Electrochemical performance of porous diamond-like carbon electrodes for sensing hormones, neurotransmitters, and endocrine disruptors

A novel photoelectrochemical sensor based on flower-like SnS2, sea urchin-like AgBiS2 and graphene oxide nanocomposite film for efficient and sensitive detection of acetaminophen in lake water samples

As an emerging detection technology, photoelectrochemical sensors have been widely noticed for their unique technical features. Among others, the technology has been widely used in the fields of drug, biological antibody or antigen and contaminant detection. Secondly, acetaminophen, as a novel environmental pollutant, is difficult to be degraded in the ecosystem, which in turn causes serious impacts on the ecosystem. Therefore, in this work, we designed a photoelectrochemical sensor based on a composite film of flower-like SnS₂, sea urchin-like AgBiS₂ and graphene oxide for the detection of acetaminophen in water samples. Among them, graphene oxide, as a two-dimensional carbon-based material, can immobilize other photoelectric materials well. In addition, the flower-like SnS₂ and sea urchin-like AgBiS₂ can enhance the intensity of the photoelectric response due to their synergistic effect. Notably, the combination of graphene oxide with SnS₂ and AgBiS₂ revealed an exponential increase in the photoresponse intensity, indicating that SnS₂/AgBiS₂/GO has a satisfactory photoresponse intensity. At the same time, the photoelectrochemical sensor exhibited sensitive detection performance (LOD = 4 nM) and a wide detection range (0.01-50 μM) for acetaminophen under optimal detection conditions. Moreover, it also showed excellent detection performance in the detection of actual water samples, indicating that it can be applied to the detection of acetaminophen in lakes.

Diamond-like Carbon Coatings in the Biomedical Field: Properties, Applications and Future Development

Repairment and replacement of organs and tissues are part of the history of struggle against human diseases, in addition to the research and development (R&D) of drugs. Acquisition and processing of specific substances and physiological signals are very important to understand the effects of pathology and treatment. These depend on the available biomedical materials. The family of diamond-like carbon coatings (DLCs) has been extensively applied in many industrial fields. DLCs have also been demonstrated to be biocompatible, both in vivo and in vitro. In many cases, the performance of biomedical devices can be effectively enhanced by coating them with DLCs, such as vascular stents, prosthetic heart valves and surgical instruments. However, the feasibility of the application of DLC in biomedicine remains under discussion. This review introduces the current state of research and application of DLCs in biomedical devices, their potential application in biosensors and urgent problems to be solved. It will be useful to build a bridge between DLC R&D workers and biomedical workers in order to develop high-performance DLC films/coatings, promote their practical use and develop their potential applications in the biomedical field.

Advanced Bio-Based Polymers for Astrocyte Cell Models

The development of in vitro neural tissue analogs is of great interest for many biomedical engineering applications, including the tissue engineering of neural interfaces, treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, and in vitro evaluation of cell-material interactions. Since astrocytes play a crucial role in the regenerative processes of the central nervous system, the development of biomaterials that interact favorably with astrocytes is of great research interest. The sources of human astrocytes, suitable natural biomaterials, guidance scaffolds, and ligand patterned surfaces are discussed in the article. New findings in this field are essential for the future treatment of spinal cord and brain injuries.

Biomaterial Approaches to Modulate Reactive Astroglial Response

Over several decades, biomaterial scientists have developed materials to spur axonal regeneration and limit secondary injury and tested these materials within preclinical animal models. Rarely, though, are astrocytes examined comprehensively when biomaterials are placed into the injury site. Astrocytes support neuronal function in the central nervous system. Following an injury, astrocytes undergo reactive gliosis and create a glial scar. The astrocytic glial scar forms a dense barrier which restricts the extension of regenerating axons through the injury site. However, there are several beneficial effects of the glial scar, including helping to reform the blood-brain barrier, limiting the extent of secondary injury, and supporting the health of regenerating axons near the injury site. This review provides a brief introduction to the role of astrocytes in the spinal cord, discusses astrocyte phenotypic changes that occur following injury, and highlights studies that explored astrocyte changes in response to biomaterials tested within in vitro or in vivo environments. Overall, we suggest that in order to improve biomaterial designs for spinal cord injury applications, investigators should more thoroughly consider the astrocyte response to such designs.

