An ultrasensitive performance enhanced novel cytochrome c biosensor for the detection of rebaudioside A

In this study a novel cyctochrome c modified nanocomposite electrochemical biosensor was developed for the electrochemical determination of rebaudioside A in different food samples. The electrode surface was fabricated with graphene oxide assimilated with gold nanoparticles decorated on multiwalled carbon nanotubes/cytochrome c. The developed biosensor exhibited a 10-fold enhancement in the differential pulse voltammetry signal carried out at pH 11.0 in a 0.1 M borate buffer. Under the optimized conditions, Ip (µA) was proportional to the rebaudioside A concentration in the range of 0.001-0.05 mM (R2=0.8308) and 0.075-1.25 mM (R2=0.9920) with a detection limit (S/N=3) of 0.264 µM. Results of this study revealed that cyctochrome c was adsorbed tightly onto the surface of the modified electrode and showed an enzymatic catalytic activity towards the quasi-reversible reduction of rebaudioside A at −0.1 V (vs Ag/AgCl). The direct electron transfer by cytochrome c was further supported by HOMO-LUMO calculations performed at the density functional theory level. Additionally, the molecular docking simulations predicted a stronger binding affinity of rebaudioside A towards cytochrome c, thus supporting their host-guest relationship. The use of novel electrode materials in this study demonstrates the application of the electrochemical biosensor in the food industry.