Biomimetic sensor based on copper-poly(cysteine) film for the determination of metronidazole

Efficient detection of metronidazole by a glassy carbon electrode modified with a composite of a cyclotriveratrylene-based metal-organic framework and multi-walled carbon nanotubes

Constructing a sensitive and efficient sensor for determination of metronidazole (MNZ) is crucial in food field. Herein, a new cyclotriveratrylene-based metal-organic framework (MOF), namely, [Cd₆L₂(cyclen)₂(H₂O)₂] (1), was constructed by self-assembly of functionalized 5,6,12,13,19,20-hexacarboxy-propoxy-cyclotriveratrylene (H₆L), 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane (cyclen) and Cd(II) cation under solvothermal condition. In 1, adjacent Cd(II) cations are linked by L^6- to produce a 2D polymeric structure with carboxylate and phenolic oxygen atoms. To enhance conductivity of 1, it was combined with conducting carbon materials, including mesoporous carbon (MC), reduced graphene oxide (RGO) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT), respectively, producing a series of composite materials. Remarkably, electrochemical tests showed that 1@MWCNT(1:1) featured a much better electrochemical detection performance for metronidazole (MNZ) than 1@MC and 1@RGO. The linear range for the detection of MNZ is up to 0.4-500 μM and the limit of detection (LOD) for MNZ reached 0.25 μM. Importantly, the fabricated sensor 1@MWCNT(1:1) was employed for the detection of MNZ in honey and egg with satisfactory result. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) validated the high accuracy of the electrochemical method for the determination of honey and egg.

An electrochemical sensor for direct and sensitive detection of ketamine

Ketamine is an organic drug with weak electrochemical activity, which makes it difficult to directly detect by electrochemical methods. Herein, an electrochemical sensor, with excellent detection sensitivity, is proposed for direct detection of ketamine based on a weakly conductive poly-L-cysteine molecularly imprinted membrane. Poly-L-cysteine molecularly imprinted membrane sensor (poly-L-Cys-KT-MIM/GCE) is obtained using L-cysteine as a functional monomer and ketamine as a template molecule based on electropolymerization. The green and highly active cysteine is selected as a functional monomer during electropolymerization, which cannot only achieve specific recognition but also improve detection sensitivity. Furthermore, the oxidation mechanism and fingerprint of ketamine on the electrode surface are established by analyzing the corresponding oxidation products using high/resolution mass spectrometry, which will help to promote the application of electrochemistry in the rapid detection of drugs. Under optimal conditions, the as-designed sensor demonstrated a linear response to ketamine within the range of 5.0 × 10^-7 to 2.0 × 10^-5 mol L^-1 and a detection limit of 1.6 × 10^-7 mol L^-1. The proposed method exhibited excellent performance from the viewpoints of selectivity, sensitivity and stability. Notably, the sensor rendered excellent reliability and could be used for the detection of target analytes in hair and urine samples with high recovery rates.

Novel N-doped carbon dots derived from citric acid and urea: fluorescent sensing for determination of metronidazole and cytotoxicity studies

Blue emitting nitrogen-doped carbon dots were synthesized using citric acid and urea through the hydrothermal method, and the fluorescence quantum yield was 35.08%. We discovered that N-CDs featured excellent robust fluorescence stability and chemical resistance. For metronidazole detection, our N-CDs exhibited quick response time, high selectivity and sensitivity, and low cytotoxicity. Specifically, our N-CDs could detect metronidazole in the linear range of 0-179 μM, and the LOD was 0.25 μM. Furthermore, metronidazole efficaciously quenches the fluorescence of N-CDs, possibly owing to the inner filter effect. Lastly, we have employed our N-CDs to detect metronidazole in commercial metronidazole tablets with high accuracy. Overall, the newly prepared fluorescence sensor, N-CDs, demonstrated a huge potential to detect metronidazole in a simple, efficient, sensitive, and rapid manner.

