Selective determination of dopamine in the presence of ascorbic acid at a multi-wall carbon nanotube-poly(3,5-dihydroxy benzoic acid) film modified electrode

A sensitive and selective method for determination of dopamine (DA) using multi-wall carbon nanotube (MWCNT)-poly(3,5-dihydroxy benzoic acid) [poly(DBA)] modified electrode is developed. The modified electrode shows excellent electrocatalytic activity toward the oxidation of dopamine in phosphate buffer solutions at pH 7.4. Using cyclic voltammetry, the linear range of 1 × 10⁻⁷–7.0 × 10⁻⁵ M in the interference of 500 μM ascorbic acid (AA) and the detection limit of 1.0 × 10⁻⁸ M were estimated for the measurement of DA in pH 7.4 phosphate buffer solutions. The value of DA current retained 98.36% of the initial response current after the modified electrode exposed to the air for one week. The interference studies showed that the modified electrode excludes effectively large excess of AA. The kinetic characteristics of the transfer of DA demonstrated that the electron propagation between DA and electrode was accelerated at MWCNT-poly(DBA) modified electrode. The work provided a valid and simple approach to selectively detect dopamine in the presence of AA in physiological environment.     

A differential pulse voltammetric method for simultaneous determination of ascorbic acid,dopamine, and uric acid using poly (3-(5-chloro-2-hydroxyphenylazo)-4,5-dihydroxynaphthalene-2,7-disulfonic acid) film modified glassy carbon electrode

A stable modified glassy carbon electrode based on the poly 3-(5-chloro-2-hydroxyphenylazo)-4,5-dihydroxynaphthalene-2,7-disulfonic acid (CDDA) film was prepared by electrochemical polymerization technique to investigate its electrochemical behavior by cyclic voltammetry. The properties of the electrodeposited films, during preparation under different conditions, and their stability were examined. The homogeneous rate constant, k_s, for the electron transfer between CDDA and glassy carbon electrode was calculated as 5.25(±0.20) × 10² cm s⁻¹. The modified electrode showed electrocatalytic activity toward ascorbic acid (AA), dopamine (DA), and uric acid (UA) oxidation in a buffer solution (pH 4.0) with a diminution of their overpotential of about 0.12, 0.35, and 0.50 V for AA, DA, and UA, respectively. An increase could also be observed in their peak currents. The modified glassy carbon electrode was applied to the electrocatalytic oxidation of DA, AA, and UA, which resolved the overlapping of the anodic peaks of DA, AA, and UA into three well-defined voltammetric peaks in differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). This modified electrode was quite effective not only for detecting DA, AA, and UA, but also for simultaneous determination of these species in a mixture. The separation of the oxidation peak potentials for ascorbic acid–dopamine and dopamine–uric acid were about 0.16 V and 0.17 V, respectively. The final DPV peaks potential of AA, DA and UA were 0.28, 0.44, and 0.61 V, respectively. The calibration curves for DA, AA, and UA were linear for a wide range of concentrations of each species including 5.0–240 μmol L⁻¹ AA, 5.0–280 μmol L⁻¹ DA, and 0.1–18.0 μmol L⁻¹ UA. Detection limits of 1.43 μmol L⁻¹ AA, 0.29 μmol L⁻¹ DA and 0.016 μmol L⁻¹ UA were observed at pH 4. Interference studies showed that the modified electrode exhibits excellent selectivity toward AA, DA, and UA.     

Voltammetric study of acetazolamide and its determination in human serum and urine using carbon paste electrode modified by gold nanoparticle

A carbon paste electrode modified with gold nanoparticle was prepared and used for low level acetazolamide (ACZ) determination in aqueous media. The measurement was made using differential pulse voltammetry. The influence of some experimental variables such as carbon paste composition, working solution pH, supporting electrolyte, scan rate, pulse amplitude and possible interferences were studied. The prepared and characterized modified carbon paste electrode demonstrated a linear current response over the concentration range between 0.01 μM and 80.0 μM ACZ, with a detection limit of 7.1 nM. The proposed sensor exhibited a high sensitivity and good selectivity and was applied for clinical evaluation of ACZ.     

