Novel spindle-like polypyrrole hollow nanocapsules containing Pt nanoparticles (Pt NPs/PPy composite hollow nanospindles) were successfully prepared by using beta-akaganeite (beta-Fe3+O(OH,Cl)) nanospindles as templates and methanoic acid as a reducing agent. The beta-Fe3+O(OH,Cl) templates can be easily obtained in ethanol/water mixing solution in the presence of thiophene and FeCl3 center dot 6H(2)O, and after coating by PPy shell, they can be gradually and completely etched during the reduction of H2PtCl6 into Pt nanoparticles (Pt NPs) with the average size of 3.6 nm on spindle-like polypyrrole hollow nanocapsules, which could still keep their integrality of morphologies with the thickness of PPy shell of 18-20 nm. The investigation of Pt NPs/PPy composite hollow nanospindles modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) for the application to detect nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) with cyclic voltammetry (CV) and amperometry indicated good linearity and sensitivity of responses in the certain range of NADH concentration. The influence of Pt NPs content to the NADH oxidation current was also studied. This new kind of unique spindle-like noble metal/conducting polymer hollow nanostructured complex can be acted as a good steady electrode material for electrocatalytic oxidation of NADH. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.