Fabrication and characterization of highly-ordered Zinc Oxide nanorods on gold/glass electrode, and its application as a voltammetric sensor

Two-Dimensional Nanorod-Shaped Co(II) Coordination Polymer on Three-Dimensional Metallic Foam: A Hybrid Platform for Electrochemical Oxidation of Glucose

This study unveils a novel electrochemical biosensor for monitoring glucose in biological fluids by employing nanorods of a cobalt-bispyridyl/dicarboxylate framework grown in a layer-by-layer manner on a highly porous nickel substrate. The hybrid microporous system has a bicatalytic effect on glucose oxidation due to the synergistic catalytic impact of the nickel and cobalt ions with varying oxidation states as electroactive sites. In addition, the controlled growth of inorganic-organic frameworks changes the mechanism of electron transfer from a diffusion-controlled process to an adsorption-controlled process, thus yielding a low onset oxidation potential (∼0.21 V/Ag-AgCl) and a high current intensity (∼1 mA) for the oxidation of glucose in alkaline media. A fast response time (∼2 s) and a reasonably high sensitivity (0.14 μA μM-1) within a broad linear range (40-360 μM) have determined the suitability and superiority of the hybrid electrode for glucose monitoring compared to many metal-organic-based biosensors. The facile fabrication process of the Co(II) coordination polymer/Ni substrate with a large surface area that benefits from the synergetic catalytic activity of nickel-cobalt hybrids may pave the way for the development of novel hybrid electrodes for biosensors and direct glucose fuel cells.

Electrochemical Sensing of Pb2+ and Cd2+ Ions with the Use of Electrode Modified with Carbon-Covered Halloysite and Carbon Nanotubes

A novel voltammetric method for the sensitive and selective determination of cadmium and lead ions using screen-printed carbon electrodes (SPCEs) modified with carbon-deposited natural halloysite (C_Hal) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) was developed. The electrochemical properties of the proposed sensor were investigated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and cyclic voltammetry (CV), while the morphology and structure were established by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD). A two-factorial central composite design (CCD) was employed to select the composition of the nanocomposite modifying the electrode surface. The optimal measuring parameters of differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV) used for quantitative analysis were established with the Nelder–Mead simplex method. In the analytical investigation of Cd(II) and Pb(II) ions by DPASV, the MWCNTs/C_Hal/Nafion/SPCE exhibited a linear response in the concentration range of 0.1–10.0 µmol L−1 (for both ions) with a detection limit of 0.0051 and 0.0106 µmol L−1 for Pb(II) and Cd(II), respectively. The proposed sensor was successfully applied for the determination of metal ions in different natural water and honey samples with recovery values of 96.4–101.6%.

Application of MnO2 Nanorod–Ionic Liquid Modified Carbon Paste Electrode for the Voltammetric Determination of Sulfanilamide

The current work introduced a convenient single-phase hydrothermal protocol to fabricate MnO₂ nanorods (MnO₂ NRs). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) were used to determine the characteristics of MnO₂ NR. Then, ionic liquid (IL) and MnO₂ NRs were utilized to modify a carbon paste electrode (CPE) surface (MnO₂NR-IL/CPE) to voltammetrically sense the sulfanilamide (SAA). An enhanced voltammetric sensitivity was found for the as-developed modified electrode toward SAA when compared with a bare electrode. The optimization experiments were designed to achieve the best analytical behavior of the SAA sensor. Differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) in the optimized circumstances portrayed a linear dependence on various SAA levels (between 0.07 and 100.0 μM), possessing a narrow detection limit (0.01 μM). The ability of the modified electrode to be used in sensor applications was verified in the determination of SAA present in the actual urine and water specimens, with impressive recovery outcomes.

Studying the preparation, electrochemical performance testing, comparison and application of a cost-effective flexible graphene working electrode

-A cost-effective flexible graphene working electrode (FGWE) was fabricated using overhead projector transparent film (OPTF) and a screen-printing technique. The surface morphology and electrochemical behavior of the electrode were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and cyclic voltammetry. The electrode presented a very thin layer of conductive ink (16.0 ± 0.7 µm) on a large effective surface area (0.301 ± 0.001 cm^-2). The anodic peak current density (j_pa) of acetaminophen (ACT) in FGWE was 5.2, 3.7, 3.5 and 6.0 times greater than the j_pa of glassy carbon electrode (GCE), flexible carbon working electrode (FCWE), SPE1, and SPE2, respectively. The electrochemical performance of FGWE toward ACT was evaluated by differential pulse voltammetry. Under optimized condition, ACT was quantified in a range of  4-100 µM, with good sensitivity, good accuracy (recovery = 82.3 ± 0.4 to 106 ± 3%), and excellent precision. FGWE was applied to determine ACT in commercial pharmaceutical formulations. The results of the study are in good agreement with those obtained by the standard spectrophotometric method. These results indicate that disposable FGWE is particularly useful for the detection of ACT, and its performance may serve as a platform for cost-effective flexible electrochemical sensors.

Development and validation of voltammetric method for determination of amoxicillin in river water

Amoxicillin is an antibiotic that can accumulate in aquatic environments and lead to the development of resistant bacteria; thus, its determination is of great importance. In this study, a glassy carbon electrode modified with reduced graphene oxide and Nafion was used as a sensor in a square-wave voltammetry method for determination of amoxicillin in river water samples from Guarapuava city, Brazil. The method was validated, using parameters and statistical tools recommended by the validation guidelines, in the range of 1.8-5.4 μmol L^-1 (r = 0.922 and R² = 85.1%). The analytical curve was constructed using external standard calibration in pure electrolyte, since the matrix effect was not significant. Results of linear regression analysis, lack of fit test and analysis of the residual plots pointed that the linear regression was significant, without lack of fit of linear model and that the variances had homoscedastic distribution. Both coefficients of regression curve were significant and, thus, they were included in the regression equation: Response = 7.0 + 3.5C_AMX. The limits of detection and quantification were 0.36 and 1.2 μmol L^-1, respectively. The method was selective towards interferents such as humic acids and benzylpenicillin. The relative standard deviations for repeatability and intermediate precision were adequate according to the limits established in literature. The mean recoveries were statistically equal to those obtained through a comparative chromatography method, so, the accuracy of the method was also adequate. Therefore, the method can be applied to the voltammetric determination of amoxicillin in river water, affording reliable and consistent measurements.

Recent advances in electrochemical sensors for amoxicillin detection in biological and environmental samples

Amoxicillin (AMX) is among the most successful antibiotics used for human therapy. It is used extensively to prevent or treat bacterial infections in humans and animals. However, the widespread distribution and excess utilization of AMX can be an environmental and health risk due to the hazardous potential associated to its pharmaceutical industries effluents. Besides, their extensive use in food animal production may result in some undesirable residues in food, e.g. meat, eggs and milk. Consequently, at high enough concentrations in biological fluids, AMX may be responsible of various diseases such as nausea, vomiting, rashes, and antibiotic-associated colitis. For this reason, the detection and quantification of amoxicillin in pharmaceuticals, biological fluids, environmental samples and foodstuffs require new electroanalytical techniques with sensitive and rapid measurement abilities. This review discusses recent advances in the development of electrochemical sensors and bio-sensors for AMX analysis in complex matrices such as pharmaceuticals, biological fluids, environmental water and foodstuffs. The main electrochemical sensors used are based on chemically modified electrodes involving carbon materials and nanomaterials, nanoparticles, polymers and biological recognition molecules.

Construction of electrochemical sensing interface towards Cd(II) based on activated g-C3N4 nanosheets: considering the effects of exfoliation and protonation treatment

