Sensitive acetaminophen electrochemical sensor with amplified signal strategy via non-covalent functionalization of soluble tetrahydroxyphthalocyanine and graphene

Abstract A new amplified signal strategy for acetaminophen (AC) electrochemical sensor was explored by soluble zinc tetrahydroxyphthalocyanine-reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite as an improved electrode material via non-covalent functionalization. The electrochemical signal of AC was amplified by the remarkably increased electroactive surface area of the nanocomposite-modified glassy carbon electrode. Moreover, the synergistic enrichment effect can be achieved by the adsorption of π-π stacking and hydrogen bonding of hydroxyl groups. The prominent electrocatalytic effect toward AC oxidation were examined systematically on the proposed sensor and a sensitive and selective electroanalytical method for AC was developed. Under optimized conditions, the electrochemical response of the sensor exhibited a linear dependence on the concentration of AC ranging from 0.03 to 100 μM and 100 to 800 μM with a detection limit of 10 nM (S/N=3). The proposed sensor with excellent selectivity, reproducibility and long-term stability for AC sensing was successfully applied for AC determination in drug formulation and human urine samples.