A novel electrochemical molecularly imprinted senor based on CuCo2O4@ biomass derived carbon for sensitive detection of tryptophan

An electrochemical sensing system was proposed for tryptophan (Trp) measurement. CuCo2O4@ biomass derived carbon (CuCo2O4@BC) was combined with molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) to construct the electrochemical sensor. The BC was obtained by pyrolyzing leaves of Lactuca sativa L. var. ramosa Hort, and the CuCo2O4@BC was synthesized via hydrothermal method. The MIP was electropolymerized on CuCo2O4@BC modified glassy carbon electrode (CuCo2O4@BC/GCE) using pyrrole as the monomer and Trp as the template. The sensor can specifically rebind Trp because of the specific recognition ability of the MIP. After optimizing the experimental parameters, the differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) current of the fabricated sensor is linearly correlated with Trp concentration in the ranges of 0.01 μM to1 μM and 1 μM to 40 μM, and the limit of detection (LOD) is 0.003 μM. Moreover, the presented sensor holds excellent selectivity toward Trp, and has been successfully applied to detect Trp in human serum and urine with satisfactory recoveries.