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Updated: Jul 6, 2026

Electrochemical Preparation of Poly(3,4-Ethylenedioxythiophene) Layers on Gold Microelectrodes for Uric Acid-Sensing Applications
Published on: July 28, 2021
Simultaneous voltammetric detection of ascorbic acid, dopamine and uric acid using a pyrolytic graphite electrode
Robson P da Silva1, Antonio William O Lima, Silvia H P Serrano
1Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, C.P. 26077, São Paulo, SP, 05513-970, Brazil.
Abstract:
Pyrolytic graphite electrodes (PGE) were modified into dopamine solutions using phosphate buffer solutions, pH 10 and 6.5, as supporting electrolyte. The modification process involved a previous anodization of the working electrode at +1.5 V into 0.1 mol L(-1) NaOH followed by other anodization step, in the same experimental conditions, into dopamine (DA) solutions. pH of the supporting electrolyte performed an important role in the production of a superficial melanin polymeric film, which permitted the simultaneous detection of ascorbic acid (AA), (DA) and uric acid (UA), DeltaE(AA-DA)=222 mV; DeltaE(AA-UA)=360 mV and DeltaE(DA-UA)=138 mV, avoiding the superficial poisoning effects. The calculated detection limits were: 1.4x10(-6) mol L(-1) for uric acid, 1.3x10(-5)molL(-1) for ascorbic acid and 1.1x10(-7) mol L(-1) for dopamine, with sensitivities of (7.7+/-0.5), (0.061+/-0.001) and (9.5+/-0.05) A mol(-1) cm(-2), respectively, with no mutual interference. Uric acid was determined in urine, blood and serum human samples after dilution in phosphate buffer and no additional sample pre-treatment was necessary. The concentration of uric acid in urine was higher than the values found in blood and serum and the recovery tests (92-102%) indicated that no matrix effects were observed.
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