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 Prof. Priscilla Baker

Position: Head of Department & Senior Professor (Analytical Electrochemistry)
Department: Department of Chemistry
Faculty: Faculty of Natural Science
Qualifications: BSc (UCT); BSc. Honours (UWC); MSc (UWC); PhD UCT
Tel: 021 959 3051
Fax: 021 959 3055
Email: pbaker@uwc.ac.za
Research:
 
 
 
 

Biography

 Prof Baker is co-leader of SensorLab, an electrochemistry research platform in Chemistry department, which focuses on fundamental and applied electrodynamics of materials and sensors. Her specialisation is in the application of frequency modulated electrochemical  techniques, notably electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, to the design and evaluation of electrochemical smart materials. These smart materials include polymeric derivatives such as polysulfone hydrogel materials which may serve as donor materials in organic fuel cells and as membrane materials for water treatment (Water Research Commission). Novel polyamic aicd composites have been designed and applied in the design of immunosensor platforms for mycotoxins in fish species and water analysis.  Most recent research exploration include the design and evaluation of novel electroactive actuator systems (thin films and freestanding) for selected atmospheric monitoring applications. Prof Baker’s research emphasis has shifted to coupled electrochemical techniques in order to exploit the advantages of electrochemistry coupled to the benefits of spectroscopic (SNFTIR, Raman) and microscopic (SEM, AFM) evaluation of transitional states within the overall redox process.  Prof Baker is  involved in research collaboration with researchers in US, Germany and France, which facilitate effective student exchange opportunities.  She is also active member of two FP7 research consortia viz. European network for artificial muscles (ESNAM) and the Marie Curie International staff exchange scheme (IRSES).

Publications

PUBLICATIONS IN PEER REVIEWED JOURNALS:

  •  Y von Schirnding , A Matthee, P Robertson*, N Strauss, M Kibel .   Distribution of bloo​​d lead levels in schoolchildren in selected Cape Peninsula suburbs, subsequent to reduction in petrol lead; South African Medical Journal, Volume 91(10), October 2001.

  •  Y von Schirnding , N Strauss , A Matthee, P Robertson*, P Blignaut   Sunscreen use and environmental awareness among beach goers in Cape Town, South Africa.  Public Health Reviews, Volume 19 (1-4), 1991-1992.

  •  PG Baker, EG Brunke, F Slemr, AM Crouch.   Atmospheric mercury measurements at Cape Point, South Africa: Atmospheric Environment ,(36), 2002, p2549-2465.

  •  PGL Baker, AM Crouch , R S Sanderson, W.J. Przybylowicz, C.C. Theron.

  • Characterisation of mixed metal tin oxide thin films for application as electrocatalysts.  National Accelerator Centre, Annual Report, March 2001.

  •  Removal of Organic components and bacteria from Water by Electrochemical Combustion.  Cronje M, Baker PGL, Knoetze J H, Sanderson R D, Crouch A M.  WRC report no. 1196/1/05, p125.

  • Chemical synthesis and morphology of ß naphthalene sulfonic acid-doped polypyrrole micro/nanotubes.   Richard Akinyeye, Mantoa Sekota, Priscilla GL Baker and Emmanuel Iwuoha.    Fullerenes, Nanotubes and Carbon Nanostructures Volume 14 (1) (2006).

  • Polyaniline-mercaptobenzothiazole biosensor for organophosphate and carbamate pesticides. V.S. Somerset, M.J. Klink, M.M.C. Sekota, P.G.L. Baker and E.I. Iwuoha. Analytical Letters, 39: (1683-1698), 2006.

  • Electrochemical Interrogation and Sensor applications of Nanostructured Polypyrroles. Richard Akinyeye, Immaculate Michira, Mantoa Sekota, Amir Al-Ahmed, Priscilla Baker and Emmanuel Iwuoha Electroanalysis 18(24) 2006, 2441 – 2450.

