Cette thèse porte sur l’étude de nanocristaux semi-conducteurs ternaires, et leur application dansdes cellules solaires hybrides organiques/inorganiques. Les nanocristaux semi-conducteurs absorbentla lumière à des longueurs d’ondes déterminées par leur taille et leur composition, et conduisent lescharges électriques. Ils sont stables en solution, ce qui permet un dépôt de couches minces à bascout. Aujourd’hui les meilleurs rendements en cellules solaires hybrides sont obtenus à partir de nanocristauxbinaires contenant soit du plomb, soit du cadmium. Les nanocristaux ternaires conserventles propriétés particulières des nanocristaux binaires tout en permettant de s’affranchir des élémentstoxiques. Cependant, leur synthèse reste à optimiser pour contrôler de leur structure cristalline et leurcomposition.Nous avons réalisé, par voie chimique, la synthèse de nanocristaux de CuInS2 de taille et de compositioncontrôlées. En suivant in situ la synthèse de ces nanocristaux par diffraction des rayons X sous rayonnementsynchrotron nous avons trouvé que les précurseurs s’organisent avant nucléation sous forme deplans espacés par deux longueurs du ligand utilisé (ici dodécanethiol, DDT). Cela impacte nucléationet croissance des nanocristaux. Les ligands stabilisent les nanocristaux en solution colloïdale, maisleur caractère isolant peut inhiber le transfert et le transport de charges. Le remplacement du ligandd’origine (DDT) par un ligand plus court, l’éthylhexanethiol (EHT), modifie les niveaux d’énergie etpermet d’augmenter la conductivité des films de nanocristaux. Nous avons intégré des nanocristauxde CuInS2 entourés d’EHT dans des cellules hybrides constituées d’un polymère conjugué (P3HT) etd’un fullerène (PCBM). L’efficacité des cellules solaires contenant des nanocristaux entourés d’EHTest significativement améliorée par rapport à celle des cellules de P3HT :PCBM réalisées dans lesmêmes conditions. Le transfert et la mobilité des charges sont étudiés par RPE sous éclairement etphoto-CELIV respectivement. De ces études il ressort que l’amélioration des cellules provient d’unemeilleure génération et dissociation des charges. / This work is devoted to the study of ternary semiconductor nanocrystals, and their application inhybrid organic/inorganic solar cells. Semiconductor nanocrystals absorb light at controlled wavelength(depending on their size and composition) and are able to transport charges. They form a colloidalsolution in organic solvent compatible with low-cost deposition in thin films. Nowadays, the bestefficiency for such hybrid solar cells is obtained with binary nanocrystals containing lead or cadmium.Ternary nanocrystals preserve the opticla and electronic properties of binary nanocrystals withoutrelying on toxic elements, but it is still a challenge to control their composition and structure.In this thesis, CuInS2 nanocrystals of controlled size and composition were syntesized. A study ofnucleation and growth was carried out by following the synthesis in situ with X-ray radiation at thesynchrotron. This has shown that precursors’ organize themselves into plans of atoms separated by twotimes the length of the ligand (here dodecanethiol, DDT). Ligands stabilize the nanocrystals in colloidalsolution, but their insulating character inhibits efficient charge transfer and transport. Ligand exchangewith ethylhexanethiol (EHT) improves the conductivity of thin films and changethe energetic level ofthe nanocrystals.We studied an approach of hybrid solar cell design, consisting in a bulk heterojunctionof two semiconductor organic components (P3HT and PCBM) and CuInS2 nanocrystals. The efficencyof the cells where nanocrystals are added are better than the one with only P3HT:PCBM. The chargetransfer and mobility was studied by the mean of light induced ESR and CELIV respectively. It hasshown that the improvement of the solar cell efficiency is mainly related to an improvement of thecharge generation and dissociation in the ternary blend.

