Amperometric determination of glucose, based on the direct electron transfer between glucose oxidase and tin oxide

Abstract

An amperometric glucose biosensor was designed for the detection of glucose in blood, urine, beverages, and fermentation systems. In typical glucose biosensors that employ enzymes, mediators are used for efficient electron transfer between the enzymes and the electrode. However, some of these mediators are known to be toxic to the enzymes and also must be immobilized on the surface of the electrode. We propose a mediator-free glucose biosensor that uses a glucose oxidase immobilized on a tin oxide electrode. Direct electron transfer is possible in this system because the tin oxide has redox properties similar to those of mediators. The method for immobilization of the glucose oxidase onto the tin oxide is also very simple. Tin oxide was prepared by the anodization and annealing of pure tin, and this provides a large surface area for the immobilization step because of its porosity. Glucose oxidase was immobilized onto the tin oxide using the membrane entrapment method. The proposed method provides a simple process for fabricating the enzyme electrode. Glucose oxidase immobilized onto the tin oxide, prepared in accordance with this method, has a relatively large current response when comparedto those of other glucose biosensors. The sensitivity of the biosensor was 19.55 μA/mM, and a linear response was observed between 0∼3 mM glucose. This biosensor demonstrated good reproducibility and stability.