Dual-Response Ratiometric Electrochemical Microsensor for Effective Simultaneous Monitoring of Hypochlorous Acid and Ascorbic Acid in Human Body Fluids

Redox homeostasis between hypochlorous acid (HClO/ClO–) and ascorbic acid (AA) significantly impacts many physiological and pathological processes. Herein, we report a new electrochemical sensor for the simultaneous determination of HClO and AA in body fluids. We first coated a carbon fiber microelectrode (CFME) with a three-dimensional nanocomposite consisting of graphene oxide (GO) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to fabricate the CFME/GO–CNT electrode. After the electrochemical reduction of GO (ERGO), we integrated a latent 1-(3,7-bis(dimethylamino)-10H-phenothiazin-10-yl)-2-methylpropan-1-one (MBS) electrochemical molecular recognition probe to monitor HClO and employed anthraquinone (AQ) as an internal reference. The compact CFME/ERGO–CNT/AQ + MBS sensor enabled the accurate and simultaneous measurement of HClO and AA with excellent selectivity and sensitivity. Measurements were highly reproducible, and the sensor was stable and exceptionally biocompatible. We successfully detected changes in the redox cycles of HClO and AA in human body fluids. This sensor is a significant advance for the investigation of reactions involved in cellular redox regulation. More importantly, we have devised a strategy for the design and construction of ratiometric electrochemical biosensors for the simultaneous determination of various bioactive species.