Ferrocene modified polypyrrole with immobilised glucose oxidase and its application in amperometric glucose...

Gold microelectrodes were modified with electropolymerised polypyrrole in both organic and aqueous electrolytes. Cyclic voltammetry studies confirmed that electron conduction through the films in aqueous electrolytes is greatly reduced and is inefficient at mediating the oxidation/reduction of solution redox species. Films formed in aqueous electrolyte were also found to be more heterogenous in structure compared to those formed in acetonitrile. Aqueous polymerised films were used as an immobilisation matrix for glucose oxidase, and modified gold micro electrodes were used in the analysis of glucose using hydrogen peroxide detection. It was found that glucose oxidase was strongly absorbed into the films and that the sensors remained stable for several weeks. An improved linear range and oxygen insensitivity was achieved by incorporating the "water-insoluble" electron transfer mediator, dimethyl ferrocene, into the polypyrrole films by absorption. Good currents and response times to glucose addition were obtained from these electrodes, however, the electrodes possessed poor stability caused by the apparent loss of mediator from the films. Greater operational stability was achieved by covalently functionalising the films with the ferrocene derivative, ferrocenecarbonyl chloride. Covalently bound ferrocence was found to be an efficient oxidant of reduced glucose oxidase. Electrodes constructed in this manner possessed a good linear range, oxygen insensitivity and better stability. Electron transfer mechanisms are discussed.