A Micro Planar Ampehometric Glucose Sensor Using an Isfet as a Reference Electrode

Abstract

A very small glucose sensor has been realized, which consists of a gold working electrode with a glucose oxidase immobilized membrane on it, and a gold counter electrode, all made on a sapphire substrate. By using the pH sensitive ISFET as a reference electrode, the potential for a solution, whose pH is constant, can be measured and irreversible metal electrodes, such as gold or platinum, can be used as working electrode and counter electrode. The sensor is very suitable for miniaturizing and mass production, because the Integrated Circuit (IC) fabrication process can be applied. The glucose oxidase immobilized membrane was also deposited by a lift off method, one of the IC processes. A glucose concentration, from 1 to 100 mg/dl, was measured with good linear current output.     

Monolayers of photosystem II on gold electrodes with enhanced sensor response—effect of porosity and protein layer arrangement

Mass transport of the bulk of the analyte to the electrode and through the bioactive layer can be significantly improved by use of the nanoelectrode array and defined arrangement of protein film. This phenomenon has been studied by (i) atomic-force microscopy, (ii) electrochemical measurements of PSII activity, and (iii) digital simulations for an oriented monolayer of histidine-tagged photosystem II (PSII) immobilized on nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA)-modified gold electrodes. The output signal of the electrochemical biosensor is controlled by (i) mass transport from the bioactive layer to electrode and (ii) mass transport between the bulk of the analyte and the electrode. Mass transport through the bioactive layer was electrochemically studied for PSII self-assembled on gold screen-printed electrodes. A densely packed monolayer of PSII has a significant shielding effect toward the diffusion of redox mediator duroquinone (DQ). Mass transport to the planar electrode surface was improved by co-immobilization of bovine-serum albumin (BSA) as spacer biomolecule in the monolayer of PSII. Correlation between the electrochemical properties and surface arrangement of the resulting protein films was clearly observable and confirmed the improved mass-transport properties of structured enzyme monolayers. On the basis of this observation, the application of a bottom-up approach for improvement of electrode performance was proposed and digitally simulated for an infinite array of electrodes ranging in diameter from 50 nm to 5 m. The nanoelectrode array, with the optimum time window selected for measurements, enables enhancement of mass transport between the bulk of the analyte and the macroelectrode by a factor of up to 50 in comparison with classical planar electrodes. Use of a time window enables minimization of crosstalk between individual electrodes in the array. The measurements require methods which suppress the double-layer capacity.     

Electroanalytical sensing of chromium(III) and (VI) utilising gold screen printed macro electrodes

We report the fabrication of gold screen printed macro electrodes which are electrochemically characterised and contrasted to polycrystalline gold macroelectrodes with their potential analytical application towards the sensing of chromium(III) and (VI) critically explored. It is found that while these gold screen printed macro electrodes have electrode kinetics typically one order of magnitude lower than polycrystalline gold macroelectrodes as is measured via a standard redox probe, in terms of analytical sensing, these gold screen printed macro electrodes mimic polycrystalline gold in terms of their analytical performance towards the sensing of chromium(III) and (VI), whilst boasting additional advantages over the macro electrode due to their disposable one-shot nature and the ease of mass production. An additional advantage of these gold screen printed macro electrodes compared to polycrystalline gold is the alleviation of the requirement to potential cycle the latter to form the required gold oxide which aids in the simplification of the analytical protocol. We demonstrate that gold screen printed macro electrodes allow the low micro-molar sensing of chromium(VI) in aqueous solutions over the range 10 to 1600 μM with a limit of detection (3σ) of 4.4 μM. The feasibility of the analytical protocol is also tested through chromium(VI) detection in environmental samples.     

Disposable Gold Electrodes with Reproducible Area Using Recordable CDs and Toner Masks

The fabrication and characterization of very cheap disposable gold disk electrodes with reproducible area is reported. The innovation of the proposed procedure is the use of toner masks to define reproducible areas on uniform gold surfaces obtained from recordable compact disks (CD‐R). Toner masks are drawn in a laser printer and heat transferred to gold surfaces, defining exactly the electrodes area. The electrochemical behavior of these disposable electrodes was investigated by cyclic voltammetry in Fe(CN)₆^4? solutions. The relative standard deviation for signals obtained from 10 different gold electrodes was below 1 %. The size of the disk electrodes can be easily controlled, as attested by voltammetric responses recorded by using electrodes with radii varying from 0.5 to 3.0 mm. The advantages of using this kind of electrode for analytical measurements of substances that strongly adsorb on the electrode surface such as cysteine are also addressed.     

Integration of microfabricated needle-type glucose sensor devices with a novel thin-film Ag/AgCl electrode and plasma-polymerized thin film: mass production techniques

We developed an integrated array of needle-type biosensors employing a novel process of fabrication, comprising conventional semiconductor fabrication and micromachining technology. Amperometric sensing electrodes with plasma-polymerized films and a thin-film Ag/AgCl reference electrode were directly integrated on a glass substrate with thin-film process, e.g., sputtering. An enzyme was immobilized on the electrode via the plasma-polymerized film, which was deposited directly on the substrate using a dry process. The novel thin-film Ag/AgCl reference electrode showed stable potentials in concentrated chloride solutions for a long period. The plasma-polymerized film is considered to play an important role as an interfacial design between the sensing electrode and the immobilized enzyme considering that the film is extremely thin, adheres well to the substrate (electrode) and has a highly cross-linked network structure and functional groups, such as amino groups. The results showed increments of the sensor signal, probably because the plasma-polymerized film allowed a large amount of enzyme to be immobilized. The greatest advantage is that the process can permit the mass production of high-quality biosensors at a low cost.     

Oriented immobilization of a membrane-bound hydrogenase onto an electrode for direct electron transfer

The interaction of redox enzymes with electrodes is of great interest for studying the catalytic mechanisms of redox enzymes and for bioelectronic applications. Efficient electron transport between the biocatalysts and the electrodes has achieved more success with soluble enzymes than with membrane enzymes because of the higher structural complexity and instability of the latter proteins. In this work, we report a strategy for immobilizing a membrane-bound enzyme onto gold electrodes with a controlled orientation in its fully active conformation. The immobilized redox enzyme is the Ni-Fe-Se hydrogenase from Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough, which catalyzes H(2)-oxidation reversibly and is associated with the cytoplasmic membrane by a lipidic tail. Gold surfaces modified with this enzyme and phospholipids have been studied by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and electrochemical methods. The combined study indicates that by a two-step immobilization procedure the hydrogenase can be inserted via its lipidic tail onto a phospholipidic bilayer formed over the gold surface, allowing only mediated electron transfer between the enzyme and electrode. However, a one-step immobilization procedure favors the formation of a hydrogenase monolayer over the gold surface with its lipidic tail inserted into a phospholipid bilayer formed on top of the hydrogenase molecules. This latter method has allowed for the first time efficient electron transfer between a membrane-bound enzyme in its native conformation and an electrode.     

Voltammetric behavior of gold nanotrench electrodes

We report the fabrication and electrochemical response of a gold nanoband electrode located at the bottom of a glass/epoxy nanotrench, hereafter referred to as a gold nanotrench electrode. Gold nanotrench electrodes of 12.5 and 40 nm in width with various depths from a few tens of nanometers to approximately 4 μm are fabricated and further characterized by cyclic voltammetry. The fabrication of a Au nanotrench electrode follows a simple electrochemical etching process in which a small AC signal is applied to an inlaid Au nanoband electrode submersed in a NaCl solution. The voltammetric behavior of a Au nanotrench electrode is characterized by a quasi-steady-state response at lower scan rates (e.g., <1 V/s for a 12.5-nm-wide electrode). We present an analytical expression for the quasi-steady-state diffusion-limited current of the nanotrench electrode based upon the analysis of the mass-transport resistance. Finite-element simulation of steady-state and transient voltammetric responses of the nanotrench electrodes provides additional insights for the analytical model. Peak-shaped transient voltammetric responses were observed at scan rates as low as 5 V/s for both inlaid and nanotrench electrodes. This result may suggest that the exposed area of the nanoband electrode is much greater than that expected from the fabrication of the inlaid bands. However, the extent to which this is seen is greatly decreased in the nanotrench electrode by a smoothing effect during etching. Our results confirm previous reports of excess overhanging metal and delamination crack contributing significantly to the shape and magnitude of the voltammetric response.     

