Three-dimensional cobalt-nitrogen-co doped carbon shells encapsulated NiFe-LDH as an advanced sensing platform for real-time electrochemical analysis of rutin

In this work, we designed a metal-organic framework (MOF) derived cobalt nanoparticles encapsulated nitrogen-rich carbon with nickel iron-layered double hydroxide (Co-NC@NiFe-LDH) for real time electrochemical analysis of the antioxidant flavonoid-rutin (RUT). The prepared composite was examined by various analytical techniques, cyclic voltammetry, and differential pulse voltammetry. A glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with Co-NC@NiFe-LDH (Co-NC@NiFe-LDH/GCE) exhibited superior response for RUT along with excellent reproducibility, sensitivity, and selectivity which is attributed to the synergistic effects between the Co-NC and NiFe-LDH, and enable excellent electron transfer across the electrode-electrolyte interface. The Co-NC@NiFe-LDH/GCE responds linearly to RUT concentrations of 0.01 − 20.10 µM and 20.10 − 267.31 µM, with a limit of detection (LOD) and higher sensitivity of 5 nM and 11.898 µA µM^–1 cm⁻², respectively. These exceptional features of Co-NC@NiFe-LDH arise from its significant active sites, substantial surface area, and excellent electrolyte accessibility. The Co-NC@NiFe-LDH/GCE offers improved stability, with the initial oxidation peak current decreasing by ≤ 5% over 25 days of air exposure. The sensor demonstrated substantial recovery levels of 96.99 − 98.70%, 96.15 − 99.76%, and 97.86 − 99.74% for real-time analyses of serum, urine, and medicinal samples. This study paves the way for advanced sensing platforms in biomedicine and clinical applications, capitalizing on nanohybrid design.