Graphene in combination with cucurbit[n]urils as electrode modifiers for electroanalytical biomolecules sensing

Cucurbit[n]urils have been supported on graphene to develop sensitive and selective electrodes. The electrochemical response of modified electrodes containing graphene or graphene plus cucurbiturils has been studied for three probe molecules including hydroxymethylferrocene, ferrocyanide and methylviologen. It was found that the properties of these modified electrodes are derived from an increase in electron mobility and catalytic activity imparted by graphene and the selective complexation and molecular recognition due to cucurbit[n]urils. These properties of the graphene/cucurbit[n]urils modified electrodes have been applied for the electrochemical detection of relevant biomolecules as tryptophan at 0.69×10−7M concentration. [Display omitted] ► Graphene plus cucurbit[n]uril materials have been prepared to develop electrochemical sensors. ► The materials combine the high electron mobility of graphene with the molecular recognition of CBs. ► Materials characterization by Ramman, elemental analysis, TEM and electrochemical techniques. ► Sensitive and selective analysis of tryptophan in two real samples has been performed.