Amperometric phenol biosensor based on sol-gel silicate/Nafion composite film

An amperometric biosensor based on tyrosinase immobilized in silicate/Nafion composite film has been developed for the determination of phenolic compounds. The Nafion polymer in the composite was used not only to overcome the brittleness of the pure sol-gel-derived silicate film but also to increase the long-term stability of the biosensor. Tyrosinase was immobilized by a thin film of silicate/Nafion composite on a glassy carbon electrode. Phenolic compounds were determined by the direct reduction of biocatalytically-liberated quinone species at −200 mV versus Ag/AgCl (3 M NaCl). The process parameters for the fabrication of the enzyme electrode and various experimental variables such as pH and operating potential were explored for optimum analytical performance of the enzyme electrode. The biosensor can reach 95% of steady-state current in about 15 s. The sensitivities of the biosensor for catechol and phenol were 200 and 46 mA/M, respectively. A detection limit of 0.35 mM catechol was obtained with a signal-to-noise ratio of 3. The enzyme electrode retained 74% of its initial activity after 2 weeks of storage in 50 mM phosphate buffer at pH 7.     

A novel amperometric sensor for the detection of difenidol hydrochloride based on the modification of Ru(bpy)3 on a glassy carbon electrode

An amperometric sensor for the detection of difenidol, a tertiary amine-containing analyte, was proposed. Ruthenium(II) tris(bipyridine)/multi-walled carbon nanotubes/Nafion composite film was suggested to modify the glassy carbon electrode. The modified electrode was shown to be an excellent amperometric sensor for the detection of difenidol hydrochloride. The linear range is from 1.0 × 10⁻⁶ to 3.3 × 10⁻⁵ M with a correlation coefficient of 0.998. The limit of detection was 5 × 10⁻⁷ M, which was obtained through experimental determination based on a signal-to-noise ratio of three. The sensor was employed to the determination of the active ingredients in the tablets containing difenidol hydrochloride.     

New biosensing platforms based on the layer-by-layer self-assembling of polyelectrolytes on Nafion/carbon nanotubes-coated glassy carbon electrodes

We are proposing for the first time the use of a Nafion/multi-walled carbon nanotubes dispersion deposited on glassy carbon electrodes (GCE) as a new platform for developing enzymatic biosensors based on the self-assembling of a chitosan derivative and different oxidases. The electrodes are obtained by deposition of a layer of Nafion/multi-wall carbon nanotubes dispersion on glassy carbon electrodes, followed by the adsorption of a chitosan derivative as polycation and glucose oxidase, l-aminoacid oxidase or polyphenol oxidase, as polyanions and biorecognition elements. The optimum configuration for glucose biosensors has allowed a highly sensitive (sensitivity = (0.28 ± 0.02) μA mM⁻¹, r = 0.997), fast (4 s in reaching the maximum response), and highly selective (0% interference of ascorbic acid and uric acid at maximum physiological levels) glucose quantification at 0.700 V with detection and quantification limits of 0.035 and 0.107 mM, respectively. The repetitivity for 10 measurements was 5.5%, while the reproducibility was 8.4% for eight electrodes. The potentiality of the new platform was clearly demonstrated by using the carbon nanotubes/Nafion layer as a platform for the self-assembling of l-aminoacid oxidase and polyphenol oxidase. Therefore, the platform we are proposing here, that combines the advantages of nanostructured materials with those of the layer-by-layer self-assembling of polyelectrolytes, opens the doors to new and exciting possibilities for the development of enzymatic and affinity biosensors using different transdution modes.     

