Production of activated carbon nanofibers using natural catalysts and their use in miRNA biosensors

In recent years of researches, sciences and technologies have been focused on the nanoscale for enhancing the properties and efficiency of materials. Nanotechnology investigates the production, manipulation and analysis of materials in the molecular scale. The nanomaterials are known for their large surface area that promote a wider active zone for modification, control and improvement of the conceived surface structures. Electrochemical biosensors are one of the widely used detection technique for the investigation of biomolecules. The efficiency of theses biosensors and their selectivity depends mostly on the surface characteristics of working electrodes. Enhancing the quality of the electrode's surface led to a better immobilization and enhance the hybridization process, for this reason many materials were used and carbon nanofibers shows high performances and flexibility with ease of use which made researchers focused on its development. PAN is the most common polymer used as electrospun carbon nanofiber precursor In the light of the plethora of researches converged on the nanomaterial's applications, the present study focused on combining the properties of natural catalyst as Lawsone and Hemoglobin in different amounts for the production of an activated carbon nanofibers by electrospinning methods. The obtained carbonized nanofibers and their graphitic properties were electrochemically investigated to enhance the sensitivity of the biosensory system, and the amelioration of the selectivity detection of miRNA molecules. A study of the optimization of the electrochemical measurements was also investigated to determine the efficient temperature, storage time and concentrations in the electrochemical measurements. The electrochemical measurements result for both Lawsone and Hemoglobin enriched CNFs investigations validates the efficiency of the miRNA molecules employing CNFs for a biosensing apparatus using SPEs with a low content of catalyst added (Leading to improve the level of catalysation observed in the carbonisation step). The conceived biosensory configuration can be safely used for a detection of specific RNA molecules.