Precision phenylalanine sensing in blood with nanomaterial-enhanced electrodes

Phenylketonuria (PKU) is a genetic disorder associated with the metabolic dysfunction of the phenylalanine hydroxylase enzyme, which catalyses the conversion of l-phenylalanine (Phe) to l-tyrosine. Elevated levels of phenylalanine disrupt the central nervous system by impairing the myelination process and leading to mental retardation. Currently, commonly used diagnostic methods for PKU include the Guthrie test, liquid chromatography, and tandem mass spectrometry, all of which necessitate sophisticated infrastructure and costly equipment. Conversely, electrochemical detection methods hold promise in clinical diagnosis due to their high accuracy, rapid response time, and user-friendly nature. The choice of electrodes in electrochemical methods significantly influences sensitivity and analytical performance. In this study, we evaluated the performance of various nanomaterial-modified electrodes and compared their responses to the redox reaction of phenylalanine, focusing on detection capabilities in blood samples. Specifically, we examined carbon nanotube-gold nanoparticle modified carbon electrode (C-CNT-GNP), graphene-gold nanoparticle modified carbon electrode (C-GPH-GNP), electrochemically reduced graphene oxide (ERGO) modified carbon electrode (C-ERGO), bare carbon electrode (C-BARE), ERGO modified gold electrode (Au-ERGO), and bare gold electrode (Au-BARE) using amperometric detection. The performance of these electrodes was compared in terms of their limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantification (LOQ), and sensitivity. Among all electrodes, ERGO gold electrode showed the lowest LOD, LOQ, and highest sensitivity. This study highlights the potential of ERGO-modified gold electrodes for enhancing electrocatalytic activity, thus offering promising prospects for further diagnostic applications.