Silver nanoparticles modified carbon nanotube paste electrode for simultaneous determination of dopamine and ascorbic acid

A novel modified carbon-paste electrode was employed for the simultaneous determination of dopamine (DA) and ascorbic acid (AA) with good selectivity and high sensitivity. Silver nanoparticle and carbon nanotube modified carbon-paste electrode (Ag/CNT–CPE) displayed excellent electrochemical catalytic activities towards dopamine (DA) and ascorbic acid (AA). The oxidation overpotentials of DA and AA were decreased significantly compared with those obtained at the bare CPE. Differential pulse voltammetry was used for the simultaneous determination of DA and AA. The peak separation between DA and AA was 67 mV. The calibration curves for DA and AA were obtained in the range of 8.0 × 10⁻⁷–6.4 × 10⁻⁵ M and 3.0 × 10⁻⁵–2.0 × 10⁻³ M, respectively. The lowest detection limits (S/N = 3) were 3.0 × 10⁻⁷ M and 1.2 × 10⁻⁵ M for DA and AA, respectively. Method was applied to the determination of DA and AA in real samples.     

The role of bromine adlayer at palladium electrode in the electrochemical oxidation of dopamine in alkaline solution

A palladium electrode modified with bromine monolayer was fabricated throughout a spontaneous oxidative chemisorption of bromide ions contained in an alkaline solution. The surface coverage and the apparent double layer capacitance induced by the adsorption of bromide ions under the present applied potential indicates the formation of incomplete monolayer due to a prominent co-adsorption of hydroxyl ions (OH⁻). The film modified electrode exhibited a substantial reactivity and high sensitivity in the electrochemical oxidation of dopamine (DA) in the presence of ascorbic acid (AA) and uric acid (UA). This trend was attributed to the structure and the composition of the bromine adlayer which renders a partial negative charge capable of attracting selectively the cationic DA and repelling anionic AA and UA. The peak currents of DA in the binary and ternary mixtures were well-separated, well-defined and increased linearly with respect to its concentration. The interference property expected by the presence of both AA and UA has been advantageously eliminated at the bromine-adlayer modified electrode. The apparent diffusion coefficient value of DA was 1.37 × 10⁻⁸ m² s⁻¹, based on an amperometric current–time study. The present system provides a simple and fundamental approach for the simultaneous and selective determination of DA in the presence of AA and UA.     

Selective detection of dopamine based on the unique property of gold nanofilm

Gold nanofilm, with a nanoporous morphology, was found to have the unique property to catalyze the oxidization of ascorbic acid (AA) and dopamine (DA), resulting in the improved electrochemical behavior of the two species and a negative shift of the oxidization potential of AA for about 300 mV. The catalytic oxidization of gold nanofilm to AA is mainly ascribed to its high surface energy, while the enhanced electron transfer ability of DA on the gold nanofilm is attributed to the strong interaction between DA and the electrode surface. Based on the peak separation of DA and AA, selective detection of DA was achieved on the gold nanofilm modified electrode. Differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) techniques and cyclic voltammetry (CV) were used to investigate the electrochemical behavior of AA and DA on the surface of the electrode. Afterwards, the obtained gold nanofilm was applied in selective detection of dopamine (DA) in the presence of ascorbic acid (AA) at near neutral pH by DPV in the optimized conditions. The linear range for DA was 1.5–27.5 μM. The electrode also shows good stability during detection.     

