Electrochemical Detection of Acetaminophen with Silicon Nanowires

Raja Ram Pandey; Hussain S. Alshahrani; Sergiy Krylyuk; Elissa H. Williams; Albert V. Davydov; Charles C. Chusuei

Index: 10.1002/elan.201700806

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Abstract

Acetaminophen (APAP) is an antipyretic, analgesic agent, the overdose of which during medical treatment poses a risk for liver failure. Hence, it is important to develop methods to monitor physiological APAP levels to avoid poisoning. Here, we report an efficient, selective electrochemical APAP sensor made from depositing silicon nanowires (SiNWs) onto glassy carbon electrodes (GCEs). Electrocatalytic activity of the SiNW/GCE sensors was monitored under varying pH and concentrations of APAP using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and chronoamperometry (CA). CV of the SiNWs at 0.5 to 13 mmol dm−3 APAP concentrations was used to determine the oxidation and reduction potentials of APAP. The selective detection of APAP was then demonstrated using CA at +0.568 V vs Ag/AgCl, where APAP is fully oxidized, in the 0.01 to 3 mmol dm−3 concentration range with potentially‐interfering analytes. The SiNW sensor has the ability to detect APAP well within the detection limits for APAP toxicity, showing promise as a practical biosensor.