Multifunctional electrospun
nanofibers (ENs) with improved properties
have increased attention nowadays. Their insoluble forms in water
with decreased hydrophobicity are desired for the immobilization of
biological molecules. Also, the addition of functional groups on the
backbone provides the conjugation of biomolecules onto the surface
of ENs via covalent bonds to increase their stability. Here, poly(vinylidene
fluoride) (PVDF) was chosen to prepare a platform, which is insoluble
in water, and polyethylenimine (PEI) was used to add amine groups
on the surface of ENs to bind biological molecules via covalent conjugation.
So, PVDF-PEI nanofibers were prepared on a glassy carbon electrode
to immobilize an antimethamphetamine antibody (Anti-METH) as a model
biomolecule. The obtained PVDF-PEI/Anti-METH was used for the bioelectrochemical
detection of methamphetamine (METH), a common illicit drug. Bioelectrochemical
detection of METH on PVDF-PEI/Anti-METH-coated electrodes was carried
out by voltammetry in the range of 2.0–50 ng/mL METH. Moreover,
the effect of dansyl chloride (DNC) derivatization of METH on the
sensitivity of PVDF-PEI/Anti-METH was tested. Finally, METH analysis
was carried out in synthetic body fluids. The obtained results showed
that PVDF-PEI ENs can be adopted as an immobilization matrix for the
biorecognition elements of biobased detection systems, and the derivative
of METH (METH-DNC) increased the sensitivity of PVDF-PEI/Anti-METH.