Advances of Drugs Electroanalysis Based on Direct Electrochemical Redox on Electrodes: A Review

The strong development of mankind is inseparable from the proper use of drugs, and the electroanalytical research of drugs occupies an important position in the field of analytical chemistry. This review mainly elaborates the research progress of drugs electroanalysis based on direct electrochemical redox on various electrodes for the recent decade from 2011 to 2021. At first, we summarize some frequently used electrochemical data processing and electrochemical mechanism research derivation methods in the literature. Then, according to the drug therapeutic and application/usage purposes, the research progress of drugs electrochemical analysis is classified and discussed, where we focus on drugs electrochemical reaction mechanism. At the same time, the comparisons of electrochemical sensing performance of the drugs on various electrodes from recent studies are listed, so that readers can more intuitively compare and understand the electroanalytical sensing performance of each modified electrode for each of the drug. Finally, this review discusses the shortcomings and prospects of the drugs electroanalysis based on direct electrochemical redox research.

One-step hydrothermal synthesis of nitrogen-doped carbon dots as a super selective and sensitive probe for sensing metronidazole in multiple samples

A reliable, super selective and sensitive nitrogen-doped carbon dots (N-CDs) nanoprobe that can quantitatively and quickly detect the concentration of metronidazole (MTZ) in multiple samples was built. We first prepared the N-CDs using N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-N'-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC·HCl) as the precursor via a green, facile one-step hydrothermal method. The as-synthesized N-CDs were characterized by a variety of analytical and spectroscopic techniques, which revealed excitation-dependent fluorescence behavior with the maximum excitation and emission wavelengths being 335 and 370 nm, respectively. Significantly, the fluorescence emission of N-CDs underwent initial quenching upon the addition of MTZ via the inner filter effect (IFE), indicating a prospective detection method for MTZ. The linear range for MTZ detection was 0.1-250 μM, and the corresponding limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) were calculated to be only 70 nM and 233.33 nM, respectively. Moreover, due to the negligible cytotoxicity and superior biocompatibility, the fabricated N-CDs show a promising prospect for detecting MTZ in living cells. In general, our proposed N-CDs-based fluorescence sensing platform possesses super low LOD and LOQ values, wide linear range, and satisfactory selectivity, and can be applied to the detection of MTZ in multiple real samples.

Biomimetic electrochemical sensors: New horizons and challenges in biosensing applications

The urge to meet the ever-growing needs of sensing technology has spurred research to look for new alternatives to traditional analytical methods. In this scenario, the glucometer is the flagship of commercial electrochemical sensing platforms, combining selectivity, reliability and portability. However, other types of enzyme-based biosensors seldom achieve the market, in spite of the large and increasing number of publications. The reasons behind their commercial limitations concern enzyme denaturation, and the high costs associated with procedures for their extraction and purification. In this sense, biomimetic materials that seek to imitate the desired properties of natural enzymes and biological systems have come out as an appealing path for robust and sensitive electrochemical biosensors. We herein portray the historical background of these biomimicking materials, covering from their beginnings until the most impactful applications in the field of electrochemical sensing platforms. Throughout the discussion, we present and critically appraise the major benefits and the most significant drawbacks offered by the bioinspired systems categorized as Nanozymes, Synzymes, Molecularly Imprinted Polymers (MIPs), Nanochannels, and Metal Complexes. Innovative strategies of fabrication and challenging applications are further reviewed and evaluated. In the end, we ponder over the prospects of this emerging field, assessing the most critical issues that shall be faced in the coming decade.

