3D nitrogen-doped graphene/β-cyclodextrin: host-guest interactions for electrochemical sensing

Area of Science:

• Supramolecular chemistry
• Electrochemistry
• Materials science

Background:

• Host-guest interactions involving cyclodextrins (CDs) show high molecular recognition.
• CDs are promising for biosensing and clinical detection.
• A need exists for improved electrode substrates to enhance CD-based electrochemical sensing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel 3D nitrogen-doped graphene (3D-NG) electrode for cyclodextrin (CD) based biosensors.
• To leverage the superior sensitivity of host-guest interactions for enhanced electrochemical sensing.
• To establish a new biosensor platform for sensitive clinical detection.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of 3D-NG using template-directed chemical vapor deposition (CVD).
• Integration of beta-cyclodextrin (β-CD) onto the 3D-NG electrode.
• Electrochemical sensing of dopamine (DA) and acetaminophen (APAP) as guest molecules.

Main Results:

• The 3D-NG material exhibited a large specific surface area, high biomolecule capacity, and efficient electron transfer.
• The novel 3D-NG/β-CD biosensor demonstrated exceptionally high sensitivities for DA and APAP detection.
• Sensitivities achieved were 5468.6 μA mM⁻¹ cm⁻² for DA and 2419.2 μA mM⁻¹ cm⁻² for APAP.

Conclusions:

• The 3D-NG serves as an effective substrate for β-CD, significantly boosting biosensor performance.
• The stable adsorption of β-CD on 3D-NG offers potential for advanced clinical detection and medical testing applications.