Electrochemical chiral recognition of tryptophan using a glassy carbon electrode modified with β-cyclodextrin and graphene

We report on a method for electrochemical enantioselective recognition of tryptophan (Trp) enantiomers. It is based on competitive host-guest interaction between a deoxy-(2-aminoethylamino)-beta-cyclodextrin (CD) bound to graphene nanosheets and the Cu(II) complexes of the Trp enantiomers via a ligand exchange mechanism. Chiral recognition was investigated via cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The results reveal that the CD bound to graphene displays a stronger interaction with the Cu(II) complex of L-Trp than to that of D-Trp. The method was applied to the determination of the ratio of Trp enantiomers in mixtures.