Molecularly imprinted polymers in toxicology: a literature survey for the last 5 years

The science of toxicology dates back almost to the beginning of human history. Toxic chemicals, which are encountered in different forms, are always among the chemicals that should be investigated in criminal field, environmental application, pharmaceutic, and even industry, where many researches have been carried out studies for years. Almost all of not only drugs but also industrial dyes have toxic side and direct effects. Environmental micropollutants accumulate in the tissues of all living things, especially plants, and show short- or long-term toxic symptoms. Chemicals in forensic science can be known by detecting the effect they cause to the body with the similar mechanism. It is clear that the best tracking tool among analysis methods is molecularly printed polymer-based analytical setups. Different polymeric combinations of molecularly imprinted polymers allow further study on detection or extraction using chromatographic and spectroscopic instruments. In particular, methods used in forensic medicine can detect trace amounts of poison or biological residues on the scene. Molecularly imprinted polymers are still in their infancy and have many variables that need to be developed. In this review, we summarized how molecular imprinted polymers and toxicology intersect and what has been done about molecular imprinted polymers in toxicology by looking at the studies conducted in the last 5 years.

Oxidation of Cysteinate Anions Immobilized in the Interlamellar Space of CaAl-Layered Double Hydroxide

L-Cysteinate-intercalated CaAl-layered double hydroxide (LDH) was prepared by the co-precipitation method producing highly crystalline hydrocalumite phase with a well-pillared interlayer gallery. The obtained materials were characterized by X-ray diffractometry, IR as well as Raman spectroscopies. By performing interlamellar oxidation reactions with peracetic acid as oxidant, oxidation of cysteinate to cystinate in aqueous and cysteinate sulfenic acid in acetonic suspensions occurred. The oxidations could be performed under mild conditions, at room temperature, under neutral pH and in air. It has been shown that the transformation pathways are due to the presence of the layered structure, that is, the confined space of the LDH behaved as molecular reactor.

Electrochemical Sensors Based on Conducting Polymers for the Aqueous Detection of Biologically Relevant Molecules

Electrochemical sensors appear as low-cost, rapid, easy to use, and in situ devices for determination of diverse analytes in a liquid solution. In that context, conducting polymers are much-explored sensor building materials because of their semiconductivity, structural versatility, multiple synthetic pathways, and stability in environmental conditions. In this state-of-the-art review, synthetic processes, morphological characterization, and nanostructure formation are analyzed for relevant literature about electrochemical sensors based on conducting polymers for the determination of molecules that (i) have a fundamental role in the human body function regulation, and (ii) are considered as water emergent pollutants. Special focus is put on the different types of micro- and nanostructures generated for the polymer itself or the combination with different materials in a composite, and how the rough morphology of the conducting polymers based electrochemical sensors affect their limit of detection. Polypyrroles, polyanilines, and polythiophenes appear as the most recurrent conducting polymers for the construction of electrochemical sensors. These conducting polymers are usually built starting from bifunctional precursor monomers resulting in linear and branched polymer structures; however, opportunities for sensitivity enhancement in electrochemical sensors have been recently reported by using conjugated microporous polymers synthesized from multifunctional monomers.

A Fluorescent g-C3N4 Nanosensor for Detection of Dichromate Ions

Background:

Dichromate (Cr2O7 2-) ion is one of the carcinogenic and toxic spices in environment which can easily contaminate the environment due to its high solubility in water. Therefore, a lot of attention has been focused on the detection of Cr2O7 2- with high sensitivity and selectivity.

Methods:

In present work, nitrogen-rich precursor was used for synthesizing graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) nanostructures through hydrothermal oxidation of g-C3N4 nanosheets. The prepared nanostructures show two distinct fluorescence emissions centered at 368 and 450 nm which are highly sensitive toward Cr2O7 2- ions.

Results:

The as-prepared g-C3N4 was characterized by several techniques such as Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and fluorescence emission spectra. The XRD pattern of prepared nanostructures illustrated two diffraction patterns (at 13.4° and 27.6°) indicating tri-s-tri-azine-based structures. The g-C3N4 exhibited good selectivity and sensitivity toward Cr2O7 2- among other anions. According to titration test, the detection limit and stern-volmer constant (Ksv) were calculated as 40 nM and 0.13×106 M-1, respectively. The investigation of quenching mechanism shows that Cr2O7 2- may form hydrogen bonding with surface groups of g-C3N4 (such as NH2, OH and COOH) resulted in more fluorescence quenching in comparison with the pure inner filter effect.

