Preparation of a glassy carbon electrode modified with saffron conjugated silver nanoparticles for the sensitive and selective electroanalytical determination of amoxicillin in urine samples.

Determination of antibiotics is crucial in order to assess their potential impacts on human health and the environment. This study aimed to develop a modified glassy carbon electrode with saffron conjugated silver nanoparticles for the determination of amoxicillin antibiotic in urine samples. The modified electrode was prepared by electrodeposition of silver nanoparticles on the electrode surface, followed by deposition of amoxicillin on the surface. The electrochemical behavior of the modified electrode was studied by cyclic voltammetry and square wave voltammetry. The results showed that the modified electrode exhibited enhanced electrocatalytic activity toward the oxidation of amoxicillin. The calibration curve was linear in the concentration range from 1.273 × 10-4 g L-1 to 2.217 × 10-3 g L-1, with a high linear correlation coefficient of 0.9998. The detection limit was determined to be 4.199 × 10-5 g L-1. The precision of the sensor was adequate, with relative standard deviations of 4.3% and 4.0% for AMX concentrations of 9.199 × 10-5 g L-1 and 1.194 × 10-4 g L-1, respectively. The modified electrode was then applied to the determination of amoxicillin in urine samples. The method showed linearity over the amoxicillin concentration range from 0.00 to 2.00 × 10-4 g L-1, with a detection limit of 9.739 × 10-6 g L-1, indicating the potential of the modified electrode for the determination of amoxicillin in biological samples. Overall, the modified glassy carbon electrode with silver nanoparticles showed very promising results for the sensitive and selective determination of amoxicillin in urine samples.

New Prospects in the Electroanalysis of Heavy Metal Ions (Cd, Pb, Zn, Cu): Development and Application of Novel Electrode Surfaces.

The detection of toxic heavy metal ions, especially cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu), is a global problem due to ongoing pollution incidents and continuous anthropogenic and industrial activities. Therefore, it is important to develop effective detection techniques to determine the levels of pollution from heavy metal ions in various media. Electrochemical techniques, more specifically voltammetry, due to its properties, is a promising method for the simultaneous detection of heavy metal ions. This review examines the current trends related to electrode formation and analysis techniques used. In addition, there is a reference to advanced detection methods based on the nanoparticles that have been developed so far, as well as formation with bismuth and the emerging technique of screen-printed electrodes. Finally, the advantages of using these methods are highlighted, while a discussion is presented on the benefits arising from nanotechnology, as it gives researchers new ideas for integrating these technologies into devices that can be used anywhere at any time. Reference is also made to the speciation of metals and how it affects their toxicity, as it is an important subject of research.

Development of an Electrochemical Sensor Using a Modified Carbon Paste Electrode with Silver Nanoparticles Capped with Saffron for Monitoring Mephedrone.

Mephedrone, also known as 4-methylmethcathinone, is growing into a prominent recreational drug for young people. When it came to detecting mephedrone, limited efforts were made using electrochemical sensors. As a result, this application depicts the fabrication of a new, sensitive, selective, and economical electrochemical sensor capable of detecting mephedrone by using silver nanoparticles capped with saffron produced through electropolymerization to modify carbon paste electrodes (CPEs). Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were capped with saffron (AgNPs@Sa) using a green method. AgNPs@Sa were studied using electron scanning microscopy (SEM) and UV-vis spectroscopy. The sensor was evaluated under the optimum condition to determine its analytical features. The results showed that this procedure had a wide linear range, low detection limit and sufficient reproducibility. Furthermore, the sensor posed sufficient stability. Moreover, it was applied in the determination of mephedrone in urine samples, showing the potential applicability of this electrochemical sensor in real sample analysis.

Selective Voltammetric Detection of Ascorbic Acid from Rosa Canina on a Modified Graphene Oxide Paste Electrode by a Manganese(II) Complex.

