Determination of nitrite based on mediated oxidation at a carbon paste electrode modified with a ruthenium polymer

The use of carbon paste electrodes modified with [Ru(bpy)(2)(PVP)(10)Cl]Cl for the mediated detection of nitrite is described. This surface modifier substantially lowers the overpotential for nitrite oxidation, hence permitting its determination at a lower potential. Various electrode characteristics were optimized, including the modifier loading and the monitoring potential, using batch amperometry. Standard calibration curves yielded slopes of 0.30 microA/microM over the linear range 5 x 10(-8)-5 x 10(-4)M nitrite with a detection limit of 3 x 10(-8)M (1.38 ppb) nitrite. The modified electrode response was shown to be relatively stable over a period of 5 days with a signal diminution of 8%. Electrode-to-electrode precision was measured as 11.4%. Flow-injection studies indicated the suitability of this electrode as a detector in flowing streams.     

Covalent attachment of glucose oxidase to an Au electrode modified with gold nanoparticles for use as glucose biosensor

A feasible method to fabricate glucose biosensor was developed by covalent attachment of glucose oxidase (GOx) to a gold nanoparticle monolayer modified Au electrode. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) of ferrocyanide followed and confirmed the assemble process of biosensor, and indicated that the gold nanoparticles in the biosensing interface efficiently improved the electron transfer between analyte and electrode surface. CV performed in the presence of excess glucose and artificial redox mediator, ferrocenemethanol, allowed to quantify the surface concentration of electrically wired enzyme (Gamma(E)(0)) on the basis of kinetic models reported in literature. The Gamma(E)(0) on proposed electrode was high to 4.1 x 10(-12) mol.cm(-2), which was more than four times of that on electrode direct immobilization of enzyme by cystamine without intermediate layer of gold nanoparticles and 2.4 times of a saturated monolayer of GOx on electrode surface. The analytical performance of this biosensor was investigated by amperometry. The sensor provided a linear response to glucose over the concentration range of 2.0 x 10(-5)-5.7 x 10(-3) M with a sensitivity of 8.8 microA.mM(-1).cm(-2) and a detection limit of 8.2 microM. The apparent Michaelis-Menten constant (K(m)(app)) for the sensor was found to be 4.3 mM. In addition, the sensor has good reproducibility, and can remain stable over 30 days.     

Salicylate ion-selective electrode based on new tetranuclear copper complexes of O-vannlin-methionine as neutral carriers.

A new salicylate-selective PVC membrane electrode based on a new Schiff base tetranuclear copper complex of O-vannlin-methionine (Cu(II)(4)-TVM) as a neutral carrier is described. This electrode displays a preferential potentiometric response to salicylate and an anti-Hofmeister selectivity sequence in the following order: Sal(-) > ClO(4)(-) > SCN(-) > I(-) > NO(2)(-) > NO(3)(-) > Br(-) > Cl(-) > SO(3)(2-) > SO(4)(2-) > H(2)PO(4)(-). The electrode exhibits near-Nernstian potential linear range of 1.5 x 10(-6)-1.0 x 10(-1) M with a detection limit of 8.0 x 10(-7) M and a slope of -56.3 mV/decade in pH 3.0-8.0 of phosphorate buffer solution at 20 degrees C. Thanks to the tetranuclear copper(II) in the carrier, the electrode has the advantages of simplicity, fast response, fair stability and reproducibility and low detection limit. The response mechanism to the electrodes is discussed by the a.c. impedance technique and the UV spectroscopy technique. The electrode can be applied to analyses of medicine and the results obtained are in fair agreement with the results given by a standard method.     

Electrogenerated chemiluminescence for potentiometric sensors

We report here on a generic approach to read out potentiometric sensors with electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL). In a first example, a potassium ion-selective electrode acts as the reference electrode and is placed in contact with the sample solution. The working electrode of the three-electrode cell is responsible for ECL generation and placed in a detection solution containing tris(2,2'-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) [Ru(bpy)(3)(2+)] and the coreactant 2-(dibutylamino)ethanol (DBAE), physically separated from the sample by a bridge. Changes in the sample potassium concentration directly modulate the potential at the working electrode, and hence the ECL output, when a constant-potential pulse is applied between the two electrodes. A linear response of the ECL intensity to the logarithmic potassium concentration between 10 μm and 10 mM was found.     

