Neeta Bachheti

Gold nanoparticles modified indium tin oxide electrode for the simultaneous determination of dopamine and serotonin: Application in pharmaceutical formulations and biological fluids

A new rapid, convenient and sensitive electrochemical method based on a gold nanoparticles modified ITO (Au/ITO) electrode is described for the detection of dopamine and serotonin in the presence of a high concentration of ascorbic acid. The electrocatalytic response was evaluated by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) and the modified electrode exhibited good electrocatalytic properties towards dopamine and serotonin oxidation with a peak potential of 70mV and 240mV lower than that at the bare ITO electrode, respectively. The selective sensing of dopamine is further improved by applying square wave voltammetry (SWV) which leads to the lowering of its detection limit. A similar effect on the detection limit of serotonin was observed on using SWV. Linear calibration curves are obtained in the range 1.0x10(-9)-5.0x10(-4)M and 1.0x10(-8)-2.5x10(-4)M with a detection limit of 0.5nM and 3.0nM for dopamine and serotonin, respectively. The Au/ITO electrode efficiently determines both the biomolecules simultaneously, even in the presence of a large excess of ascorbic acid. The adequacy of the developed method was evaluated by applying it to the determination of the content of dopamine in dopamine hydrochloride injections. The proposed procedure was also successfully applied to simultaneously detect dopamine and serotonin in human serum and urine.

Voltammetric determination of adenosine and guanosine using fullerene-C60-modified glassy carbon electrode

A fullerene-C(60)-modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) is used for the simultaneous determination of adenosine and guanosine by differential pulse voltammetry. Compared to a bare glassy carbon electrode, the modified electrode exhibits an apparent shift of the oxidation potentials in the cathodic direction and a marked enhancement in the voltammetric peak current response for both the biomolecules. Linear calibration curves are obtained over the concentration range 0.5muM-1.0mM in 0.1M phosphate buffer solution at pH 7.2 with a detection limit of 3.02x10(-7)M and 1.45x10(-7)M for individual determination of adenosine and guanosine, respectively. The interference studies showed that the fullerene-C(60)-modified glassy carbon electrode exhibited excellent selectivity in the presence of hypoxanthine, xanthine, uric acid and ascorbic acid. The proposed procedure was successfully applied to detect adenosine and guanosine in human blood plasma and urine, without any preliminary pre-treatment.

A copper-selective electrode based on bis(acetylacetone)propylenediimine

The potentiometric response characteristics of Cu(2+)-selective electrodes based on bis(acetylacetone)propylenediimine (I) combined with anion localizing agent (sodium tetraphenyl borate (NaTPB)) and solvent mediators (dibutyl butyl phosphonate (DBBP), tri-n-butyl phosphate (TBP) and chloronaphthalene (CN)) were investigated. The best results for Cu(2+) sensing was obtained for the electrode membrane containing PVC, I, DBBP and NaTPB in composition 5:100:200:6 (I:PVC:DBBP:NaTPB) (w/w; mg), where the electrode had a Nernstian response (30.0mV/decade) to Cu(2+) within the concentration range 1.0x10(-5) to 1.0x10(-1)M and detection limit of 0.5ppm. The operational pH range of the electrode was 3.3-7.0. Selectivity characteristic of the proposed electrode was also assessed by calculating K(A,B)(Pot) using fixed interference method matched potential method. The sensor has been successfully used in the potentiometric titration of copper ions with EDTA.

A new Zn(II)-selective potentiometric sensor based on 4-tert-butylcalix[4]arene in PVC matrix

Poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) based membranes containing 4-tert-butylcalix[4]arene (I) as an electroactive material along with anion excluder sodiumtetraphenylborate (NaTPB) and plasticizer tri-butylphosphate (TBP) have been developed to fabricate a new zinc-selective sensor. Out of various compositions, the best performance was exhibited by the membrane having I, NaTPB, TBP and PVC in the ratio 8:5:100:200 (w/w). The sensor works well in the concentration range 9.8 x 10(-6) to 1.0 x 10(-1) mol dm(-3) with a near-Nernstian slope of 28.0+/-1.0 mV/decade of activity. The detection limit is down to 5.0 x 10(-7) mol dm(-3). The working pH range of this sensor is 2.5-4.3 and it works well in partially non-aqueous medium up to 15% (v/v) (methanol, ethanol and acetone). It exhibits a fast response time of 30s and could be used for more than four months without any considerable change in response characteristics. It has excellent selectivity for Zn(II) over other mono-, bi- and trivalent cations which have been reported to cause interference in the working of other sensors. It has been successfully used as an indicator electrode in the potentiometric titration of Zn(II) against EDTA and also to estimate zinc ions in industrial waste waters.

Nickel(II)-selective sensor based on dibenzo-18-crown-6 in PVC matrix.

Nickel(II)-selective sensors have been fabricated from poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) matrix membranes containing neutral carrier dibenzo-18-crown-6 as electroactive material, sodium tetraphenylborate (NaTPB) as an anion excluder and tris-(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate (TEHP) as plasticizing solvent mediator. The membrane having the composition of crown ether:NaTPB:TEHP:PVC in the ratio 10:1:200:200 (w/w) exhibits best results with linear potential response in the concentration range of 1.0x10(-5) to 1.0x10(-1)M and a Nernstian slope of 29.5mV/decade of activity between 2.6 and 6.8. The sensor exhibits a fast response time of <25s, is inert towards non-aqueous medium up to 15% (v/v) and was used over a period of 4 months with good reproducibility. It is selective over a number of mono-, bi- and trivalent cations. The practical utility of the sensor has been demonstrated by using it as an indicator electrode in the potentiometric titration of Ni(2+) against EDTA and also for the estimation of Ni(2+) in some Indian brand chocolates.

Fullerene C60 modified gold electrode and nanogold modified indium tin oxide electrode for prednisolone determination

The electrochemical determination of prednisolone has been investigated at fullerene-C(60)-modified gold (C(60)/Au) electrode and gold nanoparticles modified indium tin oxide (nano Au/ITO) electrode in phosphate buffer solution (PBS) of pH 7.2. During oxidation of prednisolone, an anodic peak with peak potential (E(p)) at 570 mV and 400 mV appeared at nano Au/ITO and C(60)/Au electrode, respectively. The experimental results revealed that gold nanoparticles as well as fullerene (C(60)) promote the rate of prednisolone oxidation by increasing the peak current (i(p)) and oxidizing at lower peak potentials as compared to the respective bare electrodes due to their electrocatalytic effect. The linear concentration range at both the electrodes was in the range of 1 microM to 0.10 mM. The detection limit obtained at C(60)/Au electrode was 26 nM, while at nano Au/ITO electrode the detection limit was 90 nM. The applicability of the method to direct assays of human urine and whole blood sample is described to use the method for testing cases of doping by athletes.