Characterization of mediated and non-mediated oxidase enzyme based glassy carbon electrodes

The performance and analytical characteristics of a glassy carbon glutaraldehyde immobilized glucose oxidase electrode have been established with regard to the direct detection of hydrogen peroxide produced from the reaction of glucose with oxygen. Measurements were performed at + 1.1 V vs. SCE, and selectivity was obtained by casting the surface with a cellulose acetate membrane. Results compared favorably with the classical platinum-enzyme probe. The mechanism of ascorbic acid interference in hydrogen peroxide detection is reported. Mediated detection was also investigated for oxidase enzymes (glucose oxidase and xanthine oxidase) immobilized on the bare glassy carbon electrode. The probes were characterized using a specific enzyme mediator in solution (phenazine methosulfate or dichlorophenol-indophenol) plus hexacyanoferrate(III) as an electrochemical mediator. The electrode was poised at + 0.36 V vs. SCE for the detection of hexacyanoferrate(II). The advantages of this dual mediator configuration include high stability and sensitivity of the electrochemical signal and the ability to use less positive potentials for increased selectivity. Application to other enzymes, such as hydrogenases, using such a binary redox configuration is suggested.