An electrochemical biosensor for sensitive detection of nicotine-induced dopamine secreted by PC12 cells

Abstract A facile, sensitive and selective electrochemical biosensor for the detection of dopamine (DA) released from nicotine-stimulated PC12 cells was fabricated by using a poly-celestine blue (CB) modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The poly-CB film was prepared by controlled electropolymerization and has about 5 nm thick on the GCE surface. In the optimal experimental condition, the poly-CB modified GCE showed excellent electrocatalytic activity toward the oxidation of DA. The response signal obtained by differential pulse voltammetry displayed a good linear relationship between the current response signal and the DA concentrations in range from 10 nmol L −1 to 0.7 μmol L −1 and 1 μmol L −1 to 10 μmol L −1 with a detection limit of 1.2 nmol L −1 (S/N = 3) and sensitivity of 17.0134 μA cm 2  μM −1 . In addition, the poly-CB modified GCE has successfully been applied to determine nicotine-induced dopamine released from PC12 cells with satisfactory recovery. The developed method held great potential for the detection of dopamine in biological samples and would bring great convenience to the diagnosis of diseases associated with deficiency in dopamine.