Non-Enzymatic Glucose Sensing Using Carbon Quantum Dots Decorated with Copper Oxide Nanoparticles

Preparation of nanocellulose/reduced graphene oxide matrix loaded with cuprous oxide nanoparticles for efficient catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol

The paper reports on the preparation of cellulose nanocrystals/reduced graphene oxide matrix loaded with cuprous oxide nanoparticles (CNC/rGO-Cu2O) through a simple solvothermal method and its application for 4-nitrophenol reduction to 4-aminophenol using sodium borohydride. The CNC/rGO-Cu2O nanocomposite was formed chemically by first mixing CNC and graphene oxide (GO) followed by complexation of the negatively charged functional groups of CNC/GO with Cu2+ ions and subsequent heating at 100°C. This resulted in the simultaneous reduction of GO to rGO and the formation of Cu2O nanoparticles. The as-elaborated nanocomposite was firstly characterized using different techniques such as atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, UV-Vis spectrophotometry, Raman spectroscopy and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Then, it was successfully applied for efficient catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol using sodium borohydride: the reduction was completed in about 6 min. After eight times use, the catalyst still maintained good catalytic performance. Compared to CNC/rGO, rGO/Cu2O and free Cu2O nanoparticles, the CNC/rGO-Cu2O nanocomposite exhibits higher catalytic activity even at lower copper loading.

Common Transition Metal Oxide Nanomaterials in Electrochemical Sensors for the Diagnosis of Monoamine Neurotransmitter‐Related Disorders

Monoamine neurotransmitters are essential for learning, mental alertness, emotions, and blood flow, among other functions. Fatal neurological disorders that signal the imbalance of these biomolecules in the human system include Parkinson's disease, myocardial infarction, Alzheimer's disease, hypoglycemia, Schizophrenia, and a host of other ailments. The diagnosis of these monoamine neurotransmitter‐related conditions revolves around the development of analytical tools with high sensitivity for the four major monoamine neurotransmitters namely dopamine, epinephrine, norepinephrine, and serotonin. The application of electrochemical sensors made from notable metal oxide nanoparticles or composites containing the metal oxide nanoparticles for the detection of these monoamine neurotransmitters was discussed herein. More importantly, the feasibility of the application of the ZnO, CuO, and TiO2 nanoparticle‐based electrochemical sensors for a comprehensive diagnosis of monoamine neurotransmitter‐related conditions was critically investigated in this review.

Synthesis, characterization, and investigation of antibacterial activity of Novel CMC/CuO NPs/CQDs bionanocomposite coating

In recent decades, healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) have become a common problem in healthcare facilities such as hospitals. As a result, researchers are currently developing nanocomposite coatings that are strengthened with antibacterial nanoparticles. In this research, a novel antibacterial bionanocomposite coating based on carboxymethyl cellulose polymer/copper oxide nanoparticles/carbon quantum dots was coated on medical grade 316 stainless steel by sol-gel dip-coating method. The effect of the concentration of nanocomposite components was investigated at four different levels to determine the best ratio with the most antibacterial activity. Structural characteristics of nanocomposite and coating were investigated using different analysis methods. The coating analysis showed that reinforcements are uniformly distributed in the polymer matrix. Antibacterial test of disc diffusion was performed by the Kirby-Bauer method and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) antibacterial test. The results showed that bionanocomposite was effective in the MIC assays against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli with MIC values of 25 mg/ml and >50 mg/ml, respectively. The inhibition zones for E. coli and S. aureus were 17 and 32 mm, respectively, at 10 μg/disc of gentamicin. SEM images displayed significant and evident alterations in the structure of bacterial morphology, indicating cellular damage.

Advances in nanostructured material-based non-enzymatic electrochemical glucose sensors

Non-enzymatic electrochemical sensors that use functional materials to directly catalyze glucose have shown great promise in diabetes management, food control, and bioprocess inspection owing to the advantages of high sensitivity, long-term stability, and low cost. Recently, in order to produce enhanced electrochemical behavior, significant efforts have been devoted to the preparation of functional materials with regular nanostructure, as it provides high specific surface area and well-defined strong active sites for electrochemical sensing. However, the structure-performance correlation in this field has not been reviewed thoroughly in the literature. This review aims to present a comprehensive report on advanced zero- to three-dimensional nanostructures based on the geometric feature and to discuss in depth their structural effects on enzyme-free electrochemical detection of glucose. It starts by illustrating the sensing principles of nanostructured materials, followed by a detailed discussion on the structural effects related to the features of each dimension. The structure-performance correlation is explored by comparing the performance derived from diverse dimensional architectures, which is beneficial for the better design of regular nanostructure to achieve efficient enzyme-free sensing of glucose. Finally, future directions of non-enzymatic electrochemical glucose sensors to solve emerging challenges and further improve the sensing performance are also proposed.

