Amperometric Determination of Glucose with a Carbon Paste Biosensor

Application of the Enzymatic Electrochemical Biosensors for Monitoring Non-Competitive Inhibition of Enzyme Activity by Heavy Metals

The inhibition effect of the selected heavy metals (Ag⁺, Cd²⁺, Cu²⁺, and Hg²⁺) on glucose oxidase (GOx) enzyme from Aspergillus niger (EC 1.1.3.4.) was studied using a new amperometric biosensor with an electrochemical transducer based on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) covered with a thin layer of multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) incorporated with ruthenium(IV) oxide as a redox mediator. Direct adsorption of multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and subsequent covering with Nafion^® layer was used for immobilization of Gox. The analytical figures of merit of the developed glucose (Glc) biosensor are sufficient for determination of Glc in body fluids in clinical analysis. From all tested heavy metals, mercury(II) has the highest inhibition effect. However, it is necessary to remember that cadmium and silver ions also significantly inhibit the catalytic activity of Gox. Therefore, the development of Gox biosensors for selective indirect determination of each heavy metal still represents a challenge in the field of bioelectroanalysis. It can be concluded that amperometric biosensors, differing in the utilized enzyme, could find their application in the toxicity studies of various poisons.

Hydrodynamic chronoamperometric method for the determination of H₂O₂ using MnO₂-based carbon paste electrodes in groundwater treated by Fenton and Fenton-like reagents for natural organic matter removal

A simple hydrodynamic chronoamperometric method based on the application of an unmodified carbon paste electrode (CPE) and bulk-modified with different contents of MnO2 was investigated for the determination of H2O2. The optimized method involving the CPE with 5% of MnO2 was applied for the determination of the H2O2 consumption in samples of groundwater from the Central Banat region (Province of Vojvodina, Serbia) treated by the Fenton (Fe(2+) and H2O2) and Fenton-like (Fe(3+) and H2O2) reagents to remove natural organic matter at different initial concentrations of iron species, and of their ratios to the initial concentration of H2O2. Under optimized conditions, with a working potential of 0.40V vs. the saturated calomel electrode and a phosphate buffer solution (pH 7.5) as supporting electrolyte, the method enabled the quantitation of H2O2 in the concentration interval from 1.4 to 65 μg mL(-1) with a relative standard deviation of less than 10%. The results obtained for the H2O2 consumption are in good agreement with those obtained by parallel measurements related to the efficiency of organic matter removal.

Amperometric biosensors based on carbon paste electrodes modified with nanostructured mixed-valence manganese oxides and glucose oxidase

Nanostructured, multivalent, manganese-oxide octahedral molecular sieves (OMS), including cryptomelane-type manganese oxides and todorokite-type manganese oxides, were synthesized and evaluated for chemical sensing and biosensing at low operating potential. Both cryptomelane-type manganese oxides and todorokite-type manganese oxides are nanofibrous crystals with subnanometer open tunnels that provide a unique property for sensing applications. The electrochemical and electrocatalytic performance of OMS for the oxidation of H2O2 have been compared. Both cryptomelane-type manganese oxides and todorokite-type manganese oxides can be used to fabricate sensitive H2O2 sensors. With glucose oxidase (GOx) as an enzyme model, amperometric glucose biosensors are constructed by bulk modification of carbon paste electrodes with GOx as a biocomponent and nanostructured OMS as a mediator. A Nafion thin film was applied as an immobilization/encapsulation and protective layer. The biosensors were evaluated as an amperometric glucose detector at phosphate buffer solution with a pH 7.4 at an operating potential of 0.3 V (vs Ag/AgCl). The biosensor is characterized by a well-reproducible amperometric response, linear signal-to-glucose concentration range up to 3.5 mmol/L and 1.75 mmol/L, and detection limits (S/N = 3) of 0.1 mmol/L and 0.05 mmol/L for todorokite-type manganese oxide and cryptomelane-type manganese oxide-modified electrodes, respectively. The biosensors based on OMS exhibit considerable good reproducibility and stability, and the construction and renewal are simple and inexpensive.