Electrochemical determination of tryptophan, uric acid and ascorbic acid at a gold nanoparticles modified carbon paste electrode

A carbon paste electrode (CPE) modified with gold nanoparticles was used as a selective electrochemical sensor for the determination of tryptophan (Trp), uric acid (UA) and ascorbic acid (AA). Cyclic voltammetric, chronoamperometric, and differential pulse voltammetric methods were used to investigate the electrocatalytic oxidation of Trp in aqueous solution. The Au nanoparticles modified carbon paste electrode (AuNPs/CPE) showed very efficient electrocatalytic activity for anodic oxidation of Trp, UA, and AA. The linear calibration range for Trp in the presence of 100 mu M AA and 50 mu M UA was 6-200 mu M, with a detection limit of 0.65 mu M (S/N = 3). A linear relationship was found for UA in the range of 6-180 mu M containing 100 mu M AA and 25 mu M Trp, with a detection limit of 0.71 mu M. The linear calibration range for AA in the presence of 50 mu M UA and 50 mu M Trp was 20-250 mu M, with a detection limit of 2.05 mu M. The diffusion coefficient (D) for the oxidation of Trp at the modified electrode was calculated as 2.82 x 10(-5) cm(2) s(-1). The modified electrode showed good sensitivity and selectivity, and was employed for the determination of Trp, UA, and AA in biological and pharmaceutical samples.