Research Progress on Biomimetic Nanomaterials for Electrochemical Glucose Sensors

Diabetes has become a chronic disease that necessitates timely and accurate detection. Among various detection methods, electrochemical glucose sensors have attracted much attention because of low cost, real-time detection, and simple and easy operation. Nonenzymatic biomimetic nanomaterials are the vital part in electrochemical glucose sensors. This review article summarizes the methods to enhance the glucose sensing performance of noble metal, transition metal oxides, and carbon-based materials and introduces biomimetic nanomaterials used in noninvasive glucose detection in sweat, tear, urine, and saliva. Based on these, this review provides the foundation for noninvasive determination of trace glucose for diabetic patients in the future.

Glucose determination using amperometric non-enzymatic sensor based on electroactive poly(caffeic acid)@MWCNT decorated with CuO nanoparticles

A novel non-enzymatic glucose sensor based on poly(caffeic acid)@multi-walled carbon nanotubes decorated with CuO nanoparticles (PCA@MWCNT-CuO) was developed. The described approach involves the complexation/accumulation of Cu(II) on PCA@MWCNT followed by electrochemical CuO deposition in an alkaline electrolyte. The morphology and surface characteristics of the nanomaterial were determined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), Raman spectroscopy, and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). A hybrid-support sensor device was then developed to assess the glucose concentration in different solutions. The sensitivity of the electrode is 2412 μA mM^-1 cm^-2. The electrode exhibited a broad linear range of 2 µM to 9 mM and a low limit of detection (LOD) of 0.43 µM (relative standard deviation, RSD = 2.3%) at + 0.45 V vs Ag/AgCl. The excellent properties obtained for glucose detection were most likely due to the synergistic effect of the combination of individual components: poly(caffeic acid), MWCNTs, and CuO. Good accuracy and high precision were demonstrated for quantifying glucose concentrations in human serum and blood samples (the recovery ranged from 95.0 to 99.5%). The GC/PCA@MWCNT-CuO sensor represents a novel, simple, and low-cost approach to the fabrication of devices for amperometric sensing of glucose.

Copper Oxide Nanoparticle-Decorated Carbon Nanoparticle Composite Colloidal Preparation through Laser Ablation for Antimicrobial and Antiproliferative Actions against Breast Cancer Cell Line, MCF-7

Copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticle- (NP-) decorated carbon NPs (CNPs) were produced as colloidal suspension through pulsed laser ablation technique in liquid (PLAL) medium. The antimicrobial activity of the produced NPs was tested against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli), and anticancer activity was tested against breast cancer cell line, MCF-7, together with the biocompatibility assessment of these NPs. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns of the obtained CNPs showed peaks at 26.58° and 43.78° (2θ) identical to (002) and (111) planes, respectively, of the carbon phases. It also displayed new peaks at 38.5° and 48.64° (2θ) after doping with CuO NPs. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) images revealed the crystalline nature with the spherical shape of the prepared CNPs with 5-40 nm diameter ranges. In addition, the NP effects on the bacterial cell walls and nucleic acid were confirmed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and microscopic fluorescence analysis. The NPs showed antibacterial activity through SEM examinations against the pathogenic microbial species, S. aureus and E. coli. In the cellular material release assay, the optical density of the bacterial cells, treated with NPs, displayed a significant increase with the time of exposure to NPs, and the cytotoxicity reached more than 80% of the level for the CNPs decorated with CuO NPs. The morphology of the MCF-7 cells treated with NPs decreased numbers, and the loss of contact with the surrounding cells was observed. These results confirmed that the CNPs decorated with CuO NPs have no observable side effects and can be safely used for therapeutic applications. It is also noteworthy that it is the first report of preparation of CuO NPs decorated with CNPs (CuO NPs-CNPs) by PLAL, and the produced NPs showed antimicrobial antiproliferative activities against breast cancer cell lines, MCF-7. The main advantage of the PLAL technique of synthesizing CuO NPs-CNPs provided a two-step, cost-effective, and eco-friendly method.

