Ordered Porous Gold Electrodes to Enhance the Sensitivity of Enzyme-Based Glucose Sensors

Abstract

Glucose sensors are essential tools for diabetes patients to use in monitoring their blood glucose levels. However, to be able to detect glucose in non-invasively collected physiological fluids, such as tears and urine, the sensitivity of these glucose sensors must be significantly higher than sensors that are currently used to detect glucose concentrations in blood. Increasing the specific surface area of enzyme-based glucose sensors through the use of ordered porous gold electrodes has been shown to enhance the sensitivity of these sensors. The enzyme-based ordered porous gold glucose sensor was demonstrated to be suitable in detecting glucose concentrations ranges that are similar to those occurring in tears. Although sensitivity of the glucose sensor is enhanced, the saturation threshold of the sensor is lowered. Further optimizations of the porous gold electrodes are required to eliminate signal saturation of these improved sensors.