A new strategy for the sensitive electrochemical determination of nitrophenol isomers using ß-cyclodextrin derivative-functionalized silicon carbide.

In the present study, thiol ß-cyclodextrin (SH-CD) and ethylenediamine ß-cyclodextrin (NH2-ß-CD) were simultaneously grafted on the same interface of an Au NP deposited carboxyl SiC (Au@CSiC) nanocomposite. An electrochemical sensor for the simultaneous determination of nitrophenol isomers (o-nitrophenol, o-NP; p-nitrophenol, p-NP) using SH-CD and NH2-ß-CD functionalized Au@SiC (Au@CSiC-SH/NH2-CD) nanocomposite was successfully constructed. Differential pulse voltammetry was used to quantify o-NP and p-NP within the concentration range of 0.01-150 µM under the optimal conditions. The detection limit (S/N = 3) of the sensor was 0.019 and 0.023 µM for o-NP and p-NP, respectively, indicating a low detection limit. Interference study results demonstrated that the sensor was not affected in the presence of similar aromatic compounds during the determination of NP isomers, showing high selectivity. The proposed electrochemical sensing platform was successfully used to determine NP isomers in tap water. The low detection limit and high selectivity of the proposed electrochemical sensor were caused by the high surface area, the excellent conductivity, and the more recognized (enriched) NP isomer molecules by SH-ß-CD and NH2-ß-CD of the Au@CSiC-SH/NH2-CD nanocomposite.

Bridged ß-cyclodextrin-functionalized MWCNT with higher supramolecular recognition capability: the simultaneous electrochemical determination of three phenols.

A rapid and sensitive electrochemical sensor based on disulfides bridged ß-cyclodextrin dimer-functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotube (DBß-CD-MWCNT) nanohybrids with higher supramolecular recognition capability was successfully constructed for the first time. Simultaneous trace analysis of three phenols (4-aminophenol, 4-AP; 4-chlorophenol, 4-CP; 4-nitrophenol, 4-NP) in tap-water and wastewater samples was performed based on the constructed sensor. Cyclic voltammetry, differential pulse voltammetry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were utilized to characterize the properties of the modified electrode. The proposed DBß-CD-MWCNT-modified electrode displayed electrochemical signal superior to those of ß-CD-MWCNT and MWCNT towards 4-AP, 4-CP, and 4-NP. Under optimal conditions, differential pulse voltammetry was used to simultaneously quantify 4-AP, 4-CP, and 4-NP within the concentration range of 0.01-20, 0.1-200, and 0.1-200 µM, respectively. The detection limits (S/N=3) of the DBß-CD-MWCNT nanohybrid electrode for 4-AP, 4-CP, and 4-NP were 0.0042, 0.028, and 0.048 µM, respectively. Satisfactory results revealed that this proposed electrochemical sensor can provide a promising candidate for the simultaneous trace analysis of 4-AP, 4-CP, and 4-NP in environmental monitoring of water and wastewater samples. The present work might broaden the channel toward the application of bridged CD in the electrochemical sensing or biosensing.

Dual ß-cyclodextrin functionalized Au@SiC nanohybrids for the electrochemical determination of tadalafil in the presence of acetonitrile.

This finding described the electrochemical detection of tadalafil based on CM-ß-cyclodextrin and SH-ß-cyclodextrin functionalized Au@SiC nanohybrids film. The tadalafil electrochemical signal could be dramatically amplified by introducing 40% of acetonitrile in buffer medium and further enhanced by the host-guest molecular recognition capacity of ß-cyclodextrin. Uniform and monodispersed ~5.0 nm Au NPs were anchored on the SiC-NH2 surface via a chemical reduction process by using polyethylene glycol and sodium citrate as dispersant and stabilizing agent. CM-ß-CD was covalently bound on Au@SiC by combining the amine group of SiC-NH2 with the carboxyl group of CM-ß-CD with the aid of EDC/NHS coupling agent. SH-ß-CD could tightly attach to the surface of Au@SiC by the strong coordinating capability between Au and thiol. Differential pulse voltammetry was successfully used to quantify tadalafil within the concentration range of 0.01-100 µM under optimal conditions with a detection limit (S/N = 3) of 2.5 nM. In addition, the ß-CD-Au@SiC nanohybrid electrochemical sensor showed high selectivity to two other erectile dysfunction drugs sildenafil and vardenafil. The proposed electrochemical sensing platform was successfully used to determine tadalafil in raw materials, herbal sexual health products, and spiked human serum samples.

A highly sensitive electrochemical sensor for simultaneous determination of hydroquinone and bisphenol A based on the ultrafine Pd nanoparticle@TiO2 functionalized SiC.

A titanium dioxide-silicon carbide nanohybrid (TiO2-SiC) with enhanced electrochemical performance was successfully prepared through a facile generic in situ growth strategy. Monodispersed ultrafine palladium nanoparticles (Pd NPs) with a uniform size of ∼2.3 nm were successfully obtained on the TiO2-SiC surface via a chemical reduction method. The Pd-loaded TiO2-SiC nanohybrid (Pd@TiO2-SiC) was characterized by transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffractometry. A method for the simultaneous electrochemical determination of hydroquinone (HQ) and bisphenol A (BPA) using a Pd@TiO2-SiC nanocomposite-modified glassy carbon electrode was established. Utilizing the favorable properties of Pd NPs, the Pd@TiO2-SiC nanohybrid-modified glassy carbon electrode exhibited electrochemical performance superior to those of TiO2-SiC and SiC. Differential pulse voltammetry was successfully used to simultaneously quantify HQ and BPA within the concentration range of 0.01-200 µM under optimal conditions. The detection limits (S/N=3) of the Pd@TiO2-SiC nanohybrid electrode for HQ and BPA were 5.5 and 4.3 nM, respectively. The selectivity of the electrochemical sensor was improved by introducing 10% ethanol to the buffer medium. The practical application of the modified electrode was demonstrated by the simultaneous detection of HQ and BPA in tap water and wastewater samples. The simple and straightforward strategy presented in this paper are important for the facile fabrication of ultrafine metal NPs@metal oxide-SiC hybrids with high electrochemical performance and catalytic activity.

Label-free electrochemical immunosensor based on gold-silicon carbide nanocomposites for sensitive detection of human chorionic gonadotrophin.

Uniform and highly dispersed gold-silicon carbide (Au@SiC) nanocomposites were prepared via simple way and used for fabrication of label-free electrochemical immunosensor for sensitive detection of human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG). Using Au@SiC as electrode material and using ferricyanide as mediator, the proposed immunosensor provides a simple and economic method with higher sensitivity and a wider concentration range for detection of hCG. Under the optimal condition, the approach provided a good linear response range from 0.1 to 5 IU/L and 5 to 1000 IU/L with a low detection limit of 0.042 IU/L. The immunosensor showed good selectivity, acceptable stability and reproducibility. Satisfactory results were obtained for determination of hCG in human serum samples. The proposed method provides a promising platform of clinical immunoassay for other biomolecules. In addition, the bio-functionalization of SiC combined with other nanomaterials will provide promising approach for electrochemical sensing and biosensing platform.