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Electrostatically mediated layer-by-layer assembly of nitrogen-doped graphene/PDDA/gold nanoparticle composites for electrochemical detection of uric acid

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Abstract

A layer-by-layer self-assembled nitrogen-doped graphene/PDDA/gold nanoparticle (NDG/PDDA/GNP) composite was described. Citrate-stabilizing gold nanoparticle colloids (GNPs) were electrostatically adsorbed onto NDG nanosheets using a cationic polyelectrolyte, polydiallyldimethylammonium (PDDA), as the linker, thereby creating a high-performance electrochemical interface. The morphology and chemical composition were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. Analytical application was manifested by electrochemical sensing of uric acid (UA), a biomarker involved with a variety of clinical diseases. The prepared nanocomposite exhibited noticeable electroactivity to uric acid oxidation and can give effective peak separation with ascorbic acid and dopamine. Additionally, the nanocomposite practically averted from other potentially interferents including glucose, urea, and serotonin, thus allowing selective voltammetric detection of UA in the biological matrix. Under the optimal condition, peak currents measured by differential pulse voltammetry were proportional to UA concentrations in the range of 0.5~100 μM (R2 = 0.998), with the detection limit of 53 nM. The NDG/PDDA/GNP nanocomposite as presented herein holds potential for aiding the diagnosis of UA-associated diseases and should be a new opportunity for biochemical analysis and biosensing applications.

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Funding

This research was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (21665004), the Guangxi Natural Science Foundation (2018GXNSFAA138022), the Open Fund of Key Laboratory of Guangxi Colleges and Universities for Food Safety and Pharmaceutical Analysis (FPAC2017YD-01), and the Guangxi First-class Discipline Project for Pharmaceutical Sciences (No. GXFCDP-PS-2018).

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  1. Xi Pang and Fusen Li contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pharmaceutical Analysis Division, School of Pharmacy, Guangxi Medical University, 22 Shuangyong Road, Nanning, 530021, China

    Xi Pang, Songqing Huang, Zeqi Yang, Qian Mo, Li Huang, Wanpeng Xu, Limin Chen & Xinchun Li

  2. Inorganic Chemistry Division, School of Pharmacy, Guangxi Medical University, 22 Shuangyong Road, Nanning, 530021, China

    Fusen Li

  3. Nanomedicine and Bioanalysis Innovative Program, School of Pharmacy, Guangxi Medical University, 22 Shuangyong Road, Nanning, 530021, China

    Limin Chen & Xinchun Li

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  1. Xi Pang
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Pang, X., Li, F., Huang, S. et al. Electrostatically mediated layer-by-layer assembly of nitrogen-doped graphene/PDDA/gold nanoparticle composites for electrochemical detection of uric acid. Anal Bioanal Chem 412, 669–680 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-019-02275-2

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