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Sensitive L-leucine sensor based on a glassy carbon electrode modified with

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DOI: 10.1007/s00604-016-1983-4

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Microchim Acta (2016) 183:3265–3273
DOI 10.1007/s00604-016-1983-4
ORIGINAL PAPER
Sensitive L-leucine sensor based on a glassy carbon electrode
modified with SrO nanorods
Mohammad Musarraf Hussain 1,2 & Mohammed M. Rahman 1,2 & Abdullah M. Asiri 1,2
Received: 2 June 2016 / Accepted: 12 October 2016 / Published online: 20 October 2016
# Springer-Verlag Wien 2016
Abstract Strontium oxide nanorods (SrO NR) were prepared
in alkaline medium by a wet-chemical method. They were
characterized by FTIR, UV/Vis, field emission scanning elec-
tron microscopy, X-ray electron dispersive spectroscopy, X-
ray photoelectron spectroscopy and powder X-ray diffraction.
A thin-layer of the NR was deposited on a glassy carbon
electrode to give an electrochemical sensor for the amino acid
L-leucine (L-Leu) that has good sensitivity, a wide dynamic
range and good long-term stability. The response to Leu was
studied by the current–voltage (I-V) technique. The calibration
plot (with data acquired at +0.8 V vs. SCE) was found to cover
0.1 nM to 0.1 mM L-Leu concentration range. The sensitivity is
2.53 nA⋅μM−1⋅cm−2, and the limit of detection is 37.5 ± 0.2 pM
(at a signal to noise ratio of 3). The sensor was applied to the
fairly selective determination of L-Leu in spiked urine, milk, and
serum samples to give acceptable results.
Keywords Amino acid analysis . Electrochemical sensor .
SrO Nanorods . FESEM . XEDS . X-ray photoelectron
spectroscopy . X-ray powder diffraction . Glassy carbon
electrode . Urine analysis . Milk analysis . Serum analysis
Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article
(doi:10.1007/s00604-016-1983-4) contains supplementary material,
which is available to authorized users.
* Mohammed M. Rahman
mmrahman@kau.edu.sa; mmrahmanh@gmail.com
1
Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz
University, Jeddah 21589, P.O. Box 80203, Saudi Arabia
2
Center of Excellence for Advanced Material Research (CEAMR),
King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, P.O. Box 80203, Saudi
Arabia
Introduction
Electrochemical biosensors are inexpensive, fast, sensi-
tive and tools for use in the field of biological detection
[1]. Electrochemical signal transduction can be superior
to other signal transduction techniques in terms of ac-
curacy, expenditure, sensitivity, stability, and selectivity
[2]. Nanotechnology explored the natural characteristics
of low-dimensional heterostructures such as the remark-
able improved electron/hole pair recombination and the
size-dependent modification of spectral emissions to-
wards the short wavelength area [3]. The efficiency of
the nanostructure objects can be advanced and the de-
vices might be introduced from these properties to work
for the development of biosensor at lower threshold op-
erating voltage [4]. Zero and one-dimensional nanostruc-
tures such as nano-needles, nanorods, nanorods, and
nanowires have been gained the major attention in the
region of nanotechnology owing to their unique electri-
cal, electronic, optical and optoelectronic characteristics.
Inorganic nanoparticles (NPs) possess outstanding
electronic, mechanical, magnetic, optical and thermal
properties [5]. SrO nanorods (NR) had been used as an
additive coloration [6], coating materials on carbon nano-
tubes [7], cement forming ion [8], deposition of magne-
tron sputter [9], doping agent [10], isomerization effect
moiety [11], heterogeneous catalyst [12], thin films prep-
aration [13], and aldol addition, kinetic, paramagnetic res-
onance, IR, Mass-spec, UV/Vis spectroscopic study and
photocatalytic activity [14, 15].
It was shown that glassy carbon electrode modified
with calcium-crosslinked pectin deposited on gold nano-
particle coupled MWCNTs surfaces exhibited excellent
