Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Sensing glucose based on its affinity for concanavalin A on a glassy carbon electrode modified with a C60 fullerene nanocomposite

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Microchimica Acta Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

An ultrasensitive electrochemical glucose biosensor has been developed by depositing C60-fullerene functionalized with tetraoctylammonium bromide (C60-TOAB+) on the surface of a glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The glucose-binding protein concanavalin A (Con A) was then linked to the surface. Binding of glucose by Con A affects the electroactivity of the reversible redox couple C60/C60 −, and this finding forms the basis for a quantitative glucose assay over the 10 to 10 mM concentration range and with a lower detection limit of 3.3 nM (at an S/N ratio of 3). The sensitivity of this sensor allowed glucose to be determined in saliva. This biosensor possesses excellent selectivity, outstanding reproducibility and good long-term stability.

An ultrasensitive electrochemical glucose biosensor has been developed by depositing C60-fullerene functionalized with tetraoctylammonium bromide (C60-TOAB+) on the surface of a glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The glucose-binding protein concanavalin A (Con A) was then linked to the surface. Binding of glucose by Con A affects the electroactivity of the reversible redox couple C60/C60 −, and this finding forms the basis for a quantitative glucose assay over the 10 to 10 mM concentration range and with a lower detection limit of 3.3 nM (at an S/N ratio of 3). The sensitivity of this sensor allowed glucose to be determined in saliva.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Scheme 1
Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Zhang L, Ni YH, Li H (2010) Addition of porous cuprous oxide to a Nafion film strongly improves the performance of a nonenzymatic glucose sensor. Microchim Acta 171:103–108

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Chen C, Xie QJ, Yang DW, Xiao HL, Fu YY, Tan YM, Yao SZ (2013) Recent advances in electrochemical glucose biosensors: a review. RSC Adv 3:4473–4491

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Ronkainen NJ, Halsall HB, Heineman WR (2010) Electrochemical biosensors. Chem Soc Rev 39:1747–1763

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Wang JP, Thomas DF, Chen AC (2008) Nonenzymatic electrochemical glucose sensor based on nanoporous PtPb networks. Anal Chem 80:997–1004

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Wang J (2008) Electrochemical glucose biosensors. Chem Rev 108:814–825

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Lim SH, Wei J, Lin JY, Li QT, You JK (2005) A glucose biosensor based on electrodeposition of palladium nanoparticles and glucose oxidase onto nafion-solubilized carbon nanotube electrode. Biosens Bioelectron 20:2341–2346

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Cetik S, Zhang Y, Hupkens E, Jurysta C, Malaisse WJ, Sener A (2013) A tentative model for D-glucose turnover in human saliva. Oral Biol 58:1265–1270

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Ye DX, Liang GH, Li HX, Luo J, Zhang S, Chen H, Kong JL (2013) A novel nonenzymatic sensor based on CuO nanoneedle/graphene/carbon nanofiber modified electrode for probing glucose in saliva. Talanta 116:223–230

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Rowe L, Deo S, Shofner J, Ensor M, Daunert S (2007) Aequorin-based homogeneous cortisol immunoassay for analysis of saliva samples. Bioconjug Chem 18:1772–1777

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Chen X, Wu G, Cai Z, Oyama M, Chen X (2014) Advances in enzyme-free electrochemical sensors for hydrogen peroxide, glucose, and uric acid. Microchim Acta 181:689–705

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Steiner MS, Duerkop A, Wolfbeis OS (2011) Optical methods for sensing glucose. Chem Soc Rev 40:4805–4839

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Becker JW, Reeke GN, Cunningham BA, Edelman GM (1976) New evidence on the location of the saccharide-binding site of concanavalin A. Nature 259:406–409

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Liu SQ, Wang KW, Du D, Sun YM, He L (2007) Recognition of glycoprotein peroxidase via Con A-carrying self-assembly layer on Gold. Biomacromolecules 8:2142–2148

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Dam TK, Brewer CF (2002) Thermodynamic studies of lectin-carbohydrate interactions by isothermal titration calorimetry. Chem Rev 102:387–429

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Hu FX, Chen SH, Wang CC, Yuan R, Xiang Y, Wang C (2012) Multi-wall carbon nanotube-polyaniline biosensor based on lectin-carbohydrate affinity for ultrasensitive detection of Con A. Biosens Bioelectron 34:202–207

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Scida K, Stege PW, Haby G, Messina GA, García CD (2011) Recent applications of carbon-based nanomaterials in analytical chemistry: Critical review. Anal Chim Acta 691:6–17

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Kroto HW, Heath JR, O Brien SC, Curl RF, Smalley RE (1985) C60: buckminsterfullerene. Nature 318:162–162

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Kratschmer W, Lamb LD, Fostiropoulos K, Huffman DR (1990) Solid C60: a new form of carbon. Nature 347:354–354

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Ye C, Zhong X, Yuan R, Chai YQ (2014) A novel ECL biosensor based on C60 embedded in tetraoctylammonium bromide for the determination of glucose. Sens Actuators B: Chem 199:101–107

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Qian L, Yang XR (2007) Effective enhancement of peroxydisulfate electrochemiluminescence on C60/DDAB films. Electrochem Commun 9:393–397

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Jehoulet C, Bard AJ (1991) Electrochemical reduction and oxidation of C60 films. J Am Chem Soc 113:5456–5457

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Chlistunoff J, Cliffel D, Bard AJ (1995) Electrochemistry of fullerene films. Thin Solid Films 257:166–184