Size-controlled fabrication of nanometer-sized gold electrodes with polystyrene coating

We present a simple, convenient procedure for the fabrication of nanometer-sized gold electrodes with the ability to control the electrode size at the construction stage. The electrodes are prepared by etching a gold wire, coating it with a polystyrene film, and then removing the film from the tip apex by thermal stripping in an aqueous solution in conjunction with in situ monitoring of the exposed electrode area by cyclic voltammetry measurements. It is demonstrated that the method produces point-like electrodes with precise control of the apparent electrode radius within a few nanometers.     

Rapid sacrificial layer etching for the fabrication of nanochannels with integrated metal electrodes

We present a rapid etch method to surface-micromachine nanochannels with integrated noble metal electrodes using a single metal sacrificial layer. The method is based on the galvanic coupling of a chromium sacrificial layer with gold electrodes, which results in a 10-fold increase in etch rate with respect to conventional single metal etching. The etch process is investigated and characterized by optical and electrochemical measurements, leading to a theoretical explanation of the observed etch rate based on mass transport. Using this explanation we derive some generic design rules for nanochannel fabrication employing sacrificial metal etching.     

Microfluidic devices with disposable enzyme electrode for electrochemical monitoring of glucose concentrations

This article describes the fabrication of tube-like microchannels made of UV curable polymer on a glass substrate and the device assembling with a disposable enzyme-working electrode for high-sensitivity electrochemical detection. While both reference and counter electrodes are patterned on the surface of the glass substrate, the working electrode is flipped on the top of the channel with an open access, providing a face-to-face probing configuration. When the enzyme electrode is contaminated or degraded, it can be easily replaced by a new one, keeping the main body of the device and the detection schema unchanged. Using glucose oxidase-coated gold electrodes, we were able to determine a linear amperometry response to the glucose concentrations in the range of 2-16 mM. By replacing the as-prepared working electrode by the one after thermal treatments, we showed a much more degraded enzyme electrode activity, enabling efficient determination of the electrode quality as well as the whole process optimization.     

A hydrodynamic voltammetric study of the ferricyanide/ferrocyanide system with convective electrodes of platinum,gold, glassy carbon,carbon film,and boron carbide

Hydrodynamic voltammetry employing empirically determined mass transport coefficients is used to determine heterogeneous rate constants and transport coefficients for the ferricyanide/ferrocyanide system in 0.1 M phosphate buffer and other supporting electrolytes with turbulent tubular and rotated disk electrodes of platinum, gold, glassy carbon, carbon film, and boron carbide. Different kinetic parameters are obtained at the various electrode materials. For the platinum, gold, and boron carbide electrodes, the magnitudes of the rate parameters depend on scan direction. The nature of this hysteresis varies with the electrode material and is explained in terms of adsorbed oxide and ionic layers or other phenomena not described by simple double layer theory.     

Comparison of DNA Hybridization at Rotating and Heated Gold Disk Electrodes

This paper reports about the influence of temperature, hybridization time and convection upon the detection of osmium tetroxide bipyridine‐labeled target oligonucleotides at rotating gold disk (RDE) and heated low temperature co‐fired ceramics (LTCC) gold disk electrodes. We used mixed self‐assembled monolayers of hexathiol‐linked probe oligonucleotides and mercaptohexanol on the gold surface of the electrodes for the hybridization detection of the labeled targets by means of square‐wave voltammetry. Due to protective strands, the osmium tetroxide‐modified target strands were still able to hybridize with the immobilized probe strands. The hybridization of such osmium tetroxide bipyridine‐modified target strands with thiol‐linked probe strands immobilized on gold yielded large reversible square‐wave‐voltammetric signals. Rotation speed and, hence, mass transport due to convection has only marginal effects. On the other hand, temperature affects greatly the hybridization step as indicated by both heated LTCC electrode in cold and RDE in warm hybridization solution. Calculated detection limits of 3.6 and 3.1 nM targets at the RDE and the LTCC electrode, respectively, have been almost the same at both types of electrodes. Applying an appropriate temperature during hybridization is more important than mechanically enhanced mass transport.     