A metallic cobalt electrode for the indirect potentiometric determination of calcium and magnesium in natural waters using flow injection analysis

A flow injection analysis of Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) using indirect potentiometric detection in natural waters is proposed, where Ca(2+) or Mg(2+) are injected into a buffer carrier containing phosphate, resulting in the formation of Ca(3)(PO(4))(2) or Mg(3)(PO(4))(2). The consequent reduction in free phosphate in the carrier solution is detected using a metallic cobalt wire electrode. Indirect electrode response was used and the experimental conditions affecting electrode response were optimized. Responses were linear in the concentration range 5x10(-4) to 5x10(-3) M with a detection limit of 1x10(-5) M in 20 mM phosphate buffer at pH 8.0. The relative standard derivation at 1 mM of Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) were 3.9 and 3.7% (n=10), respectively. EGTA and 8-hydroxyquinoline were used as the masking agents for Ca(2+) and Mg(2+), respectively. Concentrations of Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) in natural waters were successfully determined by the proposed method.     

A chloride ion nanosensor for time-resolved fluorimetry and fluorescence lifetime imaging

In this work, the first CdSe/ZnS quantum dot (QD) photoluminescence lifetime based chloride ion nanosensor is reported. The acridinium dication lucigenin was self-assembled on the surface of negatively charged mercaptopropionic acid capped QDs to achieve QD-lucigenin conjugates. Upon attachment, a drastic decrease of the photoluminescence lifetime of both QD nanoparticles and lucigenin is observed by virtue of a charge transfer mechanism. Since lucigenin is a chloride-sensitive indicator dye, the photoluminescence decay of QD-lucigenin conjugates changes by adding chloride ion. The photoluminescence lifetime of the QDs in the conjugate increases after reacting with Cl(-), but also shows a concomitant decrease in the lucigenin lifetime immobilized on the surface. The photoluminescence lifetime of QD-lucigenin nanosensors shows a linear response in the Cl(-) concentration range between 0.5 and 50 mM. Moreover, the ratio τ(ave)(QD)/τ(ave)(luc) can be used as an analytical signal since the lifetime ratio presents a linear response in the same Cl(-) concentration range. The system also shows good selectivity towards most of the main anions and molecules that can be found in biological fluids. These nanosensors have been satisfactorily applied for Cl(-) determination in simulated intracellular media with high sensitivity and high selectivity. Finally, we demonstrate the potential application of the proposed nanosensor in confocal fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM). These results show the promising application of the QD-lucigenin nanosensors in FLIM, particularly for intracellular sensing, with the invaluable advantages of the time-resolved fluorescence techniques.     

Amperometric monitoring of lactate accumulation in rabbit ischemic myocardium

Fabrication and characterization of miniature, flexible, planar biosensors for monitoring l-lactate accumulation in an ischemic myocardium are described. Three configurations of Au-based electrodes were fabricated by a photolithographic technique on flexible polyimide Kapton((R)) foil. All sensors are based on an immobilized lactate oxidase with amperometric detection of the enzymatically produced hydrogen peroxide at a platinum-electroplated-gold base electrode polarized at 0.5 V versus Ag/AgCl. An inner electropolymeric layer is used to prevent electrode fouling and to reject the interference effects of easily oxidizable molecules. In addition, a diffusion controlling outer layer that greatly enhances the linear dynamic range of the sensor, is obtained by casting a polyurethane external film. The developed sensor was evaluated in vitro and proved to have high selectivity, good operational stability, good accuracy and precision (average recovery = 102.3 +/- 0.4% for control sera), fast response time (t(95) = 20 s) and high upper limit of the linear dynamic range (25-80 mM, with sensitivity of 1.7-0.4 nA mM(-1) respectively at PO(2) = 15 mmHg). Subsequently, the sensor was brought into direct contact with the surface of the rabbit papillary muscle and used for continuous quantitative monitoring of extracellular lactate accumulation during no-flow ischemia.     

Growth inhibition in animal cell culture

Eight independent cell lines accumulated ammonia in culture to concentrations between 1.3 and 2.9 mM. The growth inhibition of such concentrations of ammonium chloride when added to culture medium was variable. The cell lines tested could be divided into 3 groups depending on their growth response to 2 mM added NH4Cl. In the first group (293, HDF, Vero, and PQXB1/2) little (less than 14%) or no growth inhibition occurred. In the second group (McCoy and MDCK) a reduction in final cell yield of 50-60% was observed. The third group (HeLa and BHK) was most sensitive to the effects of NH4Cl with growth inhibition (greater than 75%) compared to controls. The growth inhibitory effect of added lactate up to 20 mM was negligible (less than 10%) for 3 cell lines, although one cell line (PQXB1/2) showed greater sensitivity. The interactive effects of ammonia and lactate were determined in a matrix experiment. At lactate (greater than 12 mM) and ammonia (1-4 mM), the growth inhibitory effects of the two components were synergistic. However, at low concentrations of lactate (less than 12 mM) the toxic effect of ammonia was reduced. A proposed mechanism for the sparing effect of lactate on ammonia toxicity is discussed. This may have importance in developing strategies for the optimal growth of ammonia-sensitive cell lines.     

Gamma-irradiation immobilization of lactate oxidase in poly(vinyl alcohol) on platinized graphite electrodes

A novel method for enzyme immobilization in a polymer matrix was examined with lactate oxidase (LOD) to make a sensor for lactate. Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVAL) and LOD were applied in layers on platinized graphite electrodes and cross-linked by exposure to a ⁶⁰Co gamma radiation source. When the sensor is dipped in lactate solution, the product of the enzymatic reaction, hydrogen peroxide, is detected at +300 mV vs. Ag/AgCl. The LOD-PVAL lactate sensor exhibits a fast response (10–50 s), a linear range between 26 μM and 1.7 mM, a detection limit of 13 μM and a sensitivity of 2.94 μA mmol^?1. The sensitivity and the linearity of the electrode were improved considerably by bubbling oxygen continuously through the lactate solution. Optimum response to lactate was obtained with a radiation dose of 3–10 Mrad. LOD was found to be active in the presence of the polymer under radiation doses as high as 40 Mrad. Repeated use of the sensors under various conditions showed a stable and reproducible response to lactate for over 80 days.     

Os(bpy)2(PVP)10Cl]Cl polymer and Nafion dual-film modified graphite electrode for the amperometric determination of trace amounts of norepinephrine.

A chemically modified graphite electrode was prepared by using a dual film of [Os(bpy)2(PVP)10Cl]Cl polymer and Nafion. The modified electrode showed excellent electrocatalytical activity for the oxidation of norepinephrine (NE) and an ability to eliminate efficiently the interference of ascorbic acid and other anions. The catalytic peak currents obtained from the cyclic voltammograms increased linearly with increasing concentration of NE. A log-log plot of catalytic current versus NE concentration showed a dual-linear relationship in the ranges 1.8 x 10(-8)-4.4 x 10(-6) M and 4.4 x 10(-6)-2.9 x 10(-4) M with correlation coefficients of 0.990 and 0.999, respectively. The detection limit was about 18 nM (3 delta). At a potential of +500 mV the chronoamperometric response showed a linear relationship between the steady state current and NE concentration in the range 1.3-130 microM. With a further increase in NE concentration a Michaelis-Menten-shaped response was observed. The apparent Michaelis-Menten constant and the maximum current were 1.7 mM and 86 microA, respectively. The modified electrode showed excellent reproducibility, sensitivity and stability for the determination of NE at trace levels.     

A polypyrrole-based amperometric ammonia sensor

An ammonia sensor is described in this work. The sensing membrane is a thin layer of oxidized polypyrrole (PPy) on a platinum substrate. This sensor is used as the working electrode in a conventional three-electrode system for amperometric measurement of ammonia in aqueous solutions in the potential range of + 0.2 to + 0.4 V (vs. Ag/AgCl). Contact with ammonia causes a current to flow through the electrode. This current is proportional to the concentration of free ammonia in the solution and ammonium ions do not contribute to the measured signal. The signal is due to reduction of PPy by ammonia with subsequent oxidation of PPy by the external voltage source. The sensor is able to detect ammonia reproducibly at the muM level. The main interference is the doping effect of small anions such as Cl(-) and NO(3)(-), also giving a response on PPy at the mM level. This anionic response can, to a certain degree, be reduced by covering the polymer surface with dodecyl sulfate. The sensor gradually loses its activity when exposed to ammonia concentrations greater than 1 mM. The sensor has been tested by the flow injection analysis technique.     

