Voltammetric paracetamol sensor using a gold electrode made from a digital versatile disc chip and modified with a hybrid material consisting of carbon nanotubes and copper nanoparticles

An Innovative Simple Electrochemical Levofloxacin Sensor Assembled from Carbon Paste Enhanced with Nano-Sized Fumed Silica

A new electrochemical sensor for the detection of levofloxacin (LV) was efficiently realized. The aim was to develop a new, cheap, and simple sensor for the detection of LV, which is used in various infections due to its pharmacological importance. It consists of carbon paste (CP) enhanced with nano-sized fumed silica (NFS). NFS has a very low bulk density and a large surface area. The carbon paste-enhanced NFS electrode (NFS/CPE) showed great electrocatalytic activity in the oxidation of 1.0 mM LV in Britton–Robinson buffer (BR) at pH values ranging from 3.0 to 8.0. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) were used; the peak current value (I_p) of the NFS/CPE sensor was 2.7 times that of the bare electrode, ensuring its high electrocatalytic activity. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was performed at a peak potential (E_p) of +1066 mV, yielding a resistance of 10 kΩ for the designed NFS/CPE sensor compared to 2461 kΩ for the bare electrode, indicating the high conductivity of the modified sensor and verifying the data observed using the CV technique. Surface descriptions were determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX). The variation in the concentration of LV (2.0 to 1000 µM) was considered in BR buffer (pH = 5.0) at a scan rate (SR) of 10 mV/s by the NFS/CPE. The detection and quantification limits were 0.09 µM and 0.30 µM, respectively. To evaluate the application of LV in real samples, this procedure was established on Quinostarmax 500 mg tablets and human plasma samples. Reasonable results were obtained for the detection of LV.

Application of Nanostructured Carbon-Based Electrochemical (Bio)Sensors for Screening of Emerging Pharmaceutical Pollutants in Waters and Aquatic Species: A Review

Pharmaceuticals, as a contaminant of emergent concern, are being released uncontrollably into the environment potentially causing hazardous effects to aquatic ecosystems and consequently to human health. In the absence of well-established monitoring programs, one can only imagine the full extent of this problem and so there is an urgent need for the development of extremely sensitive, portable, and low-cost devices to perform analysis. Carbon-based nanomaterials are the most used nanostructures in (bio)sensors construction attributed to their facile and well-characterized production methods, commercial availability, reduced cost, high chemical stability, and low toxicity. However, most importantly, their relatively good conductivity enabling appropriate electron transfer rates-as well as their high surface area yielding attachment and extraordinary loading capacity for biomolecules-have been relevant and desirable features, justifying the key role that they have been playing, and will continue to play, in electrochemical (bio)sensor development. The present review outlines the contribution of carbon nanomaterials (carbon nanotubes, graphene, fullerene, carbon nanofibers, carbon black, carbon nanopowder, biochar nanoparticles, and graphite oxide), used alone or combined with other (nano)materials, to the field of environmental (bio)sensing, and more specifically, to pharmaceutical pollutants analysis in waters and aquatic species. The main trends of this field of research are also addressed.

Disposable electrodes from waste materials and renewable sources for (bio)electroanalytical applications

The numerous advantages of disposable and screen-printed electrodes (SPEs) particularly in terms of portability, sensibility, sensitivity and low-cost led to the massive application of these electroanalytical devices. To limit the electronic waste and recover precious materials, new recycling processes were developed together with alternative SPEs fabrication procedures based on renewable, biocompatible sources or waste materials, such as paper, agricultural byproducts or spent batteries. The increased interest in the use of eco-friendly materials for electronics has given rise to a new generation of highly performing green modifiers. From paper based electrodes to disposable electrodes obtained from CD/DVD, in the last decades considerable efforts were devoted to reuse and recycle in the field of electrochemistry. Here an overview of recycled and recyclable disposable electrodes, sustainable electrode modifiers and alternative fabrication processes is proposed aiming to provide meaningful examples to redesign the world of disposable electrodes.

Voltammetric sensing based on the use of advanced carbonaceous nanomaterials: a review

This review (with 210 references) summarizes recent developments in the design of voltammetric chemical sensors and biosensors based on the use of carbon nanomaterials (CNMs). It is divided into subsections starting with an introduction into the field and a description of its current state. This is followed by a large section on various types of voltammetric sensors and biosensors using CNMs with subsections on sensors based on the use of carbon nanotubes, graphene, graphene oxides, graphene nanoribbons, fullerenes, ionic liquid composites with CNMs, carbon nanohorns, diamond nanoparticles, carbon dots, carbon nanofibers and mesoporous carbon. The third section gives conclusion and an outlook. Tables are presented on the application of such sensors to voltammetric detection of neurotransmitters, metabolites, dietary minerals, proteins, heavy metals, gaseous molecules, pharmaceuticals, environmental pollutants, food, beverages, cosmetics, commercial goods and drugs of abuse. The authors also describe advanced approaches for the fabrication of robust functional carbon nano(bio)sensors for voltammetric quantification of multiple targets. Graphical Abstract Featuring execellent electrical, catalytic and surface properies, CNMs have gained enormous attention for designing voltammetric sensors and biosensors. Functionalized CNM-modified electrode interfaces have demonstrated their prominent role in biological, environmental, pharmaceutical, chemical, food and industrial analysis.