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Nakashima N, Tokunaga T, Nonaka Y, Nakanishi T, Murakami H, Sagara T (1998) A fullerene/lipid electrode device: reversible electron transfer reaction of C60 embedded in a cast film of an artificial ammonium lipid on an electrode in aqueous solution. Angew Chem Int Ed 37:2671–2673

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Nakashima N, Ishii T, Shirakusa M, Nakanishi T, Murakami H, Sagara T (2001) Molecular bilayer-based superstructures of a fullerene-carrying ammonium amphiphile: structure and electrochemistry. Chem Eur J 7:1766–1772

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Nakanishi T, Morita M, Murakami H, Sagara T, Nakashima N (2002) Structure and electrochemistry of self-organized fullerene-lipid bilayer films. Chem Eur J 8:1641–1648

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Li GB, Han Z, Piao GZ, Zhao J, Li SX, Liu GY (2009) To distinguish fullerene C60 nanotubes and C60 nanowhiskers using Raman spectroscopy. Mater Sci Eng B 163:161–164

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Hsieh SN, Hsiao SW, Chen TY, Li CY, Lee CH, Guo TF, Hsu YJ, Lin TL, Wei Y, Wen TW (2011) Self-assembled tetraoctylammonium bromide as an electron-injection layer for cathode-independent high-efficiency polymer light-emitting diodes. J Mater Chem 21:8715–8720

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Calvaresi M, Zerbetto F (2010) Baiting proteins with C60. ACS Nano 4:2283–2299

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Guldi DM (2002) Fullerene-porphyrin architectures; photosynthetic antenna and reaction center models. Chem Soc Rev 31:22–36

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Zhong X, Yuan R, Chai YQ (2012) In situ spontaneous reduction synthesis of spherical Pd@Cys-C60 nanoparticles and its application in nonenzymatic glucose biosensors. Chem Commun 48:597–599

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Imahori H, Tamaki K, Araki Y, Sekiguchi Y, Ito O, Sakata Y, Fukuzumi S (2002) Stepwise charge separation and charge recombination in ferrocene-meso, meso-linked porphyrin dimer-fullerene triad. J Am Chem Soc 124:5165–5174

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Valcárcel M, Cárdenas S, Simonet BM (2007) Role of carbon nanotubes in analytical science. Anal Chem 79:4788–4797

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Chen D, Feng HB, Li JH (2012) Graphene oxide: preparation, functionalization, and electrochemical applications. Chem Rev 112:6027–6053

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Ambrosi A, Chua CK, Bonanni A, Pumera M (2014) Electrochemistry of graphene and related materials. Chem Rev 114:7150–7188

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Ballerstadt R, Kholodnykh A, Evans C, Boretsky A, Motamedi M, Gowda A, McNichols R (2007) Affinity-based turbidity sensor for glucose monitoring by optical coherence tomography: toward the development of an implantable sensor. Anal Chem 79:6965–6974

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Xu X, Jiang N, Hu Z, Liu SQ (2010) Nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes: high electrocatalytic activity toward the oxidation of hydrogen peroxide and Its application for biosensing. ACS Nano 4:4292–4298

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Liu S, Tian JQ, Wang L, Qin XY, Zhang YW, Luo YL (2012) A simple route for preparation of highly stable CuO nanoparticles for nonenzymatic glucose detection. Catal Sci Technol 2:813–817

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Zhang D, Zhang K, Yao YL, Xia XH, Chen HY (2004) Multilayer assembly of prussian blue nanoclusters and enzyme-immobilized poly (toluidine blue) films and its application in glucose biosensor construction. Langmuir 20:7303–7307

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Qiang LL, Vaddiraju S, Patel D, Papadimitrakopoulos F (2011) Edge-plane microwire electrodes for highly sensitive H2O2 and glucose detection. Biosens Bioelectron 26:3755–3760

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Fu YC, Li PH, Xie QJ, Xu XH, Lei LH, Chen C, Zou C, Deng WF, Yao SZ (2009) One-Pot preparation of polymer-enzyme-metallic nanoparticle composite films for high-performance biosensing of glucose and galactose. Adv Funct Mater 19:1784–1791

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Jia X, Hu GZ, Nitze F, Barzegar HR, Sharifi T, Tai CW, Wagberg T (2013) Synthesis of palladium/helical carbon nanofiber hybrid nanostructures and their application for hydrogen peroxide and glucose detection. Appl Mater Inter 5:12017–12022

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Pleitez MA, Lieblein T, Bauer A, Hertzberg O (2013) In vivo noninvasive monitoring of glucose concentration in human epidermis by mid-infrared pulsed photoacoustic spectroscopy. Anal Chem 85:1013–1020

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was financially supported by the NNSF of China (21075100, 21275119, 21105081), Ministry of Education of China (Project 708073), Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education (RFDP) (20110182120010), Natural Science Foundation of Chongqing City (CSTC-2009BA1003, CSTC-2011BA7003, CSTC-2010BB4121), State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology (sklsgb2013012), the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (XDJK2013A008, XDJK2013A27, XDJK2013C115), and specialized research fund for the doctoral program of higher education (swu113029) and (20100182110015) China.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Luminescent and Real-Time Analytical Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, People’s Republic of China

    Cui Ye, Xia Zhong, Yaqin Chai & Ruo Yuan

Authors
  1. Cui Ye
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Xia Zhong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yaqin Chai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Ruo Yuan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Xia Zhong or Ruo Yuan.

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

ESM 1

(DOC 463 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Ye, C., Zhong, X., Chai, Y. et al. Sensing glucose based on its affinity for concanavalin A on a glassy carbon electrode modified with a C60 fullerene nanocomposite. Microchim Acta 182, 2215–2221 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-015-1559-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-015-1559-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation