Metal nanoparticles have been helpful
in creatinine sensing technology
under point-of-care (POC) settings because of their excellent electrocatalyst
properties. However, the behavior of monometallic nanoparticles as
electrochemical creatinine sensors showed limitations concerning the
current density in the mA/cm2 range and wide detection
window, which are essential parameters for the development of a sensor
for POC applications. Herein, we report a new sensor, a reduced graphene
oxide stabilized binary copper–iron oxide-based nanocomposite
on a 3D printed Ag-electrode (Fe–Cu–rGO@Ag) for detecting
a wide range of blood creatinine (0.01 to 1000 μM; detection
limit 10 nM) in an electrochemical chip with a current density ranging
between 0.185 and 1.371 mA/cm2 and sensitivity limit of
1.1 μA μM–1 cm–2 at
physiological pH. Interference studies confirmed that the sensor exhibited
no interference from analytes like uric acid, urea, dopamine, and
glutathione. The sensor response was also evaluated to detect creatinine
in human blood samples with high accuracy in less than a minute. The
sensing mechanism suggested that the synergistic effects of Cu and
iron oxide nanoparticles played an essential role in the efficient
sensing where Fe atoms act as active sites for creatinine oxidation
through the secondary amine nitrogen, and Cu nanoparticles acted as
an excellent electron-transfer mediator through rGO. The rapid sensor
fabrication procedure, mA/cm2 peak current density, a wide
range of detection limits, low contact resistance including high selectivity,
excellent linear response (R
2 = 0.991),
and reusability ensured the application of advanced electrochemical
sensor toward the POC creatinine detection.