  • Electrochemical and Spectroscopic Properties of Fly Ash-Polyaniline Matrix Nanorod Composites.    S.E. Mavundla, V.S. Somerset, L.F. Petrik, M.J. Klink, P. Baker and E. Iwuoha.  Microchim Acta 155, 453–458 (2006)

  • Electrochemical synthesis and characterization of 1,2-Naphthaquinone-4-sulfonic acid doped polypyrrole. RO Akinyeye, I Michira, M Sekota, A Al Ahmed, R Khan, PGL Baker, D Tito, CMA Brett, M Kalaji and E Iwuoha. Electroanalysis 19(2-3) 2007, 303-309.

  • Acetylcholinesterase-polyaniline biosensor investigation of organophosphate pesticides in selected organic solvents. Vernon S. Somerset, Michael J Klink, Priscilla G. L. Baker and Emmanuel I. Iwuoha. Journal of Environmental Science and Health Part B (2007) 42, 297–304.

  • PGL Baker, RD Sanderson, AM Crouch.   Preparation and characterization of mixed metal tin oxide thin film electrodes. Thin Solid Films 515 (2007) 6691–6697.

  • Emmanuel Iwuoha, Rachel Ngece, Michael Klink and Priscilla Baker. Amperometric responses of CYP2D6 drug metabolism nanobiosensor for sertraline - a selective serotinin reuptake inhibitor. IET Nanobiotechnology, 1 (4), 2007, p62-67.

  • Joseph H. O. Owino, Anna Ignaszak, A. Al-Ahmed, Priscilla G.L. Baker, Hailemichael Alemu, Jane Catherine Ngila, Emmanuel I. Iwuoha. Modeling of the impedimetric responses of aflatoxin B1 immunosensor prepared on eletrosynthetic polyaniline platform.  Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry 388 (2007) 1069-1074.

  •  V. Somerset, M. Klink, R. Akinyeye, I. Michira, M. Sekota, A. Al-Ahmed,P. Baker, E. Iwuoha.     Spectroelectrochemical Reactivities of Novel Polyaniline Nanotube Pesticide Biosensors.  Macromol. Symp. 2007, 255, 36–49.

  •  I Michira, R. Akinyeye, V. Somerset, M. J. Klink, M. Sekota, A. Al-Ahmed, P. G. L. Baker,E. Iwuoha. Synthesis, Characterisation of Novel Polyaniline Nanomaterials and Application in Amperometric Biosensors. Macromol. Symposia (2007) 255: 57–69.

  • Omotayo A. Arotiba, Anna Ignaszak, Rehana Malgas, Amir Al-Ahmed, Priscilla G.L. Baker, Selwyn F. Mapolie and Emmanuel I. Iwuoha.   An electrochemical DNA biosensor developed on novel multinuclear nickel(II) salicylaldimine metallodendrimer platform.  Electrochimica Acta, 53 (4), 2007, 1689-1696.

  • Jasmina Martinovic, Ana-Maria Chiorcea-Paquim, Victor Constantin Diculescu, Juanita Van Wyk, Emmanuel Iwuoha, Priscilla Baker, Selwyn Mapolie, and Ana-Maria Oliveira-Brett. Metallo-functionalized first-generation salicylaldimine poly(propylenimine) tetraamine dendrimers: electrochemical study and atomic force microscopy imaging.   Electrochimica Acta 53, 4907-4919, 2008.

  •  Joseph HO Owino, Omotayo A Arotiba, Priscilla GL Baker, Anthony Guiseppi-Elie, Emmanuel I Iwuoha. Synthesis and characterization of poly (2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate)-polyaniline based hydrogel composites. Reactive and Functional Polymers; 68 (2008) 1239-1244.

