Bimetallic MOFs-Based Electrodes for the Simultaneous Electrochemical Detection of Epinephrine and Nor-Epinephrine

Abstract

We designed a bi-metallic Co-Ni/BTC/4,4′-BiPy metal organic frameworks (MOFs) as an electrode material for the electrochemical detection of epinephrine and nor-epinephrine. The bi-metallic MOFs were synthesized by a solvothermal method. Following this, the bimetallic MOFs were modified with BTC and amine rich 4,4′-BiPy to improve charge transfer kinetics through non-covalent π–π interaction. This modified electrode was employed as a sensing platform for the simultaneous electrochemical detection of epinephrine and nor-epinephrine. The MOFs modified platform exhibited a 10–50 μM linear range with a limit of detection of 0.724 μM ± 0.128 (N = 3) and 0.815 μM ± 0.124 (N = 3), a sensitivity of 0.583 and 0.505 μA μM−1 cm−2 corresponding to epinephrine and nor-epinephrine detection. Finally, the electrochemical sensor was tested in blood and urine samples spiked with known concentrations of epinephrine and nor-epinephrine. Results confirmed the usefulness of the proposed platform for the detection of epinephrine and nor-epinephrine in clinical samples.