electrocatalytic ability towards oxidation of L-Cys in
showing a lower overpotential and giving a higher
3266
oxidation peak current. This allowed specific detection of
L-Cys even in the presence of 500-fold excess of
interferents [16]. Electrochemical sensor based on the
Y 2 O 3 -nanoparticles supported on nitrogen-doped re-
duced graphene oxide onto carbon paste electrode was
developed for selective L-cysteine, which displayed a
strongly oxidation peak for L-cysteine at pH 7.0.
Further, the sensor exhibited superior electrochemical
performance for electrocatalytic oxidation and detected
the target L-cysteine analyte at room conditions [17].
Branched chained amino acids such as L-Leucine, iso-
leucine, and valine play a significant regulatory function
in protein metabolism. L-Leu used as medicine, nutri-
tion, important dietary nutrient for the standard growth
of fish, and can be produced by fermentation [18]. L-
Leu is an essential synthetic building block for novel
chiral auxiliaries, ligands, and pharmaceutical active in-
gredients [19]. L-Leu is the most efficient amino acid
regarding metabolic fuel in skeletal muscle, stimulating
amino acid in protein synthesis and inhibition of degra-
dation in mammals. It has a vital function in blood
glucose homeostasis, body adipose tissue homeostasis,
haemoglobulin production, insulin secretion stimulation,
and nitrogen balance [20]. Biochemical malfunction and
growth retardation can be happened upon dietary defi-
ciency of L-Leu [21]. Bladder carcinogenesis can also
be occurred in rats from dietary supplement of L-Leu
[22]. Loss of skeletal muscle may be attenuated in mice
by branched chain amino acid (L-Leu, leucine metabo-
lite and β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate) [23]. Various elec-
trochemical techniques have been developed for the de-
termination and measurement of L-Leu in biological or-
igins [24] as shown in Table 1. Among these tech-
niques, the electrochemical biosensor is cheap, reliable,
sensitive, stable and easy to operate. The aim of this
study was to develop a biosensor based on SrO NR to
detect L-Leu using current–voltage (I-V) method. To
best of our knowledge this is the first time report of
L-Leu detection using I-V technique based on SrO
nanostructures deposited on GCE.
Experimental section
Materials and methods
The chemical reagents of the analytical grade such as
ethanol, nafion (5 % ethanolic solution), sodium hy-
droxide, L-Aspertic acid, Creatine, Glycine, L-Cystine,
L-Glutamic acid, L-Glutathione, L-Tyrocine, L-Leucine,
Thionine acetate, and Uric acid were used without fur-
ther purification that had been purchased from the
Sigma-Aldrich company (www.sigmaaldrich.com).
Microchim Acta (2016) 183:3265–3273
FTIR, and UV/Vis spectra of the white powder SrO
NR had been performed on a Thermo scientific
NICOLET iS50 FTIR spectrometer (Madison, WI,
USA), and 300 UV/Visible spectrophotometer (Thermo
scientific; (www.thermoscientific.com)) respectively. The
XPS experiment was conducted for the determination of
binding energies (eV) between Sr, and O on a K-α1
spectrometer (Thermo scientific, K-α1 1066; www.
thermoscientific.com) with an excitation radiation
source (A1Kα1, Beam spot size =300.0 μm, pass
e n e r g y = 2 0 0 . 0 e V, p r e s s u r e ~ 1 0 − 8 t o r r ) . T h e
electrochemical characterizations such as arrangement,
elemental analysis, morphology, and particle size of
the SrO NR were investigated using FESEM (JEOL,
JSM-7600F, Japan; www.jeol.co.jp) equipped XEDS. In
order to measure the crystalline pattern of SrO NR,
XRD examination was also carried out under ambient
conditions. I-V method was performed at a selective
point using the fabricated SrO NR by Keithley elec-
trometer (6517A, USA; www.tek.com/keithley) to
detect L-Leu.
Synthesis of SrO nanorods
Strontium chloride [SrCl2.6H2O] and sodium hydroxide
(NaOH) were used as reacting agents in the preparation
of SrO NR using a simple wet-chemical process [25].
The wet-chemical process is a classical solid-state sys-