  • Omotayo Arotiba, Joseph Owino, Nicollette Hendricks, Tesfaye Waryo, Nazeem Jahed, Priscilla Baker, Emmanuel I. Iwuoha. An electrochemical DNA biosensor developed on a nanocomposite platform of gold and poly(propylene imine) dendrimer. Sensors 2008, 8, 6791-6809;

  • Nicolette R Hendricks,  Tesfaye T Waryo,  Omotayo A Arotiba,  Nazeem Jahed,  Priscilla G Baker,  Emmanuel Iheanyichukwu Iwuoha. Microsomal cytochrome P450-3A4 (CYP3A4) nanobiosensor for the determination of 2,4-dichlorophenol - an endocrine disruptor compound. Electrochimica Acta 54, 2009, 1925-1931.

  • Joseph H.O. Owino, Omotayo A. Arotiba, Nicolette Hendricks, Everlyne A. Songa, Nazeem Jahed, Tesfaye T. Waryo, Rachel F. Ngece, Priscilla G .L. Baker and Emmanuel I. Iwuoha Electrochemical Immunosensor Based on Polythionine/Gold Nanoparticles for the Determination of Aflatoxin B1. Sensors 2008, 8, 8262-8274.

  • Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Nanophase Hexagonal Poly(2,5-imethoxyaniline). Sipho E. Mavundla,  Gerald F. Malgas, Priscilla Baker, Emmanuel. I. Iwuoha. Electroanalysis 20 (21) 2008, p2347 – 2353.

  • Everlyne A. Songa, Tesfaye Waryo, Nazeem Jahed, Priscilla G. L. Baker,  Emmanuel I. Iwuoha.  Electrochemical Nanobiosensor for Glyphosate Herbicide and Its Metabolite. Electroanalysis, 21(3-5) 2009, p 671-674)

  • Amperometric nanobiosensor for quantitative determination of glyphosate and glufosinate residues in corn samples. Everlyne A. Songa, Vernon S. Somerset, Tesfaye Waryo, Priscilla G. L. Baker, and Emmanuel I. Iwuoha. Pure Appl. Chem., Vol. 81, No. 1, pp. 123–139, 2009. Amperometric hydrogen peroxide sensors with multivalent metal oxide modified electrodes for biomedical analysis. T Waryo, Pkotzian, S Begic, P Bradizlova, N Beyene, P Baker, B Kgarebe, E Turkusic, E Iwuoha, K Vytras, K Kalcher. ICBME 2008 Proceedings 23 pp829-833, 2009.

  • Polyester Sulphonic Acid Interstitial Nanocomposite Platform for Peroxide Biosensor.   Amir Al-Ahmed , Peter M. Ndangili , Nazeem Jahed , Priscilla G. L. Baker and Emmanuel I. Iwuoha. Sensors 2009, 9(12), 9965-9976;

  • Electroanalytical Determination of Catechin Flavonoid in Ethyl Acetate Extracts of Medicinal Plants.   Manki S Maoela, Omotayo A. Arotiba*, Priscilla G.L. Baker, Wilfred T Mabusela, Nazeem Jahed, Everlyne A. Songa, Emmanuel I. Iwuoha.    Int. J. Electrochem. Sci., 4 (2009) 1497 – 1510

  • Ferrocenium hexafluorophosphate-induced nanofibrillarity of polyaniline–polyvinyl sulfonate electropolymer and application in an amperometric enzyme biosensor. Peter M. Ndangili, Tesfaye T. Waryo, Munkombwe Muchindu, Priscilla G.L. Baker, Catherine J. Ngila, Emmanuel I. Iwuoha.  Electrochimica Acta; 55(14) 2010, p4267-4273.

  • Electrochemical impedimetry of electro-deposited  poly(propylene imine) dendrimer monolayer, Omotayo Arotiba, PhD; Joseph Owino, PhD; Priscilla Baker, PhD; Emmanuel Iwuoha, PhD, Journal of Electroanalytical Chemistry.  638(2) 2010, p287-292.

