Iron Phthalocyanine Decorated Nitrogen-Doped Graphene Biosensing Platform for Real-Time Detection of Nitric Oxide Released from Living Cells

Abstract

Nitric oxide (NO) is a transcellular messenger involved in many physiological and pathological processes, but the real-time detection of NO in biological systems is still challenging due to its rapid diffusion, low concentration, and short half-life. A novel electrochemical sensing platform based on iron phthalocyanine (FePc) functionalized nitrogen-doped graphene (N-G) nanocomposites was constructed to achieve in situ monitoring of NO released from living cells on the sensing layer. By taking advantage of the synergetic effect of N-G and FePc nanocomposites, the N-G/FePc sensor displays excellent electrocatalytic activity toward NO with a high sensitivity of 0.21 μA μM cm and a low detection limit of 180 nmol L. The following layer-by-layer assembly of poly-l-lysine (PLL) and Nafion further improved the capacity of resisting disturbance as well as the biocompatibility of the sensing interface. The flexible design of the ITO substrate based electrode provides a more controlled cellular biosensing system which could capture molecular signals immediately after NO released from human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). The exhibited additional features of high sensitivity, rapid response, and ease of operation implies that the proposed N-G/FePc/Nafion/PLL ITO biosensor is a promising powerful platform in various complex biological systems.

Azaporphyrins Embedded on Carbon-Based Nanomaterials for Potential Use in Electrochemical Sensing—A Review

“…For instance, unsubstituted iron(II) phthalocyanine was embedded by non-covalent interaction on the surface of nitrogen-doped graphene. The biocompatibility of such a sensing material was obtained by following layer-by-layer assembly of poly-L-lysine (PLL) and Nafion [56]. Some other interesting examples of real-time determination of nitrates produced by living cells were performed by the use of iron porphyrins as a building blocks of needle microsensors [57], field-effect transistors [58] and covalent organic frameworks [59].…”

2D materials in electrochemical sensors for in vitro or in vivo use

“…CeO 2 [23] and Fe 3 O 4 [21,42]), Fe-containing macrocycles (e.g. Fe(III) meso-tetra (4-carboxyphenyl) porphyrin [26], and Fe(II) phthalocyanine [45]), and biomacromolecules (e.g. HRP [31] and metabotropic glutamate receptor [53]) were also used in combination with GBMs to build electrochemical sensors for investigating living cells.…”

Graphene‐Coated Gold Chips for Enhanced Goos–Hanchen Shift Plasmonic Sensing

“…For instance, Xu et al used a nitrogen‐doped graphene biosensing platform for detecting NO gas released from living cells. [ 27 ] The use of graphene improved the reactivity and electrocatalytic performance of the sensor as it provides more binding sites due to its large surface area. In a unique plasmonic biosensing application, Rodrigo et.…”