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Fabrication of Carbon Nanotube High-Frequency Nanoelectronic Biosensor for Sensing in High Ionic Strength Solutions
Published on: July 22, 2013
Increasing amperometric biosensor sensitivity by length fractionated single-walled carbon nanotubes
Federico Tasca1, Lo Gorton, Jakob B Wagner
1Department of Analytical Chemistry, Lund University, P.O. Box 124, SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden. Federico.tasca@analykem.lu.se
Biosensors & Bioelectronics
|May 16, 2008
Summary
Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) enhance amperometric biosensor sensitivity. Medium-length SWCNTs provided the best performance, increasing sensitivity fivefold for detecting 1,4-dihydronicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH).
Area of Science:
- Electrochemistry
- Nanomaterials Science
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Amperometric biosensors are crucial for detecting biomolecules.
- Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) show promise for enhancing biosensor performance.
- Controlling SWCNT properties, like length, is key to optimizing their function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) length on amperometric biosensor sensitivity.
- To determine the optimal SWCNT length for enhancing the detection of 1,4-dihydronicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH).
Main Methods:
- Oxidative shortening and size exclusion chromatography were used to obtain SWCNTs of varying lengths.
- Transmission electron microscopy was employed to characterize SWCNT fractions.
- Diaphorase enzyme, immobilized with an osmium redox polymer, was combined with different SWCNT lengths.
Main Results:
- SWCNT length significantly influenced biosensor sensitivity, with a fivefold increase observed.
- Medium-length SWCNTs yielded the highest sensitivity.
- The optimized biosensor demonstrated a linear detection range of 5 microM to 7 mM for NADH, with a detection limit of 1 microM and maximum sensitivity of 47 nA microM(-1) cm(-2).
Conclusions:
- SWCNT length is a critical factor in optimizing amperometric biosensor sensitivity.
- Medium-length SWCNTs offer superior electrocatalytic properties for NADH detection.
- The developed biosensor exhibits excellent performance characteristics, with diffusion-limited current at higher analyte concentrations.

