Electrochemical sensor based on the synergy between Cucurbit[8]uril and 2D-MoS₂ for enhanced melatonin quantification

Area of Science:

• Electrochemistry
• Materials Science
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Melatonin is a crucial hormone with diverse physiological roles.
• Accurate melatonin determination is essential for clinical diagnostics and pharmaceutical quality control.
• Existing methods for melatonin detection may lack sensitivity, selectivity, or portability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a sensitive and reliable electrochemical sensor for melatonin quantification.
• To explore the synergistic effects of molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) nanosheets and cucurbit[8]uril for enhanced sensing performance.
• To validate the sensor's applicability in real-world biological and pharmaceutical samples.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of an electrochemical sensor using MoS2 nanosheets and cucurbit[8]uril.
• Characterization of the sensing platform using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM).
• Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) to study charge transfer mechanisms.
• Differential Pulse Voltammetry (DPV) for melatonin detection and optimization.

Main Results:

• The synergistic interaction between MoS2 nanosheets and cucurbit[8]uril significantly enhanced melatonin detection.
• Optimized sensor achieved a low detection limit of 3.80 × 10⁻⁷ M.
• High accuracy was demonstrated with relative errors <3.8% and relative standard deviation <4.4%.
• Successful determination of melatonin in human urine and serum samples with excellent recovery rates (90-102%).

Conclusions:

• The developed MoS2/cucurbit[8]uril electrochemical sensor provides a sensitive, selective, and robust platform for melatonin determination.
• The synergistic effect is key to the sensor's superior performance.
• The sensor's successful application in biological and pharmaceutical samples highlights its practical utility.