{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,19]],"date-time":"2026-07-19T03:07:22Z","timestamp":1784430442681,"version":"3.55.0"},"reference-count":56,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2022,12,29]],"date-time":"2022-12-29T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1672272000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Sensors"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Economical and nanomolar-level determination of the analgesic drug, acetaminophen (APAP), is reported in this work. A novel ternary nanocomposite based on silver-doped sugar apple-like cupric oxide (CuO)-decorated amine-functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (fCNTs) was sonochemically prepared. CuO nanoparticles were synthesized based on the ascorbic acid-mediated low-temperature method, and sidewall functionalization of CNTs was carried out. Important characterizations of the synthesized materials were analyzed using SEM, TEM, HAADF-STEM, elemental mapping, EDX, lattice fringes, SAED pattern, XRD, EIS, UV-Vis, micro-Raman spectroscopy, and FTIR. It was noted the sonochemically prepared nanocomposite diligently fabricated on screen-printed carbon electrode showcased outstanding electrocatalytic performance towards APAP determination. The APAP sensor exhibited ultra-low limit of detection of 4 nM, wide linear concentration ranges of 0.02\u20133.77 and 3.77\u201390.02 \u03bcM, and high sensitivity of 30.45 \u03bcA \u03bcM\u22121 cm\u22122. Moreover, further evaluation of the sensor\u2019s performance based on electrochemical experiments showcased outstanding selectivity, stability, reproducibility, and repeatability. Further, excellent practical feasibility of the proposed APAP sensor was affirmed with excellent recovery larger than 96.86% and a maximum RSD of 3.67%.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/s23010379","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2022,12,30]],"date-time":"2022-12-30T03:19:46Z","timestamp":1672370386000},"page":"379","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":13,"title":["Electrocatalytic Platform Based on Silver-Doped Sugar Apple-like Cupric Oxide Embedded Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes for Nanomolar Detection of Acetaminophen (APAP)"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"23","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0634-4707","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Deepak","family":"Balram","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Electrical Engineering, National Taipei University of Technology, No. 1, Section 3, Zhongxiao East Road, Taipei 106, Taiwan"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Kuang-Yow","family":"Lian","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Electrical Engineering, National Taipei University of Technology, No. 1, Section 3, Zhongxiao East Road, Taipei 106, Taiwan"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1125-7974","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Neethu","family":"Sebastian","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Organic and Polymeric Materials, Department of Molecular Science and Engineering, National Taipei University of Technology, No. 1, Section 3, Zhongxiao East Road, Taipei 106, Taiwan"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2022,12,29]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"55","DOI":"10.1016\/j.chest.2020.03.040","article-title":"Safety of ibuprofen in patients with COVID-19: Causal or confounded?","volume":"158","author":"Sodhi","year":"2020","journal-title":"Chest"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"364","DOI":"10.1007\/s12603-020-1349-9","article-title":"COVID-19 and older adult","volume":"24","author":"Morley","year":"2020","journal-title":"J. Nutr. Health Aging"},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"m1086","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.m1086","article-title":"COVID-19: Ibuprofen should not be used for managing symptoms, say doctors and scientists","volume":"368","author":"Day","year":"2020","journal-title":"Br. Med. J."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"719","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ajpath.2018.12.006","article-title":"Liver regeneration after acetaminophen hepatotoxicity: Mechanisms and therapeutic opportunities","volume":"189","author":"Bhushan","year":"2019","journal-title":"Am. J. Pathol."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"577","DOI":"10.1146\/annurev.me.35.020184.003045","article-title":"Acetaminophen hepatotoxicity","volume":"35","author":"Black","year":"1984","journal-title":"Annu. Rev. Med."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1364","DOI":"10.1002\/hep.20948","article-title":"Acetaminophen-induced acute liver failure: Results of a United States multicenter, prospective study","volume":"42","author":"Larson","year":"2005","journal-title":"Hepatology"},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"223","DOI":"10.3109\/15563659109038615","article-title":"Acetaminophen induced pancreatitis","volume":"29","author":"Mofenson","year":"1991","journal-title":"J. Toxicol. Clin. Toxicol."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"55","DOI":"10.1159\/000185117","article-title":"Paracetamol (acetaminophen) poisoning resulting in acute renal failure without hepatic coma","volume":"50","author":"Davenport","year":"1988","journal-title":"Nephron"},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"20","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1365-2125.2010.03765.x","article-title":"Understanding lactic acidosis in paracetamol (acetaminophen) poisoning","volume":"71","author":"Shah","year":"2011","journal-title":"Br. J. Clin. Pharmacol."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"384","DOI":"10.1002\/ijc.28093","article-title":"Analgesic use and the risk of kidney cancer: A meta-analysis of epidemiologic studies","volume":"134","author":"Choueiri","year":"2014","journal-title":"Int. J. Cancer"},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1174","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1398-9995.2005.00855.x","article-title":"Hypersensitivity reactions to paracetamol in children: A study of 25 cases","volume":"60","author":"Boussetta","year":"2005","journal-title":"Allergy"},{"key":"ref_12","unstructured":"Ferri, F.F. (2016). Ferri\u2019s Clinical Advisor 2017 E-Book: 5 Books in 1, Elsevier Health Sciences."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"296","DOI":"10.5694\/j.1326-5377.2008.tb01625.x","article-title":"Guidelines for the management of paracetamol poisoning in Australia and New Zealand-explanation and elaboration","volume":"188","author":"Daly","year":"2008","journal-title":"Med. J. Aust."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"153844","DOI":"10.1016\/j.scitotenv.2022.153844","article-title":"A review on magnetic sensors for monitoring of hazardous pollutants in water resources","volume":"824","author":"Mansoorianfar","year":"2022","journal-title":"Sci. Total Environ."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"112907","DOI":"10.1016\/j.fct.2022.112907","article-title":"Determination of D&C Red 33 and Patent Blue V Azo dyes using an impressive electrochemical sensor based on carbon paste electrode modified with ZIF-8\/g-C3N4\/Co and ionic liquid in mouthwash and toothpaste as real samples","volume":"162","author":"Darabi","year":"2022","journal-title":"Food Chem. Toxicol."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"132187","DOI":"10.1016\/j.chemosphere.2021.132187","article-title":"Novel enzymatic graphene oxide based biosensor for the detection of glutathione in biological body fluids","volume":"287","author":"Cheraghi","year":"2022","journal-title":"Chemosphere"},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"112961","DOI":"10.1016\/j.fct.2022.112961","article-title":"Recent advances in carbon nanomaterials-based electrochemical sensors for food azo dyes detection","volume":"164","author":"Beitollahi","year":"2022","journal-title":"Food Chem. Toxicol."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"82","DOI":"10.1039\/C8QI01000E","article-title":"Electrochemical detection of an antibiotic drug chloramphenicol based on a graphene oxide\/hierarchical zinc oxide nanocomposite","volume":"6","author":"Sebastian","year":"2019","journal-title":"Inorg. Chem. Front."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1542","DOI":"10.20964\/2018.02.06","article-title":"A novel electrochemical sensor based on flower shaped zinc oxide nanoparticles for the efficient detection of dopamine","volume":"13","author":"Balram","year":"2018","journal-title":"Int. J. Electrochem. Sci."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"112843","DOI":"10.1016\/j.fct.2022.112843","article-title":"Electrochemical quantification of mancozeb through tungsten oxide\/reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite: A potential method for environmental remediation","volume":"161","author":"Buledi","year":"2022","journal-title":"Food Chem. Toxicol."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"135630","DOI":"10.1016\/j.electacta.2020.135630","article-title":"A highly sensitive non-enzymatic glucose sensor based on CuS nanosheets modified Cu2O\/CuO nanowire arrays","volume":"334","author":"Wei","year":"2020","journal-title":"Electrochim. Acta"},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"246","DOI":"10.1016\/j.matlet.2015.07.133","article-title":"Porous hexapod CuO nanostructures: Precursor-mediated fabrication, characterization, and visible-light induced photocatalytic degradation of phenol","volume":"160","author":"Yang","year":"2015","journal-title":"Mater. Lett."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"867","DOI":"10.1021\/cm052256f","article-title":"Nearly monodisperse Cu2O and CuO nanospheres: Preparation and applications for sensitive gas sensors","volume":"18","author":"Zhang","year":"2006","journal-title":"Chem. Mater."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"150","DOI":"10.1016\/j.electacta.2018.02.081","article-title":"A binder-free composite anode composed of CuO nanosheets and multi-wall carbon nanotubes for high-performance lithium-ion batteries","volume":"267","author":"Yuan","year":"2018","journal-title":"Electrochim. Acta"},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"156","DOI":"10.1016\/j.bioelechem.2012.03.006","article-title":"Nonenzymatic amperometric determination of glucose by CuO nanocubes\u2013graphene nanocomposite modified electrode","volume":"88","author":"Luo","year":"2012","journal-title":"Bioelectrochemistry"},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"390","DOI":"10.1016\/j.electacta.2019.07.008","article-title":"High photoelectrochemical activity of CuO nanoflakes grown on Cu foil","volume":"319","author":"John","year":"2019","journal-title":"Electrochim. Acta"},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Zhang, Z., Zada, A., Cui, N., Liu, N., Liu, M., Yang, Y., Jiang, D., Jiang, J., and Liu, S. (2021). Synthesis of ag loaded ZnO\/BiOCl with high photocatalytic performance for the removal of antibiotic pollutants. Crystals, 11.","DOI":"10.3390\/cryst11080981"},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"183","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jpha.2020.04.007","article-title":"A dual-signal sensor for the analysis of parathion-methyl using silver nanoparticles modified with graphitic carbon nitride","volume":"11","author":"Li","year":"2021","journal-title":"J. Pharm. Anal."