Abstract:
This research study explores the application of nanomaterial-modified glassy carbon electrodes
(GCE) for the voltammetric determination of dopamine and uric acid. The GCE was fabricated
with iron oxide, activated carbon, and graphene foam. Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy
(EDS), Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction Spectroscopy (XRD),
and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) were used to examine the microporous activated
carbon, iron oxide spherical structure (Fe3O4) particles that were attached to the graphene foam
sheets. A drop-dry method was used for electrode modification. AC-Fe3O4/GF/GCE was
electrochemically interrogated in the ferrocyanide redox probe using cyclic voltammetry. The
current intensity and the reversibility of the redox probe were enhanced in the presence of the
electrochemical sensor.
Differential pulse voltammetry technique (DPV) was employed for individual determination of
uric acid under the optimized experimental conditions; pH 6, scan rate 50 mV s
-1
, pulse width 0.05
s, pulse amplitude 0.05 V, and supporting electrolyte 0.1 M phosphate buffer solution. A detection
limit of 2.55 µM was obtained with an analytical linear range of 5 - 1630 µM. All selected foreign
species showed no significant interference with the electrochemical determination of uric acid.
Furthermore, dopamine analysis was carried out on AC-Fe3O4/GF/GCE using DPV. The
electrochemical sensing was also optimized at various analytical conditions and a detection limit
of 1.47 µM was obtained in the linear dynamic range of 2.5 to 450 µM. Glucose, glutamic acid, l lysine, and ascorbic acid are a few of the interfering species that exhibited almost no impact on
dopamine detection.
In addition, the simultaneous determination of uric acid and dopamine was conducted successfully.
They have been determined by differential pulse voltammetry, and the modified electrode
exhibited a linearity relationship over a wide range of uric acid concentrations from 2.5 to 450 μM,
with a detection limit of 1.75 μM, (s/n = 3). A linear trend for the current response for dopamine
concentrations ranging from 5 to 400 μM, with a detection limit of 2.7 μM, has also been obtained.
The results, therefore, demonstrated the sensor’s superior electrocatalytic activity and its high
selectivity for dopamine and uric acid even when some foreign species were present. The average
V
recoveries from the real sample analyses of the urine samples showed that the proposed sensor
could be put to use in the real sample analysis.
The developed electrode was generally found to be highly selective and sensitive toward uric acid
and dopamine. It has achieved better sensing performances with a very low detection limit, wider
linear ranges, and short analysis times as compared to most previously reported modified
electrodes for the same analytes. Furthermore, the developed electrode was validated successfully
for real sample analysis in biological fluids. The proposed methods have many attractive features,
such as low cost, simplistic electrode preparation procedure, easy renewability, long-term
usability, and rapid analysis. The developed electrode also displayed good repeatability and
selectivity towards interfering substances. It is a promising modified electrode for the
electrochemical detection of other electroactive important compounds in biological systems.