Efficient electrochemical detection of dopamine with carbon nanocoils and copper tetra(p-methoxyphenyl)porphyrin nanocomposite

Abstract

Dopamine (DA), a critical catecholamine neurotransmitter, is responsible for normal functioning of body. Its dysregulation causes cognitive disturbances. Thus, an efficient real time monitoring of DA in clinical samples is required. Herein we report a novel nanocomposite comprising of carbon nanocoils (CNC) and copper tetra(p-methoxyphenyl)porphyrin (CuTMePP) for efficient electrochemical detection of dopamine that was characterized by FTIR, UV/vis., Raman, XRD, SEM, TEM and energy dispersive X-ray techniques. The electrochemical studies were performed using cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). CNC/CuTMePP/glassy carbon (GC) has demonstrated two linear trends between current and concentration i.e. 0.1 to 100.0 µM and 100.0 to 800.0 µM. Limit of detection (LoD), limit of quantification (LoQ) and sensitivity of the electrode in the concentration range of 0.1 to 100.0 µM was 50.0 nM, 167.0 nM and 1.76 µAµM-1cm−2, respectively using CV. With DPV, the LoD, LoQ and sensitivity were found to be 64.0 nM, 211.0 nM and 0.75 µAµM-1cm−2, respectively obtained in a concentration range of 0.1 to 100.0 µM. The as prepared sensor exhibited good intra/inter-day stabilities, reproducibility, excellent recovery in the human serum samples, presented significant clinical dopamine detection and showed comparable results with other work in literature.

Keywords

• Carbon nanocoils
• Dopamine
• Neurotransmitter
• Copper tetra(p-methoxyphenyl)porphyrin
• Electrochemical sensor