Skip to main content
Log in

Electrochemical chiral sensing of tryptophan enantiomers by using 3D nitrogen-doped reduced graphene oxide and self-assembled polysaccharides

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Microchimica Acta Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A chiral sensor is described for the enantioselective recognition of L- and D-tryptophan (Trp). The sensor is based on the use of (a) Cu(II) ions coordinated with β-cyclodextrin (Cu-β-CD) that was self-assembled with carboxymethyl cellulose (CD-Cu-CMC) as a chiral selector, (b) of N-doped reduced graphene oxide (N-rGO) as substrate materials, and (c) of differential pulse voltammetry that was used for enantiorecognition. The 3D N-rGO was prepared by using reduced graphene oxide and pyrrole as the starting materials. Electrostatic interaction occurs between the carboxy groups of CMC and Cu(II) ions in Cu-β-CD. The FT-IR, SEM, XRD and XPS techniques showed that 3D N-rGO and the CD-Cu-CMC composite were successfully synthesized. The 3D N-rGO enabled the immobilization of the chiral selector (CD-Cu-CMC) and improves the active areas. A glassy carbon electrode was modified with N-rGO/CD-Cu-CMC and then showed a stronger electrochemical signal for L-Trp than for D-Trp, typically at a working potential of around 0.78 V (vs. SCE). UV-vis spectroscopy proved that CD-Cu-CMC has a higher affinity for D-Trp. The enantioselectivity for D-Trp over L-Trp is 4.72. The modified electrode had a limit of detection of 0.063 μM and 0.0035 μM for L-Trp and D-Trp, respectively, with a linear response range of 0.01 mM to 5 mM. The sensor was used to detect Trp (D- or L-Trp) in spiked real human urine and human serum protein samples.

Schematic representation of an electrochemical chirality sensor based on the merits of N-rGO and CD-Cu-CMC. It involves the preparation of a chiral selector and a substrate material. N-Doped graphene oxide (N-rGO) was prepared by using graphene oxide (GO) and pyrrole as precursor. The combination of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) with Cu-β-CD leads to a novel self-assembly framework.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Noguchi T, Roy B, Yoshihara D, Sakamoto J, Yamamoto T, Shinkai S (2017) A chiral recognition system orchestrated by self-assembly: molecular chirality, self-assembly morphology, and fluorescence response. Angew Chem Int Edit 56:12518–12522

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Talele HR, Koval D, Severa L, Reyes-Gutiérrez PE, Císařová I, Sazelova P, Teplý F (2018) Diquats with robust chirality: facile resolution, synthesis of chiral dyes, and application as selectors in chiral analysis. Chem Eur J 24:7601–7604

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Ibanez JG, Rincón ME, Gutierrez-Granados S, Chahma MH, Jaramillo-Quintero OA, Frontana-Uribe BA (2018) Conducting polymers in the fields of energy, environmental remediation, and chemical-chiral sensors. Chem Rev 118:4731–4816

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Bo G, Gall MA, Kuschel S, Winter J, Gerbaux P, Leigh DA (2018) An artificial molecular machine that builds an asymmetric catalyst. Nat Nanotechnol 13:381

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Han X, Huang J, Yuan C, Liu Y, Cui Y (2018) Chiral 3D covalent organic frameworks for high performance liquid chromatographic enantioseparation. J Am Chem Soc 140:892–895

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Song G, Xu C, Li B (2015) Visual chiral recognition of mandelic acid enantiomers with L-tartaric acid-capped gold nanoparticles as colorimetric probes. Sensor Actuat B 215:504–509

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Wang C, Wu X, Pu L (2017) A highly fluorinated chiral aldehyde for enantioselective fluorescent recognition in a biphasic system. Chem Eur J 23:10749–10752

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Saz JM, Marina ML (2016) Recent advances on the use of cyclodextrins in the chiral analysis of drugs by capillary electrophoresis. J Chromatogr A 1467:79–94

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Tao Y, Chu F, Gu X, Kong Y, Lv Y, Deng L (2018) A novel electrochemical chiral sensor for tyrosine isomers based on a coordination-driven self-assembly. Sensor Actuat B 255:255–261

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Niu X, Mo Z, Yang X, Shuai C, Liu N, Guo R (2019) Graphene-ferrocene functionalized cyclodextrin composite with high electrochemical recognition capability for phenylalanine enantiomers. Bioelectrochemistry 128:74–82

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Zhang Y, Liu G, Yao X, Gao S, Xie J, Xu H, Lin N (2018) Electrochemical chiral sensor based on cellulose nanocrystals and multiwall carbon nanotubes for discrimination of tryptophan enantiomers. Cellulose 25:3861–3871

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Wu D, Tan W, Yu Y, Yang B, Li H, Kong Y (2018) A facile avenue to prepare chiral graphene sheets as electrode modification for electrochemical enantiorecognition. Anal Chim Acta 1033:58–64

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Gou H, He J, Mo Z, Wei X, Hu R, Wang Y, Guo R (2016) A highly effective electrochemical chiral sensor of tryptophan enantiomers based on covalently functionalize reduced graphene oxide with L-lysine. J Electrochem Soc 163:B272–B279

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Bao L, Chen X, Yang B, Tao Y, Kong Y (2016) Construction of electrochemical chiral interfaces with integrated polysaccharides via amidation. ACS Appl Mater Inter 8:21710–21720

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Bao L, Dai J, Yang L, Ma J, Tao Y, Deng L, Kong Y (2015) Electrochemical recognition of tyrosine enantiomers based on chiral ligand exchange with sodium alginate as the chiral selector. J Electrochem Soc 162:H486–H491

