Modified nanosensors used to measure insulin in diabetic patients

Iranian researchers from Shahid Beheshti University succeeded in the measurement of insulin in various media by using nickel oxide modifier at nanometric scale. The nanoparticles were synthesized through the administration of potential pulses, and the nanosensor can be used in controlling diabetic illnesses. Diabetes is one of the most common diseases all over the world. The amount of insulin in blood controls the disease. Therefore, it is vital to measure the amount of insulin. In this research, the advantages of electrochemical methods have been used to measure insulin as an important analyte. Printing carbon electrode has been modified by multi-walled carbon nanotubes, nafion, and nickel oxide nanoparticles. Nickel oxide nanoparticles are formed due to the administration of potential pulses. Therefore, the sizes of the particles are very small and controllable. It results in better responds of the electrode and obtaining lower detection limits. In this research nickel oxide modified at nanometric scale was used to measure insulin. The nanoparticles were synthesized through the administration of potential pulses. It can be predicted about the commercial future of the product that this method is one of the cost-effective and simple electrochemical methods and is very appropriate to be used in various centers. In addition, since the study has been carried out on printing carbon electrodes that decrease the size of electrochemical cell, the experiment can be used at commercial scale by improving the parameters. Results of the research carried out by Dr. Banafsheh Rafie’ee and Dr. Alireza Fakhari Zavvareh (member of the Scientific Board of Shahid Beheshti University) have been published in details in Biosensors and Bioelectronics, vol. 46, 2013, pp. 130-135.