Simultaneous determination of isoproterenol, acetaminophen, folic acid, propranolol and caffeine using a sensor platform based on carbon black, graphene oxide, copper nanoparticles and PEDOT:PSS

We explored the use of carbon black (CB), graphene oxide (GO), copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) as electrode materials for the simultaneous determination of isoproterenol, acetaminophen, folic acid, propranolol and caffeine. The designed nanostructured surface was widely characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), contact angle measurements and electrochemistry. From electrochemical characterization assays carried out towards the potassium ferricyanide redox probe, fast electron transfer kinetics and a considerably higher electroactive surface area were observed for the modified electrodic surface based on CB, GO, CuNPs and PEDOT:PSS film. Using square-wave voltammetry (SWV), well defined and resolved anodic peaks were detected for isoproterenol, acetaminophen, folic acid, propranolol and caffeine, with peak-to-peak potential separation not less than 170 mV. Then, the SWV technique was explored for the simultaneous determination of quinary mixtures of these analytes, resulting in analytical curves with linear ranges and limits of detection at micromolar concentration levels. The practical viability of the proposed voltammetric sensor was illustrated in the analysis of human body fluid samples. The proposed sensor showed good repeatability and a successful application using urine and serum matrices, with recoveries close to 100%.

Low-cost screen-printed electrodes based on electrochemically reduced graphene oxide-carbon black nanocomposites for dopamine, epinephrine and paracetamol detection

A green approach for the preparation of carbon black (CB) and electrochemically reduced graphene oxide composite (ERGO) is described based on screen printed carbon electrodes (SPCEs) fabricated on poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) as electrochemical sensors. This approach leads to a heterogeneous hydrophilic surface with high concentration of defect sites according to scanning electron microscopy, contact angle and Raman spectroscopy measurements. The SPCE/CB-ERGO sensor was tested with dopamine (DA), epinephrine (EP) and paracetamol (PCM), exhibiting an enhanced electrocatalytic performance compared to the bare SPCE. It displayed a wider linear range, lower limit of detection and a remarkably higher analytical sensitivity, viz. 1.5, 0.13 and 0.028 A L mol^-1 for DA, EP and PCM, respectively, being also capable of simultaneous determination of the three analytes. Such high performance is demonstration that SPCE/CB-ERGO may serve as generic platform for cost-effective flexible electrochemical sensors.

Rapid construction of 3D foam-like carbon nanoarchitectures via a simple photochemical strategy for capacitive deionization

3D foam-like carbon nanoarchitectures are originally and rapidly constructedviaa photochemical strategy and demonstrate excellent capacitive deionization performance.

Synthesis of Water-Dispersible Molecularly Imprinted Electroactive Nanoparticles for the Sensitive and Selective Paracetamol Detection

A novel kind of water-dispersible molecularly imprinted electroactive nanoparticles was prepared combining macromolecular self-assembly with molecularly imprinting technique employing paracetamol (PCM) as template molecule. An amphiphilic electroactive copolymer (P(NVC-EHA-AA), PNEA) containing carbazole group was first synthesized through a one-pot free radical copolymerization. The coassembly of the electroactive copolymers with the template molecules (PCM) in aqueous solution generated nanoparticles embedded with PCM, leading to the formation of molecularly imprinted electroactive nanoparticles (MIENPs). A robust MIP film was formed on the surface of electrode by electrodeposition of MIENPs and subsequent electropolymerization of the carbazole units in MIENPs. After the extraction of PCM molecules, a MIP sensor was successfully constructed. It should be noted that electropolymerization of the electroactive units in MIENPs creates cross-conjugated polymer network, which not only locks the recognition sites but also significantly accelerates the electron transfer and thus enhances the response signal of the MIP sensor. These advantages endowed the MIP sensor with good selectivity and high sensitivity for PCM detection. The MIP sensor could recognize PCM from its possible interfering substances with good selectivity. Under the optimal conditions, two linear ranges from 1 μM to 0.1 mM and 0.1 to 10 mM with a detection limit of 0.3 μM were obtained for PCM detection. The MIP sensor also showed good stability and repeatability, which has been successfully used to analyze PCM in tablets and human urine samples with satisfactory results.