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Lei P, Zhou Y, Zhang G, Zhang Y, Zhang C, Hong S, Shuang S (2019) A highly efficient chiral sensing platform for tryptophan isomers based on a coordination self-assembly. Talanta 195:306–312

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Tao Y, Gu X, Deng L, Qin Y, Xue H, Kong Y (2015) Chiral recognition of D-tryptophan by confining high-energy water molecules inside the cavity of copper-modified β-cyclodextrin. J Phys Chem C 119:8183–8190

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Tao Y, Dai J, Kong Y, Sha Y (2014) Temperature-sensitive electrochemical recognition of tryptophan enantiomers based on β-cyclodextrin self-assembled on poly (L-glutamic acid). Anal Chem 86:2633–2639

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Niu X, Yang X, Mo Z, Guo R, Liu N, Zhao P, Ouyang M (2019) Voltammetric enantiomeric differentiation of tryptophan by using multiwalled carbon nanotubes functionalized with ferrocene and β-cyclodextrin. Electrochim Acta 297:650–659

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Ma X, Xie Y, Yu Y, Lu L, Liu G, Yu Y, Hu C (2018) Three-dimensional β-cyclodextrin functionalized graphene aerogels: an enhanced electrochemical sensing platform for quantification of Ponceau 4R. J Electroanal Chem 823:437–444

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Jia H, Xu J, Lu L, Yu Y, Zuo Y, Tian Q, Li P (2018) Three-dimensional au nanoparticles/nano-poly (3, 4-ethylene dioxythiophene)-graphene aerogel nanocomposite: a high-performance electrochemical immunosensing platform for prostate specific antigen detection. Sensor Actuat B 260:990–997

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Kannappan S, Yang H, Kaliyappan K, Manian RK, Pandian AS, Lee YS, Lu W (2018) Thiolated-graphene-based supercapacitors with high energy density and stable cycling performance. Carbon 134:326–333

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Jeon IY, Ju MJ, Xu J, Choi HJ, Seo JM, Kim MJ, Liu HK (2015) Edge-fluorinated graphene Nanoplatelets as high performance electrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells and Lithium ion batteries. Adv Funct Mater 25:1170–1179

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Park CS, Yoon H, Kwon OS (2016) Graphene-based nanoelectronic biosensors. J Ind Eng Chem 38:13–22

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Fu K, Wang Y, Yan C, Yao Y, Chen Y, Dai J, Wang Z (2016) Graphene oxide-based electrode inks for 3D-printed lithium-ion batteries. Adv Mater 28:2587–2594

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Xie Y, Tu X, Ma X, Fang Q, Lu L, Yu Y, Liu C (2019) High-performance voltammetric sensor for dichlorophenol based on β-cyclodextrin functionalized boron-doped graphene composite aerogels. Nanotechnology 30:18

    Google Scholar 

  27. Yang W, Zhou M, Oturan N, Li Y, Su P, Oturan MA (2019) Enhanced activation of hydrogen peroxide using nitrogen doped graphene for effective removal of herbicide 2, 4-D from water by iron-free electrochemical advanced oxidation. Electrochim Acta 297:582–592

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Wu K, Yang H, Jia L, Pan Y, Hao Y, Zhang K, Hu G (2019) Smart construction of 3D N-doped graphene honeycombs with (NH4)2SO4 as a multifunctional template for Li-ion battery anode: “a choice that serves three purposes”. Green Chem 21:1472–1483

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Yuan R, Yuan J, Wu Y, Ju P, Ji L, Li H, Chen J (2018) Graphene oxide-monohydrated manganese phosphate composites: preparation via modified hummers method. Colloid Surface A 547:56–63

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Matsui Y, Kurita T, Date Y (1972) Complexes of copper (II) with cyclodextrins. B Chem Soc Jap 45:3229–3229

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Chen S, Duan J, Jaroniec M, Qiao SZ (2013) Three-dimensional N-doped graphene hydrogel/NiCo double hydroxide electrocatalysts for highly efficient oxygen evolution. Angew Chem Int Edit 125:13812–13815

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Wang YG, Li HQ, Xia YY (2006) Ordered whiskerlike polyaniline grown on the surface of mesoporous carbon and its electrochemical capacitance performance. Adv Mater 18:2619–2623

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Liang W, Rong Y, Fan L, Dong W, Dong Q, Yang C, Wong WY (2018) 3D graphene/hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin nanocomposite as an electrochemical chiral sensor for the recognition of tryptophan enantiomers. J Mater Chem C 6:12822–12829

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Gu X, Tao Y, Pan Y, Deng L, Bao L, Kong Y (2015) DNA-inspired electrochemical recognition of tryptophan isomers by electrodeposited chitosan and sulfonated chitosan. Anal Chem 87:9481–9486

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Benesi HA, Hildebrand JHJ (1949) A spectrophotometric investigation of the interaction of iodine with aromatic hydrocarbons. J Am Chem Soc 71:2703–2707

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (51262027), the State Key Laboratory of Solidification Processing in NWPU (SKLSP201754), the Science and Technology Project Gansu Province (17YF1GA017), the Research Project of Higher Education in Gansu Province (2017A-002), and the Science and Technology Project Gansu Province (17JR5RA082).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Zunli Mo.

Ethics declarations

The author(s) declare that they have no competing interests.

Additional information

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Electronic supplementary material

ESM 1

(DOCX 2165 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Niu, X., Yang, X., Mo, Z. et al. Electrochemical chiral sensing of tryptophan enantiomers by using 3D nitrogen-doped reduced graphene oxide and self-assembled polysaccharides. Microchim Acta 186, 557 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-019-3682-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-019-3682-4

Keywords

Navigation