Current Analytical Chemistry - Volume 15, Issue 2, 2019

Background: Graphene and its derivatives, as most promising carbonic nanomaterials have been widely used in design and making electrochemical sensors and biosensors. Graphene quantum dots are one of the members of this family which have been mostly known as fluorescent nanomaterials and found extensive applications due to their remarkable optical properties. Quantum confinement and edge effects in their structures also cause extraordinary electrochemical properties. Objective: Recently, graphene quantum dots besides graphene oxides and reduced graphene oxides have been applied for modification of the electrodes too and exposed notable effects in electrochemical responses. Here, we are going to consider these significant effects through reviewing some of the recent published works.

Background: The widespread applications of sulphonamides, as antibacterial or antimicrobial agents, and their mechanism of actions in the body, have changed their determination to an important issue in the area of human health. Objective: Here, history of developing voltammetric sensors based on nanomaterials for the detection of sulfonamides including sulfadiazine, sulfamethoxazole, sulfacetamide, sulfadimethoxine, sulfathiazole, sulfamethiazole and sulfamerazine is reviewed. Modified electrodes based on various nanomaterials (carbonaceous nanomaterials, Metallic Nanoparticles (MNPs), conducting nanopolymers) have been reported, and studies showed that nanomaterials have been mostly used to overcome problems like the poor sensitivity and selectivity of bare electrodes. The study covers the properties of each sensor in detail, and reports and compares the linear ranges, Limits of Detection (LODs), reproducibility, and reusability of the electrodes reported so far.

Background: Nanomaterials have numerous potential applications in many areas such as electronics, optoelectronics, catalysis and composite materials. Particularly, one dimensional (1D) nanomaterials such as nanobelts, nanorods, and nanotubes can be used as either functional materials or building blocks for hierarchical nanostructures. 1D nanostructure plays a very important role in sensor technology. Objective: In the current review, our efforts are directed toward recent review on the use of 1D nanostructure materials which are used in the literature for developing high-performance gas sensors with fast response, quick recovery time and low detection limit. This mini review also focuses on the methods of synthesis of 1D nanostructural sensor array, sensing mechanisms and its application in sensing of different types of toxic gases which are fatal for human mankind. Particular emphasis is given to the relation between the nanostructure and sensor properties in an attempt to address structure-property correlations. Finally, some future research perspectives and new challenges that the field of 1D nanostructure sensors will have to address are also discussed.

Background: Modified electrodes are a new approach to improving the characteristics of the electrochemical sensors. The high conductivity and low charge transfer resistance are the major properties of new mediators for improving electrochemical sensors. Metal-based nanoparticles showed good electrical conductivity and can be selected as the suitbale mediator for modified electrodes. Objective: Recently, metal-based nanoparticles, such as Au nanoparticle, TiO2 nanoparticle, Fe3O4 nanoparticle and etc. were suggested as the suitable mediator for modification of solid electrodes. The high surface area and low charge transfer resistance of metal-based nanoparticles, suggested the exceptional intermediate in the electrochemical sensors. Here, we tried to consider these exceptional effects through reviewing some of the recently published works.

Background: The new progress in electronic devices has provided a great opportunity for advancing electrochemical instruments by which we can more easily solve many problems of interest for trace analysis of compounds, with a high degree of accuracy, precision, sensitivity, and selectivity. On the other hand, in recent years, there is a significant growth in the application of nanomaterials for the construction of nanosensors due to enhanced chemical and physical properties arising from discrete modified nanomaterial-based electrodes or microelectrodes. Objective: Combination of the advanced electrochemical system and nanosensors make these devices very suitable for the high-speed analysis, as motioning and portable devices. This review will discuss the recent developments and achievements that have been reported for trace measurement of drugs and toxic compounds for environment, food and health application.

Background: The development of novel nanostructures for pharmaceutical analysis has received great attention. Biosensors are a class of analytical techniques competent in the rapid quantification of drugs. Recently, the nanostructures have been applied for modification of biosensors. Objective: The goal of the present study is to review novel nanostructures for pharmaceutical analysis by biosensors. Method: In this review, the application of different biosensors was extensively discussed. Results: Biosensors based nanostructures are a powerful alternative to conventional analytical techniques, enabling highly sensitive, real-time, and high-frequency monitoring of drugs without extensive sample preparation. Several examples of their application have been reported. Conclusion: The present paper reviews the recent advances on the pharmaceutical analysis of biosensor based nanostructures.

