Highly sensitive electrochemical sensor based on β-cyclodextrin–gold@3, 4, 9, 10-perylene tetracarboxylic acid functionalized single-walled carbon nanohorns for simultaneous determination of myricetin and rutin

•This finding described the electrochemical simultaneous detection of two flavonoids.•β-CD–Au@PTCA–SWCNHs exhibited outstanding molecular host–guest recognition.•β-CD–Au@PTCA–SWCNHs was applied to the electrochemical sensing for the first time.•This work might broaden the application of macrocyclic hosts in the sensing field.

The application of macrocyclic hosts for construction of different electrochemical devices and separation matrices has attracted much attentions due to their benign biocompatibility and simplicity of synthesis. Myricetin and rutin are considered two of the most bioactive flavonoids, which have been proved to exhibit various physiological functions. This work reports a simple and facile approach for the synthesis of β-cyclodextrin-gold@3, 4, 9, 10-perylene tetracarboxylic acid functionalized single-walled carbon nanohorns (β-CD–Au@PTCA–SWCNHs) nanohybrids. The simultaneous electrochemical determination of myricetin and rutin using a β-CD–Au@PTCA–SWCNHs-modified glassy carbon electrode was established. The results show that the β-CD–Au@PTCA–SWCNHs-modified electrode displayed electrochemical signal superior to those of Au@PTCA–;SWCNHs and SWCNHs towards myricetin and rutin. The proposed modified electrode has a linear response range of 0.01–10.00 μM both for myricetin and rutin with relatively low detection limits of 0.0038 μM for myricetin and 0.0044 μM (S/N = 3) for rutin, respectively. The excellent performance of the sensing platform is considered to be the synergic effects of the SWCNHs (e.g. their good electrochemical properties and large surface area) and β-CD (e.g. a hydrophilic external surface, a high supramolecular recognition, and a good enrichment capability).

Graphical abstractThe illustration of the β-CD–Au@PTCA–SWCNHs nanohybrids simultaneously sensing myricetin and rutin by an electrochemical strategy.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide