High performance nonenzymatic electrochemical sensors via thermally grown Cu native oxides (CuNOx) towards sweat glucose monitoring

Diabetes, which is the seventh leading cause of death globally, necessitates real-time blood glucose monitoring, a process that is often invasive. A promising alternative is sweat glucose monitoring, which typically uses transition metals and their oxide nanomaterials as sensors. Despite their excellent surface-to-volume ratio, these materials have some drawbacks, including poor conductivity, structural collapse, and aggregation. As a result, selecting highly electroconductive materials and optimizing their nanostructures is critical. In this work, we developed a high-performance, low-cost, nonenzymatic sensor for sweat glucose detection, using the thermally grown native oxide of copper (CuNOx). By heating Cu foil at 160, 250, and 280 °C, we grew a native oxide layer of approximately 140 nm cupric oxide (CuO), which is excellent for glucose electrocatalysis. Using cyclic voltammetry, we found that our CuNOx sensors prepared at 280 °C exhibited a sensitivity of 1795 μA mM-1 cm-2, a linear range up to the desired limit of 1.00 mM for sweat glucose with excellent linearity (R2 = 0.9844), and a lower limit of detection of 135.39 μM. For glucose sensing, the redox couple Cu(II)/Cu(III) oxidizes glucose to gluconolactone and subsequently to gluconic acid, producing an oxidation current in an alkaline environment. Our sensors showed excellent repeatability and stability (remaining stable for over a year) with a relative standard deviation (RSD) of 2.48% and 4.17%, respectively, for 1 mM glucose. The selectivity, when tested with common interferants found in human sweat and blood, showed an RSD of 4.32%. We hope that the electrocatalytic efficacy of the thermally grown CuNOx sensors for glucose sensing can introduce new avenues in the fabrication of sweat glucose sensors.

Developments of the Electroactive Materials for Non-Enzymatic Glucose Sensing and Their Mechanisms

A comprehensive review of the electroactive materials for non-enzymatic glucose sensing and sensing devices has been performed in this work. A general introduction for glucose sensing, a facile electrochemical technique for glucose detection, and explanations of fundamental mechanisms for the electro-oxidation of glucose via the electrochemical technique are conducted. The glucose sensing materials are classified into five major systems: (1) mono-metallic materials, (2) bi-metallic materials, (3) metallic-oxide compounds, (4) metallic-hydroxide materials, and (5) metal-metal derivatives. The performances of various systems within this decade have been compared and explained in terms of sensitivity, linear regime, the limit of detection (LOD), and detection potentials. Some promising materials and practicable methodologies for the further developments of glucose sensors have been proposed. Firstly, the atomic deposition of alloys is expected to enhance the selectivity, which is considered to be lacking in non-enzymatic glucose sensing. Secondly, by using the modification of the hydrophilicity of the metallic-oxides, a promoted current response from the electro-oxidation of glucose is expected. Lastly, by taking the advantage of the redistribution phenomenon of the oxide particles, the usage of the noble metals is foreseen to be reduced.

'Urease immobilized single-kit' for sensing of thiourea-glucose pair employing fluorescence 'Turn off - Turn on' and as an efficient sorbent for selective sample cleanup of thiourea

The tenfold lowering in binding energy for TU-Tyrosine in immobilized urease (K_b: 4.7 × 10³) with respect to the native enzyme (K_b: 6.5 × 10⁴) begets easy desorption of thiourea (TU) by glucose (GL) with an eventual formation of a more strong TU- GL adduct; that rejuvenates the kit-material ready for the subsequent cycle(s). The sorption-desorption heeds fluorescence turn-off and turn-on in DCM for selective sensing of TU- GL pair at their respective linear range of concentration 2.5-26.1 ppm and 2.36-11.57 ppm. The process was found to be static (K_SV ≥ 2.25 × 10³ L mol^-1), exothermic (ΔH: -0.08 kJ mol^-1), spontaneous (ΔG: -21.1 kJ mol^-1) and marginally entropy gaining (ΔS: 0.07 kJ mol^-1 K^-1). The 'bulk material' (200 ± 20 μm) brilliantly preconcentrates TU with an enrichment factor of 106.2 after its selective extraction at near-neutral pH from a large volume sample (800 mL) of low concentration (30 ppm). A very dilute solution (0.05 mmol L^-1) of GL at minimum volume (6 mL) acts as a stripping agent and provides a longer life (200 cycles with good extraction efficiency) to the material. The method was found to be efficient in the analysis of fruit juice as a real sample.