Background: Until now, several methods such as spectroscopic methods and chromatographic techniques have been developed for the determination of biomolecules, drug or heavy metals. Nevertheless, the crucial interference problems are present in these methods. Due to these reasons, more sensitive, favorable portability, low-cost, simple and selective sensors based on nanocomposites are needed in terms of health safety. In the development of electrochemical nanosensor, the nanomaterials such as graphene/graphene oxide, carbon and carbon nitride nanotubes are utilized to improve the sensitivity. Objective: The nanomaterials such as graphene/graphene oxide, carbon and carbon nitride nanotubes have important advantages such as high surface area, electrical conductivity, thermal and mechanical stability. Hence, we presented the highly selective methods for sensitive sensor applications by molecular imprinting technology in literature. This technology is a polymerization method around target molecule. This method provides the specific cavities to analyte molecule on the polymer surface. Hence, the selective sensor is easily created for biomedical and other applications. Novel electrochemical sensors based on nanocomposite whose surface is coated with Molecular Imprinting Polymer (MIP) are developed and then applied to the selective and sensitive detection in this study. Until now, we have presented several reports about nanocomposite based sensor with MIP.

Background: Simultaneous analysis of epinephrine and tyrosine as two effective and important biological compounds in human blood and urine samples are very important for the investigation of human health. Objective: In this research, a highly effective voltammetric sensor fabricated for simultaneous analysis of epinephrine and tyrosine. The sensor was fabricated by the modification of glassy carbon electrode with ZnO-Pt/CNTs nanocomposite (ZnO-Pt/CNTs/GCE). The synthesized nanocomposite was characterized by SEM method. The ZnO-Pt/CNTs/GCE showed two separated oxidation signals at potential ~220 mV and 700 mV for epinephrine and tyrosine, respectively. Also, we detected linear dynamic ranges 0.5-250.0 μM and 1.0-220 μM with a limit of detections 0.1 μM and 0.5 μM for the determination of epinephrine and tyrosine, respectively. The ZnO-Pt/CNTs/GCE was used for the determination of epinephrine and tyrosine in blood serum and human urine samples.

Background: Antioxidants are one of the important additives in food samples due to their role in protecting human cells against the effects of free radicals. The analysis of antioxidants is essential due to the role of antioxidants in improving body health. Objective: A square wave voltammetric sensor was fabricated for the determination of tert-butylhydroxyanisole (TBHA) based on the application of CdO/SWCNTs and 1-methyl-3-butylimidazolium chloride as mediators for the modification of carbon paste electrode (MBCl/CdO/SWCNTs/CPE). The MBCl/CdO/SWCNTs/CPE improved the sensitivity of TBHA ~ 6.7 times and showed a linear dynamic range 0.07-600 μM with detection limit 0.02 μA for the analysis of TBHA. The pH investigation confirmed that electro-oxidation of TBHA occurred by exchanging two electrons and two protons. In addition, the MBCl/CdO/SWCNTs/CPE was used for determination of TBHA in food samples.

Background: The mycophenolate mofetil is an immunosuppressant drug with wide application in the treatment of cancer and prevent rejection in organ transplantation. This drug showed many sides effects for pregnant women and determination of this drug is very important in the human body. Objective: A new electrochemical strategy was described for analysis of Mycophenolate Mofetil (MMF) using novel voltammetric sensor. The sensor was fabricated using NiO/SWCNTs and 1-methyl- 3-butylimidazolium bromide as two conductive mediators for modification of carbon paste electrode (NiO/SWCNTs/MBBr/CPE). The NiO/SWCNTs/MBBr/CPE can be used for analysis of MMF in aqueous buffer solution in the concentration range of 0.08-900 μM. In addition, the NiO/SWCNTs/ MBBr/CPE reduced oxidation over-potential of MMF ~ 80 mV and increased the oxidation current of MMF ~ 2.85 times. In the final step, NiO/SWCNTs/MBBr/CPE was used for determination of MMF in pharmaceutical serum and tablet samples.