Enhanced uric acid detection using functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotube/AgNi nanocomposites: A comparative study on screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE) and fabric-based biosensors

Abstract

In the development of biosensors, it is essential to have sensors that provide rapid responses, exhibit high sensitivity and selectivity, and are non-invasive, such as screen-printed carbon electrode-based biosensors. In this study, SPCE-based and fabric-based biosensors were fabricated by modifying the working electrode (WE) surface using functionalized Multi-walled Carbon Nanotube/AgNi nanocomposites (f-MWCNT/AgNi) to enhance the biosensor's performance in detecting uric acid (UA). The successful synthesis of the f-MWCNT/AgNi nanomaterial was confirmed through UV–Vis, Raman, SEM–EDX, and XRD analyses. The f-MWCNT/AgNi nanomaterials were deposited on the WE surface using drop-casting. Subsequently, electrochemical characteristic tests and UA detection performance were conducted using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) methods. The DPV curves revealed sensitivities of 27.699 μA/mM and 4.638 μA/mM for SPCE-based and fabric-based electrodes, respectively. The limit of detection (LOD) values for UA detection were 0.024 and 0.017 mM, with linearity (R²) 0.997 and 0.999 observed within the linear ranges of 0.05–1.00 and 1.0–5.0 mM, respectively. Both biosensors exhibited strong selectivity for UA against other components, including ascorbic acid, glucose, lactic acid, and ethanol. Based on these parameter values, f-MWCNT/AgNi-modified SPCE and fabric-based electrodes can be promoted as biosensors for uric acid detection.