SERS/TERS Characterization of New Potential Therapeutics: The Influence of Positional Isomerism, Interface Type, Oxidation State of Copper, and Incubation Time on Adsorption on the Surface of Copper(I) and (II) Oxide Nanoparticles

The aim of this study was to investigate how the oxidation state of copper (Cu(I) vs Cu(II)), the nature of the interface (solid/aqueous vs solid/air), positional isomerism, and incubation time affect the functionalization of the surface of copper oxide nanostructures by [(butylamino)(pyridine)methyl]phenylphosphinic acid (PyPA). For this purpose, 2-, 3-, and 4-isomers of PyPA and the nanostructures were synthesized. The nanostructure were characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy (UV–vis), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman spectroscopy (RS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, which proved the formation of spherical Cu₂O nanoparticles (Cu₂ONPs; 1500–600 nm) and leaf-like CuO nanostructures (CuONSs; 80–180/400–700 nm, width/length). PyPA isomers were deposited on the surface of NSs, and adsorption was investigated by surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and tip-enhanced Raman scattering (TERS). The changes of adsorption on the surface of copper oxide NSs caused by the above-mentioned factors were described and the enhancement factor on this substrate was calculated.

Chitosan polymer matrix-derived nanocomposite (CuS/NSC) for non-enzymatic electrochemical glucose sensor

In this study, N and S co-doped chitosan polymer matrix-derived composite (CuS/NSC) was synthesized via a one-step hydrothermal technique using a low-cost copper complex of chitosan polymer. Cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry revealed excellent electrocatalytic performance. The glucose sensor exhibited a linear range of 160 μM to 11.76 mM, a low detection limit 2.72 μM and a sensitivity of 13.62 mA mM^-1 cm^-2 with an excellent linear response. Furthermore, the sensor also displayed selectivity for glucose over potential interfering agents and exhibited a satisfactory recovery percentage using real sample in human serum. The results demonstrate that, CuS/NSC is an efficient nanocomposite material for non-enzymatic glucose sensors and is applicable for glucose detection in biological fluids.

Determination of the Influence of Various Factors on the Character of Surface Functionalization of Copper(I) and Copper(II) Oxide Nanosensors with Phenylboronic Acid Derivatives

In this work, we attempt to determine the influence of the oxidation state of copper [Cu(I) vs Cu(II)], the nature of the interface (solid/aqueous vs solid/air), the incubation time, and the structure of N-substituted phenylboronic acids (PBAs) functionalizing the surface of copper oxide nanostructures (NSs) on the mode of adsorption. For this purpose, 4-[(N-anilino)(phosphono)-S-methyl]phenylboronic acid (1-PBA) and its two analogues (2-PBA and bis{1-PBA}) and the copper oxide NSs were synthesized in a surfactant-/ion-free solution via a synthetic route that allows controlling the size and morphology of NSs. The NSs were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction, which confirmed the formation of spherical Cu2O nanoparticles (Cu2ONPs) with a size of 1.5 μm to 600 nm crystallized in a cubic cuprite structure and leaf-like CuO nanostructures (CuONSs) with dimensions of 80-180 nm in width and 400-700 nm in length and crystallized in a monoclinic structure. PBA analogues were deposited on the surface of the copper oxide NSs, and adsorption was investigated using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). The changes in the orientation of the molecule relative to the substrate surface caused by the abovementioned factors were described, and the signal enhancement on the copper oxide NSs was determined. This is the first study using vibrational spectroscopy for these compounds.

Fourth-generation glucose sensors composed of copper nanostructures for diabetes management: A critical review

More than five decades have been invested in understanding glucose biosensors. Yet, this immensely versatile field has continued to gain attention from the scientific world to better understand and diagnose diabetes. However, such extensive work done to improve glucose sensing devices has still not yielded desirable results. Drawbacks like the necessity of the invasive finger-pricking step and the lack of optimization of diagnostic interventions still need to be considered to improve the testing process of diabetic patients. To upgrade the glucose-sensing devices and reduce the number of intermediary steps during glucose measurement, fourth-generation glucose sensors (FGGS) have been introduced. These sensors, made using robust electrocatalytic copper nanostructures, improve diagnostic efficiency and cost-effectiveness. This review aims to present the essential scientific progress in copper nanostructure-based FGGS in the past 10 years (2010 to present). After a short introduction, we presented the working principles of these sensors. We then highlighted the importance of copper nanostructures as advanced electrode materials to develop reliable real-time FGGS. Finally, we cover the advantages, shortcomings, and prospects for developing highly sensitive, stable, and specific FGGS.