Transport of redox probes through single pores measured by scanning electrochemical-scanning ion conductance microscopy (SECM-SICM)

We report scanning electrochemical microscopy-scanning ion conductance microscopy (SECM-SICM) experiments that describe transport of redox active molecules which emanate from single pores of a track-etch membrane. Experiments are performed with electrodes which consist of a thin gold layer deposited on one side of a nanopipet. Subsequent insulation of the electrode with parylene results in a hybrid electrode for SECM-SICM measurements. Electrode fabrication is straightforward and highly parallel. For image collection, ionic current measured at the nanopipet both controls the position of the electrode with respect to the membrane surface and reports the local conductance in the vicinity of the nanopipet, while faradaic current measured at the Au electrode reports the presence of redox-active molecules. Application of a transmembrane potential difference affords additional control over migration of charged species across the membrane.     

An indium tin oxide electrode modified with gold nanorods for use in potential-controlled surface plasmon resonance studies

The modification of electrodes with gold nanoparticles results in an increased electrode surface area, enhanced mass transport, and improved catalytic properties. We have extended this approach to indium tin oxide (ITO) electrodes to obtain optically transparent gold nanorod-modified electrodes which display enhanced electrochemical capabilities and have the additional advantage of showing a tunable surface plasmon resonance. The procedures for attaining high surface coverage (15 gold nanorods per square µm) of such electrodes were optimized, and the potential-dependent surface plasmon resonance was studied under controlled electrical potential. In an exemplary sensor application, we demonstrate the detection of mercury via potential-dependent formation of an Au-Hg amalgam.

Which Parameters Affect the Response of the Channel Biosensor?

The important parameters in defining the response of the portable channel biosensor described previously are explored by connecting the portable flow cell to a gravity feed flow system and using a highly defined enzyme immobilization protocol which ensures the enzyme reaction is a surface reaction. The enzyme glucose oxidase (GOD) was immobilized by covalent attachment to a self‐assembled monolayer modified gold surface. As a glucose solution flowed down the rectangular duct defined by the flow cell, it passed over the enzyme layer where the enzyme reaction produced hydrogen peroxide. The hydrogen peroxide was swept further downstream to the detector electrode. The response of such an enzyme electrode was shown to be limited by mass transport of the cosubstrate oxygen to the enzyme layer. Increasing the amount of oxygen in the sample meant the response of the biosensor became limited by the enzyme kinetics. The influence of parameters such as flow rate, height of the channel, enzyme layer length and the gap between the enzyme layer and the detector electrode were explored.     

Thin film platinum cuff electrodes for neurostimulation: in vitro approach of safe neurostimulation parameters

Thin film technology takes more and more importance in the development of biomedical devices dedicated to functional neurostimulation. Our research about the design of implant neurostimulating electrode is oriented toward thin film cuff electrodes based on a polyimide substrate covered by a chromium/gold/Pt film. The chromium/gold sputtered film serves as adhesion layer and current collector whereas platinum acts as an electrochemical actuator. The electrode surface has been designed to obey safe stimulation criteria (i.e. chemically inert noble metal, low electrode-electrolyte impedance, high electrochemical reversibility, high corrosion stability). The electrochemical behaviour of such platinum electrodes has been assessed and compared to a foil of platinum. Extensive in vitro characterisations of the both electrode types were carried out using AFM, SEM and electrochemical techniques. The role of enhanced surface roughness enabling high double layer capacitances to be achieved was clearly highlighted. The obtained results are discussed, with particular reference to thin film electrodes stability under in vitro electrical stimulation in NaCl 0.9% (physiological serum). Therefore, these thin film devices showed reversible PtOH formation and decomposition making them potentially attractive for the fabrication of implant stimulation cuff electrodes.     

亚微米级叉指型超微带电极阵列的加工和电化学表征

超微电极具有常规电极无法比拟的优良的电化学特性.超微电极包括单超微电极和超微电极阵列,单超微电极响应电流较小,一般仪器难以检测;而超微电极阵列除具有单超微电极的特点外,还能增加测量时的响应电流,有利于仪器检测.其中的叉指型超微带电极阵列(IDA)具有产生-收集效应,可提高检测的灵敏度,实现低浓度测量[1～4].将微电子技术和微细加工技术应用于化学和生物传感技术已引起关注,利用微细加工技术可以实现传感器的微型化、集成化和智能化;减少测量使用的样品量;使传感器的敏感元件具有确定的形状和尺寸,提高测量结果的一致性.本文用多…     

Electrically Addressed Fabrication of Aptamer‐Based Array Electrodes

An aptamer immobilization method based electrically addressed fabrication has been developed for the preparation of aptamer‐modified arrayed electrodes, by which the human IgE aptamer was oriented and immobilized on the gold electrode surface. The optimization of the experimental conditions including the applied potential, time and scan rate of potential was investigated. The method was successfully used to immobilize the aptamer onto the desired electrodes, pixel by pixel, based on the electrically addressed approach. Compared to the control electrodes, the resulting aptamer‐modified electrodes showed their specific recognition for human IgE. The present method owns several advantages such as rapid and simple immobilization as well as its automatic addressed capability by the electric approach.     

Screen‐Printed Contactless Conductivity Detector for Microchip Capillary Electrophoresis

A new method for mass fabrication of silver ink conductivity detector electrodes for poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA) microchip electrophoretic systems has been developed based on screen‐printing technology. Printing of silver conductivity electrodes was performed through a patterned stencil on thin PMMA sheets. Following the electrode fabrication, the PMMA sheets are cut into cover sheets, and are aligned and sealed to the channel plate thus establishing a complete microchip separation device. The effects of the electrode width and spacing on the response and resolution have been investigated and the optimized electrode performance was compared to commonly used aluminum electrodes in the determination of ammonium, methyl ammonium, and sodium. The utility of the screen‐printed contactless conductivity detector (SPCCD) electrodes is further demonstrated for the separation and detection of organic acids with excellent reproducibility (RSD values of 3.7% and 4.1% for oxalate and tartrate, respectively). The thick‐film fabrication of the electrode material demonstrates the ability to mass‐fabricate detection devices with total process of device fabrication requiring less than 4 h (including the fabrication of channel plate, cover sheet with the electrodes, and subsequent bonding). The fabrication method described here is convenient and does not compromise the detector performance, hence offers great promise for producing single use field deployable analytical microsystems.     

集成化金膜阵列电极的制作研究

以聚乙烯不干胶掩膜版法结合金属溅射沉积技术在FR-4玻璃纤维版上制作了由6个金膜工作电极(1 mm×2 mm)、1个大面积金膜对电极(2 mm×13 mm)和1个厚膜Ag/AgCl参比电极构成的集成化金膜阵列电极系统,并利用电化学手段对阵列电极系统进行了考察。研究结果表明,K3Fe(CN)6在厚膜Ag/AgCl/1.0 mol/L NaCl参比电极上的式电位与商业Ag/AgCl/3.0 mol/L NaCl参比电极相差0.067 V;参比电极放置1个月后,测量电位未发生明显变化。利用扫描电化学显微镜对工作电极表面平整度进行考察,结果表明工作电极表面具有较好的平整度。通过测量H2SO4还原峰面积评价了工作电极电化学面积的批内、批间一致性;通过K3Fe(CN)6在电极上的Ipa/Ipc比值评价了工作电极电化学特性的批内、批间一致性。结果表明,阵列电极面积和电化学特性具有良好的批内和批间一致性。对集成化金膜阵列电极系统的研究结果表明,聚乙烯不干胶掩膜版法结合金属溅射沉积技术制作的阵列电极能够满足电化学电极的要求,可作为电化学生物传感器的基础电极。