Synthesis and characterization of NiFe 2 O 4 nanoparticles using the hydrothermal method as magnetic catalysts for electrochemical detection of norepinephrine in the presence of folic acid

3D printing of electrochemical cell for voltammetric detection and photodegradation monitoring of folic acid in juice samples

In this study, compact 3D-printed carbon black (CB) electrodes were manufactured for using in folic acid (FA) analysis in fruit samples. Before application in FA analysis, the electrode surfaces were characterized by high-resolution scanning electron microscopy and voltammetry using well-known redox probes. Square wave voltammetric study presented linear responses in the range between 10 and 200 µmol/L (R2 > 0.99), exhibited a suitable detection limit (LOD) of ∼ 5.1 µmol/L and acceptable performance in terms of reproducibility and anti-interference experiments. The analysis of FA in four different food samples using the proposed method agreed statistically with a comparative technique based on spectrophotometric measurements. Moreover, results from photostability experiments indicated that FA can be degraded after 5 and 20 min of UV exposure. These results successfully demonstrated the analytical feasibility of the 3D-printed electrodes as sensing material and for monitoring the photostability of FA in different fruit matrices.

Fabrication of a novel sensor based on Cu quantum dot and SH-SiO2 nanoparticles supported on copper-based metal organic framework (Cu QD-SH-SiO2@Cu-MOF) and its application for the simultaneous determination of norepinephrine, piroxicam and epinephrine

In this research, a novel electrochemical sensor with excellent sensitivity was fabricated based on Cu quantum dot (Cu QD) and SH-SiO2 nanoparticles immobilized on copper-metal-organic frameworks (Cu-MOFs) for determining piroxicam and simultaneous determination of norepinephrine, piroxicam and epinephrine. The nanoparticles were synthesized and characterized using FT-IR, EDX, FESEM, TEM and BET, and were subsequently used to modify carbon paste electrode. Cu QD-SH-SiO2@Cu-MOF for electrode modification possesses a distinctive structure and a high conductivity that raises the electron transfer rate and enhances the performance of electrochemical sensors. Square wave voltammetry was applied to investigate the redox properties of Cu QD-SH-SiO2@Cu-MOF/CPE, voltammograms showed three distinct anodic peaks at 0.41, 0.62 and 1.06 V in the presence of norepinephrine, piroxicam, and epinephrine. Various experimental parameters including the type and pH of electrolyte and scan rate were investigated. The calibration graph was obtained over the range 0.2-34285.0 μM including three linear segments. Also, the limit of detection was calculated as 0.05 μM of piroxicam. The introduced sensor was satisfactorily utilized for electrochemical determination of norepinephrine, piroxicam, and epinephrine in real samples. The obtained results using the introduced sensor were validated by high-performance liquid chromatography and the statistical tests confirmed the good agreement of them.

A Liquid Interfacial SERS Platform on a Nanoparticle Array Stabilized by Rigid Probes for the Quantification of Norepinephrine in Rat Brain Microdialysates

For the reliable determination of trace chemicals in the brain, we created a SERS platform based on a functionalized AuNPs array formed at a liquid/liquid interface in a uniform fashion over a large substrate area through ternary regulations for real-time quantification of trace norepinephrine (NE). The rigid molecule, 4-(thiophen-3-ylethynyl)-benzaldehyde (RP1) was designed and co-assembled at AuNPs with 4-mercaptophenylboronic acid (MPBA) to chemically define NE via dual recognition. Meanwhile, the rigid structure assembly of RP1 and MPBA efficiently fixed the interparticle gap, guaranteeing reproducible SERS analysis. Furthermore, the Raman peak of C≡C group in the silent region was taken as a response element to further improve the accuracy. Combined with microdialysis, this SERS platform was developed for in-the-field testing of NE in rat brain microdialysates following anxiety.

A review on analytical methods with special reference to electroanalytical methods for the determination of some anticancer drugs in pharmaceutical and biological samples

It is widely accepted that cancer, the second leading cause of death, is a morbidity with big impacts on the global health. In the last few years, chemo-therapeutic treatment continually induces alone most lengthy consequents, which is extremely harmful for the physiological and psychological health of the patients. In the present research, we discuss the recent techniques for employed for extraction, and quantitative determination of such compounds in pharmaceutical, and biological specimens. In the frame of this information, this review aims to provide basic principles of chromatography, spectroscopy, and electroanalytical methods for the analysis of anticancer drugs published in the last three years. The review also describes the recent developments regarding enhancing the limit of detection (LOD), the linear dynamic range, and so forth. The results show that the LOD for the chromatographic techniques with the UV detector was obtained equaled over the range 2.0 ng mL^-1-0.2 μg mL^-1, whereas the LOD values for analysis by chromatographic technique with the mass spectrometry (MS) detector was found between 10.0 pg mL^-1-0.002 μg mL^-1. The biological fluids could be directly injected to capillary electrophoresis (CE) in cases where the medicine concentration is at the contents greater than mg L^-1 or g L^-1. Additionally, electrochemical detection of the anticancer drugs has been mainly conducted by the voltammetry techniques with diverse modified electrodes, and lower LODs were estimated between 3.0 ng mL^-1-0.3 μg mL^-1. It is safe to say that the analyses of anticancer drugs can be achieved by employing a plethora of techniques such as electroanalytical, spectroscopy, and chromatography techniques.

NiFe2O4 nanoparticles: an efficient and reusable catalyst for the selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde under mild conditions

Benzaldehyde is one of the most important and versatile organic chemicals for industrial applications. This study explores a milder approach for the fabrication of NiFe₂O₄ nanoparticles (NPs) for use as a catalyst in the selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde. A co-precipitation method coupled with hydrothermal aging has been adopted to synthesize NiFe₂O₄ NPs in the absence of any additive. Different techniques such as electron microscopy, diffractometry, and photoelectron spectroscopy have been used to characterize the products. The results showed that the synthesized NiFe₂O₄ NPs are spherical, pure, and highly crystalline with sizes below 12 nm possessing superparamagnetic behaviour. The catalytic activity of the synthesized NiFe₂O₄ NPs has been assessed in the selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol under ambient reaction conditions. A conversion of 85% benzyl alcohol with 100% selectivity has been attained with t-butyl hydroperoxide at 60 °C in 3 h. With the optimized reaction conditions, the generality of the newly developed protocol has been expanded to a wide array of substituted benzyl alcohols with good performance. The NiFe₂O₄ nanocatalysts are magnetically separable and are reusable up to five cycles without loss of catalytic activity.

Application of magnetic nanomaterials in electroanalytical methods: A review

Magnetic nanomaterials (MNMs) have gained high attention in different fields of studies due to their ferromagnetic/superparamagnetic properties and their low toxicity and high biocompatibility. MNMs contain magnetic elements such as iron and nickel in metallic, bimetallic, metal oxide, and mixed metal oxide. In electroanalytical methods, MNMs have been applied as sorbents for sample preparation before the electrochemical detection (sorbent role), as the electrode modifier (catalytic role), and the integration of the above two roles (as both sorbent and catalytic agent). In this paper, the application of MNMs in electroanalytical methods have been classified based on the main role of the nanomaterial and discussed separately. Furthermore, catalytic activities of MNMs in electroanalytical methods such as redox electrocatalytic, nanozymes catalytic (peroxidase, catalase activity, oxidase activity, superoxide dismutase activity), catalyst gate, and nanocontainer have been discussed.