Carbon nanostructures as transducers in biosensors

Carbon nanostructures, such as fullerenes, carbon nanotubes and carbon nanofibers are used as doping materials in biosensor membranes. The efficiency of these materials as transducers and mediators in amperometric sensors is evaluated, using cyclic voltammetry and amperometry in order to define the sensitivity to peroxide. The mediation efficiency of the carbon nanostructures doped in amperometric membranes is significantly different due to the different physical and chemical characteristics of each material. At the same time, the ability of peroxide oxidation on the surface of the carbon materials changes, depending on to the carbon nanomaterial utilized. These results set the grounds for the rational application of carbon nanomaterials in biosensor science. (C) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.