Selective and sensitive electrochemical detection of glucose in neutral solution using platinum-lead alloy nanoparticle/carbon nanotube nanocomposites

Electrodeposition of Pt-Pb nanoparticles (PtPbNPs) to multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) resulted in a stable PtPbNP/MWCNT nanocomposite with high electrocatalytic activity to glucose oxidation in either neutral or alkaline medium. More importantly, the nanocomposite electrode with a slight modification exhibited high sensitivity, high selectivity, and low detection limit in amperometric glucose sensing at physiological neutral pH (poised at a negative potential). At +0.30 V in neutral solution, the nanocomposite electrode exhibited linearity up to 11 mM of glucose with a sensitivity of 17.8 μA cm⁻² mM⁻¹ and a detection limit of 1.8 μM (S/N = 3). Electroactive ascorbic acid (0.1 mM), uric acid (0.1 mM) and fructose (0.3 mM) invoked only 23%, 14% and 9%, respectively, of the current response obtained for 3 mM glucose. At −0.15 V in neutral solution, the electrode responded linearly to glucose up to 5 mM with a detection limit of 0.16 mM (S/N = 3) and detection sensitivity of ∼18 μA cm⁻² mM⁻¹. At this negative potential, ascorbic acid, uric acid, and fructose were not electroactive, therefore, not interfering with glucose sensing. Modification of the nanocomposite electrode with Nafion coating followed by electrodeposition of a second layer of PtPbNPs on the Nafion coated PtPbNP/MWCNT nanocomposite produced a glucose sensor (poised at −0.15 V) with a lower detection limit (7.0 μM at S/N = 3) and comparable sensitivity, selectivity and linearity compared to the PtPbNP/MWCNT nanocomposite. The Nafion coating lowered the detection limit by reducing the background noise, while the second layer of PtPbNPs restored the sensitivity to the level before Nafion coating.     

A glucose biosensor using methyl viologen redox mediator on carbon film electrodes

A new methyl viologen-mediated amperometric enzyme electrode sensitive to glucose has been developed using carbon film electrode substrates. Carbon film electrodes from resistors fabricated by pyrolytic deposition of carbon were modified by immobilization of glucose oxidase through cross-linking with glutaraldehyde in the presence of bovine serum albumin. The mediator, methyl viologen, was directly immobilised with the enzyme together with Nafion cation-exchange polymer. The electrochemistry of the glucose oxidase/methyl viologen modified electrode was investigated by cyclic voltammetry and by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The biosensor response to glucose was evaluated amperometrically; the detection limit was 20 μM, the linear range extended to 1.2 mM and the reproducibility of around 3%. When stored in phosphate buffer at 4 °C and used every day, the sensor showed good stability over more several weeks.     

Development and evaluation of electrochemical glucose enzyme biosensors based on carbon film electrodes

Electrochemical glucose enzyme biosensors have been prepared on carbon film electrodes made from carbon film electrical resistors. Evaluation and characterisation of these electrodes in phosphate buffer saline solution has been carried out with and without pretreatment by cycling in perchloric acid or at fixed applied potential. Both pretreatments led to a reduction in the carbon surface oxidation peak and enabled better detection of hydrogen peroxide in the pH range of 5-7. Glucose oxidase enzyme was immobilised on the carbon surface by mixing with glutaraldehyde, bovine serum albumin and with and without Nafion. The performance of these two types of electrode was similar, that containing Nafion being more physically robust. Linear ranges were up to around 1.5 mM, with detection limits 60 μM, and pretreatment of the carbon film electrode at a fixed potential of +0.9 V versus SCE for 5 min was found to be the most beneficial. Michaelis-Menten constants between 5 mM and 10 mM were found under the different experimental conditions. Coating the immobilised enzyme layer with a thin layer of Nafion was found to give similar results in the determination of glucose to mixing it but with benefits against interferences for the analysis of complex matrices, such as wine. Potentialities, for a short-term-use or disposable sensors, are indicated.     

Tris(2,2′-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) electrogenerated chemiluminescence sensor based on carbon nantube dispersed in sol-gel-derived titania-Nafion composite films

A highly sensitive and stable tris(2,2′-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) (Ru(bpy)₃²⁺) electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) sensor was developed based on carbon nanotube (CNT) dispersed in mesoporous composite films of sol-gel titania and perfluorosulfonated ionomer (Nafion). Single-wall (SWCNT) and multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) can be easily dispersed in the titania-Nafion composite solution. The hydrophobic CNT in the titania-Nafion composite films coated on a glassy carbon electrode certainly increased the amount of Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ immobilized in the ECL sensor by adsorption of Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ onto CNT surface, the electrocatalytic activity towards the oxidation of hydrophobic analytes, and the electronic conductivity of the composite films. Therefore, the present ECL sensor based on the CNT-titania-Nafion showed improved ECL sensitivity for tripropylamine (TPA) compared to the ECL sensors based on both titania-Nafion composite films without CNT and pure Nafion films. The present Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ ECL sensor based on the MWCNT-titania--Nafion composite gave a linear response (R² = 0.999) for TPA concentration from 50 nM to 1.0 mM with a remarkable detection limit (S/N = 3) of 10 nM while the ECL sensors based on titania-Nafion composite without MWCNT, pure Nafion films, and MWCNT-Nafion composite gave a detection limit of 0.1 μM, 1 μM, and 50 nM, respectively. The present ECL sensor showed outstanding long-term stability (no signal loss for 4 months).     

Glucose biosensors prepared by electropolymerization of p-chlorophenylamine with and without Nafion

Two different glucose biosensors for the amperometric determination of glucose, based on poly(p-chlorophenylamide) (PCPA) and bilayer film of PCPA and Nafion (PCPA/Nafion), are successfully developed. These two biosensors show linear amperometric responses to glucose ranging from 2.0×10⁻⁴ to 3.5×10⁻² mol l⁻¹ and 5.0×10⁻⁴ to 7.5×10⁻² mol l⁻¹, respectively, with the same correlation coefficient of 0.9988. Effects of polymerization potential and polymerization time on the performance of enzyme sensors are studied. It is found that PCPA, as a non-conducting polymer, can largely reduce the influence of electroactive interferents. Introduction of inner Nafion membrane not only further eliminates the influence of ascorbic acid on the sensor response but also increases electrode stability.     

Direct electrochemistry of glucose oxidase on the hydroxyapatite/Nafion composite film modified electrode and its application for glucose biosensing

A novel glucose biosensor was constructed by immobilizing the glucose oxidase (GOD) on a hydroxyapatite (HAp)/Nafion composite film modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) and applied to the highly selective and sensitive determination of glucose. With the cooperation of HAp and Nafion, the composite film played an important role in enhancing the stability and sensitivity of the biosensor. The results demonstrate that the GOD adsorbed onto the HAp/Nafion composite film exhibits a pair of well-defined nearly reversible redox peaks and fine catalysis to the oxidation of glucose companied with the consumption of dissolved oxygen. On the basis of the decrease of the reduction current of dissolved oxygen at the applied potential of −0.80 V (vs. SCE) upon the addition of glucose, the concentration of glucose could be detected sensitively and selectively. The decreased reduction current was linear with the concentration of glucose in the range of 0.12–2.16 mM. The detection limit and sensitivity were 0.02 mM (S/N = 3) and 6.75 mA·M⁻¹, respectively. All the results demonstrate that HAp/Nafion composite film provides a novel and efficient platform for the immobilization of enzymes and realizes the direct electrochemistry. The composite materials should have potential applications in the fabrication of third-generation biosensors.     

Integration of a highly ordered gold nanowires array with glucose oxidase for ultra-sensitive glucose detection

A highly sensitive amperometric nanobiosensor has been developed by integration of glucose oxidase (GO_x) with a gold nanowires array (AuNWA) by cross-linking with a mixture of glutaraldehyde (GLA) and bovine serum albumin (BSA). An initial investigation of the morphology of the synthesized AuNWA by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and field emission transmission electron microscopy (FETEM) revealed that the nanowires array was highly ordered with rough surface, and the electrochemical features of the AuNWA with/without modification were also investigated. The integrated AuNWA–BSA–GLA–GO_x nanobiosensor with Nafion membrane gave a very high sensitivity of 298.2 μA cm⁻² mM⁻¹ for amperometric detection of glucose, while also achieving a low detection limit of 0.1 μM, and a wide linear range of 5–6000 μM. Furthermore, the nanobiosensor exhibited excellent anti-interference ability towards uric acid (UA) and ascorbic acid (AA) with the aid of Nafion membrane, and the results obtained for the analysis of human blood serum indicated that the device is capable of glucose detection in real samples.     

