Cu-TCPP microflowers: a high-performance platform for riboflavin electrochemical sensing

Considering the crucial role of riboflavin in human physiological functions, developing a rapid and sensitive detection method is essential in fields such as food and drug analysis. Electrochemical sensing is a powerful method for the determination of riboflavin. Herein, in this study, metal organic framework (MOF) microflower Cu-TCPP was prepared by solvothermal method using trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) as the modulator and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as the structural guide. Then followed by the fabrication of a novel electrochemical sensor for riboflavin detection. The microflower-like morphology of Cu-TCPP provided numerous active sites for riboflavin oxidation. Meanwhile, electrochemical results demonstrated that the Cu-TCPP enhanced the electron transfer efficiency and electroactive surface area of GCE, exhibiting excellent catalytic performance. Under optimized detection conditions, square wave voltammetry (SWV) test showed that the Cu-TCPP sensor exhibited a linear range for riboflavin of 1.00 × 10 −8 to 9.91 × 10 −5 M, with a low limit of detection (LOD) (1.70 × 10 −9 M) (S/N = 3). The sensor possessed good selectivity, excellent anti-interference capability, and outstanding stability. Additionally, the sensor was successfully employed for riboflavin detection in real samples, and the spiked recovery rate ranged from 98.85% to 102.86%, indicating its significant application value in real sample analysis.