Glucose biosensors based on the immobilization of copper oxide and glucose oxidase within a carbon paste matrix

The performance of amperometric glucose biosensors based on the dispersion of glucose oxidase (GOx) and copper oxide within a classical carbon (graphite) paste composite is reported in this work. Copper oxide promotes an excellent electrocatalytic activity towards the oxidation and reduction of hydrogen peroxide, allowing a large decrease in the oxidation and reduction overpotentials, as well as an important enhancement of the corresponding currents. Therefore, it is possible to perform the glucose biosensing at low potentials where there is no interference even in large excess of ascorbic acid, uric acid or acetaminophen. The influence of the copper oxide and glucose oxidase content in the paste on the analytical performance of the bioelectrode is discussed. The resulting biosensor shows a fast response, a linear relationship between current and glucose concentration up to 1.35 × 10−2 M (2.43 g L−1) and a detection limit of 2.0 × 10−5 M. The effect of the presence of the enzyme in the composite material on the dispersion of the copper oxide particles is also discussed.