Carbon dots-decorated multiwalled carbon nanotubes nanocomposites as a high-performance electrochemical sensor for detection of H2O2 in living cells.
A novel enzyme-free hydrogen peroxide sensor composed of carbon dots (CDs) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) was prepared. It was found that the carbon dots-decorated multi-walled carbon nanotubes nanocomposites (CDs/MWCNTs) modified glassy carbon (GC) electrode (CDs/MWCNTs/GCE) exhibited a significant synergistic electrocatalytic activity towards hydrogen peroxide reduction as compared to carbon dots or multi-walled carbon nanotubes alone, and the CDs/MWCNTs/GCE has shown a low detection limit as well as excellent stability, selectivity, and reproducibility. These remarkable analytical advantages enable the practical application of CDs/MWCNTs/GCE for the real-time tracking of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) released from human cervical cancer cells with satisfactory results. The enhanced electrochemical activity can be assigned to the edge plane-like defective sites and lattice oxygen in the CDs/MWCNTs nanocomposites due to the small amount of decoration of carbon dots on the multi-walled carbon nanotubes. Based on a facile preparation method and with good electrochemical properties, the CDs/MWCNTs nanocomposites represent a new class of carbon electrode for electrochemical sensor applications. Graphical Abstract CDs/MWCNTs exhibited good electrocatalytic activity and stability to H2O2 reduction and can be used for real-time detection of H2O2 released from living cells.
State Key Lab of Electroanalytical Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, Jilin, 130022, China.
Jing
J
Bai
State Key Lab of Electroanalytical Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, Jilin, 130022, China.
Chunhe
C
Sun
State Key Lab of Electroanalytical Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, Jilin, 130022, China. jiangxiue@ciac.ac.cn.
Xiue
X
Jiang
D055664:Electrochemical Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000032:analysis*; D057230:Limit of Detection; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry*; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D013057:Spectrum Analysis / Q000379:methods; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide
Carbon quantum dots; Catalyst; Electrocatalysis; Extracellular H2O2; Nonenzymatic biosensor