Novel tungsten phosphide embedded nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes: A portable and renewable monitoring platform for anticancer drug in whole blood

• Published in: Biosensors & bioelectronics 2018-05, Vol.105, p.226-235
• Main Authors: Zhou, Haifeng, Ran, Guoxia, Masson, Jean-Francois, Wang, Chan, Zhao, Yuan, Song, Qijun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anticancer drug; Antineoplastic Agents - blood; Biosensing Techniques - instrumentation; Biosensing Techniques - methods; Biosensor; Drug Monitoring - instrumentation; Drug Monitoring - methods; Electrochemical Techniques - instrumentation; Electrochemical Techniques - methods; Equipment Design; Humans; Limit of Detection; Methotrexate - blood; Nanotubes, Carbon - chemistry; Nanotubes, Carbon - ultrastructure; Nitrogen - chemistry; Nitrogen doped carbon nanotubes; Point-of-Care Systems; Point-of-care testing; Tungsten - chemistry; Tungsten phosphide
• ISSN: 0956-5663; 1873-4235
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2018.01.045

Biosensors based on converting the concentration of analytes in complex samples into single electrochemical signals are attractive candidates as low cost, high-throughput, portable and renewable sensor platforms. Here, we describe a simple but practical analytical device for sensing an anticancer drug in whole blood, using the detection of methotrexate (MTX) as a model system. In this biosensor, a novel carbon-based composite, tungsten phosphide embedded nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes (WP/N-CNT), was fixed to the electrode surface that supported redox cycling. The electronic transmission channel in nitrogen doped carbon nanotubes (N-CNT) and the synergistic effect of uniform distribution tungsten phosphide (WP) ensured that the electrode materials have outstanding electrical conductivity and catalytic performance. Meanwhile, the surface electronic structure also endows its surprisingly reproducible performance. To demonstrate portable operation for MTX sensing, screen printing electrodes (SPE) was modified with WP/N-CNT. The sensor exhibited low detection limits (45 nM), wide detection range (0.01–540 μM), good selectivity and long-term stability for the determination of MTX. In addition, the technique was successfully applied for the determination of MTX in whole blood. •Tungsten phosphide embedded nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes are facile synthesized for the first time.•WP/N-CNT/SPE opens a new phosphide material platform detection for anticancer drug.•Portable and highly sensitive biosensor is suitable for analyzing small sample volumes and point-of-care testing.•The proposed electrode is recycled 30 times still maintaining good performance.