Graphene dispersed cellulose microfibers composite for efficient immobilization of hemoglobin and selective biosensor for detection of hydrogen peroxide

© 2017 Elsevier B.V. In the present work, we have investigated the electrochemical behavior and electrocatalysis of hemoglobin (Hb) immobilized on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with a graphene-cellulose microfiber (GR–CMF) composite. The GR–CMF composite was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, elemental analysis, and Raman and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Well-defined electrochemical redox characteristics of Hb were observed for Hb immobilized on a GR–CMF composite modified GCE, with a formal potential of −0.306V and a peak to peak separation of approximately 67 mV. Due to the high biocompatibility of the GR–CMF composite, the electrochemical behavior of the Hb heme redox couple (FeII/FeIII) was enhanced for Hb immobilized on the GR–CMF composite when compared to Hb immobilized on pristine GR. The heterogeneous electron transfer constant (ks) was calculated as 6.17 s−1, and is higher than previously reported for Hb immobilized GR supports. The Hb immobilized GR–CMF composite modified electrode was used for the quantification of H2O2 under optimal conditions, and shows a wider linear amperometric response ranging from 0.05 to 926 M. The limit of detection of the biosensor was 0.01 M with the sensitivity of 0.49 A M−1 cm−2. The biosensor also showed high selectivity in the presence of the range of interfering compounds and exhibits good operational stability and practicality in the detection of H2O2

A non-enzymatic amperometric hydrogen peroxide sensor based on iron nanoparticles decorated reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite

© 2016 Elsevier Inc. A simple and facile green process was used for the synthesis of iron nanoparticles (FeNPs) decorated reduced graphene oxide (rGO) nanocomposite by using Ipomoea pes-tigridis leaf extract as a reducing and stabilizing agent. The as-prepared rGO/FeNPs nanocomposite was characterized by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The nanocomposite was further modified on the glassy carbon electrode and used for non-enzymatic sensing of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Cyclic voltammetry results reveal that rGO/FeNPs nanocomposite has excellent electro-reduction behavior to H2O2 when compared to the response of FeNPs and rGO modified electrodes. Furthermore, the nanocomposite modified electrode shows 9 and 6 folds enhanced reduction current response to H2O2 than that of rGO and FeNPs modified electrodes. Amperometric method was further used to quantify the H2O2 using rGO/FeNPs nanocomposite, and the response was linear over the concentration ranging from 0.1 μM to 2.15 mM. The detection limit and sensitivity of the sensor were estimated as 0.056 μM and 0.2085 μA μM−1 cm−2, respectively. The fabricated sensor also utilized for detection of H2O2 in the presence of potentially active interfering species, and found high selectivity towards H2O2

Novel electrochemical synthesis of copper oxide nanoparticles decorated graphene-β-cyclodextrin composite for trace-level detection of antibiotic drug metronidazole

Over the past decades, the synthesis of inorganic and organic nanocomposites has received much attention in the range of fields including electroanalysis of organic chemicals. In this regard, we have prepared copper oxide nanoparticle (CuO NPs) decorated graphene/β-cyclodextrin (GR-β-CD) composites using a simple electrochemical methodology, where the CuO NPs are electrodeposited on GR-β-CD composite modified electrodes. A stable GR-β-CD composite was prepared by sonication of GR in β-CD aqueous solution. As-prepared GR-β-CD/CuO NPs composites were characterized by the high-resolution scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Raman spectroscopy. Cyclic voltammetry results reveal that the GR-β-CD/CuO NPs composite modified electrode exhibits an excellent catalytic activity and lower reduction potential towards the electrochemical detection of metronidazole (MTZ) over other modified electrodes including GR, GR-β-CD, and CuO NPs. Under optimized conditions, amperometry was used for the determination of MTZ using GR-β-CD/CuO NPs composite modified electrodes. The response of MTZ using the composite electrodes was linear over the range from 0.002 to 210.0 µM. This sensor showed the lowest limit of detection of 0.6 nM and was much lower than the previously reported MTZ sensors. In addition, the sensor is highly sensitive, selective and durable in the presence of a range of potentially interfering electroactive compounds

Preparation and characterization of a novel hybrid hydrogel composite of chitin stabilized graphite: Application for selective and simultaneous electrochemical detection of dihydroxybenzene isomers in water

The development of new and robust sensors for real-time monitoring of environmental pollutants have received much attention. Therefore, in the present work, we have fabricated a simple and robust electrochemical sensor for the simultaneous electrochemical determination of dihydroxybenzene isomers using chitin (CHI) stabilized graphite (GR) hydrogel composite modified electrode. The GR-CHI hydrogel composite was prepared by a simple sonication of raw GR in CHI solution and the as-prepared materials were characterized by range of physicochemical methods. Compared with CHI and GR modified electrodes, the GR-CHI hydrogel composite modified electrode shows an excellent electron transfer ability and enhanced electrocatalytic activity towards hydroquinone (HQ), catechol (CC) and resorcinol (RC). Differential pulse voltammetry was used for the simultaneous determination of HQ, CC and RC. Under optimized conditions, the fabricated electrode detects the HQ, CC and RC in the linear response from 0.2 to 110.6 µM, 0.3 to 110.6 µM and 1.3 to 133.4 µM, respectively. The detection limit for HQ, CC and RC were 0.065 µM, 0.085 µM and 0.35 µM, respectively. The sensor shows its appropriate practicality towards the determination of HQ, CC and RC in different water samples