Simultaneous determination of dopamine,ascorbic acid and uric acid on ordered mesoporous carbon/Nafion composite film

Here we report the selective, sensitive and simultaneous determination of dopamine (DA), ascorbic acid (AA) and uric acid (UA) on ordered mesoporous carbon (OMC)/Nafion composite film. Insoluble OMC was dispersed into ethanol in the presence of 0.5% Nafion, resulting in a stable and well-distributed OMC/Nafion suspension. After evaporation of ethanol, a uniform OMC/Nafion composite film-coated glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was achieved by simple casting deposition. The OMC/Nafion electrode shows ideal reversibility in 5 mM K₃[Fe(CN)₆] in the range of 0.02–0.50 V s⁻¹, indicating a fast electron-transfer kinetics. Moreover, due to the strong catalytic function of OMC, the overlapping voltammetric response of DA, AA and UA is well-resolved from each other with lowered oxidation potential and enhanced oxidation currents. The mechanism for the oxidation of AA, DA and UA at the OMC/Nafion film was also studied. By using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), detection limits of 0.5, 20 and 4.0 μM were obtained for DA, AA and UA, respectively. The practical application of the electrode is successfully demonstrated for the determination of DA, AA and UA simultaneously in standard and real samples, without any preliminary treatment.     

Amperometric determination of hydrogen peroxide on surface of a novel PbPCNF-modified carbon-ceramic electrode in acidic medium

This work describes the electrochemical behavior of lead pentacyanonitrosylferrate (PbPCNF) film immobilized on the surface of carbon-ceramic electrode (CCE) and its electrocatalytic activity toward the reduction of hydrogen peroxide in acidic medium. The electrode was prepared by electroless derivatization of Pb-doped carbon-ceramic electrode surface to the redox active PbPCNF solid film, in the presence of sodium pentacyanonitrosylferrate, Na₂[Fe(CN)₅NO], (PCNF). The morphology and the composition of the PbPCNF-modified CCE were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) techniques. Various experimental parameters influencing the electrochemical behavior of the modified electrode were optimized by varying the supporting electrolyte, potential scan rates and solution pH. The modified electrode showed an excellent electrocatalytic behavior toward the reduction of hydrogen peroxide in 0.5 M KNO₃ at pH 4. The sensor exhibited a good linear response for H₂O₂ concentration over the range 0.5–58.75 μM with a detection limit of 0.4 μM (S/N = 3). The interferences of dopamine (DA), uric acid (UA), and ascorbic acid (AA) were negligible in the determination of H₂O₂. The proposed sensor showed good stability, reproducibility and outstanding for long-term use.     

Electrochemical properties of a tetrabromo-p-benzoquinone modified carbon paste electrode. Application to the simultaneous determination of ascorbic acid,dopamine and uric acid

The electrochemical study of a tetrabromo-p-benzoquinone modified carbon paste electrode (TBQ-MCPE), as well as its efficiency for electrocatalytic oxidation of ascorbic acid, dopamine and uric acid, is described. Cyclic voltammetry was used to investigate the redox properties of this modified electrode at various solution pH values and at various scan rates. Three linear segments were found with slope values of ?58.4 mV/pH, ?28.1 mV/pH and 0.0 mV/pH in the pH range 2.0–7.1, pH 7.1–9.0 and pH 9.0–11.0, respectively. The apparent charge transfer rate constant, k_s, and transfer coefficient, α, for electron transfer between TBQ and CPE were calculated as 3.79 ± 0.10 s^?1 and 0.55, respectively. The electrode was also employed to study the electrocatalytic oxidation of AA, using cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry and differential pulse voltammetry as diagnostic techniques. It has been found that the oxidation of AA at the surface of TBQ-MCPE occurs at a potential of about 430 mV less positive than that of an unmodified CPE. The diffusion coefficient of AA was also estimated using chronoamperometry. The kinetic parameters such as the electron transfer coefficient, α, and heterogeneous rate constant, $k_{\mathrm{h}}^{\prime }$, for oxidation of AA at the TBQ-MCPE surface was determined using cyclic voltammetry. Differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) exhibits two linear dynamic ranges and a detection limit of 0.62 μM for AA. In DPV, the TBQ-MCPE could separate the oxidation peak potentials of AA, DA and UA present in the same solution, though at the unmodified CPE the peak potentials were indistinguishable. This modified electrode was quite effective not only to detect AA, DA and UA, but also in simultaneous determination of each component concentration in the mixture.     

