Phenylethanolamine A (PEA) Imprinted Polymer on Carbon Nitride Nanotubes/Graphene Quantum Dots/Core-Shell Nanoparticle Composite for Electrochemical PEA Detection in Urine Sample

Abstract

Phenylethanolamine A (PEA) is used illegally and deposited in animal tissues. Due to the reason, it causes acute poisoning and symptoms of muscular tremors, nervousness. In present article, Ru@Au core-shell nanoparticles (Ru@Au NPs) involved in carbon nitride nanotubes (C3N4 NTs) functionalized graphene quantum dots (GQDs) nanocomposite based molecular imprinted polymer (MIP) was formed for PEA recognition. Firstly, C3N4 NTs@GQDs nanocomposite was prepared by means of hydrothermal treatment. Secondly, this nanocomposite was functionalized with 2-aminoethanethiol (AET) via the affinity of gold-sulfur for binding Ru@Au NPs. After that, PEA imprinted voltammetric sensor was prepared in presence of 100.0 mM phenol as monomer containing 25.0 mM PEA by cyclic voltammetry (CV). All nanomaterials’ formation and properties were highlighted with scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), raman spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). 1.0 × 10−12 - 1.0 × 10−9 M and 2.0 × 10−13 M were founded as the linearity range and the detection limit (LOD). Finally, PEA imprinted glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was used for urine sample analysis in presence of the other competitor agents such as clenbuterol (CLE), ractopamine (RAC) and salbutamol (SAL). In addition, the stability and repeatability of prepared sensor was investigated.