Metal Oxide Nanocatalysts for the Electrochemical Detection of Propofol

Propofol is one of the most widely used intravenous drugs for anaesthesia and sedation and is one of the most commonly used drugs in intensive care units for the sedation of mechanically ventilated patients. The correct dosage of propofol is of high importance, but there is currently a lack of suita...

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Main Authors: David C. Ferrier, Janice Kiely, Richard Luxton
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Micromachines
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/16/2/120
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author David C. Ferrier
Janice Kiely
Richard Luxton
author_facet David C. Ferrier
Janice Kiely
Richard Luxton
author_sort David C. Ferrier
collection DOAJ
description Propofol is one of the most widely used intravenous drugs for anaesthesia and sedation and is one of the most commonly used drugs in intensive care units for the sedation of mechanically ventilated patients. The correct dosage of propofol is of high importance, but there is currently a lack of suitable point-of-care techniques for determining blood propofol concentrations. Here, we present a cytochrome P450 2B6/carbon nanotube/graphene oxide/metal oxide nanocomposite sensor for discrete measurement of propofol concentration. Propofol is converted into a quinol/quinone redox couple by the enzyme and the nanocomposite enables sensitive and rapid detection. The metal oxide nanoparticles are synthesised via green synthesis and a variety of metal oxides and mixed metal oxides are investigated to determine the optimal nanocatalyst. Converting propofol into the redox couple allows for the measurement to take place over different potential ranges, enabling interference from common sources such as paracetamol and uric acid to be avoided. It was found that nanocomposites containing copper titanium oxide nanoparticles offered the best overall performance and electrodes functionalised with such nanocomposites demonstrated a limit of detection in bovine serum of 0.5 µg/mL and demonstrated a linear response over the therapeutic range of propofol with a sensitivity of 4.58 nA/μg/mL/mm<sup>2</sup>.
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spelling doaj-art-21b424e15e484b8fa51450a1df682fb32025-08-20T03:12:12ZengMDPI AGMicromachines2072-666X2025-01-0116212010.3390/mi16020120Metal Oxide Nanocatalysts for the Electrochemical Detection of PropofolDavid C. Ferrier0Janice Kiely1Richard Luxton2Institute of Bio-Sensing Technology, University of the West of England, Frenchay Campus, Bristol BS16 1QY, UKInstitute of Bio-Sensing Technology, University of the West of England, Frenchay Campus, Bristol BS16 1QY, UKInstitute of Bio-Sensing Technology, University of the West of England, Frenchay Campus, Bristol BS16 1QY, UKPropofol is one of the most widely used intravenous drugs for anaesthesia and sedation and is one of the most commonly used drugs in intensive care units for the sedation of mechanically ventilated patients. The correct dosage of propofol is of high importance, but there is currently a lack of suitable point-of-care techniques for determining blood propofol concentrations. Here, we present a cytochrome P450 2B6/carbon nanotube/graphene oxide/metal oxide nanocomposite sensor for discrete measurement of propofol concentration. Propofol is converted into a quinol/quinone redox couple by the enzyme and the nanocomposite enables sensitive and rapid detection. The metal oxide nanoparticles are synthesised via green synthesis and a variety of metal oxides and mixed metal oxides are investigated to determine the optimal nanocatalyst. Converting propofol into the redox couple allows for the measurement to take place over different potential ranges, enabling interference from common sources such as paracetamol and uric acid to be avoided. It was found that nanocomposites containing copper titanium oxide nanoparticles offered the best overall performance and electrodes functionalised with such nanocomposites demonstrated a limit of detection in bovine serum of 0.5 µg/mL and demonstrated a linear response over the therapeutic range of propofol with a sensitivity of 4.58 nA/μg/mL/mm<sup>2</sup>.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/16/2/120metal oxide nanoparticlepropofolelectrochemical sensornanocompositegraphene oxidegreen synthesis
spellingShingle David C. Ferrier
Janice Kiely
Richard Luxton
Metal Oxide Nanocatalysts for the Electrochemical Detection of Propofol
Micromachines
metal oxide nanoparticle
propofol
electrochemical sensor
nanocomposite
graphene oxide
green synthesis
title Metal Oxide Nanocatalysts for the Electrochemical Detection of Propofol
title_full Metal Oxide Nanocatalysts for the Electrochemical Detection of Propofol
title_fullStr Metal Oxide Nanocatalysts for the Electrochemical Detection of Propofol
title_full_unstemmed Metal Oxide Nanocatalysts for the Electrochemical Detection of Propofol
title_short Metal Oxide Nanocatalysts for the Electrochemical Detection of Propofol
title_sort metal oxide nanocatalysts for the electrochemical detection of propofol
topic metal oxide nanoparticle
propofol
electrochemical sensor
nanocomposite
graphene oxide
green synthesis
url https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/16/2/120
work_keys_str_mv AT davidcferrier metaloxidenanocatalystsfortheelectrochemicaldetectionofpropofol
AT janicekiely metaloxidenanocatalystsfortheelectrochemicaldetectionofpropofol
AT richardluxton metaloxidenanocatalystsfortheelectrochemicaldetectionofpropofol