(Invited) Nanomaterial-Based Electrochemical Sensors for Environmental, Food Quality, and Medical Applications

Abstract

Electrochemically based methods offer facile and reliable analytical tools, which are desirable for environment monitoring, food safety and quality assessment, and neurotransmitter analysis over conventional analytical techniques. The development of a wide array of nanomaterials has paved the way for their applicability in the design of electrochemically-based sensing devices for medical diagnostics therapeutics, and imaging, energy, the environment, and food safety. The development of nanomaterials-based electrochemical sensors has garnered enormous attention due to their capacity for analytical quantification, high sensitivity and selectivity, real-time monitoring, and ease of use. The issue of foodborne related illnesses due to additives and contaminants poses a significant challenge to food processing industries. The robust, efficient, economical, and rapid analysis of food additives and contaminants is therefore necessary in order to minimize the risk of public health issues. In this presentation, the synthesis and applications of different nanomaterials for the electrochemical determination of some common additives and contaminants such as hydrazine, caffeic acid, sulfite, and nitrite will be highlighted. In addition, neurotransmitters are molecules that transfer chemical signals between neurons to convey messages for any action conducted by the nervous system. Neurotransmitters are medically important; the detection and analysis of these molecules play vital roles in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. The recent development and advance on the electrochemical sensing of neurotransmitters such as nitric oxide will be presented. Moreover, mercury has been recognized as a global pollutant because of its widespread presence, and bioaccumulative and toxic nature. The fabrication of the nanoporous gold microelectrode and its application for the sensitive detection of Hg(II) will be briefly discussed.