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Sebastian, N., Yu, W.-C., and Balram, D. (2022). Ultrasensitive Electrochemical Detection and Plasmon-Enhanced Photocatalytic Degradation of Rhodamine B Based on Dual-Functional, 3D, Hierarchical Ag\/ZnO Nanoflowers. Sensors, 22.","DOI":"10.3390\/s22135049"},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"166180","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jallcom.2022.166180","article-title":"Silver doped dodecahedral metal-organic framework anchored RGO nanosheets for nanomolar quantification of priority toxic pollutant in aquatic environment","volume":"922","author":"Sebastian","year":"2022","journal-title":"J. Alloys Compd."},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Inam, A.K.M.S., Angeli, M.A.C., Shkodra, B., Douaki, A., Avancini, E., Magagnin, L., and Lugli, P. (2022). Flexible screen-printed amperometric sensors functionalized with spray-coated carbon nanotubes and electrodeposited Cu nanoclusters for nitrate detection. IEEE Sens. J., 1.","DOI":"10.1109\/JSEN.2022.3171066"},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"138","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jpha.2020.11.003","article-title":"Chemically modified carbon-based electrodes for the determination of paracetamol in drugs and biological samples","volume":"11","author":"Boumya","year":"2021","journal-title":"J. Pharm. Anal."},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"344","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cej.2016.05.038","article-title":"Carbon nanotube\u2013metal oxide nanocomposites: Fabrication, properties and applications","volume":"302","author":"Mallakpour","year":"2016","journal-title":"Chem. Eng. J."},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3803","DOI":"10.1016\/S1359-6454(00)00147-6","article-title":"Carbon nanotube\u2013metal\u2013oxide nanocomposites: Microstructure, electrical conductivity and mechanical properties","volume":"48","author":"Flahaut","year":"2000","journal-title":"Acta Mater."},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"71","DOI":"10.1016\/j.aca.2019.10.026","article-title":"Synthesis of amine-functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotube\/3D rose flower-like zinc oxide nanocomposite for sensitive electrochemical detection of flavonoid morin","volume":"1095","author":"Sebastian","year":"2020","journal-title":"Anal. Chim. Acta"},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"104696","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ultsonch.2019.104696","article-title":"Sonochemical synthesis of iron-graphene oxide\/honeycomb-like ZnO ternary nanohybrids for sensitive electrochemical detection of antipsychotic drug chlorpromazine","volume":"59","author":"Sebastian","year":"2019","journal-title":"Ultrason. Sonochem."},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"978","DOI":"10.1103\/PhysRev.56.978","article-title":"The Scherrer formula for X-ray particle size determination","volume":"56","author":"Patterson","year":"1939","journal-title":"Phys. Rev."},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"97","DOI":"10.1107\/S0021889892008987","article-title":"Voigt-function modeling in Fourier analysis of size-and strain-broadened X-ray diffraction peaks","volume":"26","author":"Balzar","year":"1993","journal-title":"J. Appl. Crystallogr."},{"key":"ref_39","first-page":"856592","article-title":"Copper oxide nanomaterials prepared by solution methods, some properties, and potential applications: A brief review","volume":"2014","author":"Tran","year":"2014","journal-title":"Int. Sch. Res. Not."},{"key":"ref_40","first-page":"1023","article-title":"Effect of functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes on thermal stability of poly (L-LACTIDE) biodegradable polymer","volume":"20","author":"Amirian","year":"2013","journal-title":"Sci. Iran."},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"102733","DOI":"10.1039\/C6RA20725A","article-title":"CuO nanostructures of variable shapes as an efficient catalyst for [3 + 2] cycloaddition of azides with terminal alkyne","volume":"6","author":"Kaur","year":"2016","journal-title":"RSC Adv."},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2258","DOI":"10.1021\/ac00237a029","article-title":"Voltammetry of acetaminophen and its metabolites","volume":"53","author":"Miner","year":"1981","journal-title":"Anal. Chem."},{"key":"ref_43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"362","DOI":"10.1016\/j.bios.2008.04.009","article-title":"Novel 2, 2\u2032-[1,2-ethanediylbis (nitriloethylidyne)]-bis-hydroquinone double-wall carbon nanotube paste electrode for simultaneous determination of epinephrine, uric acid and folic acid","volume":"24","author":"Beitollahi","year":"2008","journal-title":"Biosens. Bioelectron."