Pyrene Derivative-Based Electrode for Electrochemical Sensing

In this work, screen-printed carbon electrodes were modified with a pyrene derivative (PY) to enhance their electrochemical sensing performance. Their applicability was demonstrated in cortisol detection, used here as a model biomarker. This derivative consists of a pyrene functionalized with a pendant group containing a carboxyl function bonded to an aromatic moiety through an amide linkage. The electrode's performance in relation to cortisol was assessed using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). The results demonstrate the potential of this PY-based electrode as a simple electrochemical sensing platform without the need for biological recognition elements or molecular probes. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations provided molecular-level insights into the interactions between the pyrene derivative and cortisol. Overall, the study highlights the potential applicability of this pyrene derivative in the development of low-cost electrochemical sensing platforms and simplified detection protocols.