Carbon nanotube composites for glucose biosensor incorporated with reverse iontophoresis function for noninvasive glucose monitoring

Abstract

This study aims to develop an amperometric glucose biosensor, based on carbon nanotubes material for reverse iontophoresis, fabricated by immobilizing a mixture of glucose oxidase (GOD) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) epoxy-composite, on a planar screen-printed carbon electrode. MWCNT was employed to ensure proper incorporation into the epoxy mixture and faster electron transfer between the GOD and the transducer. Results showed this biosensor possesses a low detection potential (+500 mV), good sensitivity (4 μA/mM) and an excellent linear response range (r² = 0.999; 0–4 mM) of glucose detection at +500 mV (versus Ag/AgCl). The response time of the biosensor was about 25 s. In addition, the biosensor could be used in conjunction with reverse iontophoresis technique. In an actual evaluation model, an excellent linear relationship (r² = 0.986) was found between the glucose concentration of the actual model and the biosensor’s current response. Thus, a glucose biosensor based on carbon nanotube composites and incorporated with reverse iontophoresis function was developed.

Keywords:

• amperometric
• carbon nanotubes
• glucose monitoring
• biosensors
• reverse iontophoresis

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by grants (NSC 98-2221-E-260- 002- and NSC 98-2221-E-260-024-MY3) from National Science Council, Taiwan, Republic of China. Also, this work was partially supported by grant (98A032) from the National Chi Nan University and Puli Christian Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan, Republic of China.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.