Electrochemical sensors based on modified track–etched membrane for non-enzymatic glucose determination

Abstract

In this research, a non-enzymatic sensor for electrochemical glucose detection based on modified poly(ethyleneterephthalate) track-etched membrane (PET TeMs) was firstly reported in the field of sensing of organic substances. The electrochemical sensors were obtained by photograft polymerization with 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and further formation of a polyelectrolyte complex with poly(allylamine) (PAlAm). 4-mercaptophenylboronic acid was functionalized on the surface of PET TeMs via Au-S bond and –OH group of polymerized HEMA to recognize glucose by formation of cyclic boronic ester. The modified PET TeMs were characterized by infrared spectroscopy, gas permeability test, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive analysis. Optimal parameters for graft polymerization, such as monomer concentration, polymerization time and distance from the UV-lamp were found. Electrochemical determination of glucose was done by square wave voltammetry. The non-enzymatic sensors for glucose detection showed a good linear relationship between the area under the oxidation peak and glucose concentration in the range from 0.1 mM to 8 mM with a low detection limit of 0.1 mM (R2 = 0.999). In addition, the sensors showed excellent reproducibility, repeatability and good selectivity for metal ions and ascorbic acid. The determination of glucose in apple juice and human blood serum demonstrated that the obtained sensors can be used in real samples with sufficient reproducibility of results.