Mutagenic and Carcinogenic
substances are a threat to any living organism, and its detection
is of paramount importance. In this work, we fabricate for the first
time a DNA-carbon dots based electrochemical biosensor for sensitive
and selective detection of mutagenic nitrosamines like N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) and N-nitrosodiethanolamine
(NDEA). At first, on the glassy carbon electrode (GCE), chitosan carbon
dot was deposited, then, DNA was electro-statically immobilizing on
the surface of carbon dots to fabricate the sensing electrode (DNA/chiCD/GCE
modified electrode). In the presence of NDMA and NDEA, in differential
pulse voltammetry technique, the absolute peak current increases,
and thus it can detect NDMA and NDEA. The system DNA/chiCD/GCE modified
electrode is highly selective and sensitive toward NDMA and NDEA.
The detection limit was determined to be 9.9 × 10–9 M and 9.6 × 10–9 M, respectively. The possible
reason for DNA/chiCD/GCE modified electrode showing such electrochemical
selectivity toward nitrosamines is investigated and discussed.