Development of a Highly Conductive Thiophene-Incorporated Prussian Blue Analogue Composite Electrode for Ultrasensitive Detection of Uric Acid
摘要
Accurate detection of uric acid (UA) is crucial due to its significant role in diagnosing and managing hyperuricemia, gout, and other metabolic disorders, thereby necessitating reliable and efficient analytical methods. In this study, a novel hybrid electrode composed of polythiophene (PT)-incorporated cobalt hexacyanoferrate (Co-PB) was developed via a facile in situ oxidative polymerization approach. Comprehensive characterizations, including x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analyses, confirmed the successful hybridization and enhanced surface properties. The XRD results verified the preservation of the Co-PB crystalline phase, accompanied by a reduction in crystallite size from 64 nm to 41 nm upon PT incorporation. Morphological analysis revealed a uniform distribution of Co-PB nanocubes within the PT matrix, forming a core–shell architecture. N2 adsorption–desorption studies indicated an increase in surface area from 112.3 m2 g−1 (Co-PB) to 146.7 m2 g−1 (PT/Co-PB). The PT/Co-PB-modified electrode exhibited excellent electrochemical performance, with differential pulse voltammetry showing a wide linear detection range of 0.1–1000 µM and a low limit of detection of 0.159 µM. The sensor demonstrated outstanding selectivity toward UA against common interferents and maintained 94% of its initial response after 14 days, reflecting high stability. Moreover, real sample analysis showed reliable performance, achieving recovery rates between 96.8% and 103.2% in spiked human urine samples. These findings highlight the PT/Co-PB hybrid as a low-cost, scalable, and ultrasensitive electrochemical platform for efficient clinical monitoring of uric acid.
Graphical Abstract