tem, widely used in the preparation of doped or un-
doped nanomaterials, and the yield will attain smaller
grains as well as shorter duration of phase formation.
On the basis of this technique, strontium chloride
(SrCl2.6H2O, 0.1 M, 2.67 g) was dissolved in distilled
water (100.0 mL) at a conical flask (250.0 mL) under
continuous stirring; pH of the resultant solution was
adjusted to 10.13 by adding up NaOH, and then placed
at 90.0 °C for uninterrupted stirring. After 6 h constant
stirring, the stirred solution was washed thoroughly with
water and acetone consequently, and then kept for dry-
ing (12 h) in open air at room temperature. The resul-
tant white powder (SrO NR) were dried (28 h) in the
oven at 60.0 °C, grinding into powder, again dried
(22 h) at 60.0 °C in the oven in order to use for elec-
trochemical examinations including application. The fea-
sible mechanisms of reactions for the development of
SrO NR are as follows [reaction (i) - (iv)].
NaOH(s) → Na+(aq) + OH−(aq) (i)
SrCl2 → Sr2 +(aq) + 2Cl−(aq) (ii)
Na+(aq) + 2OH−(aq) + Sr2 +(aq) + Cl−(aq) → Sr(OH)2 (aq) ↓ + NaCl(aq) (iii)
2Sr(OH)2 (aq) → 2SrO(s) ↓ + 2H2O(aq) (iv)
Microchim Acta (2016) 183:3265–3273
According to the reaction (iii), unstable strontium hy-
droxide had been formed at a particular pH during
SrCl 2 .6H 2 O hydrolyzed by reducing agent, NaOH.
Where, NaOH operated a buffer to control the pH of
the solution and contributed of OH− ions in slowly dur-
ing the entire synthetic route. The precipitation of
Sr(OH)2 nuclei began to start when the concentrations
of the Sr2+ and OH− ions had been reached above the
critical value. As there, high concentration of Sr2+ ions
in the reaction system beside OH− ions, the nucleation
of SrO crystals become easier due to the lower activa-
tion energy barrier of heterogeneous nucleation.
Based on the principle of Ostwald-ripening method,
SrO nucleus growth takes place initially by self and
mutual-aggregation, then nano-crystal re-aggregated and
aggregated SrO nanocrystals were formed. Nanocrystals
crystallized and re-aggregated with each other counter
parts through Vander-Waals forces and SrO spherical
morphology had been reformed (Scheme 1). The cal-
cined doped NR was characterized in detailed in terms
of their elemental, morphological, optical, structural
properties and applied for L-Leu detection.
Fabrication of glassy carbon electrode with SrO NR
NaH2PO4 (0.2 M), Na2HPO4 (0.2 M), and distilled water
(200.0 mL) had been used for the preparation of phosphate
buffer (PB, 200 mL, 0.1 M, pH = 7). Ethanol and conducting
binder, nafion were used to fabricate GCE with SrO NR. After
that, the fabricated electrode was kept at room temperature
(6 h) for uniform film formation with completed drying. The
fabricated GCE and platinum (Pt) were used as a working and
counter electrode respectively in order to find out the current–
voltage signals.
Results and discussion
Choice of materials
SrO nanorods have employed a great deal of consideration
due to their chemical, structural, physical, and optical proper-
ties in terms of large-active surface area, high-stability, high
Scheme 1 Schematic representation of growth mechanism of SrO nanorods using by facile wet-chemical method.
3267
porosity, and permeability, which directly dependent on the
structural morphology prepared by reactant precursors
(Strontium chloride) for making SrO NR in basic medium at
low-temperature. The SrO NRs were synthesized by a wet-
chemical method using NaOH reducing agents at ambient
conditions. This technique has several advantages including
facile preparation, accurate control of the reactant tempera-
ture, easy to handle, one-step reaction, and high-porosity as
well as porous natures. Optical, morphological, electrical, and
chemical properties of SrO nanorod materials are of huge
significance from the scientific aspect, compared to other
undoped materials. Non-stoichiometry, mostly oxygen vacan-
cies, makes it conducting nature in the nanomaterials. The
formation energy of oxygen vacancies and metal interstitials