Simultaneous determination of epinephrine and uric acid at a gold electrode modified by a 2-(2,3-dihydroxy phenyl)-1, 3-dithiane self-assembled monolayer

In the present paper, the use of a gold electrode modified by 2-(2,3-dihydroxy phenyl)-1,3-dithiane self-assembled monolayer (DPDSAM) for the determination of epinephrine (EP) and uric acid (UA) was described. Initially, cyclic voltammetry was used to investigate the redox properties of this modified electrode at various scan rates. The apparent charge transfer rate constant, k_s, and transfer coefficient, α, were calculated. Next, the mediated oxidation of EP at the modified electrode was described. At the optimum pH of 8.0, the oxidation of EP occurs at a potential about 155 mV less positive than that of an unmodified gold electrode. The values of electron transfer coefficients (α = 0.356), catalytic rate constant (k = 1.624 × 10⁴ M⁻¹ s⁻¹) and diffusion coefficient (D = 1.04 × 10⁻⁶ cm² s⁻¹) were calculated for EP, using electrochemical approaches. Based on differential pulse voltammetry, the oxidation of EP exhibited a dynamic range between 0.7 and 500.0 μM and a detection limit (3σ) of 0.51 μM. Furthermore, simultaneous determination of EP and UA at the modified electrode was described. Finally, this method was used for the determination of EP in EP ampoule.     

Carbon nanotube-intercalated graphite electrodes for simultaneous determination of dopamine and serotonin in the presence of ascorbic acid

The modified electrode was constructed by intercalating carbon nanotubes (CNT) on graphite surface, which exhibits an attractive ability to determine dopamine (DA) and serotonin (5-HT) simultaneously in the presence of ascorbic acid (AA), resulting in a high DPV current response to 5-HT at 0.32 V and DA at 0.13 V and a favorably low response to AA at −0.07 V versus SCE in a 50 mM phosphate buffer (pH 7.4). The properties and behaviors of the modified electrode were characterized using CV and DPV. The results show that the high sensitivity and selectivity is attributed mainly to the unique carbon surface of the nanotubes and the porous interfacial layers that come from the subtle tubule structure of CNT. The linear calibration range for DA in the presence of 0.5 mM AA and 5 μM 5-HT was 0.5–10 μM, with a correlation coefficient of 0.9996, and a detection limit of 0.1 μM. A linear relationship was found for 5-HT in the range of 1–15 μM containing 5 μM DA and 0.5 mM AA, with a correlation coefficient of 0.9998 and a detection limit of 0.2 μM. The current sensitivities were 1.89 and 8.05 μA μM⁻¹ for 5-HT and DA, respectively. Rabbit's brain homogenate presented no interference to 5-HT and DA simultaneous detection.     

Application of surfactant modified zeolite membrane electrode towards potentiometric determination of perchlorate

Potentiometric electrodes based on the incorporation of surfactant-modified zeolite Y (SMZ) particles into poly vinyl chloride (PVC) membranes were described. The electrode characteristics were evaluated regarding the response towards perchlorate ions. PVC membranes plasticized with dioctyl phthalate and without lipophilic additives (co-exchanger) are used throughout this study. The influence of membrane composition on the electrode response was studied. The electrode exhibited a Nernstian response towards perchlorate in the concentration range of 7.9 × 10⁻⁶–8.0 × 10⁻² M with a slope of 59.7 ± 0.9 mV per decade of perchlorate concentration with a working pH range of 1.7–9.5 with a fast response time of ≤10 s. The lower and upper detection limits were 4.07 × 10⁻⁷ and 0.13 M, respectively. The electrode response to perchlorate remains constant in the temperature range of 20–40 °C and in the presence of 2.5 × 10⁻⁶–1 × 10⁻² M NaNO₃. The selectivity coefficients for perchlorate anion as test species with respect to other anions were determined. The proposed modified zeolite-PVC electrode can be used for at least 30 days without any considerable divergence in potential. It was applied as indicator electrode in water samples with satisfactory results. The results of this study and our previous work show HDTMA plays different roles according to the zeolite type and matrix, as HDTMA-zeolite Y in a carbon paste matrix showed a good Nernstian behavior towards phosphate anion.     

