Dhanusuraman Ragupathy

Development of a stable cholesterol biosensor based on multi-walled carbon nanotubes–gold nanoparticles composite covered with a layer of chitosan–room-temperature ionic liquid network

A novel amperometric biosensor was fabricated based on the immobilization of cholesterol oxidase (ChOx) into a cross-linked matrix of chitosan (Chi)-room-temperature ionic liquid (IL) (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate). Initially, the surface of bare electrode (indium tin oxide coated glass) was modified with the electrodeposition of Au particles onto thiol (-SH) functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs). The biosensor electrode is designated as MWNT(SH)-Au/Chi-IL/ChOx. Scanning electron microscopy image of MWNT(SH)-Au/Chi-IL/ChOx reveals that Chi-IL exists as the interconnected wires covering the Au particles on the surface of MWNT(SH)-Au. Cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry were used for the electrochemical determination of cholesterol at the biosensor electrode, MWNT(SH)-Au/Chi-IL/ChOx. The presence of Au particles in the matrix of CNTs provides an environment for the enhanced electrocatalytic activities. The MWNT(SH)-Au/Chi-IL/ChOx biosensor exhibited a linear response to cholesterol in the concentration range of 0.5-5mM with a correlation coefficient of 0.998, good sensitivity (200 microAM(-1)), a low response time ( approximately 7s), repeatability (R.S.D value of 1.9%) and long term stability (20 days with a decrease of 5% response). The synergistic influence of MWNT(SH), Au particles, Chi and IL contributes to the excellent performance for the biosensor.

An electrochemical glucose biosensor exploiting a polyaniline grafted multiwalled carbon nanotube/perfluorosulfonate ionomer–silica nanocomposite

A glucose biosensor was fabricated with loading of glucose oxidase (GOx) into a new organic-inorganic hybrid nanocomposite. The preparation involves formation of silica network into a Nafion (perfluorosulfonate ionomer) and subsequent loading of polyaniline grafted multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNT-g-PANI) onto Nafion-silica nanocomposite. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) of Nafion-silica/MWNT-g-PANI composite reveals the presence of spherical silica particles (sizes in the range 250 nm-1 microm) and tubular MWNT-g-PANI particles. Chronoamperometry and cyclic voltammetry were used to evaluate the performance of biosensor towards glucose. The Nafion-silica/MWCNT-g-PANI/GOx biosensor exhibited a linear response to glucose in the concentration range of 1-10 mm with a correlation coefficient of 0.9972, good sensitivity (5.01 microA/mm), a low response time (approximately 6s), repeatability (R.S.D value of 2.2%) and along-term stability. The presence of silica network within Nafion and MWNT-g-PANI synergistically contributes to the performance of the biosensor towards the electrochemical detection of glucose.

Improvement of H2S Sensing Properties of SnO2-Based Thick Film Gas Sensors Promoted with MoO3 and NiO

The effects of the SnO2 pore size and metal oxide promoters on the sensing properties of SnO2-based thick film gas sensors were investigated to improve the detection of very low H2S concentrations (<1 ppm). SnO2 sensors and SnO2-based thick-film gas sensors promoted with NiO, ZnO, MoO3, CuO or Fe2O3 were prepared, and their sensing properties were examined in a flow system. The SnO2 materials were prepared by calcining SnO2 at 600, 800, 1,000 and 1,200 °C to give materials identified as SnO2(600), SnO2(800), SnO2(1000), and SnO2(1200), respectively. The Sn(12)Mo5Ni3 sensor, which was prepared by physically mixing 5 wt% MoO3 (Mo5), 3 wt% NiO (Ni3) and SnO2(1200) with a large pore size of 312 nm, exhibited a high sensor response of approximately 75% for the detection of 1 ppm H2S at 350 °C with excellent recovery properties. Unlike the SnO2 sensors, its response was maintained during multiple cycles without deactivation. This was attributed to the promoter effect of MoO3. In particular, the Sn(12)Mo5Ni3 sensor developed in this study showed twice the response of the Sn(6)Mo5Ni3 sensor, which was prepared by SnO2(600) with the smaller pore size than SnO2(1200). The excellent sensor response and recovery properties of Sn(12)Mo5Ni3 are believed to be due to the combined promoter effects of MoO3 and NiO and the diffusion effect of H2S as a result of the large pore size of SnO2.

