Wiring of glucose oxidase with graphene nanoribbons: an electrochemical third generation glucose biosensor

A reagentless third generation electrochemical glucose biosensor was fabricated based on wiring the template enzyme glucose oxidase (GOx) with graphene nanoribbons (GN) in order to create direct electron transfer between the co-factor (flavin adenine dinucleotide, FAD) and the electrode. The strategy involved: (i) isolation of the apo-enzyme by separating it from its co-enzyme; (ii) preparation of graphene nanoribbons (GN) by oxidative unzipping of multi-walled carbon nanotubes; (iii) adsorptive immobilization of GNs on the surface of a screen printed carbon electrode (SPCE); (iv) covalent attachment of FAD to the nanoribbons; (v) recombination of the apo-enzyme with the covalently bound FAD to the holoenzyme; and (vi) stabilization of the bio-layer with a thin membrane of Nafion. The biosensor (referred to as GN/FAD/apo-GOx/Nafion/SPCE) is operated at a potential of +0.475 V vs Ag/AgCl/{3 M KCl} in flow-injection mode with an oxygen-free phosphate buffer (pH 7.5) acting as a carrier. The signals are linearly proportional to the concentration of glucose in the range from 50 to 2000 mgai...L-1 with a detection limit of 20 mgai...L-1. The repeatability (10 measurements, at 1000 mgai...L-1 glucose) is +/- 1.4% and the reproducibility (5 sensors, 1000 mgai...L-1 glucose) is +/- 1.8%. The biosensor was applied to the determination of glucose in human serum.