Cobalt Phosphate Nanostructures for Non-Enzymatic Glucose Sensing at Physiological pH

Nanostructured materials have potential as platforms for analytical assays and catalytic reactions. Herein, we report the synthesis of electrocatalytically active cobalt phosphate nanostructures (CPNs) using a simple, low-cost, and scalable preparation method. The electrocatalytic properties of CPNs toward the electrooxidation of glucose (Glu) were studied by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry in relevant biological electrolytes, such as phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), at physiological pH (7.4). Using CPNs, Glu detection could be achieved over a wide range of biologically relevant concentrations, from 1 to 30 mM Glu in PBS, with a sensitivity of 7.90 nA/mM cm² and a limit of detection of 0.3 mM, thus fulfilling the necessary requirements for human blood Glu detection. In addition, CPNs showed a high structural and functional stability over time at physiological pH. The CPN-coated electrodes could also be used for Glu detection in the presence of interfering agents (e.g., ascorbic acid and dopamine) and in human serum. Density functional theory calculations were performed to evaluate the interaction of Glu with different faceted cobalt phosphate surfaces; the results revealed that specific surface presentations of under-coordinated cobalt led to the strongest interaction with Glu, suggesting that enhanced detection of Glu by CPNs can be achieved by lowering the surface coordination of cobalt. Our results highlight the potential use of phosphate-based nanostructures as catalysts for electrochemical sensing of biochemical analytes.

Porous NiCo2O4 nanoarray-integrated binder-free 3D open electrode offers a highly efficient sensing platform for enzyme-free glucose detection

Porous binary metal oxide NiCo₂O₄ NWA/CC was prepared and utilized as a 3D binder-free open electrode for enzyme-free sensing with high performance.

Ni-Co bimetal nanowires filled multiwalled carbon nanotubes for the highly sensitive and selective non-enzymatic glucose sensor applications

The facile, time and cost efficient and environmental benign approach has been developed for the preparation of Nickel (Ni)-Cobalt (Co) alloy nanowires filled multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) with the aid of mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN)/Ni-Co catalyst. The controlled incorporation of Ni-Co nanostructures in the three dimensional (3D) pore structures of MSN yielded the catalytically active system for the MWCNT growth. The inner surface of MWCNTs was quasi-continuously filled with face-centered cubic (fcc) structured Ni-Co nanowires. The as-prepared nanostructures were exploited as non-enzymatic electrochemical sensor probes for the reliable detection of glucose. The electrochemical measurements illustrated that the fabricated sensor exhibited an excellent electrochemical performance toward glucose oxidation with a high sensitivity of 0.695 mA mM^-1 cm^-2, low detection limit of 1.2 μM, a wide linear range from 5 μM-10 mM and good selectivity. The unprecedented electrochemical performances obtained for the prepared nanocomposite are purely attributed to the synergistic effects of Ni-Co nanowires and MWCNTs. The constructed facile, selective and sensitive glucose sensor has also endowed its reliability in analyzing the human serum samples, which wide opened the new findings for exploring the novel nanostructures based glucose sensor devices with affordable cost and good stability.

Modern Approach to the Synthesis of Ni(OH)2 Decorated Sulfur Doped Carbon Nanoparticles for the Nonenzymatic Glucose Sensor

As a growing aspect of materials science, there are an enormous number of synthesis routes that have been identified to produce materials, particularly through simple methodologies. In this way, the present study focuses on the easiest way to prepare sulfur doped carbon nanoparticles (SDCNs) using a flame synthesis method and has also demonstrated a novel route to synthesize Ni(OH)2 decorated SDCNs by a simple adsorption cum precipitation method. The SDCNs are alternative candidates to prestigious carbon materials such as graphene, carbon nanotubes, and fullerenes. Moreover, SDCNs provide excellent support to the Ni(2+) ion adsorption and initiate the formation of Ni(OH)2. The formation of Ni(OH)2 on the SDCN matrix was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), selected area diffraction pattern (SAED), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). After these meticulous structural evaluations, we have described the mechanism for the formation of Ni(OH)2 on an SDCN matrix. The as-prepared Ni(OH)2 decorated SDCN nanocomposites were used as an electrode material for nonenzymatic glucose sensors. The fabricated glucose sensor exhibited a wide linear concentration range, 0.0001-5.22 mM and 5.22-10.22 mM, and a low-level detection limit of 28 nM. Additionally, it reveals excellent selectivity in the potentially interfering ions and also possesses a good stability. The practicality of the fabricated glucose sensor was also demonstrated toward glucose detection in biological samples.

Recent advances in non-enzymatic electrochemical glucose sensors based on non-precious transition metal materials: opportunities and challenges

We summarize the latest advances of non-enzymatic glucose detection using non-noble transition metal materials, highlighting their opportunities and challenges.