Electrochemical determination of methylglyoxal as a biomarker in human plasma

A novel electrochemical approach for the quantitative analysis of methylglyoxal as a biomarker in human plasma has been developed. An electrochemical sensor employing a single walled carbon nanotube modified glassy carbon electrode for the sensitive detection of methylglyoxal is delineated for the first time using square wave voltammetry. This modified electrode exhibits potent and sustained electron-mediating behavior and a well-defined reduction peak in response to methylglyoxal was observed. Under optimized experimental conditions, a wide linear dynamic range, from 0.1 to 100 μM, and high sensitivity of 76.3 nA μM⁻¹ were achieved for the detection of methylglyoxal. The interfering effect of common coexisting metabolites in human whole blood has also been investigated. The developed assay was shown to be specific and sensitive for the analysis of plasma levels of methylglyoxal in healthy volunteer and diabetic patients.