Nano technologies - Catalytic Nanocarbon Electrodes
for Peroxide-Based Biosensors
Introduction
Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is produced
as a byproduct of many oxidase-substrate interactions
involving such physiologically important molecules as
glucose and cholesterol. Therefore, the detection and
quantification of H2O2 has become the basis of many
biosensing strategies, including electrochemical biosensing.
Biosensors developed for glucose or cholesterol detection
typically utilize the respective oxidases of these substrates,
which catalytically generate hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)
upon interaction with them. This enzymatically generated
H2O2 may then be detected by direct electrochemical
H2O2 oxidation at Pt. H2O2 may also be detected through
enzymatic H2O2 reduction incorporating an electrochemically
detectable peroxidase, such as horseradish peroxidase
(HRP).
Invention Description
We have solved the aforementioned
problems by utilizing nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes
(N-CNTs) grown via chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and
drop-cast at the surface of a glassy carbon (GC) electrode
to electrochemically detect H2O2 through its spontaneous
decomposition at the N-CNTs. H2O2 produced in oxidase-substrate
interactions is detected electrochemically at the N-CNT-GC
electrode via a current response corresponding to the
decomposition of H2O2 into O2, which is catalytically
reduced by the N-CNTs.
Benefits
Use of a nitrogen-doped carbon
nanotube for direct peroxide-based sensing via electrochemical
current increase
Eliminates the need for costly
enzymes in peroxide-based biosensing schemes
Low susceptibility to electrode
fouling
Peroxide sensing occurs directly
at as-prepared nanocarbons
IP Status
One U.S. Patent Application Filed.
UT Researcher
Keith J. Stevenson, Ph.D., Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Texas
at Austin