in semiconductor is very low and thus these defects form
eagerly, resulting in the experimentally elevated conductivity
of SrO NR compared to other undoped materials such as CuO,
NiO, ZnO, etc. SrO NR materials have also attracted consid-
erable interest owing to their potential applications in fabricat-
ing opto-electronics, electro-analytical, selective detection of
bioassays, biological devices, hybrid-composites, electron-
field emission sources for emission exhibits, biochemical de-
tections, and surface-enhanced Raman properties etc.
Undoped strontium oxide NR offers improved performance
due to the large-active surface area which increased of con-
ductivity and current responses of SrO NR/Nafion/GCE as-
sembly during electrochemical investigation.
Optical and structural characteristics
The optical characteristic is one of the significant properties
for the evaluation of catalytic activity of the white powder SrO
NR. Based on the principle of the UV/Vis. spectroscopy, the
outer electrons of the atom may be shifted to the upper energy
level, and the spectrum including band-gap energy of the met-
al oxide can be acquired due to the adsorption of radiant en-
ergy. The UV/Vis spectrum of the SrO NR had been recorded
in the visible range (400 ~ 800 nm), and a broad absorption
band at around 296.8 nm was observed (Fig. 1a). According to
the maximum level band absorption, the band-gap energy of
the SrO NR was calculated based on the Tauc’s rule (direct
band-gap rule, v) [26]. (αhv)2 vs hv had been plotted and then
extrapolated to the x-axis, and from the extrapolated curve, the
3268
band-gap energy for SrO NR was found ~2.4 eV (Fig. 1b).
Where, α = Absorption coefficient, h = Plank’s constant, v =
Frequency, r = 0.5 (Direct transition), A = Constant related to
the effective mass of the electrons, and Ebg = Band gap energy.
(αhv)1/r = A (hv − Ebg)
FTIR examination was conducted (Region: 4000–
400 cm−1) under normal condition in perspective of atomic
and molecular vibrations to recognize the functional character
of the SrO NR. The IR spectrum shows peaks at 3287, 2107,
1583, 1368, 1115, 867, and 619 cm−1 that assigned the pres-
ence of O-H (stretching), −C≡C− (stretching), −C=C−
(stretching), C–H (rocking), Sr–O–Sr (stretching), C–H, and
Sr=O (stretching) in the NRs respectively (Fig. 1c). The prag-
matic peaks at 1115, and 619 cm−1 has been denoted for the
arrangement of metal-oxide (Sr=O) bond which recognized
the configuration of the SrO NR [27].
XRD analysis was conducted (2θ range =10–80°) to
identify the crystalline pattern of the synthesized SrO NR
because the crystalline nature is the indication of metal-
oxygen framework. The prospective peaks intensity with
indication for 2θ values were observed at 25.0 (100),
Fig. 1 Optical and structural estimation of SrO NR. (a) UV/Vis spectrum (Sample is dispersed in water under ultra-sonication for 1 h), (b) Band-gap
energy plot, (c) FTIR spectrum, and (d) XRD pattern
Microchim Acta (2016) 183:3265–3273
32.0 (110), 42 (111), 46.0 (200), 57.5.0 (210), 58.5
(211), 64.0 (220), 72 (221) and 78.0 (310) degrees
(Fig. 1d). All the denoted peaks in the spectrum were
assigned according to the JCPDS file (No: 6–520, 001–
1113, 37.5–0263, and 01–073–0661). The potential peak
(v) indicated the crystalline pattern and purity of the NR.
According to the XRD analysis it may be recommended
that a good quantity of crystalline SrO was present in the
synthesized NR [28, 29]. Based on the Scherrer formula
(vi), the crystalline size of the SrO NR was calculated,
and average diameter was found as 42.0 ± 5.0 nm (n =
15). Where, λ = wavelength of x-ray radiation, β = the
full-width at half maximum (FWHM) of the peaks at the
diffracting angleθ.
D = 0.9λ/(β cos θ) (vi)
Morphological and elemental Examination
FESEM is a well-known process to study the morphology of SrO
NR. The morphology and elemental character of the synthesized
white SrO NR were examined using FESEM equipped XEDS
Microchim Acta (2016) 183:3265–3273 3269

Fig. 2 a-b Low to high

magnified FESEM images

respectively. The classical shapes of the white SrO NR had been
recorded at low to high magnified range (Fig. 2a and b). Based
on the XEDS analysis, strontium (Sr), and oxygen (O) were
presented in the white grown SrO NR. The NRs contains O
(27.35) and Sr (72.65) wt% respectively [27].
Estimation of binding energy
X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) is a quantitative
spectroscopic technique that can be used to determine the
chemical character of the elements present in the SrO NR.
The kinetic energy plus electrons number of a sample can be
anticipated during XPS examination by irradiating of an X-ray
beam with a nanorod. Generally, the elemental-composition,
chemical-state, empirical-formula, and electronic-state of the
elements that present within a material can be examined using
this technique. Based on the XPS analysis, strontium and ox-
ygen were present in the synthesized SrO NR (Fig. 3a). The
spin orbit of Sr3d3/2, Sr3d5/2, and O1s spectra is conferred the
major peak at 134.7, 138.5 and 531.8 eV respectively, which
recognized that (Sr2+) and oxygen (O2−) are existed in the SrO
NR (Fig. 3b and c) [30, 31]. Therefore, it is concluded that the
wet-chemically prepared SrO NR materials have single-phase
material. Also, this conclusion is reliable with the XRD data
noticeably.
Detection of L-Leucine with SrO NR
Expansion of the fabricated electrode with NR is the prelim-
inary stage of appliance as a sensor. The major function of SrO

Fig. 3 XPS study (a) Full

spectrum of SrO NR (b) Sr 3d5/2
and Sr 3d3/2, and (c) O1s level of
achieved with AlKα1 radiations
(X-ray beam-spot size
=300.0 μm, Pass-energy =
200.0 eV, Pressures less than 10−8
Torr)
3270 Microchim Acta (2016) 183:3265–3273

Scheme 2 Schematic view (a)

NR coated GCE electrode, (b)
Proposed mechanism of L-Leu
detection, (c) Expected I-V curve,
and (d) Observed I-V responses
of SrO NR

NR assembled as a sensor onto the GCE has been char-
acterized for the detection, and measurement of target
analyte, L-Leu in PB system. The SrO NR/Nafion/
GCE sensors have several advantages such as chemical-
ly inert, easy to fabricate & assemble, non-toxic, safe,
and stable in air. The SrO NR sensor was fabricated
with conducting binder on the GCE surface
(Scheme 2a). The easy and probable reaction mecha-
nism was generalized in Scheme 2b in presence of L-
Leu on SrO NR/Nafion/GCE sensor surfaces. L-Leu had
been converted into acid under redox reaction at PB
system in presence of SrO NR, where electrons were
released upon oxidation which enhanced the current re-
sponses against potential during the current–voltage
measurement at room conditions (Scheme 2b) [24, 32].
The apparent I-V curve is presented in Scheme 2c. The
resultant practical electrical response of L-Leu that was
investigated by a simple and reliable I-V technique
using SrO NR/Nafion/GCE is presented in Scheme 2d.
Based on the theory of I-V system, the current re-
sponses of SrO NR/Nafion/GCE noticeably altered dur-
ing the adsorption of L-Leu as an analyte by electro-
chemical oxidation. Due to SrO NR/Nafion/GCE on
thin-film as a role of current-potential, the current re-
sponse with useful potential was markedly recognized
having the holding time of electrometer was 1.0 s.
The fundamental purpose of SrO NR assembled onto
an electrode as a sensor has been used to recognize the
mark agents that are not significantly valuable in health
care system. The pH of the different PB (pH = 5.7, 6.5,

