A sensitive sensor for determination of l-tryptophan based on gold nanoparticles/poly(alizarin red S)-modified glassy carbon electrode

Abstract

This work described a novel sensor for detection of l-tryptophan (Trp) by electrodeposition of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) onto the poly(alizarin red S) film pre-cast on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE). Alizarin red S (ARS) was deposited on the surface of the GCE by electropolymerization, and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were attached onto the poly(ARS) film by electrodeposition, forming an AuNPs–PARS nanocomposite film-modified GCE (AuNPs–PARS/GCE). Then electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to characterize modified electrodes. The Nyquist diagrams of EIS indicated that the PARS film and AuNPs were successfully immobilized on the surface of GCE, and the electron transfer resistance value of electrode changed efficiently. The SEM image showed that the immobilized AuNPs were spherical in shape. The AuNPs–PARS/GEC displayed excellent amperometric response for Trp. The amperometric responses have two linear ranges from 0.02 to 0.5 μM and 0.5 to 20.0 μM, with sensitivities of 1.63(±0.08) and 0.21(±0.01) μAμM−1, respectively. Its detection limit was 6.7 nM at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3. The proposed method was applied to determine Trp.