Carbon Nanotubes, Graphene, and Carbon Dots as Electrochemical Biosensing Composites

Carbon nanomaterials (CNMs) have been extensively used as electrochemical sensing composites due to their interesting chemical, electronic, and mechanical properties giving rise to increased performance. Due to these materials' unknown long-term ecological fate, care must be given to make their use tractable. In this review, the design and use of carbon nanotubes (CNTs), graphene, and carbon dots (CDs) as electrochemical sensing electrocatalysts applied to the working electrode surface are surveyed for various biosensing applications. Graphene and CDs are readily biodegradable as compared to CNTs. Design elements for CNTs that carry over to graphene and CDs include Coulombic attraction of components and using O or N atoms that serve as tethering points for attaching electrocatalytically active nanoparticles (NPs) and/or other additives.

Electrochemical biomass upgrading: degradation of glucose to lactic acid on a copper(ii) electrode

Biomass upgrading - the conversion of biomass waste into value-added products - provides a possible solution to reduce global dependency on nonrenewable resources. This study investigates the possibility of green biomass upgrading for lactic acid production by electrochemically-driven degradation of glucose. Herein we report an electrooxidized copper(ii) electrode which exhibits a turnover frequency of 5.04 s^-1 for glucose conversion. Chronoamperometry experiments under varied potentials, alkalinity, and electrode preparation achieved a maximum lactic acid yield of 23.3 ± 1.2% and selectivity of 31.1 ± 1.9% (1.46 V vs. RHE, 1.0 M NaOH) for a room temperature and open-to-atmosphere reaction. Comparison between reaction conditions revealed lactic acid yield depends on alkalinity and applied potential, while pre-oxidation of the copper had a negligible effect on yield. Post-reaction cyclic voltammetry studies indicated no loss in reactivity for copper(ii) electrodes after a 30 hour reaction. Finally, a mechanism dependent on solvated Cu²⁺ species is proposed as evidenced by similar product distributions in electrocatalytic and thermocatalytic systems.

Non-Enzymatic Glucose Sensors Involving Copper: An Electrochemical Perspective

Non-enzymatic glucose sensors based on the use of copper and its oxides have emerged as promising candidates to replace enzymatic glucose sensors owing to their stability, ease of fabrication, and superior sensitivity. This review explains the theories of the mechanism of glucose oxidation on copper transition metal electrodes. It also presents an overview on the development of among the best non-enzymatic copper-based glucose sensors in the past 10 years. A brief description of methods, interesting findings, and important performance parameters are provided to inspire the reader and researcher to create new improvements in sensor design. Finally, several important considerations that pertain to the nano-structuring of the electrode surface is provided.

A study of microbially fabricated bio-conjugated quantum dots for pico-molar sensing of H2O2 and glucose

Quantum dots (QDs) as bio-detectors have been intensively explored owing to their size dependent optical properties and are still envisioned to be used in a plethora of biomedical and healthcare areas. However, the medical application of the biosensors demands the ultrasensitive detection of the analytes, which is usually limited for the conventional methods of colorimetric and fluorescence detection. The Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) process, exploited by QDs, translates the close association between the analyte and the detector into optical properties and thus promises the effective detection of biomolecules. FRET based detection systems for biomolecules utilize surface-functionalized QDs which are usually modified post production using different organic groups. In this work, a novel protocol was formulated to produce bio-functionalized QDs with controlled chemical and optical characteristics. Here, we demonstrate the first-ever biological green synthesis of MoS2 QDs using Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The bio-functionalized QDs show green luminescence with a quantum yield of 42%, supporting their application as an optical sensor. These QDs are utilized to detect the pico-molar concentration of glucose, which makes them ideal for early diabetes detection and many biomedical applications. Also, the ability to sense pico-molar levels of H2O2 opens the path for its utilization in apprehending the plant signaling pathways under stress conditions.

Review of Carbon and Graphene Quantum Dots for Sensing

Carbon and graphene quantum dots (CQDs and GQDs), known as zero-dimensional (0D) nanomaterials, have been attracting increasing attention in sensing and bioimaging. Their unique electronic, fluorescent, photoluminescent, chemiluminescent, and electrochemiluminescent properties are what gives them potential in sensing. In this Review, we summarize the basic knowledge on CQDs and GQDs before focusing on their application to sensing thus far followed by a discussion of future directions for research into CQDs- and GQD-based nanomaterials in sensing. With regard to the latter, the authors suggest that with the potential of these nanomaterials in sensing more research is needed on understanding their optical properties and why the synthetic methods influence their properties so much, into methods of surface functionalization that provide greater selectivity in sensing and into new sensing concepts that utilize the virtues of these nanomaterials to give us new or better sensors that could not be achieved in other ways.

Phosphate Modified Screen Printed Electrodes by LIFT Treatment for Glucose Detection

The design of new materials as active layers is important for electrochemical sensor and biosensor development. Among the techniques for the modification and functionalization of electrodes, the laser induced forward transfer (LIFT) has emerged as a powerful physisorption method for the deposition of various materials (even labile materials like enzymes) that results in intimate and stable contact with target surface. In this work, Pt, Au, and glassy carbon screen printed electrodes (SPEs) treated by LIFT with phosphate buffer have been characterized by scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy to reveal a flattening effect of all surfaces. The electrochemical characterization by cyclic voltammetry shows significant differences depending on the electrode material. The electroactivity of Au is reduced while that of glassy carbon and Pt is greatly enhanced. In particular, the electrochemical behavior of a phosphate LIFT treated Pt showed a marked enrichment of hydrogen adsorbed layer, suggesting an elevated electrocatalytic activity towards glucose oxidation. When Pt electrodes modified in this way were used as an effective glucose sensor, a 1–10 mM linear response and a 10 µM detection limit were obtained. A possible role of phosphate that was securely immobilized on a Pt surface, as evidenced by XPS analysis, enhancing the glucose electrooxidation is discussed.

A Ratiometric Fluorescence Universal Platform Based on N, Cu Codoped Carbon Dots to Detect Metabolites Participating in H2O2-Generation Reactions

In this work, a new kind of N, Cu codoped carbon dots (N/Cu-CDs) was prepared via a facile one-pot hydrothermal method by using citric acid monohydrate, copper acetate monohydrate and diethylenetriamine. The prepared N/Cu-CDs with a high quantum yield (50.1%) showed excitation-independent emission at 460 nm. The structure and fluorescence properties of N/Cu-CDs were characterized by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, fluorescence spectrofluorometer, FT-IR spectrometer, UV-visible spectrophotometer and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. N/Cu-CDs were applied to establishing a ratiometric fluorescence probe toward H₂O₂ based on the inner filter effect (IFE) between N/Cu-CDs and DAP (2,3-diaminophenazine, the oxidative product of o-phenylenediamine (OPD)), and provided a ratiometric fluorescence universal platform for detection of the metabolites participating in H₂O₂-generation reactions (cholesterol and xanthine). The proposed method was demonstrated to be ultrasensitive and highly selective for cholesterol and xanthine assay with detection limits of 0.03 and 0.10 μM, respectively. The fluorescence probe built was applied to the determination of cholesterol and xanthine in human serum with satisfactory results.

Gram-Scale Synthesis of Hydrophilic PEI-Coated AgInS2 Quantum Dots and Its Application in Hydrogen Peroxide/Glucose Detection and Cell Imaging

Assisted with polyethylenimine, 4.0 L of water-soluble AgInS₂ quantum dots (AIS QDs) were successfully synthesized in an electric pressure cooker. As-prepared QDs exhibit yellow emission with a photoluminescence (PL) quantum yield up to 32%. The QDs also show excellent water/buffer stability. The highly luminescent AIS QDs are used to explore their dual-functional behavior: detection of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)/glucose and cell imaging. The amino-functionalized AIS QDs show high sensitivity and specificity for H₂O₂ and glucose with detection limits of 0.42 and 0.90 μM, respectively. A linear correlation was established between PL intensity and concentration of H₂O₂ in the ranges of 0.5-10 μM and 10-300 μM, while the linear ranges were 1-10 μM and 10-1000 μM for detection of glucose. The AIS QDs reveal negligible cytotoxicity on HeLa cells. Furthermore, the luminescence of AIS QDs gives the function of optical imaging.