High-sensitivity amperometric biosensors based on ferrocene-modified linear poly(ethylenimine).

Amperometric biosensors for glucose and hydrogen peroxide have been built by immobilizing glucose oxidase (GOX) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) in cross-linked films of ferrocene-modified linear poly(ethylenimine). At pH 7, the glucose sensors generated limiting catalytic current densities of 1.2 mA/cm2. These current densities are approximately 4 times higher than those with other ferrocene-based redox polymers and are comparable to the highest reported values for osmium-based redox polymers with GOX. Because of the high sensitivity of these films (73 nA/cm2.microM), glucose concentrations in the micromolar range could be detected. Similarly, sensors were constructed with HRP-generated current densities of 0.9 mA/cm2 under saturation conditions and sensitivities of 500 nA/cm2.microM. The results show that the ability of Fc-LPEI to effectively communicate with a variety of enzymes has potential applications in measuring low substrate concentrations in implantable biosensors and producing high current outputs in enzymatic biofuel cells.