Conjugated polymer self-assembled with graphene: Synthesis and electrochemical 1-hydroxypyrene sensor

Urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP), one of the metabolite of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), has been extensively applied as a biomarker of animals and human exposure to PAHs. Herein, we synthesized a novel conjugated polymer poly-8-methoxy-7-methyl-5-(10-anthracen-9-yl)quinolone (PMMAYQ) using Suzuki coupling reaction, and then fabricated a homogeneous PMMAYQ/grahene multilayer film via layer-by-layer self-assembly technique and applied for electrochemical sensing of 1-OHP. Under the optimal conditions, {PMMAYQ-Graphene} 16 modified glass carbon electrode exhibited excellent response for detection of 1-OHP. A linear range from 0.5 to 120 nM was obtained with a low detection limit of 0.07 nM (S/N = 3) and a sensitivity of 0.5539 μA/μM. The electrochemical sensor exhibited excellent stability, accepted repeatability, and good selectivity. The developed method was employed for determination of 1-OHP in human urine samples and recoveries in the range of 95.6%–107.1% were achieved.