An ultrasensitive electrochemical aptasensor based on a single-stranded aptamer-Au@Fe-MIL-88 complex using methylene blue as an electrochemical probe for insulin detection.

This work introduces an electrochemical aptasensor based on a single-stranded aptamer-Au@Fe-MIL-88 complex for sensitive and selective determination of insulin using differential pulls voltammetry. Au@Fe-MIL-88 with a large surface area was synthesized and employed as a suitable substrate for immobilization of the aptamer (APT-Au@Fe-MIL-88). Methylene blue (MB), as an electrochemical probe, was intercalated into the aptamer. Graphene oxide (GO) and zinc sulfide (ZnS) were placed on the Au electrode to amplify the MB current. Also, ZnS improves the immobilization of APT-Au@Fe-MIL-88 into the aptasensor through the strong interaction of Au-S. In the presence of the insulin, MB is released from the aptamer due to DNA conformational change, and as a result, the peak intensity of the intercalated MB was decreased. Under optimal conditions, the change in the current of MB was proportional to the insulin concentration in the range of 5.0 × 10-16-5.0 × 10-11 mol L-1, with a superior ultra-low detection limit of 1.3 × 10-16 mol L-1. It was observed that the aptasensor is suitable for determining insulin in serum samples with good sensitivity and reproducibility and with recoveries ranging from 96.4 to 102.0%. The relative standard deviations (RSD) were lower than 3.8% (n = 3).

A novel three-dimensional network of CuCr2O4/CuO nanofibers for voltammetric determination of anticancer drug methotrexate.

Considering the importance of measuring anticancer drugs, a carbon paste electrode (CPE) modified with CuCr2O4/CuO nanofibers in the presence of hydrophobic ionic liquid (IL) was fabricated for methotrexate (MTX) sensing. CuCr2O4/CuO nanofibers were prepared by electrospinning method. Then, the morphology and structure of the nanofibers were studied by scanning electron microscopy, thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction, energy-dispersive X-ray, map analysis, and FT-IR spectroscopy. The electrochemical behavior of MTX at CuCr2O4/CuO/IL/CPE surface was studied using cyclic voltammetry, differential pulse voltammetry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. After optimization of the experimental parameters, the prepared sensor showed a low detection limit of 25 nM MTX, based on signal-to-noise (S/N = 3), and it can determine in a wide range of 0.1-300 µM in Britton-Robinson buffer solution at pH 2.5. The modified electrode was used to determine MTX concentration in blood and urine samples with good recoveries of 94.1-104.3. This sensor has several advantages such as low cost, easy preparation, high-performance speed and high sensitivity, selectivity, stability, and repeatability. Graphical abstract Scheme of preparation of CuCr2O4/CuO nanofibers by electrospinning method and design of a carbon past electrode using prepared nanofibers (CuCr2O4/CuO/IL/CPE). This electrode was used for methotrexate determination in plasma and urine samples using differential pulse voltammetry.