There is an urgent need to construct highly selective low-cost sensors for fast detection of toxic metal ions such as cadmium. When compared with 3D bulk materials, 2D layered materials after activation treatments show superior performances for electrochemical metal ion detection. The bulk graphitic carbon nitride (hereafter b-g-C₃N₄) was prepared by thermal polymerization with urea as a precursor; it was then activated through ultrasonic liquid exfoliation and protonation which resulted in successful fabrication of activated ultrathin g-C₃N₄ nanosheets (hereafter a-g-C₃N₄). The a-g-C₃N₄-modified glassy carbon electrode demonstrates excellent electrochemical performances for Cd²⁺ detection with 22.668 μA/μM sensitivity and 3.9 nM LOD (S/N = 3) due to high specific surface area and active sites created on the 2D layered structure. The chemical interference of Pb²⁺, Cu²⁺, and Hg²⁺ on Cd²⁺ detection was minimal. We have also measured Cd²⁺ in natural water and rice samples using the newly developed a-g-C₃N₄-modified electrode with high spike recoveries. Our results demonstrate the potential applications of newly developed a-g-C₃N₄-modified electrode for rapid detection of toxic metal ions in different sample matrixes. Graphical Abstract The activated g-C₃N₄ nanosheets (a-g-C₃N₄) were synthesized and used to construct electrochemical sensors with high sensitivity and anti-interference performance.

Advanced Diagnostic Approaches for Necrotrophic Fungal Pathogens of Temperate Legumes With a Focus on Botrytis spp

Plant pathogens reduce global crop productivity by up to 40% per annum, causing enormous economic loss and potential environmental effects from chemical management practices. Thus, early diagnosis and quantitation of the causal pathogen species for accurate and timely disease control is crucial. Botrytis Gray Mold (BGM), caused by Botrytis cinerea and B. fabae, can seriously impact production of temperate grain legumes separately or within a complex. Accordingly, several immunogenic and molecular probe-type protocols have been developed for their diagnosis, but these have varying levels of species-specificity, sensitivity and consequent usefulness within the paddock. To substantially improve speed, accuracy and sensitivity, advanced nanoparticle-based biosensor approaches have been developed. These novel methods have made enormous impact toward disease diagnosis in the medical sciences and offer potential for transformational change within the field of plant pathology and disease management, with early and accurate diagnosis at the point-of-care in the field. Here we review several recently developed diagnostic tools that build on traditional approaches and are available for pathogen diagnosis, specifically for Botrytis spp. diagnostic applications. We then identify the specific gaps in knowledge and current limitations to these existing tools.

Voltammetric Techniques for the Analysis of Drugs using Nanomaterials based Chemically Modified Electrodes

Background:

Electroanalytical techniques play a very important role in the areas of medicinal, clinical as well as pharmaceutical research. Amongst these techniques, the voltammetric methods for the determination of drugs using nanomaterials based chemically modified electrodes (CMEs) have received enormous attention in recent years. This is due to the sensitivity and selectivity they provide on qualitative as well as quantitative aspects of the electroactive analyte under study. The aim of the present review was to discuss the work on nanomaterials based CMEs for the analysis of drugs covering the period from 2000 to present employing various voltammetric techniques for different classes of the drugs.

Methods:

The present review deals with the determination of different classes of drugs including analgesics, anthelmentic, anti-TB, cardiovascular, antipsychotics and anti-allergic, antibiotic and gastrointestinal drugs. Also, a special section is devoted for enantioanalysis of certain chiral drugs using voltammetry. The detailed information of the voltammetric determination for the drugs from each class employing various techniques such as differential pulse voltammetry, cyclic voltammetry, linear sweep voltammetry, square wave voltammetry, stripping voltammetry, etc. are presented in tabular form below the description of each class in the review.

Results:

Various nanomaterials including carbon nanotubes, graphene, carbon nanofibers, quantum dots, metal/metal oxide nanoparticles, polymer based nanocomposites have been used by researchers for the development of CMEs over a period of time. The large surface area to volume ratio, high conductivity, electrocatalytic activity and biocompatibility make them ideal modifiers where they produce synergistic effect which helps in trace level determination of pharmaceutical, biomedical and medicinal compounds. In addition, macrocyclic compounds as chiral selectors have been used for the determination of enantiomeric drugs where one of the isomers captured in the cavities of chiral selector shows stronger binding interaction for one of the enantiomorphs.

Conclusion:

arious kinds of functional nanocomposites have led to the manipulation of peak potential due to drug - nanoparticles interaction at the modified electrode surface. This has facilitated the simultaneous determination of drugs with almost similar peak potentials. Also, it leads to the enhancement in voltammetric response of the analytes. It is expected that such modified electrodes can be easily miniaturized and used as portable, wearable and user friendly devices. This will pave a way for in-vivo onsite real monitoring of single as well as multi component pharmaceutical compounds.