Conclusion:

The g-C3N4 nanostructures were successfully synthesized through the hydrothermal oxidation. The as-prepared g-C3N4 can be used as a highly sensitive fluorescent probe for the selective determination of Cr2O7 2 ion among other anions. The quenching mechanism was experimentally studied. According to reliable responses in real sample tests, it can be proposed that g-C3N4 nanostructure is a suitable sensitive nanosensor for detection of Cr2O7 2 ions in aqueous media.

Synthesis, characterization and catalytic performance of nanostructured dysprosium molybdate catalyst for selective biomolecule detection in biological and pharmaceutical samples

The current study reports a new, simple and fast method using a flake-like dysprosium molybdate (Dy2MoO6; FL-DyM) nanostructured material to detect the antibiotic drug metronidazole (METZ). This nanocomposite material was employed on the surface of a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) to develop the electrode (FL-DyM/GCE). Further, the synthesized FL-DyM was systematically characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray diffraction (EDS), elemental mapping, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analyses. Cyclic (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) techniques were used to study the electrochemical properties. The FL-DyM/GCE-based sensor demonstrated excellent selectivity and sensitivity for the detection of the drug METZ, which could be attributed to the strong affinity of FL-DyM towards the -NO2 group in METZ, and the good electrocatalytic activity and conductivity of FL-DyM. The fabrication and optimization of the working electrode were accomplished with CV and DPV obtained by scan rate and pH studies. Compared to the bare GCE and other rare-earth metal molybdates, the FL-DyM/GCE sensor displayed a superior electrocatalytic activity response for METZ detection. The sensor demonstrated a good linear relationship over the concentration range of 0.01-2363 μM. The quantification and detection limits were found to be 0.010 μM and 0.0030 μM, respectively. The FL-DyM/GCE sensor displayed excellent selectivity, repeatability, reproducibility, and stability for the detection of METZ in human urine and commercial METZ tablet samples, which validates the new technique for efficient drug sensing in practical applications.

Voltammetric sensor based on cobalt-poly(methionine)-modified glassy carbon electrode for determination of estriol hormone in pharmaceuticals and urine

A voltammetric sensor based on the electropolymerization of cobalt-poly(methionine) (Co-poly(Met)) on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was developed and applied for the determination of estriol by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) for the first time. The electrochemical properties of the Co-poly(Met)/GCE were analysed by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) were used to characterize the polymers on the GCE surface. The deposition of the Co-poly(Met) film on the GCE surface enhanced the sensor electronic transfer. CV studies revealed that estriol exhibits an irreversible oxidation peak at +0.58 V for the Co-poly(Met)/GCE (vs. Ag/AgCl reference electrode) in 0.10 mol/L Britton-Robinson buffer solution (pH = 7.0). Different voltammetric scan rates (10–200 mV/s) suggested that the estriol oxidation on the Co-poly(Met)/GCE surface is controlled by adsorption and diffusion processes. Based on the optimized DPV conditions, the linear responses for estriol quantification were from 0.596 μmol/L to 4.76 μmol/L (R² = 0.996) and from 5.66 μmol/L to 9.90 μmol/L (R² = 0.994) with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.0340 μmol/L and a limit of quantification (LOQ) of 0.113 μmol/L. The DPV-Co-poly(Met)/GCE method provided good intra-day and inter-day repeatability with RSD values lower than 5%. Also, no interference of real sample matrices was observed on the estriol voltammetric response, making the DPV-Co-poly(Met)/GCE highly selective for estriol. The accuracy test showed that the estriol recovery was in the ranges 96.7%–103% and 98.7%–102% for pharmaceutical tablets and human urine, respectively. The estriol quantification in pharmaceutical tablets performed by the Co-poly(Met)/GCE-assisted DPV method was comparable to the official analytical protocols.

