Electrochemical sensor based on Prussian blue/multi-walled carbon nanotubes functionalized polypyrrole nanowire arrays for hydrogen peroxide and microRNA detection

A dual-sensing platform is proposed based on multi-walled carbon nanotubes/Prussian blue-functionalized polypyrrole nanowire array (PPY/MWCNTs/PB). Highly aligned PPY nanowire arrays were electrochemically prepared on the surface of glassy carbon electrodes, which were doped with MWCNTs/PB nanocomposites. The nanomaterial combines the characteristics of the PPY nanowires (high conductivity and large specific surface area) and MWCNTs/PB (excellent catalytic performance and intrinsic redox activity). Owing to the nanowire microstructure and outstanding electrical properties, the PPY/MWCNTs/PB nanowire arrays show excellent electrocatalysis of the reduction of hydrogen peroxide and facilitate the construction of a high-performance biosensing platform for microRNA (miRNA). A linear relationship between analytical signal and concentration of hydrogen peroxide and miRNA was obtained in the range 5 to 503 mu M (1.4-5.1 mM) and 0.1 pM to 1 nM, and detection limits of 1.7 mu M and 33.4 fM, respectively. This new supersensitive sensing platform has broad application prospects of biomolecule and other analyte determination in drug, biomedical, plant protection, and environmental analysis.Graphical abstract Prussian blue/multi-walled carbon nanotubes functionalized polypyrrole nanowire arrays (PPY/MWCNTs/PB) were prepared by a facile one-step electrochemical method. PPY/MWCNTs/PB nanowire arrays show excellent electrocatalysis of the reduction of H2O2 and facilitate the construction of a high-performance biosensing platform for microRNA.