Protein-Aided Synthesis of Copper-Integrated Polyaniline Nanocomposite Encapsulated with Reduced Graphene Oxide for Highly Sensitive Electrochemical Detection of Dimetridazole in Real Samples

• Published in: Polymers 2024-01, Vol.16 (1), p.162
• Main Authors: Behera, Kartik, Mutharani, Bhuvanenthiran, Chang, Yen-Hsiang, Kumari, Monika, Chiu, Fang-Chyou
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analysis; Aniline; Biomimetics; Biosensors; Buffer solutions; Carcinogens; Chemical synthesis; Chromatography; Composite materials; Copper; Electric properties; Electrical junctions; Electrical resistivity; Electrocatalysts; Electrochemical analysis; Electrodes; Electron transfer; Electrons; Encapsulation; Graphene; Identification and classification; Mechanical properties; Methods; Nanocomposites; Nanoparticles; Nanostructured materials; Nitroimidazoles; Oxides; Particle size; Polyanilines; Polymerization; Polymers; Proteins; Reproducibility; Sensors; Serum albumin; Side effects; Stabilizers (agents)
• ISSN: 2073-4360; 2073-4360
• DOI: 10.3390/polym16010162

Dimetridazole (DMZ) is a derivative of nitroimidazole and is a veterinary drug used as an antibiotic to treat bacterial or protozoal infections in poultry. The residues of DMZ cause harmful side effects in human beings. Thus, we have constructed a superior electrocatalyst for DMZ detection. A copper (Cu)-integrated poly(aniline) (PANI) electrocatalyst (PANI-Cu@BSA) was prepared by using a one-step method of biomimetic mineralization and polymerization using bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a stabilizer. Then, the synthesized PANI-Cu@BSA was encapsulated with reduced graphene oxide (rGO) using an ultrasonication method. The PANI-Cu@BSA/rGO nanocomposite had superior water dispersibility, high electrical conductivity, and nanoscale particles. Moreover, a PANI-Cu@BSA/rGO nanocomposite-modified, screen-printed carbon electrode was used for the sensitive electrochemical detection of DMZ. In phosphate buffer solution, the PANI-Cu@BSA/rGO/SPCE displayed a current intensity greater than PANI-Cu@BSA/SPCE, rGO/SPCE, and bare SPCE. This is because PANI-Cu@BSA combined with rGO increases fast electron transfer between the electrode and analyte, and this synergy results in analyte-electrode junctions with extraordinary conductivity and active surface areas. PANI-Cu@BSA/rGO/SPCE had a low detection limit, a high sensitivity, and a linear range of 1.78 nM, 5.96 μA μM cm , and 0.79 to 2057 μM, respectively. The selective examination of DMZ was achieved with interfering molecules, and the PANI-Cu@BSA/rGO/SPCE showed excellent selectivity, stability, repeatability, and practicability.