Cu₂O-Based Electrochemical Biosensor for Non-Invasive and Portable Glucose Detection

Area of Science:

• Electrochemistry
• Materials Science
• Biosensors

Background:

• Electrochemical voltammetric sensors offer advantages like non-invasiveness, portability, and cost-effectiveness for physiological analyte monitoring.
• Existing methods often require complex setups or have limitations in speed and power consumption.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a portable, non-enzymatic glucose sensor based on copper(I) oxide (Cu2O) nanoparticles.
• To utilize a graphene paste printed on cellulose cloth as a substrate for a low-power glucose sensor.
• To demonstrate the sensor's efficacy in artificial sweat for non-invasive monitoring.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a Cu2O-based sensor on graphene-printed cellulose cloth.
• Electrochemical characterization using cyclic voltammetry, differential pulse voltammetry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.
• Testing the sensor's performance in a NaOH alkaline medium and artificial sweat equivalent solution.

Main Results:

• The Cu2O sensor demonstrated electron transfer at a low potential (+0.35 V) in alkaline and artificial sweat solutions.
• High sensitivity was achieved: 1082.5 ± 4.7% µA mM⁻¹ cm⁻² on a glassy carbon electrode and 182.9 ± 8.83% µA mM⁻¹ cm⁻² on the graphene-printed electrode.
• The sensor exhibited selectivity for glucose in the presence of common interferents like urea and NaCl.

Conclusions:

• The developed Cu2O-based sensor on a biodegradable substrate is suitable for low-power, portable, and non-invasive glucose monitoring.
• The sensor's biocompatibility, disposability, and reproducibility make it a strong candidate for wearable health devices.
• This non-enzymatic approach offers a cost-effective and efficient alternative for continuous glucose monitoring.