Nonenzymatic glucose sensor based on disposable pencil graphite electrode modified by copper nanoparticles

A nonenzymatic glucose sensor based on a disposable pencil graphite electrode (PGE) modified by copper nanoparticles [Cu(NP)] was prepared for the first time. The prepared Cu(NP) exhibited an absorption peak centered at -562 nm using UV-visible spectrophotometry and an almost homogenous spherical shape by scanning electron microscopy. Cyclic voltammetry of Cu(NP)-PGE showed an adsorption controlled charge transfer process up to 90.0 mVs(-1). The sensor was applied for the determination of glucose using an amperometry technique with a detection limit of [0.44 (+/- 0.01) mu M] and concentration sensitivity of [1467.5 (+/- 1.3) mu A/mMcm(-2)]. The preparation of the Cu(NP)-PGE sensor was reproducible (relative standard deviation = 2.10%, n = 10), very simple, fast, and inexpensive, and the Cu(NP)-PGE is suitable to be used as a disposable glucose sensor. Copyright (C) 2016, Food and Drug Administration, Taiwan. Published by Elsevier Taiwan LLC.