Fabrication and Education of Multi-Purpose Nano Electrochemical Sensor to Detect Endocrine Disruptors (Bisphenol Compounds) and Glucose in Navajo Nation

Specific Goal 1: Chemically and electrochemically synthesize, functionalize nanomaterials such as functionalized graphene-based composite materials, and cost-effective nano metal oxide materials to electrochemically detect BP compounds in (phosphate buffer, pH 7.4) and glucose (in alkaline pH conditions).Specific Goal 2: Utilize proper metrology and appropriate electrochemical techniques to complete the characterization studies of synthesized nanomaterials. Modify traditional electrodes with synthesized nanomaterials for the electroanalytical studies to develop the electrochemical sensors to sense BP compounds and glucose.Specific Goal 3: Detailed studies on interfering compounds and real sample analysis (artificial serum for glucose) to prove the selectivity of these nanomaterials to sense BP compounds, and glucose.Specific Goal 4: Utilize selected nanomaterials to fabricate the electrodes for the sensing applications. Need to find and characterize suitable substrates to fabricate flexible electrodes.Specific Goal 5: Train undergraduate students in school of science at Navajo Technical University to study electrochemistry, electroanalytical chemistry research and involve them in fabricating electrode materials for sensing applications. Collaborate with local Navajo communities (campus and outside chapter house activities) to increase the awareness of contamination of BP compounds in regular life, and the awareness of diabetes mellitus to monitor glucose level.Specific Goal 6: Get the support and training from the PI group from ASU to educate Navajo Students to handle HPLC, GC-MS techniques to detect and determine BP and glucose compounds at the lab scale. This support will clearly help to compare the electroanalytical results with analytical techniques, respectively.