Porous silicon-mesoporous carbon nanocomposite based electrochemical sensor for sensitive and selective detection of ascorbic acid in real samples

Ascorbic acid (AA) is one of the vital water-soluble antioxidants in blood serum and can function as a key blood serum biomarker for oxidative stress. Therefore, we have developed a highly sensitive and selective AA electrochemical sensor based on novel porous silicon-mesoporous carbon nanocomposites (PSi-MC NCs) modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The structural properties and morphological investigation of the PSi-MC NCs were systematically studied by different techniques. This newly designed PSi-MC/GCE-based non-enzymatic electrochemical sensor can measure an extremely wide range of AA (0.5-2473 mu M) in phosphate buffer solution (PBS) with a sensitivity 0.1982 mu A mu M(-1)cm(-2) and a logical limit of detection (LOD) 30.0 +/- 0.1 nM. The proposed AA sensor was also applied to detect possible interference from common interfering substances that are present in human blood, showing highly selective performance. The proposed AA sensor also showed highly acceptable results towards the detection of AA levels in human blood serum and vitamin C tablets. This new combination of active material PSi-MC NCs provided steady, excellent reproducibility, repeatability, and long-term stability. (c) 2021 Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

An electrochemical sensor for ascorbic acid (AA) based on PSi-MC NCs-modified GCE was developed, showing high sensitivity and selectivity for a wide range of AA levels in serum. The sensor also demonstrated excellent performance in detecting potential interference and accurately measuring AA in human blood serum and vitamin C tablets, showcasing good reproducibility and long-term stability.