Convenient Heme Nanorod Modified Electrode for Quercetin Sensing by Two Common Electrochemical Methods

Area of Science:

• Electrochemistry
• Biosensors
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Quercetin (Qu) is a prevalent dietary flavonoid.
• High Qu concentrations can lead to adverse health effects, including inflammation and joint pain.
• Sensitive and accurate detection methods for Qu are essential for health monitoring.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel electrochemical sensor for the sensitive detection of quercetin.
• To utilize Heme nanorods on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) for enhanced Qu detection.
• To validate the sensor's performance in real-world samples, such as loquat leaf extract.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a Heme nanorod-modified glassy carbon electrode (Heme/GCE).
• Characterization using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), cyclic voltammetry (CV), differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS).
• Optimization of sensor parameters and performance evaluation for Qu detection.

Main Results:

• The Heme/GCE sensor exhibited a linear detection range for Qu from 0.1 to 700 μmol·L⁻¹.
• Achieved low detection limits: 0.134 μmol·L⁻¹ (CV) and 0.063 μmol·L⁻¹ (DPV).
• Demonstrated high accuracy (98.55-102.89% recovery) and precision (R.S.D. < 3.70%) in loquat leaf extract analysis.

Conclusions:

• The developed Heme/GCE electrochemical sensor provides a sensitive, selective, and stable platform for Qu detection.
• The sensor exhibits excellent anti-interference, repeatability, and stability.
• This method is suitable for the rapid and reliable quantification of quercetin in complex biological samples.