A novel and disposable amperometric hydrazine sensor based on polydimethyldiallylamine stabilized copper(II)hexacyanoferrate nanocubes modified screen-printed carbon electrode

© 2017 The Authors. A cubic shaped copper(II)hexacyanoferrate was prepared by wet chemical method by mixing an equimolar concentration of CuCl 2 with K 3 [Fe(CN) 6 ] 2 in the presence of poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA). The X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, elementa l analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermal gravimetric analysis were used to confirm the formation of PDDA stabilized copper(II)hexacyanoferrate nanocubes (PDDA@copper(II)hexacyanoferrate nanocubes). The electrocatalytic behavior of the PDDA@copper(II)hexacyanoferrate nanocubes modified screenprinted carbon electrode (SPCE) towards electrochemical oxidation of hydrazine was studied by cyclic voltammetry (CV). The CV results revealed that PDDA@copper(II)hexacyanoferrate nanocubes modified SPCE exhibits an enhanced electrocatalytic activity and lower oxidation potential towards hydrazine than bare SPCE. Under optimized conditions, amperometric i-t method was used for the determination hydrazine, and PDDA@copper(II)hexacyanoferrate nanocubes modified SPCE can able to detect hydrazine in the linear concentration ranges from 0.03 to 533.6 μM with a detection limit of 10 nM. The PDDA@copper(II)hexacyanoferrate nanocubes modified SPCE is highly selective in the presence of potentially active interfering compounds including high concentration of ascorbic acid. In addition, the developed hydrazine sensor shows acceptable practicality with excellent long-term stability towards the detection of hydrazine

A robust nitrobenzene electrochemical sensor based on chitin hydrogel entrapped graphite composite

© 2017 An amperometric nitrobenzene (NB) sensor has been developed based on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with the composite of chitin hydrogel stabilized graphite (GR-CHI) composite. The physicochemical characterization confirmed the formation of GR-CHI composite and was formed by the strong interaction between GR and CHI. Furthermore, GR-CHI composite modified GCE was used to study the electrochemical reduction behavior of NB by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and compared with GR and CHI modified GCEs. The CV results confirmed that GR-CHI composite modified electrode has high catalytic ability and lower reduction potential toward NB than other modified electrodes due to the combined unique properties of exfoliated GR and CHI. The GR-CHI composite modified electrode can be able to detect the NB in the linear response range from 0.1 to 594.6 µM with the lower detection limit of 37 nM by amperometric i–t method. The selectivity of the sensor is evaluated in the presence of nitroaromatic, biologically active and dihydroxybenzene compounds. The sensor shows appropriate practicality and good repeatability toward detection of NB in lab water samples

Increasing frailty is associated with higher prevalence and reduced recognition of delirium in older hospitalised inpatients: results of a multi-centre study

Purpose Delirium is a neuropsychiatric disorder delineated by an acute change in cognition, attention, and consciousness. It is common, particularly in older adults, but poorly recognised. Frailty is the accumulation of deficits conferring an increased risk of adverse outcomes. We set out to determine how severity of frailty, as measured using the CFS, affected delirium rates, and recognition in hospitalised older people in the United Kingdom. Methods Adults over 65 years were included in an observational multi-centre audit across UK hospitals, two prospective rounds, and one retrospective note review. Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS), delirium status, and 30-day outcomes were recorded. Results The overall prevalence of delirium was 16.3% (483). Patients with delirium were more frail than patients without delirium (median CFS 6 vs 4). The risk of delirium was greater with increasing frailty [OR 2.9 (1.8–4.6) in CFS 4 vs 1–3; OR 12.4 (6.2–24.5) in CFS 8 vs 1–3]. Higher CFS was associated with reduced recognition of delirium (OR of 0.7 (0.3–1.9) in CFS 4 compared to 0.2 (0.1–0.7) in CFS 8). These risks were both independent of age and dementia. Conclusion We have demonstrated an incremental increase in risk of delirium with increasing frailty. This has important clinical implications, suggesting that frailty may provide a more nuanced measure of vulnerability to delirium and poor outcomes. However, the most frail patients are least likely to have their delirium diagnosed and there is a significant lack of research into the underlying pathophysiology of both of these common geriatric syndromes

DNA mechanocapsules for programmable piconewton responsive drug delivery

Abstract The mechanical dysregulation of cells is associated with a number of disease states, that spans from fibrosis to tumorigenesis. Hence, it is highly desirable to develop strategies to deliver drugs based on the “mechanical phenotype” of a cell. To achieve this goal, we report the development of DNA mechanocapsules (DMC) comprised of DNA tetrahedrons that are force responsive. Modeling shows the trajectory of force-induced DMC rupture and predicts how applied force spatial position and orientation tunes the force-response threshold. DMCs functionalized with adhesion ligands mechanically denature in vitro as a result of cell receptor forces. DMCs are designed to encapsulate macromolecular cargos such as dextran and oligonucleotide drugs with minimal cargo leakage and high nuclease resistance. Force-induced release and uptake of DMC cargo is validated using flow cytometry. Finally, we demonstrate force-induced mRNA knockdown of HIF-1α in a manner that is dependent on the magnitude of cellular traction forces. These results show that DMCs can be effectively used to target biophysical phenotypes which may find useful applications in immunology and cancer biology