Urea impedimetric biosensing using electrospun nanofibers modified with zinc oxide nanoparticles

Author(s)

Migliorini, Fernanda L. ^[1] ; Sanfelice, Rafaela C. ^[2] ; Mercante, Luiza A. ^{[3, 1]} ; Andre, Rafaela S. ^[1] ; Mattoso, Luiz H. C. ^{[3, 1]} ; Correa, Daniel S. ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Embrapa Instrumentacao, Nanotechnol Natl Lab Agr LNNA, BR-13560970 Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Fed Triangulo Mineiro, ICTE, Dept Engn Quim, Uberaba, MG - Brazil

^[3] Fed Univ Sao Carlos UFSCar, Dept Mat Engn, PPG CEM, BR-13565905 Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Applied Surface Science; v. 443, p. 18-23, JUN 15 2018.
• Web of Science Citations: 6

Abstract

Reliable analytical techniques to evaluate dairy products, including milk, are of outmost importance to ensure food safety against contaminants. Among possible substances employed as adulterants in milk, urea raises deep concern due to its harmful effects to consumer's health. In the present study, a biosensing platform was developed to be applied in the electrochemical detection of urea. The sensing platform was fabricated using polymeric electrospun nanofibers of polyamide 6 (PA6) and polypyrrole (PPy) deposited onto fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO) electrodes, which were then modified with zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO). This material showed excellent properties for the immobilization of urease enzyme, conferring the FTO/PA6/PPy/ZnO/urease electrode high sensitivity for urea detection within the concentration range between 0.1 and 250 mg dL(-1) with a limit of detection of 0.011 mg dL(-1). The results achieved evidence the potential of electrospun nanofibers-based electrodes for applications in biosensors aiming at dairy products analysis. (C) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 16/23793-4 - Development of nanostructured sensor aiming the detection of volatile compounds for food quality indicators
• Grantee: Rafaela da Silveira Andre
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 14/16789-5 - Hybrid nanostructured materials based on conjugated polymers and metallic nanoparticles for sensor applications
• Grantee: Daniel Souza Corrêa
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants