Development of a graphite-polyurethane composite electrode modified with gold nanoparticles in the voltammetric determination of tryptophan

• Grant number: 16/11773-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): August 01, 2016
• Effective date (End): January 31, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Analytical Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Éder Tadeu Gomes Cavalheiro
• Grantee: Isabela Alteia Mattioli
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química de São Carlos (IQSC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This work proposes the development of a composite electrode based on graphite and polyurethane modified with gold nanoparticles for the determination of tryptophan in commercial and/or environmental samples. The main advantage of this electrode material is its high hydrophobicity compared to other composite materials which performance in an aqueous medium prevents swelling effects. The gold nanoparticles, in turn, have a high surface area, excellent conductivity and compatibility with biological molecules, favoring its application in the development of sensors, by the increase in the electron transfer kinetics, using less noble material.