Development of a tetraphenylporphyrin cobalt (II) modified glassy carbon electrode to monitor oxygen consumption in biological samples

•A CoTPP/GC electrode was prepared as sensor probe for dissolved oxygen sensing.•The sensor exhibited higher electrocatalytic activity for DO reduction with good stability.•Overpotential for oxygen reduction was shifted towards less negative side (~ 0.30 V).•Continuous amperometric monitoring of mitochondrial O2 consumption was performed.•Results agreed well for parallel measurements made with a Clark-type electrode.

A glassy carbon (GC) electrode modified with a CoTPP (5, 10, 15, 20-meso tetraphenylporphyrin cobalt (II)) film was prepared and used as a dissolved oxygen electrochemical sensor. The as-prepared electrode was characterized using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and cyclic voltammetry (CV). The electrochemical behaviour of the CoTPP/GC modified electrode for oxygen reduction in 0.1 mol L− 1 KNO3 aqueous solution was compared to that of a bare GC electrode and a decrease in overpotential (~ 0.30 V) and onset potential (~ 0.15 V) was noticed. The proposed platform was used as an electrochemical sensor for dissolved oxygen detection, and analytical parameters such as reproducibility, repeatability and long-term stability were determined. The usefulness of the developed sensor was demonstrated by continuous amperometric monitoring of mitochondrial oxygen consumption and the results agreed well with those obtained in parallel measurements performed using a commercial high-resolution “Clark-type” electrode.

Graphical abstractElectrochemical behaviour of the CoTPP/GC modified electrode towards oxygen reduction and its biological application.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide