparticles using a "two-fold benefit approach" for sensitive detection of the biomolecule adrenaline

In this study, we innovatively synthesized nitrogen-doped carbon microspheres (NCS) derived from oatmeal. By utilizing polyoxometalates (POM) as both reducing and linking agents, we achieved uniform loading of platinum nanoparticles (Pt NPs) onto the surface of the NCS. The composite nanoparticles constructed from Pt/polyoxometalate/nitrogen-doped carbon microspheres (Pt/POM/NCS) fully exploit the synergistic catalytic effect, demonstrating superior performance in adrenaline detection. The method has a linear range of 2.59 to 1109.59 μM, a detection limit as low as 0.25 μM (S/N = 3), and a sensitivity of 0.74 μA μM-1 cm-2. Additionally, it exhibits high stability and strong anti-interference ability. The recoveries in human serum were 98.51 % to 101.25 %.

A systematic review on electrochemical sensors for the detection of acetaminophen

Considerable progress has been made in the electrochemical determination of acetaminophen (AP) over the past few decades. Nanomaterials or enzymes as electrode modifiers greatly improve the performance of AP electrochemical sensors. This review focuses on the development potential, detection principles and techniques for the electrochemical analysis of AP. In particular, the design and construction of AP electrochemical sensors are discussed from the perspective of non-enzyme materials (such as nanomaterials, including precious metals, transition metals and non-metals) and enzyme substances (such as aryl acylamidase, polyphenol oxidase and horseradish peroxidase). Moreover, the influencing factors for AP electrochemical sensors and the simultaneous detection of AP and other targets are summarized, and the future prospective of AP electrochemical sensors is outlined. This review provides a reference and guidance for the development and application of electrochemical sensors for AP detection.

Nitrogen-oxygen co-doped carbon@silica hollow spheres as encapsulated Pd nanoreactors for acetylene dialkoxycarbonylation

The introduction of heteroatoms into hollow carbon spheres is imperative for enhancing catalytic activity. Consequently, we investigated the utilization of nitrogen-oxygen(N/O) co-doped hollow carbon (C)/silica (SiO2) nanospheres (NxC@mSiO2), which have a large internal volume and a nano-constrained environment that limits metal aggregation and loss, making them a potential candidate. In this study, we demonstrate the synthesis of nitrogen-oxygen (N/O) co-doped hollow carbon spheres using resorcinol and formaldehyde as carbon precursors, covered with silica, and encapsulated with palladium nanoparticles (NPs) in situ. The N/O co-doping process introduced defects on the surface of the internal C structure, which acted as active sites and facilitated substrate adsorption. Subsequent treatment with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) introduced numerous carboxyl groups onto the C structure, increasing the catalytic environment as acid auxiliaries. The carboxyl group is present in the carbon structure, as determined calculations based on by density functional theory, reduces the adsorption energy of acetylene, thereby promoting its adsorption and enrichment. Furthermore, H2O2-treatment enhanced the oxygen defects in the carbon structure, improving the dispersion of Pd NPs and defect structure. The Pd/NxC@mSiO2-H2O2 catalysts demonstrated outstanding performance in the acetylene dialkoxycarbonylation reaction, showcasing high selectivity towards 1,4-dicarboxylate (>93 %) and remarkable acetylene conversion (>92 %). Notably, the catalyst exhibited exceptional selectivity and durability throughout the reaction.

Sensing interface based on electrodeposited Cu-BTC microporous film for electrochemical detection of the painkiller paracetamol

The use of metal-organic framework materials in electrochemical sensors has been gaining more attention in the last few years due to their highly porous structure and electrocatalytic activity. In this work, a novel paracetamol electrochemical sensor based on a Cu-BTC microporous film electrochemically grown onto glassy carbon electrode was introduced. The Cu-BTC film was deposited directly onto the electrode surface via an electrochemical approach using a Et₃N probase to accelerate the growth of Cu-BTC. The fast growth enables the formation of a microporous structure with better adsorption of targeted molecules. The two-dimensional arrangement of units made of dimeric copper cations coordinated to carboxylate anions helped to improve the electrochemical conductivity and electron transfer rate at the electrode surface (charge transfer resistance was dramatically decreased from 2173 Ω to 86 Ω). The electrocatalytic activity of copper ion centers in Cu-BTC was studied with peak separation between oxidation and reduction peaks of pseudo-redox paracetamol molecules much shortened (from 629 mV to 87 mV). Consequently, the sensing parameters (sensitivity and detection limit) of the as-prepared paracetamol sensor were considerably improved. Further works need to be conducted on tailoring ligand structure in order to much improve the electrical conductivity of metal-organic frameworks for sensing purposes.

Recent Advances in Metal Nanocomposite-Based Electrochemical (Bio)Sensors for Pharmaceutical Analysis

Rising rates of drug abuse and pharmaceutical pollution throughout the world as a consequence of increased drug production and utilization pose a serious risk to public health and to environmental integrity. It is thus critical that reliable analytical approaches to detecting drugs and their metabolites in a range of sample matrices be developed. Recent advances in the design of nanomaterial-based electrochemical sensors and biosensors have enabled promising new approaches to pharmaceutical analysis. In particular, the development of a range of novel metal nanocomposites with enhanced catalytic properties has provided a wealth of opportunities for the design of rapid and reliable platforms for the detection of specific pharmaceutical compounds. The present review provides a comprehensive overview of representative metal nanocomposites with synergistic properties and their recent (2017-2022) application in the context of electrochemical sensing as a means of detecting specific antibiotic, tuberculostatic, analgesic, antineoplastic, antipsychotic, and antihypertensive drugs. In discussing these applications, we further explore a variety of testing-related principles, fabrication approaches, characterization techniques, and parameters associated with the sensitivity and selectivity of these sensor platforms before surveying the future outlook regarding the fabrication of next-generation (bio)sensor platforms for use in pharmaceutical analysis.