Fabrication of functionalized carbon nanotube modified glassy carbon electrode and its application for selective oxidation and voltammetric determination of cysteamine

The functionalized carbon nanotube electrode was fabricated by electrodeposition of 1,2-naphthoquinone-4-sulfonic acid sodium (Nq) on single-wall carbon nanotube (SWNT) modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE). This electrode was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the results showed that Nq can rapidly and effectively be deposited on the surface of SWNT film with high stability. The electrochemical properties of functionalized SWNT/GCE with Nq (SWNT–Nq/GCE) were studied using cyclic voltammetry, double step potential chronoamperometry and differential pulse voltammetry methods. The results indicated that SWNT could improve the electrochemical behavior of Nq and greatly enhances its redox peak currents. The SWNT–Nq/GCE exhibited a pair of well-defined redox peaks. The experimental results also demonstrated that the Nq deposited species on SWNT could catalyze cysteamine oxidation and SWNT–Nq exhibited a high performance with lowering the overpotential by more than 710 mV. The effect of pH value, number of scans and Nq concentration were investigated on the electrochemical behavior of cysteamine. The selectivity of the reaction has been assessed with no interference from tyrosine, lysine, methionine, tryptophan, alanine and glutathione. The presented method has highly selectivity for voltammetric detection of cysteamine in the dynamic range from 5.0 × 10⁻⁶ M to 2.7 × 10⁻⁴ M and with a detection of limit (3σ) 3.0 × 10⁻⁶ M.     

Preparation of poly N,N-dimethylaniline/ferrocyanide film modified carbon paste electrode: Application to electrocatalytic oxidation of l-cysteine

Functionalized poly N,N-dimethylaniline film was prepared by adsorption of ferrocyanide onto the polymer forming at the surface of carbon paste electrode (CPE) in aqueous solution. The electrocatalytic ability of poly N,N-dimethylaniline/ferrocyanide film modified carbon paste electrode (PDMA/FMCPE) was demonstrated by oxidation of l-cysteine. Cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry techniques were used to investigate this ability. In the optimum pH (6.00), the electrocatalytic ability about 480 mV and the catalytic reaction rate constant, (k_h), can be seen 3.08 × 10³ M⁻¹ s⁻¹. The catalytic oxidation peak current determined by cyclic voltammetry method was linearly dependent on the l-cysteine concentration and the linearity range obtained was 8.00 × 10⁻⁵ –2.25 × 10⁻³ M. Detection limit of this method was determined as 6.17 × 10⁻⁵ M (2σ). At a fixed potential under hydrodynamic conditions (stirred solution), the calibration plot was linear over the l-cysteine concentration range 7.40 × 10⁻⁶ M–1.38 × 10⁻⁴ M. The detection limit of the method was 6.38 × 10⁻⁶ M (2σ).     