A novel non-enzymatic glucose sensor based on Cu nanoparticle modified graphene sheets electrode

A novel, stable and sensitive non-enzymatic glucose sensor was developed by potentiostatically electrodepositing metallic Cu nanoparticles on graphene sheets. The electrochemical performance of the Cu-graphene sheets electrode for detection of glucose was investigated by cyclic voltammetry and chronamperometry. The Cu-graphene sheets electrode displayed a synergistic effect of copper nanoparticles and graphene sheets towards the oxidation of glucose in alkaline solution, showing higher oxidation current and negative shift in peak potential. At detection potential of 500 mV, the Cu-graphene electrode sensor presented a wide linear range up to 4.5 mM glucose with a detection limit of 0.5 μM (signal/noise = 3). In addition, the sensor responds very quickly (<2 s) with addition of glucose. Furthermore, the Cu-graphene sheets electrode exhibits high stability and selectivity to glucose, and the poisoning by chloride ion as well as interference from the oxidation of common interfering species (ascorbic, dopamine, uric acid and carbohydrate) are effectively avoided. The Cu-graphene sheets electrode allows highly selective and sensitive, stable and fast amperometric sensing of glucose, which is promising for the development of non-enzymatic glucose sensor.     

Organic-inorganic matrix for electrochemical immunoassay: Detection of human IgG based on ZnO/chitosan composite

A new strategy to construct amperometric immunosensor for human IgG assay based on ZnO/chitosan composite as sensing platform has been described. This material, which combined the advantages of inorganic species, ZnO and organic polymer, chitosan, can maintain biological activity well. A sequential sandwich immunoassay format was performed on the ZnO/chitosan composite supported by glass carbon electrode (GCE) using goat-anti-human IgG antibody (IgG Ab) and human IgG as a model system. Amperometry was used to determine the amount of horse-radish peroxidase (HRP) fixed on the sensor surface, which was related to the content of the desired human IgG. Assay conditions that were optimized included the amount of labeled antibody, the incubation time and temperature, the pH of the substrate solution, etc. Using hydroquinone as a mediator, amperometric detection at −150 mV (versus SCE) resulted in a detection range 2.5-500 ng mL⁻¹, with a detection limit of 1.2 ng mL⁻¹. The simple manipulations of the construction of ZnO/chitosan composite, as well as low-cost and broad linear range, are the main features of the proposed immunosensing method.     

Bienzymatic amperometric biosensor for glucose based on polypyrrole/ceramic carbon as electrode material

A novel amperometric biosensor utilizing two enzymes, glucose oxidase (GOD) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP), was developed for the cathodic detection of glucose. The glucose biosensor was constructed by electrochemical formation of a polypyrrole (PPy) membrane in the presence of GOD on the surface of a HRP-modified sol-gel derived-mediated ceramic carbon electrode. Ferrocenecarboxylic acid (FCA) was used as mediator to transfer electron between enzyme and electrode. In the hetero-bilayer configuration of electrode, all enzymes were well immobilized in electrode matrices and showed favorable enzymatic activities. The amperometric detection of glucose was carried out at +0.16 V (versus saturated calomel reference electrode (SCE)) in 0.1 M phosphate buffer solution (pH 6.9) with a linear response range between 8.0×10⁻⁵ and 1.3×10⁻³ M glucose. The biosensor showed a good suppression of interference in the amperometric detection.     

