Surface modifications for enhanced enzyme immobilization and improved electron transfer of PQQ-dependent glucose dehydrogenase anodes

Pyrroloquinoline quinone dependent soluble glucose dehydrogenase (PQQ-sGDH) enzymatic MWCNT electrodes were p roduced using 1-pyrenecarboxylic acid (PCA) activated through carbodiimide functionalization and 1-Pyrenebutyric acid N-hydroxysuccinimide ester (PBSE) as tethering agents. At 600 mV potential, the current density generated by the activated-PCA tethered PQQ-sGDH anode was significantly greater than the current density generated by the untethered PQQ-sGDH and PBSE tethered anodes, and performance was nearly identical to the performance of a covalently bound PQQ-sGDH anode. A technique for covalently bonding heme-b (hemin), a natural quinohemoprotein porphyrin redox cofactor, to carbon nanotubes modified with arylamine groups is reported. The resulting performance of the covalently bound hemin PQQ-sGDH anode is considerably higher than that of any other PQQ-sGDH anodes tested.