Bimetallic AgCu microspheres based electrochemical sensor for dopamine and antibacterial activity

As a key neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, dopamine (DA) plays a significant role in the function of human metabolism. Precise detection of DA levels is essential for disease prevention and health maintenance. Herein, AgCu bimetallic microspheres (AgCu-MS) were synthesized by a simple solvothermal method with fumaric acid as the reducing agent and loaded on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) to produce composites for constructing an establishing convenient, cost-effective, and accessible electrochemical (EC) sensor for the sensitive determination of DA. The nano-micro coarse-grained surface supplied a large specific surface area and rich active sites, giving a forceful support for the adsorption and oxidation of DA. Meanwhile, by taking advantage of the high conductivity of rGO, intense production of electrical signals for DA detection was achieved. The AgCu-MS/rGO sensor fulfilled the sensitive and selective detection for DA with a limit of detection of 34.6 nM within a large scale of 3–100 μM. Notably, the AgCu-MS exhibited oxidase-like activity, contributed to significant antibacterial capabilities. The excellent sensing and antibacterial activity were assigned to the synergies of the bimetallic AgCu-MS, promising as a candidate in the realms of electrochemical analysis and antibacterial applications.