Nickel Nanoparticle Modified BDD Electrode Shows an Electrocatalytic Response to Adenine and DNA in Aqueous Alkaline Media

The electrooxidation of adenine, guanine and DNA was investigated under alkaline conditions at unmodified (BDDE) and at a nickel nanoparticle modified boron-doped diamond electrodes (Ni-BDDE). An oxidative response was observed at the Ni-BDDE for each analyte, particularly notable of the adenine as the oxidation overpotential was reduced to below 0.5 V vs. SCE, and was otherwise unobserved at the unmodified electrode.