A novel method to construct a third-generation biosensor: self-assembling gold nanoparticles on thiol-functionalized poly(styrene-co-acrylic acid) nanospheres.

A novel method for fabrication of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) biosensor has been developed by self-assembling gold nanoparticles on thiol-functionalized poly(styrene-co-acrylic acid) (St-co-AA) nanospheres. At first, a cleaned gold electrode was immersed in thiol-functionalized poly(St-co-AA) nanosphere latex prepared by emulsifier-free emulsion polymerization of St with AA and function with dithioglycol to assemble the nanospheres, then gold nanoparticles were chemisorbed onto the thiol groups. Finally, horseradish peroxidase was immobilized on the surface of the gold nanoparticles. The sensor displayed an excellent electrocatalytical response to reduction of H2O2 without the aid of an electron mediator. The sensor was highly sensitive to hydrogen peroxide with a detection limit of 4.0 micromoll(-1), and the linear range was from 10.0 micromoll(-1) to 7.0 mmoll(-1). The biosensor retained more than 97.8% of its original activity after 60 days of use. Moreover, the studied biosensor exhibited good current repeatability and good fabrication reproducibility.