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

Contact:

University os texas,
Austin, USA
Website : www.otc.utexas.edu