A new selenite selective membrane electrode and its application

A new membrane ion selective electrode sensitive to selenite ion has been developed. The electrode consisted of 1,2-phenylenediamine selen complex PIS (piaselenol) as the active material, PVC or SR (silicon rubber) as membrane matrix and DBF (dibutylphtalate) as plasticizer. This electrode showed linear response for selenite ion in the 10(-5)-10(-1)M concentration range. The slope of the linear portion was 21 mV/10-fold change in selenite concentration. The effect of membrane composition and membrane thickness on electrode response was studied and the electrode which contains 2% PIS, 49% PVC and 49% DBF was found to be the most sensitive one to selenite. The slope of the electrode did not change for 2 months and the pH change did not affect the response of the electrode in pH range of 3-9. The interferences of SO(4)(2-), SO(3)(2-), S(2-), HPO4(2-), CI(-), Br(-), and I(-) are investigated and while no interference was observed for SO(4)(2-), SO(3)(2-), S(2-) and I(-), a very small interference was observed for CI(-) and Br(-). The selenium present in anodic slime is determined using this electrode.     

Indirect determination of tetrahydroborate (BH(-)(4)) by gas-diffusion flow injection analysis with amperometric detection

A rapid, indirect gas-diffusion flow injection analysis (FIA) method with amperometric detection has been developed for the selective and sensitive determination of tetrahydroborate (BH(-)(4)). The injected analyte reduces arsenic(III) to arsine. The arsine formed diffuses through the PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) membrane and is quantified amperometrically at a platinum working electrode. The precision of the technique was better than a relative standard deviation of 2.1% at 60 muM levels and better than 0.5% at 0.1 mM, with a throughput of 60 samples/hr. The detection limit of the method was found to be 1 muM (1.5 ng BH(-)(4)) with a linear range up to 1 mM. The dynamic range extends over five orders of magnitude in BH(-)(4) concentration. The effects of working potential, concentration of As(III) and HCl in the reagent stream, type and flow rate of the acceptor solution, temperature and interferents on the FIA signals were studied.     

Chronocoulometric determination of nitrate on silver electrode and sodium hydroxide electrolyte

An electrochemical system that consists of a silver electrode in 0.01 M sodium hydroxide electrolyte was investigated in an effort to develop a sensitive in situ analytical method for nitrate. Cyclic voltammetry demonstrated that the proposed system has a high normalized sensitivity (2.47 A s(1/2) V(-1/2) M(-1) cm(-2)), compared to more complex electroanalytical schemes. Double-potential-step chronocoulometry was used to maximize the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and minimize interference from dissolved oxygen in the electrolyte. The integration period for double-potential-step chronocoulometry was determined by optimizing the extended Cottrell equation. The integrated current is proportional to nitrate up to 10 mM and the average detection limit is approximately 1.7 microM. Dissolved oxygen does not degrade performance. To examine the potential interference of other ions when analyzing nitrate, we measured the electrode response to 1000 microM each of NO(2-), Cl(-), PO(4)(3-), SO(4)(2-), F(-), CO(3)(2-), BO(2-), K(+), Ca(2+), and Sr(2+) with and without 1000 microM nitrate. Interference is negligible for most of the ions when nitrate is absent (i.e. <1% of the response to equimolar nitrate). However, interference is substantial (>20% increase or decrease in the electrode response to nitrate) for PO(4)(3-), Ca(2+), and Sr(2+) when equimolar nitrate is present.     

The use of chlorophenol red for the selective determination of chlorine dioxide in drinking water

In recent years, the use of chlorine dioxide as an alternative disinfectant for drinking water has become increasingly attractive. As a result, an accurate method for the determination of mg l(-1) concentrations of chlorine dioxide is needed. Improvements to chlorophenol red (CPR) spectrophotometry result in a selective method for ClO(2) with few interferences. CPR selectively reacts with 0.1-1.9 mg l(-1) ClO(2) at pH 7, yielding a linear response (0.9994) with a limit of detection of 0.12 mg l(-1) ClO(2). Several species, ClO(2)(-), ClO(3)(-), NH(2)Cl, and free available chlorine (FAC), were studied as potential interferents using this method. There was found to be less than 2% interference due to 1.38 mg l(-1) ClO(2)(-), 9.87 mg l(-1) ClO(3)(-1), and 5.31 mg l(-1) NH(2)Cl. The interference from up to 1.19 mg l(-1) FAC was 3.7% and could be further reduced by the addition of oxalic acid, sodium cyclamate or thioacetamide.     

