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Flavonoids are bioactive polyphenolic compounds, widespread in the plant kingdom. Flavonoids possess broad-spectrum pharmacological effects due to their antioxidant, anti-tumor, anti-neoplastic, anti-mutagenic, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, immunomodulatory, and vasodilatory properties. Care must be taken, since excessive consumption of flavonoids may have adverse effects. Therefore, proper identification, quantification and quality evaluations of flavonoids in edible samples are necessary. Electroanalytical approaches have gained much interest for the analysis of redox behavior and quantification of different flavonoids. Compared to various conventional methods, electrochemical techniques for the analysis of flavonoids offer advantages of high sensitivity, selectivity, low cost, simplicity, biocompatibility, easy on-site evaluation, high accuracy, reproducibility, wide linearity of detection, and low detection limits. This review article focuses on the developments in electrochemical sensing of different flavonoids with emphasis on electrode modification strategies to boost the electrocatalytic activity and analytical efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultrasensitive biosensors have become a necessity in the world of scientific research, and several signal enhancement strategies have been employed to attain exceptionally low detection limits. Nanotechnology turns out to be a strong contender for signal amplification, as they can be employed as platform modifiers, catalysts, carriers or labels. Here, we have described the most recent advancements in the utilization of nanomaterials as signal amplification components in aptamer-based electrochemical biosensors. We have briefly reviewed the methods that utilized nanomaterials, namely gold and carbon, as well as nanocomposites such as: graphene, carbon nanotubes, quantum dots, and metal-organic frameworks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review paper shows the progress made in the last five years in electrochemical methods applied for the purpose of detection and quantification of pesticides - nowadays the most serious pollutants of the environment. Most pesticides can be successfully analyzed by chromatographic techniques, but because of high prices and immobility of the apparatus, the complexity of the method and the necessary special preparation of the sample s, electrochemical methods have been recognized as an excellent alternative solution due to their advantages in speed, economy, simplicity and no exhaustive sample preparation. As the main limitation for use of this methods is electrochemical inactivity of many pesticides, this paper gives the essence of all elctroanalytical methods for pesticide quantification applied in last period, with an overview of the electrode materials and modifiers applied in a purpose to enhance analytical procedures application and characteristics of electrochemical sensors.

Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) and carbon dots (CDs) are among the latest research frontiers in carbon-based nanomaterials. They provide interesting attributes to current electrochemical biosensing due to their intrinsic low toxicity, high solubility in many solvents, excellent electronic properties, robust chemical inertness, large specific surface area, abundant edge sites for functionalization, great biocompatibility, low cost, and versatility, as well as their ability for modification with attractive surface chemistries and other modifiers/nanomaterials. In this review article, the use of GQDs and CDs as signal tags or electrode surface modifiers to develop electrochemical biosensing strategies is critically discussed through the consideration of representative approaches reported in the last five years. The advantages and disadvantages arising from the use of GQDs and CDs in this context are outlined together with the still required work to fulfil the characteristics needed to achieve suitable electrochemical enzymatic and affinity biosensors with applications in the real world.

Lithium-ion batteries are one of the most common forms of energy storage devices used in society today. Due to the inherent limitations of conventional Li-ion batteries, organic materials have surfaced as potentially suitable electrode alternatives with improved performance and sustainability. Viologens and phosphaviologens in particular, are strong electron-accepting materials with excellent kinetic properties, making them suitable candidates for battery applications. In this paper, new polymeric species of the latter moieties are reported that lead to improved electrode stability and device performance. The performance of the phosphaviologen is further enhanced through the utilization of both redox steps, allowing for good performance proof-of-concept hybrid organic/Li-ion batteries. This opens the potential for more sustainable and improved battery performance for use in current energy applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) and carbon dots (CDs) are among the latest research frontiers in carbon-based nanomaterials. They provide interesting attributes to current electrochemical biosensing due to their intrinsic low toxicity, high solubility in many solvents, excellent electronic properties, robust chemical inertness, large specific surface area, abundant edge sites for functionalization, great biocompatibility, low cost, and versatility, as well as their ability for modification with attractive surface chemistries and other modifiers/nanomaterials. In this review article, the use of GQDs and CDs as signal tags or electrode surface modifiers to develop electrochemical biosensing strategies is critically discussed through the consideration of representative approaches reported in the last five years. The advantages and disadvantages arising from the use of GQDs and CDs in this context are outlined together with the still required work to fulfil the characteristics needed to achieve suitable electrochemical enzymatic and affinity biosensors with applications in the real world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]