  • A Potential masking approach in the detection of dopamine on 3-mercaptopropionic acid capped ZnSe quantum dots modified gold electrode in the presence of interferences.   Peter M Ndagili, Omotayo Arotiba, Priscilla G Baker, Emmanuel I Iwuoha.  Journal of Electroanalytical Chemistry 643 (2010) 77-81.

  • Development of a tyrosinase biosensor on a novel Polyaniline-Polyvinyl Sulphonate Composite Film modified Boron-Doped Diamond (BDD) electrode.  Zelo Mangombo, Priscilla Baker, Emmanuel Iwuoha, David Key. Microchimica Acta  Vol 170 (3-4),  267-273, May 2010.

  • Rasaq A. Olowu, Omotayo Arotiba, Stephen N. Mailu, Tesfaye T. Waryo, Priscilla Baker, Emmanuel Iwuoha. Electrochemical Aptasensor for Endocrine Disrupting 17β-Estradiol Based on a Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxylthiopene)-Gold Nanocomposite Platform. Sensors 10 (2010) 9872-9890.

  • Stephen N. Mailu, Tesfaye Waryo, Peter M. Ndangili, Fanelwa R. Ngece, Abd A. Baleg, Priscilla G. Baker, Emmanuel I. Iwuoha, Determination of Anthracene on Ag-Au Alloy Nanoparticles/Overoxidized-Polypyrrole Composite Modified Glassy Carbon electrodes. Sensors 10 (2010) 9449-9465.

  •  Vivian D. van Wyk, Priscilla, G.L. Baker, Tesfaye Waryo, Emmanuel I. Iwuoha, Electrochemical evaluation of a novel BDD material for application as potential electrochemical capacitor material. Analytical letters 44(11), 2011, 2005-2018

  • Overoxidized polypyrrole incorporated with Gold nanoparticles as platform for impedimetric anti-transglutaminase immunosensor. Natasha. West, Priscilla Baker, Omotayo Arotiba, Nicolete Hendricks, Abd A Baleg. Tesfaye Waryo, Fanelwa R. Ngece, Emmanuel I. Iwuoha. Analytical letters 44(11), 2011, 1956-1966.

  • Synthesis and characterization of poly(propylene imine) dendrimer – Polypyrrole conducting star copolymer Abd Almonam A. Baleg, Nazeem M. Jahed, Omotayo A. Arotiba, Stephen N. Mailu, Nicolette R. Hendricks, Priscilla G. Baker , Emmanuel I. Iwuoha. Journal of Electroanalytical Chemistry 652 (2011) 18–25

  • Jasmina Martinovic, Juanita Van Wyk, Selwyn Mapolie, Nazim Jahed, Priscilla Baker, Emmanuel Iwuoha. Electrochemical and spectroscopic properties of dendritic cobalto-salicylaldiimine DNA biosensor. Electrochimica Acta 55 (2010) 4296-4302.

  • Michael Klink, Richard Akinyeye, Vernon Somerset, Mantoa Sekota, Priscilla Baker, Emmanuel Iwuoha. Electrochemical and spectroscopic dynamics of nanostructured polynuclear sulphonic acid-doped poly(2, 5-dimethoxyaniline). In A. Al-Ahmed (Ed). Current Application of Polymer and Nano Materials. Materials Science Forum 657 (2010) 231-248.

  • Munkombwe Muchindu, Tesfaye Waryo, Omotayo Arotiba, Ewa Kazimierska, Aoife Morrin, Anthony J. Killard, Malcolm R. Smyth, Nazeem Jahed, Boitumelo Kgarebe, Priscilla G.L. Baker, Emmanuel I. Iwuoha. Electrochemical nitrite nanosensor developed with amine- and sulphate-functionalised polystyrene latex beads self-assembled on polyaniline. Electrochimica Acta 55 (2010) 4274-4280.

  • Omotayo A. Arotiba, Joseph H. Owino, Priscilla G. Baker, Emmanuel I. Iwuoha. Electrochemical impedimetry of electrodeposited poly(propylene imine) dendrimer monolayer. Journal of Electroanalytical Chemistry 638 (2010) 287-292.