Submitted by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2015-12-04T08:42:21Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Stefani Garcia Rezende - 2015.pdf: 1241735 bytes, checksum: dafaf794ccbc058198ef0f2dd475ae74 (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2015-12-04T08:43:59Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Stefani Garcia Rezende - 2015.pdf: 1241735 bytes, checksum: dafaf794ccbc058198ef0f2dd475ae74 (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-12-04T08:43:59Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Stefani Garcia Rezende - 2015.pdf: 1241735 bytes, checksum: dafaf794ccbc058198ef0f2dd475ae74 (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-03-30 / Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico - CNPq / The honey is a concentrated source of nutrients, it is used by animals and exploited as a natural resource for homes since antiquity. Many studies have tried to characterize the honey and its quality, but the complex natural process of production, involve that any research is not able to obtain fully satisfactory results. In this work 24 samples. Were studied 24 samples from honey producing regions located around Goiania - GO and some foreign samples (Portugual, USA and New Zelândias), those donated by the Beekeeping Association of the State of Goiás and these purchased in specialty stores in their respective countries . The physical and chemical tests as indicative of deterioration, hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and diastase activity (AD), followed parameters proposed by Normative Instruction N. 11/2000 of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (MAPA). The antioxidant components analysis was used for traditional spectroscopic methods Folin-Ciocalteu (FC), Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Potential (FRAP), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH●); and electroanalytical calculated from the oxidation peaks voltammetric differential pulse (DPV) by Electrochemical Index (EI). While mid-infrared method (IR) and methods of multivariate statistical analysis were used for identification and classification of honey from different floral sources and/or regions. As for the deterioration analysis test (HMF and AD) 50% of the samples applied in these tests, for the control of physical and chemical quality, were at odds with the Normative Instruction N. 11/2000 of MAPA. All samples showed the presence of antioxidant compounds exposed by methods FC, FRAP, DPPH● and EI; and the method of FRAP was the one closest to the EI and the DPPH● was inversely proportional to EI, which may conclude that the electroanalytical by DPV is suitable for analysis of antioxidant compounds in honey. The infrared results coupled with chemometric tool, principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), were not satisfactory for sample groups of the same floral origin and/or region, but suggested trend in results. / O mel é uma fonte concentrada de alimento, é usada pelos animais e aproveitada como recurso natural pelos homens desde a antiguidade. Muitos são os estudos que trataram de caracterizar os méis e sua qualidade, mas o complexo processo de produção natural pelas abelhas faz que nenhuma pesquisa obtenha resultados plenamente satisfatórios. Neste trabalho foram estudadas 24 amostras provenientes de regiões produtoras de mel localizadas no entorno de Goiânia – GO e algumas amostras estrangeiras (Portugal, Estados Unidos e Nova Zelândia). Os testes físico-químicos empregados com indicativos de deterioração foram (de acordo com a Instrução Normativa nº 11/2000 do Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento - MAPA): o método do hidroximetilfurfural (HMF) e atividade diastásica (AD). Alem da avaliação da qualidade, foi analisada a capacidade antioxidante mediante: métodos espectrofotométricos tradicionais (Folin-Ciocalteau - FC, Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Potential - FRAP; e 2,2-difenil-1-picril-hidrazil - DPPH●); e métodos eletroanalíticos (Índice Eletroquímico - IE, calculado a partir dos picos de oxidação da voltametria de pulso diferencial - DPV). Os resultados obtidos por os diferentes métodos foram tratados usando técnicas de estatística descritiva e quimiometría como a análise de componentes principais (PCA) ou análise hierárquica (HCA), com a finalidade de classificar e identificar as méis a partir das fontes florais e/ou regiões. Os resultado das análises de deterioração (HMF e AD), 50% das amostras estavam em desacordo com a citada Norma. Respeito à atividade antioxidante, em todas as amostras, contrastou-se uma correlação entre os diferentes métodos de analises (FC, FRAP, DPPH● e IE). O método do FRAP foi o que mais se aproximou do IE e o DPPH● foi inversamente proporcional ao IE, o que pode concluir que a técnica eletroanalítica DPV é satisfatória para análise de compostos antioxidantes em mel.

Submitted by Cássia Santos (cassia.bcufg@gmail.com) on 2016-05-19T12:27:41Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Stephen Rathinaraj Benjamin - 2016.pdf: 9705883 bytes, checksum: 750508198f2865e073cf36b649344178 (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) / Rejected by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com), reason: on 2016-05-19T12:31:22Z (GMT) / Submitted by Cássia Santos (cassia.bcufg@gmail.com) on 2016-05-19T12:48:30Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) Dissertação - Stephen Rathinaraj Benjamin - 2016.pdf: 9705883 bytes, checksum: 750508198f2865e073cf36b649344178 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2016-05-19T13:11:59Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) Dissertação - Stephen Rathinaraj Benjamin - 2016.pdf: 9705883 bytes, checksum: 750508198f2865e073cf36b649344178 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-05-19T13:11:59Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) Dissertação - Stephen Rathinaraj Benjamin - 2016.pdf: 9705883 bytes, checksum: 750508198f2865e073cf36b649344178 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-03-28 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / This study investigated the antioxidant activity using biosensors based on carbon paste electrode (CPE) modified with crude extract of laccase (Pycnoporus sanguineus, activity 2019 U L-1) in different compositions. The biosensor consists of carbon nanotubes activated with DNA (CPEL-DNA: CN) showed the best sensitivity level, 0.0549 μA / μM and 1.2 uM detection limit (LOD) in the concentration range of 20-140 μM of rutin. This biosensor showed excellent stability over 10 days and reproducibility (RSD <5%). This biosensor was used to determine the total amount of phenol in coffee samples (expressed by the equivalent rutin) using electroanalytical technique. For the evaluation of its detection capability, the results were compared with other electroanalytical techniques using analytical basis as samples of commercial coffee from different countries. The CPL-DNA: CN was used to determine the total amount of phenol in coffee samples (expressed by the equivalent rutin). Thus, it was possible to propose the CPL as an analytical tool for the detection of phenols. In this research, we developed several studies using different CPE to investigate the antioxidant natural product profile such as coffee samples, dry extracts of acerola, obtained by cyclic voltammetry (CV),) differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) and square wave voltammetry (SWV), which allowed to conclude classes of antioxidants present in the samples. The quantitative determination of these compounds was performed using the standard addition method by differential pulse voltammetry and electrochemical index (EI) has been proposed for estimating the oxidizing potential between different samples. Carbon paste electrode was also investigated using the different quality control samples commercialized produced from acerola employing DPV for the quantification of ascorbic acid (AA) in all samples, where the limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) was 0.31 and 0.96 μM and with excellent recovery between 97.4 to 102.2% The DPPH tests were used to compare the antioxidant activity in coffee and acerola samples. The Folin-Ciocalteu method was used to estimate the antioxidant activity of rutin from coffee samples. These methods proposed had advantages such as simplicity of sample preparation and the speed of the analysis of antioxidant capacity. / Neste trabalho foram realizados ensaios de atividade antioxidante em amostras de acerola, café, bem como de outros extratos secos de frutos vermelhos, empregando-se eletrodos convencionais de pasta de carbono (EPC), bem como biossensores de EPC modificados com extrato bruto de lacase (EPCL), partindo de Pycnoporus sanguineus (atividade 2019 U L-1) em diferentes composições com e sem uso de agentes modificadores, visando avaliar melhor sistema. Para além consolidar o uso de métodos eletroanalíticos, i.e. voltametria cíclica (VC), voltametria de onda quadrada (VOQ) e pulso diferencial (VDP), na análise de produtos naturais, seja para avaliar perfil antioxidante, seja para inferir sobre classes de antioxidantes presentes nas amostras, pode-se neste estudo avaliar o papel de diferentes agentes modificadores. O biossensor constituído de nanotubos de carbono ativado com DNA (EPCL-DNA) apresentou o melhor nível de sensibilidade 0,0549 μA/μM e um limite de detecção (LOD) de 1,2 μM no intervalo de concentração de 20-140 μM de rutina. Além disso, o biossensor mostrou ter uma excelente estabilidade ao longo de 10 dias e reprodutibilidade (RSD < 5%). Para a avaliação da sua capacidade de detecção, os resultados obtidos foram comparados com outras técnicas eletroanalíticas usando como base analítica amostras do café comercial de diferentes países. O EPCL-DNA foi empregado para determinar a quantidade de fenol total nas amostras de café (expressa pelo equivalente de rutina). Com isso, foi possível propor os EPCL como ferramenta analítica para a detecção dos fenóis. A determinação quantitativa desses compostos foi realizada através da construção de curvas de calibração para VPD e o índice eletroquímico foi proposto para estimar o potencial antioxidante entre diferentes amostras. Também foi investigado o uso de EPC para o controle de qualidade de diferentes produtos obtidos a partir da acerola, empregando VPD para a quantificação de ácido ascórbico (AA) em todas as amostras, onde os limites de detecção (LD) e o Limite de quantificação (LQ) foi de 0,31 e 0,96 μM respectivamente e com uma excelente taxa de recuperação entre 97,4-102,2%. Os ensaios de DPPH foram utilizados para comparar a atividade antioxidante nas amostras de café e acerola. O método de Folin-Ciocalteu foi usado para estimar a atividade antioxidante da rutina nas amostras de café. Pode concluir-se que os métodos propostos apresentaram vantagens, como a simplicidade na preparação das amostras e a rapidez do ensaio da capacidade antioxidante.

The aim of this thesis is to summarize the available evidence about quantum dots and their effects on living systems. The text describes methods for the preparation of quantum dots with respect to their characteristics (size, fluorescence wavelength) and methods of quantum dots bio-functionalization of biomolecules. In living organisms is a large number of proteins, because these are considered as one of the main components of the interaction of organisms. Therefore, the work also provides basic information about proteins. Finally, there are described various methods by which the quantum dots may be characterized mainly by differential pulse voltammetry measurement zeta potential and fluorescence measurement. The main objective of this work is to propose models of different environments in which will be degradation of quantum dots with regard to the evaluation of acquired kinetic parameters for predicting the stability of individual quantum dots.

The thesis is focused on the development of the electrochemical system with microfluidic platform for the detection of multiple biomarkers. It analyses the use of biomarkers for the early diagnosis of cancer. The theoretical part contains basic information about voltammetric methods and microfluidic systems. The practical part provides solutions to the microfluidic chips, including the description of the used materials, designs, methodologies of preparation and conclusions from the testing of the manufactured microfluidic systems. The thesis describes the lock-in electrochemical system which measures the response of 4 electrochemical cells simultaneously. For the electrochemical system measurements, an electrochemical chip consisting of 64 electrochemical cells was used. The results of the analysis include the processing of the system tests and detected voltammetric curves of the Fe2+/Fe3+ solution and cysteine.

Chlortoluron is a herbicide from the group of substituted ureas and it is used for weed control in production of cereals and poppy. Substituted ureas are widely used but these substances are known for their high mobility in soil, persistence and contamination of underground water. Therefore, the development of analytical methods suitable for residual concentrations determination is necessary. This thesis deals with the determination of chlortoluron using carbon paste electrode (CPE) by the methods of differential pulse voltammetry and high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical (HPLC-ED) and spectrophotometric (HPLC-UV) detection. The aim of the work was to find optimal conditions suitable for chlortoluron determination. Further, the possibility of using miniaturized carbon paste electrode (mCPE) and usability of tested methods for determination of chlortoluron in model samples of river water and soil were studied. Concentration dependences in deionized water were measured by the method of DPV in the Britton-Robinson (BR) buffer (pH = 3) and methanol (10 %, v/v). The limit of detection was 3,7∙10-7 mol∙dm-3 in the case of CPE and 8,7∙10-8 mol∙dm-3 in the case of mCPE. Also, concentration dependences were measured using HPLC with mobile phase containing BR buffer (pH = 4) and...

This Thesis deals with the construction of an electrochemical cell with two types of integrated composite electrodes based on carbon films. Using these electrodes, the voltammetric behavior of environmental pollutant triclosan (5-chlor-2-(2,4- dichlorophenoxy)phenol) was studied. For the construction of composite electrodes, graphite and glassy carbon were used as conductive microparticles. Several types of polymers served as the nonconductive binder. For the measurements, combinations of graphite with polystyrene and graphite with polycarbonate were selected as optimum materials. From the dependence of peak heights on solution composition, a mixture of a buffer of pH 7 and methanol (1:9, V/V) was selected as the optimum medium. In this medium, concentration dependences were measured; calculated triclosan detection limit were 0,49 µmol dm-3 for carbon polystyrene composite electrode and 0,25 µmol dm-3 for carbon polycarbonate composite electrode, respectively. The possibility of further increasing the sensitivity of the determination by the accumulation step was studied. Accumulation of triclosan on carbon polystyrene composite electrode was observed, but the increase in response was connected with the loss of repeatability. Accumulation of triclosan on carbon polycarbonate composite electrode was...

>Magister Scientiae - MSc / infarction (MI) affects many parts of the western world and in South Africa alone it is estimated that MI is responsible for 1 in 6 deaths (17.3%). Traditional diagnostic methods for MI include an electrocardiograms and blood tests. The problem with these diagnostic methods are that they are time consuming, require large sample volumes, expensive equipment and complicated machinery. To achieve early detection of MI the discovery of specific, sensitive and reliable biomarkers are required. Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) has been identified as a reliable biomarker for MI due to the fact that it has a defined cutoff of 100 pg/ml and it is not susceptible to patient‘s age which could make early detection of BNP complicated. Early detection methods for BNP has been based on immunoradiometric assays but problems associated with immunoradiometric assays are that there is a restricted availability of antigens and incubation of the labeled antibody could take up to two weeks which affects the patients waiting time on results. Electrochemical biosensors are emerging as early detection method for MI because they can be designed to be sensitive, specific to BNP at a low cost. This research study reported for the first the successful fabrication and implementation of highly sensitive mercaptosuccinic acid capped nickel selenide quantum dots (MSA-NiSe2 QDs) aptasensor for the detection of BNP. The poly-dispersed MSA-NiSe2 QDs were synthesized via an inexpensive, simple and reproducible aqueous microwave assisted irradiation method. The prepared MSA-NiSe2 QDs were characterized by Ultraviolet spectroscopy (UV-Vis), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), High Resolution Transmission/Scanning Electron Microscopy (HR TEM/SEM) and Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXSpace). The electrochemical properties of the MSA-NiSe2 QDs were investigated by Cylic Voltammetry (CV) and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS). HR-TEM revealed the formation of small sized MSA-NiSe2 QDs about 4 nm in diameter which was complemented by SAXSpace. UV-Vis studies showed absorption peaks in the ultraviolet region (100-400 nm) confirming the small size of these QDs as well confirming the direct and indirect bandgap of the QDs. XRD confirmed that the QDs are crystalline and belong to the bulk cubic MSA-NiSe2 QDs phase. FTIR studies confirmed the successful capping of MSA on the QDs due to the disappearance of the thiol peak at 2652 cm-1. Electrochemical studies revealed that the MSA-NiSe2 QDs showed good electrochemical properties on screen printed carbon electrodes (SPCE) which allowed them to be used as a mediating platform between the aptamer and SPCE. The successful detection of BNP was achieved by an incubation process between the aptamer drop coated on the MSA-NiSe2 QDs/SPCE surface overnight. The response of the MSA-NiSe2 QDs based aptasensor towards different concentrations of BNP was studied by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). DPV showed a good linearly with correlation coefficient of R2 = 0.98. DPV also showed a high sensitivity (0.4513 μA/ pg/mL) towards detecting BNP with a detection limit of 11.93 pg/ml. The value of 11.93 pg/ml falls within the negative predictive value range of 10-100 pg/ml for early-stage diagnosis of BNP.

