Electrochemical detection of estrus specific phenolic compound p-cresol to assess the reproductive phase of certain farm animals

Abstract

p-Cresol (4-Methylphenol) is one of the naturally occurring volatile phenolic compounds in the female mammalian animals urine during estrus, the period of time when the animals become sexually receptive and release specific odors that are induced by reproductive hormones. We have developed an electrochemical sensor for p-cresol detection using hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (HA NP) for the first time. The HA nanoparticles have been synthesized by microwave irradiation method using plectranthus amboincus plant-extract as solvent and its properties have been characterized by XRD, FTIR, and SEM methods The plant-extract-mediated HA NP modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) exhibited improved electrocatalytic behavior towards p-cresol sensing compared to bare GCE and pristine HA NP/GCEs. Under optimized conditions, the proposed sensing platform permits the detection of p-cresol over a wide range of 0.275–23.5×10−6M with the lowest detection limit of 116×10−9M (S/N=3) in phosphate buffer solution (pH 6.0).The fabricated sensor has high selectivity towards p-cresol in the presence of potential interferents such as nitrophenols, bisphenol A, catechol, hydroquinone, uric acid, glucose, folic acid, ascorbic acid and metal ions Na+, K+ and Mg2+. The sensor has been successfully used to detect p-cresol in female buffalo urine which eventually indicates its readiness for artificial insemination. This device will be helpful to enhance the success rate of pregnancy in buffalo and other farm animals.