A Cu-NPG/SPE sensor for non-enzymatic and non-invasive electrochemical glucose detection

A composite material consisting of copper-nanoporous gold (Cu-NPG) structures anchored on a screen-printed electrode (SPE) through a new and straightforward two-step electrodeposition process was characterized and employed as a platform to examine the electrochemical behavior of glucose. Results showed that glucose is electrochemically oxidized at considerably less positive potentials with improved sensitivity at the Cu-NPG/SPE sensor, compared to parallel experiments carried out with NPG/SPE and Au/SPE sensors. Analytical parameters such as sensitivity (659.9 mu A mu mol(-1) L cm(-2)), selectivity, reproducibility (2.7%), limit of detection (0.13 mu mol L-1), and stability demonstrate the suitability of the proposed sensor for continuous glucose monitoring. The NPG/SPE sensor offered excellent performance when detecting physiological concentrations of glucose in complex matrices (synthetic saliva).

Automated summary

The composite material of Cu-NPG structures on an SPE electrode demonstrated improved sensitivity for electrochemical oxidation of glucose at lower positive potentials compared to NPG/SPE and Au/SPE sensors. The proposed Cu-NPG/SPE sensor showed excellent analytical parameters and performance in detecting physiological concentrations of glucose in complex matrices.