Pd (core)–Au (shell) nanoparticles catalyzed conversion of NADH to NAD+ by UV–vis spectroscopy—A kinetic analysis

Kinetics of Pd (core)-Au (shell) nanoparticles (NPs) catalyzed transformation of dihydronicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) to NAD(+) was monitored by UV-vis spectroscopy. Pd (core)-Au (shell) NPs were prepared by microwave irradiation method. High resolution transmission electron microscopy image reveals the core-shell morphology. X-ray diffraction pattern shows the presence of distinct crystalline domains for Pd and Au. The changes in absorbances at 340 nm were followed for various time intervals. Rates of conversion of NADH to NAD(+) were determined for different conditions. The conversion of NADH to NAD(+) was to be first order with respect to NADH at lower concentrations (upto 0.04 mM) and pseudo-first-order beyond 0.04 mM. Rate constants for the Pd (core) Au-(shell) NPs catalyzed transformation of NADH to NAD(+) were deduced.

Effects of Textural Properties on the Response of a SnO2-Based Gas Sensor for the Detection of Chemical Warfare Agents

The sensing behavior of SnO2-based thick film gas sensors in a flow system in the presence of a very low concentration (ppb level) of chemical agent simulants such as acetonitrile, dipropylene glycol methyl ether (DPGME), dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP), and dichloromethane (DCM) was investigated. Commercial SnO2 [SnO2(C)] and nano-SnO2 prepared by the precipitation method [SnO2(P)] were used to prepare the SnO2 sensor in this study. In the case of DCM and acetonitrile, the SnO2(P) sensor showed higher sensor response as compared with the SnO2(C) sensors. In the case of DMMP and DPGME, however, the SnO2(C) sensor showed higher responses than those of the SnO2(P) sensors. In particular, the response of the SnO2(P) sensor increased as the calcination temperature increased from 400 °C to 800 °C. These results can be explained by the fact that the response of the SnO2-based gas sensor depends on the textural properties of tin oxide and the molecular size of the chemical agent simulant in the detection of the simulant gases (0.1–0.5 ppm).

Electrospun carbon nanotubes–gold nanoparticles embedded nanowebs: prosperous multi-functional nanomaterials

Electrospinning was employed to prepare new multi-functional nanowebs. Cyclodextrin based inclusion complex (CD-IC) was used to disperse multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNT) within electrospun polyvinylidene fluoride nanofibrous membranes (PVdF-NFM). Subsequently, MWNT(CD-IC)/PVdF-NFM was loaded with gold (Au) particles. The morphology, structure and thermal properties of Au/MWNT(CD-IC)/PVdF-NFM were investigated by transmission electron microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, FT-IR spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. The new Au/MWNT(CD-IC)/PVdF-NFM is electroactive and shows excellent electrocatalytic activity towards oxidation of ascorbic acid.

Spectrofluorimetric study of the interaction between europium(III) and moxifloxacin in micellar solution and its analytical application.

A sensitive spectrofluorimetric method has been developed for the determination of moxifloxacin (MOX) using europium(III)-MOX complex as a fluorescence probe in the presence of an anionic surfactant, sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS). The fluorescence (FL) intensity of Eu(3+) was enhanced by complexation with MOX at 614 nm after excitation at 373 nm. The FL intensity of the Eu(3+)-MOX complex was significantly intensified in the presence of SDBS. Under the optimum conditions, it was found that the enhanced FL intensity of the system showed a good linear relationship with the concentration of MOX over the range of 1.8 × 10(-11)-7.3 × 10(-9) g mL(-1) with a correlation coefficient of 0.9998. The limit of detection of MOX was found to be 2.8 × 10(-12) g mL(-1) with relative standard deviation (RSD) of 1.25% for 5 replicate determination of 1.5 × 10(-8) g mL(-1) MOX. The proposed method is simple, offers higher sensitivity with wide linear range and can be successfully applied to determine MOX in pharmaceutical and biological samples with good reproducibility. The luminescence mechanism is also discussed in detail with ultraviolet absorption spectra.