An electrochemiluminescent biosensor for glucose based on the electrochemiluminescence of luminol on the nafion/glucose oxidase/poly(nickel(II)tetrasulfophthalocyanine)/multi-walled carbon nanotubes modified electrode

A poly(nickel(II) tetrasulfophthalocyanine)/multi-walled carbon nanotubes composite modified electrode (polyNiTSPc/MWNTs) was fabricated by electropolymerization of NiTSPc on MWNTs-modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The modified electrode was found to be able to greatly improve the emission of luminol electrochemiluminescence (ECL) in a solution containing hydrogen peroxide. Glucose oxidase (GOD) was immobilized on the surface of polyNiTSPc/MWNTs modified GC electrode by Nafion to establish an ECL glucose sensor. Under the optimum conditions, the linear response range of glucose was 1.0 × 10⁻⁶ to 1.0 × 10⁻⁴ mol L⁻¹ with a detection limit of 8.0 × 10⁻⁸ mol L⁻¹ (defined as the concentration that could be detected at the signal-to-noise ratio of 3). The ECL sensor showed an outstanding well reproducibility and long-term stability. The established method has been applied to determine the glucose concentrations in real serum samples with satisfactory results.     

Electrochemical sensor based on chlorohemin modified molecularly imprinted microgel for determination of 2,4-dichlorophenol

A newly designed molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) was synthesized and successfully utilized as a recognition element of an amperometric sensor for 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) detection. The MIP with a well-defined structure could imitate the dehalogenative function of the natural enzyme chloroperoxidase for 2,4-DCP. Imprinted sensor was fabricated in situ on a glassy carbon electrode surface by drop-coating the 2,4-DCP imprinted microgel suspension and chitosan/Nafion mixture. Under optimized conditions, the sensor showed a linear response in the range of 5.0–100 μmol L⁻¹ with a detection limit of 1.6 μmol L⁻¹. Additionally, the imprinted sensor demonstrated higher affinity to target 2,4-DCP over competitive chlorophenolic compounds than non-imprinted sensor. It also exhibited good stability and acceptable repeatability. The proposed sensor could be used for the determination of 2,4-DCP in water samples with the recoveries of 96.2–111.8%, showing a promising potential in practical application.     

An electrochemically enhanced solid-phase microextraction approach based on a multi-walled carbon nanotubes/Nafion composite coating

In this paper, we proposed an approach using a multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)/Nafion composite coating as a working electrode for the electrochemically enhanced solid-phase microextraction (EE-SPME) of charged compounds. Suitable negative and positive potentials were applied to enhance the extraction of cationic (protonated amines) and anionic compounds (deprotonated carboxylic acids) in aqueous solutions, respectively. Compared to the direct SPME mode (DI-SPME) (without applying potential), the EE-SPME presented more effective and selective extraction of charged analytes primarily via electrophoresis and complementary charge interaction. The experimental parameters relating to extraction efficiency of the EE-SPME such as applied potentials, extraction time, ionic strength, sample pH were studied and optimized. The linear dynamic range of developed EE-SPME-GC for the selected amines spanned three orders of magnitude (0.005–1 μg mL⁻¹) with R² larger than 0.9933, and the limits of detection were in the range of 0.048–0.070 ng mL⁻¹. All of these characteristics demonstrate that the proposed MWCNTs/Nafion EE-SPME is an efficient, flexible and versatile sampling and extraction tool which is ideally suited for use with chromatographic methods.     

Solid-state electrochemiluminescence sensor based on the Nafion/poly(sodium 4-styrene sulfonate) composite film

An effective electrochemiluminescence (ECL) sensor based on Nafion/poly(sodium 4-styrene sulfonate) (PSS) composite film-modified ITO electrode was developed. The Nafion/PSS/Ru composite film was characterized by atomic force microscopy, UV-vis absorbance spectroscopy and electrochemical experiments. The Nafion/PSS composite film could effectively immobilize tris(2,2′-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) (Ru(bpy)₃²⁺) via ion-exchange and electrostatic interaction. The ECL behavior of Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ immobilized in Nafion/PSS composite film was investigated using tripropylamine (TPA) as an analyte. The detection limit (S/N = 3) for TPA at the Nafion/PSS/Ru composite-modified electrode was estimated to be 3.0 nM, which is 3 orders of magnitude lower than that obtained at the Nafion/Ru modified electrode. The Nafion/PSS/Ru composite film-modified indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode also exhibited good ECL stability. In addition, this kind of immobilization approach was simple, effective, and timesaving.     

A novel amperometric biosensor based on NiO hollow nanospheres for biosensing glucose

NiO hollow nanospheres were synthesized by controlled precipitation of metal ions with urea using carbon microspheres as templates, which were for the first time adopted to construct a novel amperometric glucose biosensor. Glucose oxidase was immobilized on the surface of hollow nanospheres through chitosan-assisted cross-linking technique. Due to the high specific active sites and high electrocatalytic activity of NiO hollow nanospheres, the constructed glucose biosensors exhibited a high sensitivity of 3.43 μA/mM. The low detection limit was estimated to be 47 μM (S/N = 3), and the Michaelis-Menten constant was found to be 7.76 mM, indicating the high affinity of enzyme on NiO hollow nanospheres to glucose. These results show that the NiO hollow nanospheres are a promising material to construct enzyme biosensors.     

On-line removal of redox-active interferents by a porous electrode before amperometric blood glucose determination

A porous reticulated vitreous carbon (RVC) electrode and a disk electrode coupled in tandem in an electrochemical flow cell has been used for electrolytic removal of interferents before amperometric glucose detection. The electrolytic efficiency at the upstream RVC electrode is 100% at a flow rate of 0.1 mL min⁻¹ or lower. Potential interferents such as acetaminophen, ascorbic acid, and uric acid can be completely eliminated by electrolysis at the RVC electrode. A mixed monolayer comprising glucose oxidase (GOD) and ferrocenyl-1-undecanethiol preformed at the downstream gold disk electrode was used as a mediator-based amperometric glucose sensor. The dependence of the amperometric current on the glucose concentration exhibits good linearity across over three orders of magnitude. The glucose measurements were also found to be reproducible (RSD < 3.5%) and accurate. Unlike the chemiluminescence method, this device obviates the use of carcinogenic substrates and the glucose sensor performance is independent of the oxygen present in sample. On the basis that the RVC electrode requires minimal cleanup and the GOD-modified electrode remains stable for a week, the electrochemical flow cell should be amenable for automated on-line removal of redox interferents for other types of enzyme-based biosensors.     

Amperometric l-glutamate biosensor based on bacterial cell-surface displayed glutamate dehydrogenase

A novel l-glutamate biosensor was fabricated using bacteria surface-displayed glutamate dehydrogenase (Gldh-bacteria). Here the cofactor NADP⁺-specific dependent Gldh was expressed on the surface of Escherichia coli using N-terminal region of ice nucleation protein (INP) as the anchoring motif. The cell fractionation assay and SDS-PAGE analysis indicated that the majority of INP-Gldh fusion proteins were located on the surface of cells. The biosensor was fabricated by successively casting polyethyleneimine (PEI)-dispersed multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs), Gldh-bacteria and Nafion onto the glassy carbon electrode (Nafion/Gldh-bacteria/PEI-MWNTs/GCE). The MWNTs could not only significantly lower the oxidation overpotential towards NAPDH, which was the product of NADP⁺ involving in the oxidation of glutamate by Gldh, but also enhanced the current response. Under the optimized experimental conditions, the current–time curve of the Nafion/Gldh-bacteria/PEI-MWNTs/GCE was performed at +0.52 V (vs. SCE) by amperometry varying glutamate concentration. The current response was linear with glutamate concentration in two ranges (10 μM–1 mM and 2–10 mM). The low limit of detection was estimated to be 2 μM glutamate (S/N = 3). Moreover, the proposed biosensor is stable, specific, reproducible and simple, which can be applied to real samples detection.