A glucose biosensor based on surface active maghemite nanoparticles

A simple carbon paste (CP) electrode, modified with novel maghemite (γ-Fe2O3) nanoparticles, called SAMNs (suface active maghemite nanoparticles) and characterized by a mean diameter of about 10 nm, has been developed. The electrode catalyzes the electro-reduction of hydrogen peroxide at low applied potentials (−0.1 V vs SCE). In order to improve the electrocatalytic properties of the modified electrode an ionic liquid, namely 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate (BMIM-PF6), was introduced. At −0.1 V, the sensitivity of the SAMN–BMIM-PF6–CP electrode was 206.51 nA μM−1 cm−2, with a detection limit (S/N=3) of 0.8 μM, in the 0–1.5 mM H2O2 concentration range. Furthermore, glucose oxidase was immobilized on the surface of maghemite nanoparticles as a monomolecular layer, by a bridge constituted of rhodamine B isothiocyanate, leading to a fluorescent, magnetic drivable nanocatalyst, containing 10±2 enzyme molecules per nanoparticle. The resulting enzyme electrode presents a linear calibration curve toward glucose in solution in the concentration range of 0–1.5 mM glucose, characterized by a sensitivity of 45.85 nA μM−1 cm−2 and a detection limit (S/N=3) of 0.9 μM. The storage stability of the system was evaluated and a half-life of 2 months was calculated, if the electrode is stored at 4 °C in buffer. The present work demonstrates the feasibility of these surface active maghemite nanoparticles as efficient hydrogen peroxide electro-catalyst, which can be easily coupled to hydrogen peroxide producing enzymes in order to develop oxidase based reagentless biosensor devices.

► Coating of surface active maghemite nanoparticles with rhodamine B isothiocyanate.
► Immobilization of glucose oxidase on rhodamine modified maghemite nanoparticles.
► Characterization of the nanocomposite electrode.
► Biosensor development with nanoparticles coated with rhodamine and glucose oxidase.
► Interference study and applications to real samples