# Selenide-based electrocatalytic sensors for sensitive peroxynitrite detection in biological media: a bottom-up approach for functional interface design

> **NIH NIH R15** · CLEVELAND STATE UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $447,128

## Abstract

Project Summary:
 Background and Challenge: Peroxynitrite (OONO-) emerged as a potent cytotoxic compound and
has been implicated in a host of pathophysiological conditions. Peroxynitrite is the primary product of the
in vivo reaction of nitric oxide and superoxide anion-radical. The multifaceted physiologic reactions of this
compound are directly implicated in a number of pathologies including cardiovascular disease, immune
response, chronic inflammation, and sepsis, to cite a few. According to recent statistics by the American
Heart Association, just cardiovascular disease alone claims about 7 deaths every 4 minutes. On the other
hand, sepsis affects 1.7 million adults in the United States each year and potentially contributes to more
than 250,000 deaths. Just these two statistics are staggering and make the footprint of this deadly
biological analyte an important priority. The common thread that links peroxynitrite to all cited pathologies
is its potent reactivity toward most cellular components including DNA, proteins, and lipids in cell
membranes. Substantial oxidations and other transformations of proteins, DNA, and lipids contribute to
the disruption of key cellular functions.
 Assessing peroxynitrite’s deleterious effects and examining hypotheses of its potential signaling roles
cannot be achieved without first accurately measuring and monitoring its concentration. This task is
however inherently difficult due to low submicromolar concentrations under physiologic conditions coupled
with its high reactivity. Sensitive and accurate measurement of peroxynitrite is crucial in order to shed light
on the illusive pathophysiologic roles of this metabolite. Some of the known detection methods for
peroxynitrite include oxidation of fluorescent probes, EPR spectroscopy, chemiluminescence,
immunohistochemistry, and probe nitration; however, these are more difficult to apply for real-time
quantification due to their inherent complexity. The electrochemical detection of peroxynitrite is a simpler
and more convenient technique for application in biological settings. However, a systematic development
of the right electrode interface that enhances the sensitivity and selectivity for this molecule is lacking.
Recently, several synthetic organic selenides have been prepared as antioxidants in medicinal chemistry.
Electrochemical data in our hands showed that some organoselenium compounds have specific redox
activity with peroxynitrite in solution. For these reasons, we believe that an electrode interface decorated
with organoselenides attached to the surface will potentially serve as catalytic entities for mediated PON
electrocatalytic determination.
 Our proposal: In this work, we propose to develop a functional thin film material based on defined
organic selenides chemically attached on graphite electrodes and use this interface in sensitive
electrochemical determination of peroxynitrite. This bottom-up interface design approach is innovative
because it a...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10203223
- **Project number:** 1R15GM140405-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** CLEVELAND STATE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** MEKKI BAYACHOU
- **Activity code:** R15 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $447,128
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-09-01 → 2025-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10203223

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10203223, Selenide-based electrocatalytic sensors for sensitive peroxynitrite detection in biological media: a bottom-up approach for functional interface design (1R15GM140405-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-28 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10203223. Licensed CC0.

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