Electrochemical detection of neurotransmitters and biomolecules using metal oxides sulfide embedded graphene oxide

Abstract

Neurotransmitters are a class of chemical agents that are secreted by neurons in response to electrical stimulators. They play the role of chemical messenger between the neuron system and the rest of the body. Their functions and mechanism are vital and if altered lead to diseases. Biomolecules are present in the human body and other living organisms and are essential for biological processes. They are mostly organic compounds like vitamins and some may have metals in very small quantity. Analytical methods like Spectrophotometry, Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS), High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), Capillary Electrophoresis and Gas Chromatography (GC) are being employed for the identification of the neurotransmitters and biomolecules. These methods have many disadvantages like high cost, less selectivity and specificity and involve laborious analytical procedure. These disadvantages are minimized by adopting electrochemical methods which are simple, reliable, reproducible, more accurate, have wide linear dynamic ranges, lower detection limits and high electrocatalytic activity. Graphene oxide is employed as an electrode material for detection of neurotransmitters and biomolecules by using electro analytical techniques. Graphene oxide is a single atomic layered material of graphite having different functionalities of oxygen and it is prepared by modified Hummer s method. The oxygenated groups present in graphene oxide provide excellent mechanical strength, electronic flexibility, conducting ability, catalytic property etc., Due to the high surface to volume ratio, it can be used as an electrode material for various electrochemical applications like sensors, supercapacitors., Electrochemical sensors based on metal oxides and metal sulfides (MO/MS) are developed for the detection of biomolecules. newline