Evaluation of microchip capillary electrophoresis with external contactless conductivity detection for the determination of major inorganic ions and lithium in serum and urine samples

The determination of inorganic ions in clinical samples in less than 90 seconds was demonstrated for microchip capillary electrophoresis using capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection (C(4)D). Bare electrophoresis chips were used in combination with external electrodes which were part of the chip holder. In order to achieve the required selectivity and sensitivity, an optimization of the electrode layout was carried out. Limits of detection (LOD) of 1 microM for K(+), 1.5 microM for Ca(2+), 3 microM for Na(+), 1.75 microM for Mg(2+) and 7.5 microM for Li(+) were achieved. The determination of inorganic cations (NH(4)(+), K(+), Na(+), Ca(2+), Mg(2+)) and anions (Cl(-), NO(3)(-), SO(4)(2-), phosphate) in blood serum and urine samples was possible in one common electrolyte solution containing 15 mM L-arginine, 10.75 mM maleic acid and 1.5 mM 18-crown-6 at pH 5.90 by simply switching the separation voltage from positive to negative polarity. Lithium, present at significant levels when used for therapeutic purposes, can also be determined in blood serum using a slightly modified background electrolyte solution.     

A glucose biosensor based on chitosan-Prussian blue-multiwall carbon nanotubes-hollow PtCo nanochains formed by one-step electrodeposition

In this paper, a simple one-step electrodeposition method is described to fabricate chitosan-Prussian blue-multiwall carbon nanotubes-hollow PtCo nanochains (CS-PB-MWNTs-H-PtCo) film onto the gold electrode surface, then glucose oxidase (GOD) and Nafion were modified onto the film subsequently to fabricate a glucose biosensor. The morphologies and electrochemistry of the composite were investigated by using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electrochemical techniques including cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), respectively. The performances of the biosensor have been investigated by chronoamperometry method under the optimized conditions. This biosensor showed a linear response to glucose range from 1.5 μM to 1.12 mM with a detection limit of 0.47 μM (S/N=3), a high sensitivity of 23.4 μA mM(-1) cm(-2), and a fast response time. The apparent Michaelis-Menten constant (K(M)(app)) was 1.89 mM. In addition, the biosensor also exhibited strong anti-interference ability, excellent stability and good reproducibility.     

Prussian Blue bulk modified screen-printed electrodes for H(2)O(2) detection and for biosensors

A sensor for H(2)O(2) amperometric detection based on a Prussian Blue (PB) bulk modified carbon screen-printed electrode was developed. It has been optimised with respect to the lowest limit of detection achieved. PB was made chemically by the reaction of FeCl(3) with K(4)[Fe(CN)(6)]. The resulting powder, obtained by forced crystallisation induced by acetone, was dried and activated at 150 degrees C for 10 h. PB microparticles (<38 mum) were prepared and mixed with carbon ink. The limit of detection achieved was 0.4 muM with the linear range up to 100 muM of H(2)O(2) with the sensitivity of 137 muA mM(-1) cm(-2), that was comparable with sensors based on electrodeposited PB film. The transducer was applied for a glucose biosensor, that exhibited LOD of 0.22 mM, linear range up to 3 mM, K(M)(app) of 4.6 mM, and the sensitivity of 3.21+/-0.16 muA mM(-1) cm(-2). The peroxide sensor, as well as the glucose biosensor, were totally insensitive to oxygen, ascorbate, urate, and paracetamol.     

Electrocatalytic reduction of dioxygen on a glassy carbon electrode modified with adsorbed cobaloxime complex.