Fabrication of carbon dots@restricted access molecularly imprinted polymers for selective detection of metronidazole in serum

A custom-tailored design was proposed for the fabrication of carbon dots coupled with restricted access materials and molecularly imprinted polymers (CDs@RAM-MIPs) to detect metronidazole (MNZ). Biomass carbon dots (CDs) were derived from longan peels assisted with high pressure microwave, and had the merits of eco-friendly, excellent photostability and low toxicity. In this work, glycidyl methacrylate was used as a co-polymeric monomer to increase hydroxyl groups on the surface of synthetic materials, which eliminated the interference of biological macromolecules. The specific binding cavities of CDs@RAM-MIPs were formed after removing the template molecule (MNZ). The obtained CDs@RAM-MIPs can selectively capture MNZ through the specific interaction between recognition sites and MNZ, and obey photoinduced electron transfer fluorescence quenching mechanism. The highly sensitive and selective fluorescent sensor based CDs@RAM-MIPs had a wide linear range (50-1200 ng mL^-1) and a low detection limit (17.4 ng mL^-1) for MNZ. It has been utilized to detect MNZ in serum with recoveries of 93.5%-102.7%, and the relative standards (RSDs) were 1.9%-3.6%, respectively. This work provides a thoughtful strategy for preparation and application of CDs@RAM-MIPs, which presages its great potential for detecting trace compounds in real samples.

Biocompatible chitosan-pectin polyelectrolyte complex for simultaneous electrochemical determination of metronidazole and metribuzin

Development of novel biocompatible sensor material suitable for modest, cost-effective, and rapid practical application is a demanding research interest in the field of electroanalytical chemistry. In this context, for the first time, we utilized biocompatible chitosan-pectin biopolyelectrolyte (CS-PC BPE) complex for the simultaneous electroreduction of an important antibiotic drug (metronidazole-MNZ) and herbicide (metribuzin-MTZ). This sensor reveals an attractive welfares such as simplicity, biocompatibility, and low production cost. Under optimized experimental conditions, the electroanalytical investigation confirmed that CS-PC BPE modified glassy carbon electrode (CS-PC BPE/GCE) was found to sense MNZ and MTZ in the nanomolar range. Moreover, as-prepared CS-PC BPE/GCE exhibited prominent selectivity, stability, and reproducibility. Additionally, the possible MNZ and MTZ sensing mechanism of CS-PC BPE/GCE have been discussed in detail. Lastly, real sample analysis was also carried out and revealed from several investigations that the CS-PC BPE/GCE is a good electrochemical sensor system for the detection of targeted analytes.

Praseodymium Vanadate-Decorated Sulfur-Doped Carbon Nitride Hybrid Nanocomposite: The Role of a Synergistic Electrocatalyst for the Detection of Metronidazole

The construction of efficient and superior nanostructured materials for the precise determination of contaminants that are hazardous to the environment has gained significant attention by the scientific community. In this regard, we fabricated a nanocomposite consisting of praseodymium vanadate (PrVO₄; PrV) anchored to sulfur-doped carbon nitride (PrV/SCN) and applied it to the electrochemical detection of the antibiotic drug metronidazole (MTZ). The structural and crystalline features of the as-prepared PrV/SCN nanocomposite were characterized by various analytical and spectroscopic methods. More distinctly, the PrV/SCN nanocomposite-modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) exhibits an outstanding linear range (0.001-2444 μM), high sensitivity (1.386 μA/μM cm²), low detection limit (0.8 nM), good reproducibility, and strong anti-interference ability. Notably, the PrV/SCN sensor can determine MTZ in spiked urine and water samples with high recoveries, suggesting its feasibility for real-time applications. Our findings establish PrV/SCN as a robust and promising platform for electrochemical detection. This promotes innovative design for the synthesis of novel functional nanocomposites.

