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).

Voltammetric methods for determination of 1,3-dinitronaphthalene (1,3-DNN), 1,5-dinitronaphthalene (1,5-DNN) and 1,8-dinitronaphthalene (1,8-DNN) using DC voltammetry (DCV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) at novel single crystal silver amalgam electrode (CAgAE) were developed in this work. Developed methods may be used for determination of 1,3-DNN within a concentration range 2 - 10 μmol.L-1 with LoQ 2 μmol.L-1 using DCV and 1 - 100 μmol.L-1 with LoQ 1 μmol.L-1 by DPV; 1,5-DNN wihin a concentration range 2 - 10 μmol.L-1 with LoQ 2 μmol.L-1 using DCV and 1 - 10 μmol.L-1 with LoQ 1 μmol.L-1 by DPV and 1,8-DNN within a concentration range 2 - 10 μmol.L-1 with LoQ 2 μmol.L-1 using DCV and 0,3 - 1 μmol.L-1 with LoQ 0,3 μmol.L-1 by DPV. An attepmt to decrease LoQ by adsorptive stripping differential pulse voltammetry was not successful. Process of electrochemical reduction of selected dinitronaphthalenes on the working electrode was also studied by cyclic voltammetry. This work verified the use of CAgAE as alternative electrode material to mercury electrodes for determination of electrochemically reducible organic compounds in aqueous-methanolic media. Small dimensions of the CAgAE are the main advantages which predetermine its use in voltammetric microvolume batch analysis and amperometric detection in...

This diploma thesis is focused on the determination of chloramphenicol by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), DC voltammetry (DCV), cyclic voltammetry (CV) and adsorptive stripping voltammetry (AdSV) on a meniscus modified silver solid amalgame electrode (m- AgSAE). For the determination of chloramphenicol the optimum conditions were found and under these conditions concentration dependences were measured and then limits of quantification were determined. The influence of pH of BR buffer was tested. For determination of chloramphenicol by DCV pH 7 was chosen as an optimum background and pH 8 was chosen as an optimmum for DPV determination. Under these conditions linear dependences were obtained in the concentration range of 1·10-6 - 1·10-4 mol·l-1 . The limit of detection of chloramphenicol by DCV was 2.3·10-6 mol·l-1 . The limit of detection of chloramphenicol by DPV was 2.1·10-6 mol·l-1 in distilled water, 2.9·10-6 mol·l-1 in river water and 4.2·10-6 mol·l-1 in drinking water. Electrochemical behavior of chloramphenicol was studied by cyclic voltammetry in BR buffer with pH 2, 6, 8, 12 and then mechanism of reduction of chloramphenicol was propose based on available literature. Chloramphenicol was determined in drug Spersadex by DPV in BR buffer with pH 8. The optimal conditions for determining...

This work was focused on study of a behaviour of the food additivum butylated hydroxyanisole on modified carbon electrodes by the voltammetric techniques - cyclic and differential pulse voltammetry. Glassy carbon and carbon paste electrode were used. Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) in combination with three different binders (acetonitrile, nafione or chitosane) were employed for the electrode modification. Carbon paste electrode was unable to modificate with film containing carbon nanotubes and acetonitrile, its active surface was treated only with nafione and chitosane film. All three mentioned modifications were applied in case of glassy carbon electrode. Butylated hydroxyanisole provided a significantly higher signal using electrodes modified with carbon nanotubes with all three binders in contrast to electrodes without any surface modification. The glassy carbon electrode with carbon nanotube / acetonitrile film on its surface appeared to be the most effective for analytical purposes. Voltammetric determination of butylated hydroxyanisole using this electrode provided a better defined and higher analytical signal and lower relative standard deviations in comparison with other ways of modification. The limit of detection of butylated hydroxyanisole obtained by cyclic voltammetry on glassy...

This Diploma Thesis is focused on investigation of the voltammetric behavior of the explosive penthrite (pentaerythritol tetranitrate) (PETN) and on searching for optimum conditions for its determination using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) at a hanging mercury drop electrode (HMDE) (this part of the Diploma Thesis follows the topic investigated in the author's Bachelor Thesis; in this Diploma Thesis, the results of the Bachelor thesis are applied to the determination of PETN in environmental matrices) and at a mercury meniscus modified silver solid amalgam electrode (m-AgSAE) and on investigation of voltammetric behavior in real samples (deionized, drinking, and river water). For investigating the behavior of PETN in aqueous-methanolic media on the m-AgSAE, mixtures of Britton-Robinson buffers (BR-buffers) and methanol in various volume ratios were used. In non-aqueous media, methanolic solutions of tetramethylammonium bromide (TMAB), tetrabutylammonium iodide (TBAI), and tetrabutylammonium chloride (TBAC) were used as supporting electrolytes. Firstly, the influence of pH (in the range of 2 - 13) and methanol content (10 - 90 vol. %) on voltammetric responses of PETN was studied. The best response was obtained at each of those pH values at the volume ratio of BR-buffer - methanol of 1:9 or...

of the Diploma Thesis In this Diploma Thesis, the electrochemical behavior of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) was studied at a newly prepared large-surface carbon film electrode (ls-CFE) using techniques of DC voltammetry (DCV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) with the aim to develop sensitive analytical methods for its determination. Voltammetric behavior of 4-NP was investigated in the region of anodic potentials, in dependence on the pH of the medium used (realized using Britton-Robinson buffer). The optimum pH values for the determination of 4-NP were chosen as follows: pH 3.0 (for DCV) and pH 7.0 (for DPV). During anodic oxidation of 4-NP on the ls-CFE at the concentration of the analyte of 1·10-4 mol/l, the passivation of the electrode surface occurred. Thus, it was decided to record series of measurements always at a new carbon film. Using the sample of 4-NP (at the concentration of 1·10-4 mol/l), the repeatability of the application of individual carbon films was tested, with obtained RSD values of 3.7% and 3.6% for DCV and DPV, respectively. Under optimum conditions, the calibration dependences of 4-NP were measured in the concentration range from 1·10-6 to 1·10-4 mol/l, with the limits of quantification (LQs) of 1.5·10-6 mol/l (for DCV at the ls-CFE) and 4.6·10-7 mol/l (for DPV at the...

This master's thesis is focused on the determination of 6-thioguanine (6-T) by DC voltammetry (DCV), differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) and flow injection analysis with electrochemical detection (FIA-ED) on a boron doped diamond electrode (BDDFE). The optimum conditions for determination of 6-T were found and under these conditions, concentration dependences were measured and the limits of quantification (LOQ) were calculated for each method. Medium of 60% methanol and phosphate buffer (PB) pH 2,0 was chosen as optimum for DCV and DPV determination of 6-T at BDDFE. For both DCV and DPV, the linear concentration dependences were obtained in concentration ranges of 6-T from 2 µmol·l-1 to 10 µmol·l-1 with LOQ 0,9 µmol·l-1 for DCV and 1,5 µmol·l-1 for DPV. Lower LOQ was achieved in PB pH 2,0, where LOQ was 0,6 µmol·l-1 for both DCV and DPV, but the problem was lower repeatability. In PB pH 2 6-T was determined by DCV in drinking and river water with LOQ 1,3 µmol·l-1 in both drinking and river water. The possibility of solid phase extraction was investigated as a method for preliminary separation of 6-T from urine. For FIA under optimized conditions (polarization potential 1300 mV, flow rate 5 ml·min1 and sample volume 50 µl) the linear concentrations dependences were obtained in concentration ranges...