Engineering ZnO nanocrystals anchored on mesoporous TiO2 for simultaneous detection of vitamins

• Published in: Biochemical engineering journal Vol. 186; p. 108585
• Main Authors: Manoj, Devaraj, Rajendran, Saravanan, Gracia, F., Naushad, M., Santhamoorthy, Madhappan, Soto-Moscoso, Matias, Gracia-Pinilla, M.A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.08.2022
• Subjects: Ascorbic acid; Mesoporous; Simultaneous detection; Titanium dioxide; ZnO; ZnO; Ascorbic acid; Simultaneous detection; Mesoporous; Titanium dioxide
• ISSN: 1369-703X; 1873-295X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bej.2022.108585

Vitamins are essential for proper growth and development of the body. It is critical for the proper functioning of vital biological processes such as digestion, immunity, and metabolism, but their presence as deficiencies have been linked to number of different disorders. However, our bodies are unable to produce the essential vitamins, therefore we must obtain through intake of food. Electrochemical sensors provide a promising way for detection of vitamins because of its low cost and minimal signal-to-noise ratio could deliver high electrocatalytic performance towards target species. It has been reported that development of mesoporous materials as electrode materials can enhance the signal response with wide peak separation for detection of multivitamins. Generally, the addition of trace amount of metal oxide as dopant introduced on the surface of the host matrix can alter the physicochemical properties. Herein, the present work aims to develop mesoporous structure of TiO2 with doping of ZnO nanocrystals on its surface as efficient material for simultaneous determination of vitamin B (Riboflavin, B2 and pyridoxine, B6) and vitamin C (ascorbic acid). The presence of mesoporous structure could enhance the rapid diffusion of vitamin and the ZnO nanocrystals loaded on the cavities enables the fast electron transfer, as a result a large enhancement in the electrochemical signal response with wide separation of peak potentials for each vitamin are attained. A significant wide linear range for riboflavin (2–74 µM), ascorbic acid (7–154 µM) and pyridoxine (2–74 µM), respectively. The limit of detection (LOD) for determination of Vitamin B2, C and B6 was calculated to be 0.8 µM, 2.5 µM and 0.75 µM respectively. Overall, the high selectivity with significant enhancement in the current response by the binary metal oxide doped mesoporous structure can provide a new pathway for the design of low-cost electrode materials for various electrochemical and biomedical applications. •Mesoporous structure of TiO2 with doping of ZnO nanocrystals by novel two-step route.•The presence of mesoporous structure could enhance the rapid diffusion and fast electron transfer.•The high selectivity with significant enhancement in the current response help for various bio-chemical applications.