Hemoglobin/colloidal silver nanoparticles immobilized in titania sol–gel film on glassy carbon electrode: Direct electrochemistry and electrocatalysis

By vapor deposition method, both hemoglobin (Hb) and colloidal silver nanoparticles (CSNs) were entrapped in a titania sol–gel matrix on the surface of a glassy carbon electrode (GCE). CSNs could greatly enhance the electron transfer reactivity of Hb and its catalytic ability toward nitrite. Direct fast electron transfer between Hb and the GCE was achieved, and a pair of well-defined, quasi-reversible redox peaks was observed. The anodic and cathodic peak potentials are located at − 0.298 V and − 0.364 V (vs. Ag/AgCl), respectively. The dependence of the formal potential on solution pH indicated that the direct electron transfer reaction of Hb was a one-electron transfer coupled with a one-proton transfer reaction process. Meanwhile, the catalytic ability of Hb toward the reduction of NO2− was also studied. Accordingly, a NO2− biosensor was prepared, with a linear range from 0.2 mM to 6.0 mM and a detection limit of 34.0 μM. The apparent Michaelis–Menten constant was calculated to be 7.48 mM. Moreover, the biosensor had good long-term stability.