  • Milua Masikini, Tesfaye T Waryo, Lundi Ngqongwa, Priscilla G Baker, Emmanuel I Iwuoha. Hydroxy-iron/β-cyclodextrin-film amperometric sensor for the endocrine disruptors substance Bisphenol A in aqueous medium with reduced fouling effects. Analytical letters 44(11), 2011, 2047-2060.

  • Munkombwe Muchindu, Emmanuel Iwuoha, Edmund Pool, Natasha West, Nazeem Jahed, Priscilla Baker, Tesfaye Waryo, Avril Williams. Electrochemical ochratoxin A immunosensor system developed on sulphonated polyaniline. Electroanalysis 23(1)2011,122-128.

  • 3-Mercaptopropionic acid capped ZnSe quantum dot-cytochrome P450 3A4 enzyme biotransducer for 17b-estradiol. Peter M. Ndangili, Abongile M. Jijana, Priscilla G.L. Baker, Emmanuel I. Iwuoha. Journal of Electroanalytical Chemistry, 653 (1-2), 2011,  67-74

  • Faiza J. Iftikhar, Priscilla G.L Baker, Abdul M. Baleg, Peter M. Ndangili, Stephen N. Mailu, Emmanuel I.Iwuoha (2011) Modulation of the interfacial electrochemistry of surfactant-functionalised polypyrrole chemical sensor systems, Electrochimica Acta, 56 (14) 2011, 5214-5221.

  • Peter M. Ndangili, Abongile N. Jijana, Rasaq A. Olowu, Stephen N. Mailu, Fanelwa R. Ngece, Avril Williams, Tesfaye T. Waryo, Priscilla G.L. Baker, Emmanuel I. Iwuoha. Impedimetric Response of a Label-Free Genosensor Prepared on a 3-Mercaptopropionic Acid Capped Gallium Selenide Nanocrystal Modified Gold Electrode, International Journal of Electrochemical Science, 6, 2011, 1438 – 1453.

  • Rachel F Ngece, Natasha West, Peter M Ndangili, Rasaq A Olowu, Avril Williams, Nicolette Hendricks, Stephen Mailu, Priscilla Baker, Emmanuel Iwuoha. A silver Nanoparticle/Poly (8-Anilino-1-Naphthalene Sulphonic Acid) Bioelectrochemical Biosensor System for the Analytical Determination of Ethambutol,, International Journal of Electrochemical Science, 6, 2011,1820-1834.

  • Rasaq A Olowu, Avril Williams, Peter M Ndangili, Rachel F Ngece, Stephen N. Mailu, Priscilla Baker, Emmanuel Iwuoha. Impedimetry and microscopy of electrosynthetic poly(propylene thiophenoimine)-co-poly(3,4 ethylene dioxythiophene) dendritic star copolymer, International Journal of Electrochemical Science, 6 (6), 2011, 1855-1870.

  •  Xolile Fuku, Faiza Iftikar, Euodia Hess, Emmanuel Iwuoha, Priscilla Baker. Cytochrome c biosensor for determination of trace levels of cyanide and arsenic compounds. Analytica Chimica Acta, Volume 730, 12 June 2012, Pages 49–59.

  • Metal Nanoparticle Modified Polysulfone Membranes for Use in Wastewater Treatment: A Critical Review Heidi Lynn Richards, Priscilla G. L. Baker, Emmanuel Iwuoha. Journal of Surface Engineered Materials and Advanced Technology, Volume  2 (3A), July 2012, p183-193.