},{"key":"ref_44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3049","DOI":"10.1007\/s10008-018-4013-0","article-title":"Copper polydopamine complex\/multiwalled carbon nanotubes as novel modifier for simultaneous electrochemical determination of ascorbic acid, dopamine, acetaminophen, nitrite and xanthine","volume":"22","author":"Shahbakhsh","year":"2018","journal-title":"J. Solid State Electrochem."},{"key":"ref_45","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2957","DOI":"10.1007\/s00604-016-1946-9","article-title":"Synergic effect of Pt-Co nanoparticles and a dopamine derivative in a nanostructured electrochemical sensor for simultaneous determination of N-acetylcysteine, paracetamol and folic acid","volume":"183","author":"Hatami","year":"2016","journal-title":"Microchim. Acta"},{"key":"ref_46","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3250","DOI":"10.1016\/j.electacta.2006.10.001","article-title":"Electrochemical behavior of acetaminophen and its detection on the PANI\u2013MWCNTs composite modified electrode","volume":"52","author":"Li","year":"2007","journal-title":"Electrochim. Acta"},{"key":"ref_47","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"143","DOI":"10.1016\/j.snb.2017.09.204","article-title":"Electrochemical sensor for detecting pain reliever\/fever reducer drug acetaminophen based on electrospun CeBiOx nanofibers modified screen-printed electrode","volume":"256","author":"Cao","year":"2018","journal-title":"Sens. Actuators B Chem."},{"key":"ref_48","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"81","DOI":"10.1016\/j.aca.2019.05.031","article-title":"Electrocatalytic oxidation toward dopamine and acetaminophen based on AuNPs@ TCnA\/GN modified glassy carbon electrode","volume":"1075","author":"Liu","year":"2019","journal-title":"Anal. Chim. Acta"},{"key":"ref_49","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"5673","DOI":"10.1039\/C4AY00753K","article-title":"An electrochemical sensor for paracetamol based on an electropolymerized molecularly imprinted o-phenylenediamine film on a multi-walled carbon nanotube modified glassy carbon electrode","volume":"6","author":"Peng","year":"2014","journal-title":"Anal. Methods"},{"key":"ref_50","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"436","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jelechem.2017.06.052","article-title":"Electrochemical sensor based on reduced graphene oxide\/carbon black\/chitosan composite for the simultaneous determination of dopamine and paracetamol concentrations in urine samples","volume":"799","author":"Baccarin","year":"2017","journal-title":"J. Electroanal. Chem."},{"key":"ref_51","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"126993","DOI":"10.1016\/j.snb.2019.126993","article-title":"A selective molecularly imprinted electrochemical sensor with GO@ COF signal amplification for the simultaneous determination of sulfadiazine and acetaminophen","volume":"300","author":"Sun","year":"2019","journal-title":"Sens. Actuators B Chem."},{"key":"ref_52","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"252","DOI":"10.1016\/j.talanta.2015.06.020","article-title":"Fabrication of electrochemical sensor for paracetamol based on multi-walled carbon nanotubes and chitosan\u2013copper complex by self-assembly technique","volume":"144","author":"Mao","year":"2015","journal-title":"Talanta"},{"key":"ref_53","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"29","DOI":"10.1016\/j.synthmet.2019.04.009","article-title":"Multi walled carbon nanotubes supported CuO-Au hybrid nanocomposite for the effective application towards the electrochemical determination of acetaminophen and 4-aminophenol","volume":"252","author":"Shaikshavali","year":"2019","journal-title":"Synth. Met."},{"key":"ref_54","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"562","DOI":"10.1016\/j.snb.2019.01.069","article-title":"Lanthanum doped fern-like CuO nanoleaves\/MWCNTs modified glassy carbon electrode for simultaneous determination of tramadol and acetaminophen","volume":"285","author":"Foroughi","year":"2019","journal-title":"Sens. Actuators B Chem."},{"key":"ref_55","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"896","DOI":"10.1016\/j.snb.2017.07.127","article-title":"Electrochemical sensing of acetaminophen using multi-walled carbon nanotube and \u03b2-cyclodextrin","volume":"254","author":"Alam","year":"2018","journal-title":"Sens. Actuators B Chem."},{"key":"ref_56","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1019","DOI":"10.1016\/j.microc.2019.02.038","article-title":"Electrochemical sensor for acetaminophen based on a glassy carbon electrode modified with ZnO\/Au nanoparticles on functionalized multi-walled carbon nano-tubes","volume":"146","author":"Kenarkob","year":"2019","journal-title":"Microchem. J."}],"container-title":["Sensors"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1424-8220\/23\/1\/379\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,11]],"date-time":"2025-10-11T01:55:51Z","timestamp":1760147751000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1424-8220\/23\/1\/379"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2022,12,29]]},"references-count":56,"journal-issue":{"issue":"1","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,1]]}},"alternative-id":["s23010379"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/s23010379","relation":{},"ISSN":["1424-8220"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1424-8220","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2022,12,29]]}}}