A nanocomposite consisting of cuprous oxide supported on graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets for non-enzymatic electrochemical sensing of 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine

Graphitic carbon nitrides supported cuprous oxide architecture is reported as an efficient electrode material for supercapacitors, especially due to its high charge-transfer conductivity of the electrochemical devices. Herein, we present an electrochemical sensor to specifically detect 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-HDG) oxidative stress biomarker using graphitic carbon nitrides that decorate a cuprous oxide cubes modified electrode. The fabricated electrochemical sensor was characterized and proved by electrochemical methods, EDX, FESEM, and amperometry (i–t). In the presence of 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-HDG), the effective interaction between graphitic carbon nitrides and 8-HDG favors the accumulation on the Cu2O/g-C3N4/GCE, which increases the electrocatalytic property and amperometric response. The proposed electrochemical sensor exhibits a wide linear range for 8-HDG in 0.1 M phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) from 25 nM to 0.91 mM, and the limit of detection (LOD) is 4.5 nM. The stability of the Cu2O/g-C3N4/GCE is improved when stored at 4 °C. The repeatability and reproducibility of this electrochemical sensor is good and the sensor retains its  current response for 8-HDG detection also after long time storage. The modified sensor proved high selectivity and sensitivity for 8-HDG, which made it possible to determine 8-HDG in biological samples. Furthermore, the Cu2O/g-C3N4/GCE offered a favorable electron transfer between the Cu2O/g-C3N4 and the electrode interface compared to Cu2O/GCE, g-C3N4/GCE, and unmodified GCE.