High-performance biosensors based on enzyme precipitate coating in gold nanoparticle-conjugated single-walled carbon nanotube network films

Single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) network films with high network density were prepared by vacuum-filtering a suspension of SWCNTs, and used as a host of enzyme precipitate coating of glucose oxidase (EPC-GOx). EPC-GOx was fabricated into the SWCNT network films in a two-step process of enzyme precipitation and crosslinking. High GOx loading in a form of EPC expedited the generation of electrons while the good connectivity of conductive SWCNTs in the network structure increased the electron transfer rate. According to amperometric measurements, the sensitivities of GOx/SWCNT electrodes, governed by both generation and transfer of electrons, were significantly enhanced by filling up the open pores of SWCNT films with the EPC-GOx when compared to the approaches of covalent-attachment (CA) and enzyme coating (EC) with no step of enzyme precipitation. For example, the sensitivities of CA, EC and EPC-GOx were 0.039, 0.140, and 5.72 μA mM−1, respectively. High sensitivity of EPC-GOx was maintained under iterative uses for 10 days. The deposition of gold nanoparticles into SWCNT films has resulted in high-performance glucose sensors with a remarkable sensitivity of 24.5 μA mM−1, which can be explained by further expedited electron transfer due to deposited gold nanoparticles.

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► Highly porous SWCNT network film enables high enzyme loading.
► High network density of SWCNT film reduces the electron transfer resistance.
► Enzyme precipitate coating in SWCNT film achieves high glucose sensitivity.
► Gold nanoparticle deposition further enhances the sensitivity of enzyme electrode.