Electrochemical determination of naltrexone on the surface of glassy carbon electrode modified with Nafion-doped carbon nanoparticles: Application to determinations in pharmaceutical and clinical preparations

A new sensitive and selective electrochemical sensor was developed for determination of naltrexone (NAL) in pharmaceutical dosage form and human plasma. Naltrexone is an opioid antagonist which is commonly used for the treatment of narcotic addiction and alcohol dependence. A voltammetric study of naltrexone has been carried out at the surface of glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with Nafion-doped carbon nanoparticles (CNPs). The electrochemical oxidation of naltrexone was investigated by cyclic and differential pulse voltammetric techniques. The dependence of peak currents and potentials on pH, concentration and the potential scan rate was investigated. The electrode characterization by electrochemical methods and atomic force microscopy (AFM) showed that CNPs enhanced the electroactive surface area and accelerated the rate of electron transfer. Application of the modified electrode resulted in a sensitivity enhancement of more than 20 times, relative to the bare GCE, in detection of NAL and a considerable negative shift in peak potential was achieved. Two linear dynamic ranges of 1–10 μM and 10–100 μM with a detection limit of 0.1 μM was obtained in phosphate buffer of pH = 3. Differential pulse voltammetry as a simple, rapid, sensitive and selective method was developed for the determination of NAL in dosage form and human plasma without any treatments. No electroactive interferences were found in biological fluids from the endogenous substances and additives present in capsules.     

Facile growth of flower-like Au nanocrystals and electroanalysis of biomolecules

Growth of flower-like Au nanocrystals at room temperature on a conducting support and electroanalysis of biomolecules are described. The Au nanocrystals are grown by seed-mediated growth approach using electrochemically deposited Au nanoseeds (nAuS) without any template or surfactants. The flower-like nanocrystals (nAuF) have the size ranging from 75 to 350 nm. XRD profile of nAuF reveals the existence of (1 1 1), (2 0 0) and (3 1 1) planes, corresponding to the face centered cubic lattice of Au. The nAuF on the electrode surface have significantly large surface area of 0.354 ± 0.02 cm². The electroanalysis of biomolecules such as ascorbic acid (AA), dehydroascorbic acid (DHA), dopamine (DA) and reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) is performed using nAuF electrode. The nanocrystals on the electrode facilitate the oxidation of these bioanalytes; decrease in the overpotential and enhancement in the peak current is observed. Unlike the bulk Au electrode, nAuF electrode displays unique inverted ‘V’ shape voltammogram for NADH and DHA. Oxidation of AA occurs in two steps and two voltammetric peaks are obtained for AA in neutral and alkaline pH. Increase in the peak current and decrease in peak-to-peak separation with respect to the unmodified electrode are obtained for DA on nAuF electrode. The nAuF electrode shows high sensitivity, stability and linear response for a wide concentration range towards these analytes. The high sensitivity is ascribed to the ensemble behavior of the nAuF electrode.     

Gold nanoparticle arrays for the voltammetric sensing of dopamine

Gold (Au) nanoparticles immobilized on an amine-terminated self-assembled monolayer (SAM) on a polycrystalline Au electrode were successfully used for the selective determination of dopamine (DA) in the presence of ascorbate (AA). Well-separated voltammetric peaks were observed for DA and AA at the nano-Au electrode (Au nanoparticle-immobilized electrode). The oxidation potential of AA is shifted to less positive potential due to the high catalytic activity of Au nanoparticle. The reversibility of the electrode reaction of DA is significantly improved at the nano-Au electrode, which results in a large increase in the square-wave voltammetric peak current with a detection limit of 0.13 μM. The coexistence of a large excess of AA does not interfere with the voltammetric sensing of DA. The nano-Au electrode shows excellent sensitivity, good selectivity and antifouling properties.     

Detection of dopamine in the presence of a large excess of ascorbic acid by using the powder microelectrode technique

The powder microelectrode technique is employed in the detection of ultra-low concentrations of dopamine (DA), which can be adsorbed and thus preconcentrated on the inner surface of a carbon black packed powder microelectrode. The apparent reversibility and kinetics of the oxidation of DA were found to improve significantly, and separation of the oxidation current peaks of DA and ascorbic acid (AA) reaches about 300 mV. In the presence of 0.6 mM AA in solution, the oxidation current peak due to 20 nmol of DA remains clearly evident. After correction of the background current of AA, the height of the oxidation current peak of DA oxidation is proportional to the concentration of DA in solution, and is not affected by the presence of large excess of AA. The low limit of DA detection is ca. 20 nM in acidic solution, and less than 1 μM in neutral solution. Detection of DA in concentrations as low as 5 nM can be achieved after prolonged immersion of powder microelectrode in solution.     

Cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide effect on highly electrocatalysis of methanol oxidation based on nickel particles electrodeposited into poly (m-toluidine) film on the carbon paste electrode

In this work, m-toluidine is electropolymerized at the surface of carbon paste electrode using consecutive cyclic voltammetry in 20 mM monomer aqueous solution in the presence of 6 mM cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) as surfactant. Then transition metal of nickel is incorporated into the polymer by electrodepositing of Ni (II) from 1.5 M NiSO₄ acidic solution using chronoamperometry technique (−1.0 V versus Ag|AgCl|KCl (3 M) for 15 min). In alkaline medium (i.e. NaOH 0.1 M) a good redox behavior of Ni (III)/Ni (II) couple at the surface of Ni/poly (m-toluidine) modified carbon paste electrode (Ni/PMT/MCPE) in the absence and presence of CTAB (Ni/CTAB-PMT/MCPE) can be observed. Electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol has been studied on Ni/PMT/MCPE and Ni/CTAB-PMT/MCPE. The results show that CTAB significantly enhances the catalytic efficiency of nickel particles on the oxidation of methanol in aqueous alkaline media. Moreover, the effects of various parameters such as concentration of CTAB, concentration of methanol, electrodepositing time, film thickness and monomer concentration on the electrooxidation of methanol as well as long-term stability of the Ni/CTAB-PMT/MCPE have also been investigated. This polymeric modified electrode can oxidize the methanol with high current density (over 40 mA cm⁻²).     

Simultaneous electrochemical detection of uric acid and ascorbic acid at a poly(N,N-dimethylaniline) film-coated GC electrode

A polymer film of N,N-dimethylaniline (PDMA) having a positive charge on the quarternary ammonium group in its backbone was electrochemically deposited on a glassy carbon (GC) electrode surface. The resulting film-coated GC electrode was used to detect uric acid (UA) electrochemically in the presence of ascorbic acid (AA). Both UA and AA are anionic in a solution of pH 7 and thus were attracted to the film, which lowered their oxidation potentials and increased their oxidation currents. In cyclic voltammetric measurements, the negative shift of the oxidation potential of UA (by 0.28 V) compared with that at the bare electrode was larger than that of AA (by 0.2 V). Also the increase in the oxidation current of UA at the PDMA film-coated electrode was larger than that of AA. In square wave voltammetric measurements, the PDMA film-coated electrode could separate the oxidation peak potentials of UA and AA present in the same solution by about 200 mV though the bare electrode gave a single broad response. A successful elimination of the fouling effect by the oxidized product of AA on the response of UA has been achieved at the PDMA film-coated electrode. The detection limit of UA in the presence of 160-fold excess of AA was found as 1.25 μM and the current response for UA increased linearly with increase of its concentration from 1.25 to 68.75 μM in the presence of AA with a correlation coefficient of 0.999 and a sensitivity of 0.0276 μA μM⁻¹. In flow injection analysis, a good linear relationship between the oxidation current and the concentration from 2 to 21 μM of UA was found. The sensitivity of the PDMA film-coated electrode towards UA was calculated as 0.0285 μA μM⁻¹ with a correlation coefficient of 0.997. The stable and reproducible response for both AA and UA at the PDMA film-coated electrode was verified by flow injection experiments. As the response of UA was reproducible in the presence of AA, it was expected that the oxidized product of AA would not affect the electrode response of UA. Moreover, the physiologically common interferents (i.e., glucose, purine, urea and citrate) negligibly affected the response of UA. The PDMA film-coated electrode exhibited a stable and sensitive response to UA in the presence of interferents.