Catalytic activity of biomimetic model of cytochrome P450 in oxidation of dopamine

The introduction of electron-withdrawing group into porphyrin molecule as cytochrome P450 model can tune the energy level and have an effect on the electronic structure. In this work, linking with the strong electron-withdrawing fluorine atoms, a starburst dendritic molecule, 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)-21H,23H-porphyrin iron (III) chloride (FeTFPP), containing a saddle-shaped porphyrin as the central core and four pentafluorophenyl rings as the peripheral functional groups was successfully synthesized. Subsequently, the macrocyclic conjugate polymer film of FeTFPP was achieved via a low-cost electrochemical method and exploited as an efficient mimetic enzyme. Furthermore, a biomimetic sensor was constructed by the poly(FeTFPP) film and graphene (rGO) sheet (rGO-poly(FeTFPP)) for selective and sensitive detection of dopamine (DA). Here, the FeTFPP polymer performs three functions: electrochemical recognition (owing to the hydrogen bonding between the strongly electronegative fluorine atoms and DA), biomimetic microenvironment (owing to interaction between porphyrin core and DA), electrocatalysis (owing to remarkable catalytic ability of iron (III) ion). Under optimum conditions, the response to DA was linear in the concentration range between 0.05 to 300μM, and the detection limit was 0.023μM. In addition, we applied the rGO-poly(FeTFPP) film to detect DA in real samples and the results implied its feasibility for practical application. As a result, it is believed that the rGO-poly(FeTFPP) film is one of the promising biomimetic catalysts for electrocatalysis and relevant fields.

Ultrasensitive electrochemical determination of metronidazole based on polydopamine/carboxylic multi-walled carbon nanotubes nanocomposites modified GCE

An ultrasensitive electrochemical sensor based on polydopamine/carboxylic multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs−COOH) nanocomposites modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was presented in this work, which has been developed for highly selective and highly sensitive determination of an antimicrobial drug, metronidazole. The preparation of polydopamine/MWCNTs–COOH nanocomposites/GCE sensor is simple and possesses high reproducible, where polydopamine can be coated on the surface of MWCNTs–COOH via a simple electropolymerization process. Under optimized conditions, the proposed sensor showed ultrasensitive determination for metronidazole with a wide linear detection range from 5 to 5000 µmol/dm³ and a low detection limit of 0.25 µmol/dm³ (S/N = 3). Moreover, the proposed sensor has been successfully applied for the quantitative determination of metronidazole in real drug samples. This work may provide a novel and effective analytical platform for determination of metronidazole in application of real pharmaceutical and biological samples analysis.

A highly sensitive metronidazole sensor based on a Pt nanospheres/polyfurfural film modified electrode

A sensitively electrochemical metronidazole sensor basing on a Pt nanospheres/polyfurfural modified glassy carbon electrode.

A zeolite modified carbon paste electrode based on copper exchanged clinoptilolite nanoparticles for voltammetric determination of metronidazole

Modified carbonpaste elelctrode with Cu(ii)-exchanged clinoptilolite nanoparticles showed increased peak current in the presence of metronidazole.

Progress of Mimetic Enzymes and Their Applications in Chemical Sensors

The need to develop innovative and reformative approaches to synthesize chemical sensors has increased in recent years because of demands for selectivity, stability, and reproducibility. Mimetic enzymes provide an efficient and convenient method for chemical sensors. This review summarizes the application of mimetic enzymes in chemical sensors. Mimetic enzymes can be classified into five categories: hydrolases, oxidoreductases, transferases, isomerases, and induced enzymes. Potential and recent applications of mimetic enzymes in chemical sensors are reviewed in detail, and the outlook of profound development has been illustrated.

Petal-like graphene–Ag composites with highly exposed active edge sites were designed and constructed for electrochemical determination of metronidazole

The petal-like graphene–Ag composites with highly exposed active edge sites were constructed, which served as both the electrocatalyst and the current amplifier for electrochemical detection of metronidazole.