>Magister Scientiae - MSc / Prostate cancer, commonly referred to as adenocarcinoma of the prostate, is the leading cause of cancer death in men in 46 countries, and it was estimated that by the end of 2018 there would approximately be 1.3 million new cases of prostate cancer worldwide. Currently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved biomarker for prostate cancer disease diagnostics Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) is not specific to the disease itself but extends to other cases such as Benign Prostate Hyperplasia (BPH) a condition in which the prostate grows uncontrollably. This biomarker is then detected in blood samples via conventional methods which require a qualified individual to operate and are often time consuming. Examples of these methods are spectrophotometry and High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Hence, a more efficient biomarker and method of detection is needed for prostate cancer disease diagnostics, as early detection of the disease means early treatment, which could ultimately save lives. Currently, an emerging biomarker for prostate cancer known as Alpha-Methyl CoA Racemase (AMACR) has shown to be more specific to the disease with advantages such as being a non-invasive biomarker. AMACR has been reported to be present in urine, and thus may be detected via a non-invasive method. This study proposed an economical, non-invasive electrochemical biosensor for the rapid detection of AMACR based on mercaptosuccinic acid capped tungsten telluride (MSA-WTe3) quantum dots (QDs). Nanomaterial has shown promise in terms of increasing the sensitivity and specificity of sensors. MSA-WTe3 QDs was successfully synthesized using easy, inexpensive method and was studied by various techniques such as High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HR-TEM) where the size was confirmed to be within the nanometer scale and was reported to be 2.65 nm with a good crystallinity. X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed the structural properties and chemical composition of the QDs and it is reported that the QDs are rich in both tellurium and tungsten and comprise of a hexagonal structure. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) confirmed the successful immobilization of aptamer sequence specific to AMACR onto the electrode surface by showing a distinct conformational change when aptamers were introduced to the QDs under study. This study reports the successful detection of AMACR using an MSA-WTe3 QDs based aptasensor immobilized onto a screen printed glassy carbon electrode, with a detection limit of 0.35651 ng/mL and a limit of quantification calculated to be 1.08033 ng/mL.

Electrochemical biosensors are renowned for their ability to detect a wide range of analytes in biological fluids for clinical diagnosis. The implementation of biomarkers in electrochemical biosensors for clinical diagnosis is essential for the specific and accurate diagnosis of the disease with high sensitivity and selectivity. Therefore, this thesis evaluates the challenges pertaining to the stability, reproducibility, and obtaining a low limit of detection for the internal/external biomarkers associated with two distinct electrochemical biosensors. The first study tackles the challenge of detecting low analyte concentrations in a label-free biosensor. It introduces an innovative label-free electrochemical biosensing method for the detection of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and C-reactive protein (CRP) to predict Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) progression using tailored redox probes, proposing a dual biomarker biosensing platform for future research. Calibration curves reveal an LOD of 5 mg/mL in PBS (8) FeCN (II) and 6 mg/mL in SB for a linear range of 0 – 30 mg/mL of HbA1c. Similarly, an LOD of 0.007 mg/mL and 0.008 mg/mL in PBS (7.4) PcA-NO2 and SB, respectively, is reported for a linear range of 0 – 0.05 mg/mL of CRP. The second study focuses on stabilizing a biomolecule-free sensor for the ultra-low detection of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in roadside testing. Pre-depositing THC, an external biomarker for drug-impaired driving, onto the biosensor's working electrode enhances its interaction with analytes. However, THC's oxidative nature compromises sensor stability during manufacturing. Consequently, optimal electrode storage conditions were explored, indicating frozen storage as ideal for up to six months, effectively preventing THC oxidation at -18°C, while degradation occurs at 4°C. Modified electrodes stored under optimal conditions exhibit improved calibration curves when exposed to various THC samples. / Thesis / Master of Applied Science (MASc) / An electrochemical biosensor is a sensing device with the ability to detect biological species via the transduction of a specific biological event into electrochemical signals. These sensors are extremely useful for the detection of analytes in biological fluids for clinical diagnostics, to determine the presence or absence of diseases. This manuscript addresses the challenges associated with the stability, reproducibility, and the low limits of detection associated with screen-printed carbon electrodes used in electrochemical biosensing. Subsequently, due to the strong correlation between glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and C-reactive protein (CRP) to connote the risk of contracting coronary heart disease (CHD), the manuscript presents a novel label-free electrochemical biosensing method for the detection of HbA1c and CRP with low detection limits. Secondly, the manuscript identifies ambient storage conditions for the long-term stability of a biomolecule-free sensing device for the roadside detection of ultra-low concentrations of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).