Voltammetric techniques have been considered as an important analytical tool applied to the determination of trace concentrations of many biological molecules including ascorbic acid. In this paper, ascorbic acid was detected by square wave voltammetry, using graphene oxide paste as a working electrode, modified by a film of a manganese(II) complex compound. Various factors, such as the effect of pH, affecting the response characteristics of the modified electrode were investigated. The relationship between the peak height and ascorbic acid concentration within the modified working electrode was investigated, using the calibration graph. The equation of the calibration graph was found to be: I = 0.0550γac + 0.155 with R2 = 0.9998, where I is the SWV current and γac is the mass concentration of ascorbic acid. The LOD and LOQ of the proposed method were determined to be 1.288 µg/L and 3.903 µg/L, respectively. Several compounds, such as riboflavin, biotin, and ions, such as Fe and Cu, were tested and it seemed that they did not interfere with the analytic signal. The proposed procedure was successfully applied in the determination of ascorbic acid in Rosa canina hips.

Electrochemical Behavior and Voltammetric Determination of a Manganese(II) Complex at a Carbon Paste Electrode.

Investigation of the electrochemical behavior using cyclic voltammetry and detection of [Mn(2+)(thiophenyl-2-carboxylic acid)2 (triethanolamine)] with adsorptive stripping differential pulse voltammetry. The electrochemical behavior of a manganese(II) complex [Mn(2+)(thiophenyl-2-carboxylic acid)2(triethanolamine)] (A) was investigated using cyclic and differential pulse voltammetry in an acetate buffer of pH 4.6 at a carbon paste electrode. Further, an oxidation-reduction mechanism was proposed. Meanwhile, an adsorptive stripping differential pulse voltammetric method was developed for the determination of manganese(II) complex.

Synthesis, characterization, DNA binding properties and antioxidant activity of a manganese(II) complex with NO6 chromophore.

The mononuclear complex [Mn(thiophenyl-2-carboxylate)(2)(H(3)tea)] (1), where H(3)tea=triethanolamine has been synthesized, characterized, while the DNA binding properties and the antioxidant activity were studied. The crystal structure of 1 is also reported. The interaction between 1 and calf thymus double stranded (ds) DNA was electrochemically at a calf thymus DNA (CT-DNA) modified carbon paste electrode (CPE) and spectrophotometrically investigated, respectively. Adsorptive transfer stripping voltammetry showed that the interaction mode between 1 and CT-DNA depends on manganese(II) complex concentration. UV studies between 1 and CT-DNA revealed that 1 can bind to CT-DNA by the intercalative binding mode and the binding constant has been calculated. A competitive study with acridine orange (AO) showed that 1 exhibits the ability to displace the DNA-bound AO, since 1 binds to the DNA in competition with AO. In vitro antioxidant activity of free ligands and 1 was evaluated using five different antioxidant assays: a) interaction with 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) stable free radical, b) the ΗΟ mediated oxidation of DMSO, c) scavenging of superoxide anion radicals, d) inhibition of lipid peroxidation and e) soybean lipoxygenase (LOX) inhibition. The results revealed the selectivity of the manganese complex to different free radicals as a consequence of its physicochemical feature. In particular, 1 presents significant inhibitory activity on LOX, with IC(50)=30 µM and selectivity to the inhibition of superoxide anion radicals and thus a promising candidate as a superoxide dismutase (SOD) biomimetic.

Selective determination of cyanides by gas diffusion-stopped flow-sequential injection analysis and an on-line standard addition approach.

A highly selective sequential injection (SI) method for the automated determination of weak-acid-dissociable cyanides is reported. The analytical procedure is based on the on-line reaction of the analyte with ninhydrin in carbonate medium to form a coloured product (lambda(max)=510 nm). Cyanides are removed from sample matrix by acidification through a gas-diffusion step incorporated in the SI manifold. The effect of instrumental and chemical variables was studied. By adopting an on-line standard addition protocol, the sensitivity of the proposed method was enhanced drastically, without affecting the determination range. The assay was validated in terms of linearity (up to 200 microg L(-1)), limit of detection (c(L)=2.5 microg L(-1)), limit of quantitation (c(Q)=7.5 microg L(-1)), precision (s(r)<2.5% at 100 microg L(-1)) and selectivity. High tolerance against critical species such as sulfides and thiocyanates was achieved. The applicability of the method was demonstrated by analyzing tap and mineral water samples at levels below the limits established by international E.U. and U.S. organizations. The percent recoveries were satisfactory in all cases, ranging between 94.2 and 103.6%.