The preparation and electrochemical properties of a glassy carbon (GC) electrode modified with cobaloxime complex were investigated. The complex of the type [CoIII(DO)(DOH)pn)Cl2] where (DO)(DOH)pn = N2,N2'-propanediylbis-2,3-butanedione-2-imine-3-oxime) was adsorbed irreversibly and strongly on the surface of preanodized glassy carbon electrode. Electrochemical behavior and stability of modified GC electrode were investigated by cyclic voltammetry. The electrocatalytic reduction of dioxygen has been studied using this modified glassy carbon electrode by cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry and rotating disk electrode voltammetry as diagnostic techniques. The modified electrode showed excellent eletrocatalytic ability for the reduction of dioxygen to hydrogen peroxide in acetate buffer (pH 4.0) with overpotential 1.0 V lower than the plain glassy carbon electrode. The formal potential for this modified electrode is not shifted to more negative potentials by repeated reduction-oxidation cycles in oxygen-saturated supporting electrolyte solution. The apparent electron transfer rate constant (kS), the transfer coefficent (alpha) and the catalytic rate constant of O2 reduction at a GC modified electrode were determined by cyclic voltammetry and rotating disk electrode voltammetry and were found to be around 2.6 s(-1), 0.33 and 2.25 x 10(4) M(-1) s(-1). Based on the results, a catalytic mechanism is proposed and discussed.     

Charge mediation by ruthenium poly(pyridine) complexes in 'second-generation' glucose biosensors based on carboxymethylated β-cyclodextrin polymer membranes

Four different poly(pyridine) complexes of ruthenium, viz. Ru(II)(trpy)(phen)(OH(2))](2+) (1), trans-[Ru(III)(2,2'bpy)(2)(OH(2))(OH)](2+) (2), [(2,2'bpy)(2)(OH)Ru(III)ORu(III)(OH)(2,2'bpy)(2)](4+) (3), and [Ru(II)(4,4'bpy)(NH(3))(5)](2+) (4) (2,2'bpy=2,2'-bipyridine, 4,4'bpy=4,4'-bipyridine, trpy=2,2',2"-terpyridine, phen=1,10-phenanthroline), were tested as non-physiological charge mediators of 'second-generation' glucose biosensors. The membranes for these biosensors were prepared by casting anionic carboxymethylated beta-cyclodextrin polymer films (beta-CDPA) directly onto the Pt or glassy carbon (GC) disk electrodes. Simultaneously, glucose oxidase (GOD) was immobilized in the films by covalent bonding and the Ru complexes were incorporated both by inclusion in the beta-CD molecular cavities and by ion exchange at the fixed carboxymethyl cation-exchange sites. The leakage of the mediator from the polymer has been minimized by adopting a suitable pre-treatment procedure. The biosensors catalytic activities increased in the order 1<2<3<4, as established by linear sweep voltammetry. In case of complexes 2-4, the enzymatic glucose oxidation was mediated by the Ru complexes at their redox potentials. However, this oxidation was mediated by oxygen in case of complex 1 where H(2)O(2) was detected as the reaction product. The effectiveness of the mediators used in the presence of oxygen has been estimated using Pt and GC supports. The redox potential of the mediator does not depend on the support used, while the oxidation of H(2)O(2) proceeds on GC at much higher positive potentials than on Pt. The sensitivity and the linear concentration range of the biosensor studied varied significantly. For complex 4, which forms stable inclusion complex with beta-CD, the biosensor sensitivity was the highest and equal to 7.2 micro A mM(-1) cm(-2), detectability was as low as 1 mM, but the linear concentration range was limited only to 4 mM. In contrast, for complexes 2 and 3 the sensitivity was 0.4 and 3.2 micro A mM(-1) cm(-2), while the linear concentration range extended up to at least 24 and 14 mM glucose, respectively. Even though some common interfering substances, such as ascorbate, paracetamol or urea, are oxidized at potentials close to those of the Ru complex redox couples, their electro-oxidation currents at physiological concentrations are insignificant compared to those due to the biocatalytic oxidation of glucose. The biosensor response to glucose is reversible as demonstrated by the inhibition of GOD activity by Cu(II). That is, the Cu(II) concentration required to inhibit by half the response to glucose of the biosensor containing complex 2 was 1.0 mM. This inhibitory effect was fully reversed by addition of citrate, a ligand forming sufficiently stable complex with Cu(II).