Electrochemical Sensing of Propofol Using a Flexible Electrode Modified With Au@Co-Metal–Organic Framework

Propofol, an intravenous anesthetic, is widely used for general anesthesia and sedation during surgical procedures. It is necessary to detect the blood propofol concentration due to its rapid metabolism in the body. In this work, we develop a flexible electrochemical propofol sensor by integrating gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) with cobalt metal–organic frameworks (Co-MOF) on carbon cloth (CC). The sensor leverages the synergistic effects of CC's large surface area, Co-MOF's catalytic activity, and AuNPs' conductivity to achieve highly sensitive and selective detection of propofol. The experimental conditions for the propofol sensor, including AuNP deposition time and pH, were systematically optimized, yielding a broad linear detection range of 0.159~260 μM and an ultralow detection limit of 0.0522 μM. The propofol sensor also demonstrates excellent selectivity, reproducibility, and stability. The practical application of the sensor is validated through the analysis of human serum samples, indicating its potential clinical application.