Fig. 4 a Bare and coated

electrode, and b Selectivity study.
(0.1 M PB; Potential: 0 ~ +1.0 V;
Time delay: 1 s; Analytes
concentration: 1.0 μM; pH:7.5)
Microchim Acta (2016) 183:3265–3273 3271

Fig. 5 SrO NR coated GCE for

sensing of L-Leu by I-V
responses. (a) Concentration
variation, (b) Calibration curve (at
+0.5 V), and (c) Repeatability
study. (0.1 M PB; Potential:
0 ~ +1.0 V; Time delay: 1 s; pH:
7.5; Analyte conc. ranges:
0.1 nM ~ 0.1 M; DL is 3 N/S)

7, 7.5, and 8) were optimized to identify which system
was more suitable to detect the amino acid, L-Leu, and
pH = 7.5 was found more responsive. The current re-
sponses (potential range = 0.1 ~ 1.0 V) of the bare GCE
and coated with SrO NR onto the working electrode
were presented in Fig. 4a. The differences of the current
responses between bare and coated GCE occurred due to
current signals have been enhanced by coated in com-
pared with bare GCE. The biological chemicals such as
L-Asp acid, Crt, Gly, L-Cys, L-Glu acid, L-GSH, L-Tyr,
L-Leu, Thionine acetate, and Uric acid were examined in
order to measure the maximum current responses to SrO
NR fabricated electrode. Therefore it was noticeably re-
ported that the sensor was more selective towards L-Leu
compared with other chemicals (Fig. 4b). The current
signals of analyte were also recorded without and with
target analyte. An elevation of current responses had
been occurred for the modified SrO NR electrode with
L-Leu which has maintained a large surface area with
better exposure in absorption and adsorption potentiality
onto the porous SrO surfaces of the rods. However, it
was also compared individually the current responses of
selective 1.0 μM L-Leucine with and without 1.0 μM
other analytes such as creatine, glycine, L-aspertic acid,

Table 1 Detection of L-Leu using various materials modified electrodes measured by electrochemical approaches

Electrode Method Sensitivity LDR (μM) LOD (μM) Ref.

MWNT/GCE CV – 9–1500 3.2 [24]

