Highly sensitive and selective non-enzymatic uric acid electrochemical sensor based on novel polypyrrole-carbon black-Co3O4 nanocomposite

Efficient uric acid (UA) detection from the blood serum is a key indicator of overall health status and thus helps in public health monitoring. Hence, in this article, we have proposed a non-enzymatic UA sensor using a novel polypyrrole-carbon black-Co3O4 (PPy-CB-Co3O4) nanocomposite (NC) modified glassy carbon electrode. Modern analytical tools like FE-SEM, TEM, EDXS, XRD, XPS, and FTIR spectroscopy were used to characterize the PPy-CB-Co3O4 nanocomposite. XRD and XPS analysis confirmed the fruitful development of nanocomposite consisting of PPy-CB and Co3O4. TEM images revealed that Co3O4 nanoparticles (NPs) were randomly dispersed on the PPy-CB sheets. In the electrochemical investigations, PPy-CB-Co3O4/GCE sensor showed excellent sensitivity (0.8786 mu A mu M-1 cm(-2)), wide LDR (0.75-305 mu M) to cover the entire UA range in human blood serum, and extremely lower detection limit (LOD similar to 0.46 mu M). The newly developed UA sensor was further used to check the potential chemical interference using several biomolecules, presenting an extreme selectivity in UA detection. The PPy-CB-Co3O4/GCE sensor also exhibited satisfactory results in detecting UA levels in human blood serum. In UA determination, the PPy-CB-Co3O4/GCE sensor also displayed excellent reproducibility, repeatability, and stability. It is anticipated that this PPy-CB-Co3O4 nanocomposite fabricated GCE will emerge as an effective route to develop an efficient non-enzymatic UA sensor.

Automated summary

In this study, a sensor modified with PPy-CB-Co3O4 nanocomposite was developed for efficient and accurate detection of uric acid in blood serum. The sensor showed excellent sensitivity, wide linear dynamic range, and extremely low detection limit. It also demonstrated high selectivity for uric acid and exhibited good reproducibility, repeatability, and stability.