 

 

 

 

Chapters in books:

  • Electrocatalytic sensor applications of nanostructured polypyrroles and polythiophenes. Richard Akinyeye, Immaculate Michira, Shanielle Botha, Priscilla Baker and Emmanuel Iwuoha.  Recent Advances in Analytical Electrochemistry, 2007: 99-136 ISBN: 978-81-7895-274-1. Chapter 4, Edited by: Kenneth I. Ozoemena

 

  • Anthracene Sulfonic Acid-Doped Polyanilines: Electrodynamics and Application as Amperometric Peroxide Biosensor.  Immaculate N. Michira, M. Klink, R. O.  Akinyeye, V. Somerset, M. Sekota, A. Al-Ahmed, P. G. L Baker, Emmanuel I. Iwuoha.  Recent Advances in Analytical Electrochemistry, 2007: 137-166 ISBN: 978-81-7895-274-1. Chapter 5, Edited  by: Kenneth I. Ozoemena

 

  •  Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy of transition metal doped tin oxide thin film materials as potential oxidative catalysts.  PGL Baker, AM Crouch, RD Sanderson.  . Recent Advances in Analytical Electrochemistry, 2007: 279-307 ISBN: 978-81-7895-274-1. Chapter 10, Edited  by: Kenneth I. Ozoemena.

 

  • Amperometric Sensors: Emmanuel Iheanyichukwu Iwuoha, Amir Al-Ahmed, Mantoa Sekota, Tesfaye Waryo, Priscilla Baker.  Encyclopedia of Supramolecular Chemistry , p1-18, Taylor & Francis (2007).

 

  • “Sensors and Sensor Technology” Special issue Electrochimica Acta  55 (14) 30 May 2010.  Proceedings from 1st International symposium on Electrochemistry, 9-11 July 2008, Bellville, South Africa. PGL Baker (conference chairperson and special issue Guest Editor). 

 

  •  Vernon Somerset, Priscilla Baker, Emmanuel Iwuoha. Mercaptobenzothiazole-on-Gold Organic Phase Biosensor Systems:  Thick-Film Biosensors for Organophosphate and Carbamate Pesticide Determination. In V.S. Somerset (Ed.), Intelligent and Biosensors, INTECH, Croatia, 2010, Chapter 9, pp. 185-204.

 

  •  Rachel  Ngece, Nicolette Hendricks, Natasha West, Peter Ndangili, Abngile Jijana, Stephen Mailu, Tesfaye Waryo, Priscilla Baker, Emmanuel Iwuoha.  A silver nanoparticles-poly (8-anilino-1 naphthalene sulphonic acid) bioelectrochemical sensor system for the determination of etham butol. Biomedical applications of nanostructured material, 263-268 (2010) Macmillan Publishers India Limited. Edited by V Rajendran, BHillbrands, P Prabu and KE Geckeler.

 

  • N West, E Iwuoha, C O’Sullivan, P Baker, T Waryo, M Muchindu, A Williams, R Olowu, R Ngece and N Hendricks. Polymeric nanocomposite immunosensor for the biomarker of gluten intolerance autoimmune disorder.   Biomedical applications of nanostructured material, 269-274 (2010) Macmillan Publishers India Limited. Edited by V Rajendran, BHillbrands, P Prabu and KE Geckeler.

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Networks

 University of the Western Cape:
BSc 4 year programme curriculum advisory committee (2006/7)
Member of Senate (2007+)
Science Faculty Student Affairs committee (2008)
Science Faculty Safety representative (2009-2010
Senate advisory committee on technology transfer (2011+)
Senate International relations committee (2012+)
Leadership positions:
Co-leader: Sensor research laboratory, Chemistry department, UWC, 2004-
Chairperson: Electrochemical division of SACI (ElectrochemSA), 2007+
Council member: South African Chemical Institute (2007+)
Deputy HOD: Chemistry department (2011-)
Journal Reviewer: Analytica Chimica Acta ; Journal of Applied Chemistry, Sensors,
Biosensors Bioelectronics; Talanta; Electrochimica Acta and others
Guest editor:  (i) Electrochimica Acta special issue “Sensors and Sensor
Technology”; Electrochimica Acta  55 (14), 30 May 2010
(ii) Analytical Letters, Volume 44 (11) June 2011

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