A nitrogen-doped carbon dot/ferrocene@β-cyclodextrin composite as an enhanced material for sensitive and selective determination of uric acid

A simple and convenient method for the synthesis of nitrogen-doped carbon dots (N-CDs) was reported. Layers of the N-CDs and ferrocene@beta-cyclodextrin (Fc@beta-CD) host-guest complex were deposited on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) which was used for highly selective and sensitive detection of uric acid (UA). Under the optimal conditions, compared to bare, N-CD and Fc@beta-CD modified electrodes, the Fc@beta-CD/N-CD/GCE had higher catalytic activity toward the oxidation of UA. Differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) was used as the analytical technique for detection of UA, the observed linear range for the determination of the UA concentration was from 5 mu M to 120 mu M with the detection limit estimated to be 0.08 mu M (3S/N). Meanwhile, it was applied to determine uric acid in spiked samples with satisfactory results.