In Situ Growth of Metal–Organic Framework HKUST-1 on Graphene Oxide Nanoribbons with High Electrochemical Sensing Performance in Imatinib Determination

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have been previously investigated as electrode materials for developing electrochemical sensors. They have usually been reported to suffer from poor conductivity and improvement in the conductivity of MOFs is still a great challenge. Here, we reported the fabrication of an electrochemical sensor based on the in situ growth of framework HKUST-1 on conductive graphene oxide nanoribbons (GONRs)-modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) (HKUST-1/GONRs/GCE). The as-fabricated modified electrode was characterized using field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution TEM, Fourier transform infrared, X-ray diffraction, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and Raman spectroscopy. The voltammetric response of HKUST-1/GONRs/GCE toward Imatinib (IMA), as an anticancer drug, is dramatically higher than HKUST-1/GCE because of the synergic effect of the GONRs and HKUST-1 framework. The calibration curve at the HKUST-1/GONRs/GCE for IMA covered two linear dynamic ranges, 0.04–1.0 and 1.0–80 μmol L–1, with a detection limit of 0.006 μmol L–1 (6 nmol L–1). Taking advantage of the conductivity of GONRs and large surface area of HKUST-1, a sensitive modified electrode was developed for the electrochemical determination of IMA. The present method provides an effective strategy to solve the poor conductivity of the MOFs. Finally, the obtained electrochemical performance made this modified electrode promising in the determination of IMA in urine and serum samples.