Brains-mutant Column-switching HPLC – 0.10–10.0 0.10 [33]
Pharma-quinone Reversed-phase ODS column – 39.41–295.5 0.8 [34]
Biological matrices Capillary LC-TOF/MS – 0.0073–0.730 – [35]
Electrospray ionization-high-field IMS-MS – – 1.0 [36]
Bienzyme graphite-teflon-L Amperometry – (2.0–100) × 10−5 M 1.2 × 10−5 M [37]
SrO NR/Nafion/GCE I-V 2.53 × 10−3 μAμM−1cm−2 0.1 nM ~ 0.1 mM 37.5 ± 0.2 pM This work
3272
Table 2 Determination of L-Leu
at different real samples using Real samples Calibrated concentration range
modified SrO/Nafion/GCE NR
Urine 0.1 nM ~ 100.0 mM
Milk 0.1 nM ~ 100.0 mM
Serum 0.1 nM ~ 100.0 mM
L-cystine, L-glutamic acid, L-glutathione, L-tyrocine, thi-
onine acetate and uric acids and presented in Electronic
Supplementary Material.
The change of current of the fabricated electrode was
a function of L-Leu concentration under normal condi-
tion and in this regards, the current–voltage responses of
the L-Leu with different concentrations toward SrO NR
modified electrode were recorded. It was reported that
the current responses increased regularly from lower to
higher concentration of the target molecule (Fig. 5a). A
good series of the analyte concentrations (0.1 nM ~
0.1 M) were examined from the lower to higher potential
(+0.1 ~ +1.0 V) in order to find out the possible analyt-
ical limit. The linear calibration curve at +0.8 V were
plotted from the various concentrations of L-Leu. The
regression co-efficient (R2 = 0.9925), sensitivity (2.53 ×
10−3 μAμM−1cm−2), and limit of detection (37.5 ± 0.2
pM) at signal to noise ratio = 3 were calculated from
the calibration curve (Fig. 5b). Linear dynamic range
(1.0 nM ~ 0.1 mM), and response time of the electrode
were also found from the practical concentration varia-
tion graph.
The sensing capability of the SrO NR coated electrode
was investigated up to 2 weeks to obtain the reproduc-
ible and storage capacity. A series of seven successive
measurements of L-Leu solution (1.0 μM) were record-
ed, and an excellent reproducible response were notified
with the SrO NR electrode at different conditions. It was
accepted that the current–voltage responses were not
widely altered after washing of each test of the fabricated
SrO NR electrode (Fig. 5c). The sensitivity remained
almost comparable as the preliminary response up to
2 weeks, and after that the responses of the fabricated
electrode may be declined slowly. The responses of NR
sensor had been considered with respect of storage time
to find out the long term storage suitability. The detec-
tion of storage aptitude of the SrO NR electrode sensor
had been investigated under standard condition and the
sensitivity originates almost 90 % related as the original
response for a number of days. It was clearly recognized
that the fabricated sensor can be used without any sig-
nificant failure of sensitivity up to many weeks. The
electrochemical performances [24, 33–37] of the different
modified electrode of L-Leu detection are shown in
Table 1.
Microchim Acta (2016) 183:3265–3273
Measured current (μA) Respective concentration (nM)
17.84 ~2.13 ± 0.02
11.38 ~1.36 ± 0.02
18.12 ~2.16 ± 0.02
Real sample analysis
To confirm the validity of the I-V method, the SrO/Nafion/
GCE NR used to find out the L-Leu in various real samples. In
real sample study, a standard addition method was used to
estimate the accuracy of L-Leu in real samples. The fixed
amount (~25.0 μL) of each real sample mixed and analyzed
in PB (10.0 mL, 0.1 M) bulk solution by fabricated SrO/
Nafion/GCE NR electrodes. In Table 2, the result is included
about the detection of L-Leu in urine, milk and serum sam-
ples, which apparently confirmed that the I-V method is sat-
isfactory, reliable, and suitable for analyzing real samples with
SrO/Nafion/GCE NR assembly.
Conclusion
Low-dimensional SrO NR was prepared using a wet-chemical
method in alkaline phase. The optical, morphologica, and
structural features of NR was examined by UV/Vis, FT-IR,
FESEM, XEDS, XPS, and XRD techniques. An easy fabrica-
tion procedure was applied to fabricate the flat-GCE with SrO
NR using conducting nafion binders. The selective and sensi-
tive of L-Leu -biosensor was executed successfully based on
the Nafion/GCE attached SrO NR by I-V technique. The elec-
trochemical performances of the SrO NRs fabricated L-Leu
sensor were outstanding in terms of limit of detection, linear
dynamic range, sensitivity, repeatability, and short response
time. The SrO NR/Nafion/GCE electrode was exhibited
higher sensitivity (2.53 × 10−3 μAμM−1cm−2) and lower de-
tection limit (37.5 ± 0.2 pM) compared to earlier published
articles. This SrO NR modified Nafion/GCE can be properly
used for determining the presence of L-Leu in biological sam-
ples with satisfactory results. A well-ordered process can be
introduced from this novel advance for the development of
proficient sensor in the biomedical and healthcare fields at
wide ranges.
Acknowledgments Center of Excellence for Advanced Materials
Research (CEAMR) at King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi
Arabia is highly acknowledged for the instrumental supports.
Compliance with ethical standards The authors declare that they have
no competing interests.
Microchim Acta (2016) 183:3265–3273
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