Integrated Oligoaniline‐Cross‐Linked Composites of Au Nanoparticles/Glucose Oxidase Electrodes: A Generic Paradigm for Electrically Contacted Enzyme Systems

Sweet sensor: A bis-aniline-cross-linked Au nanoparticles (NPs)/glucose oxidase composite has been electropolymerized on a Au electrode (see picture). The integrated Au NPs/enzyme electrode provides an effective matrix for making electrical contact with the enzyme, and this yields a specific amperometric glucose biosensor.Electropolymerizable glucose oxidase (GOx) was synthesized by the tethering of thioaniline units to the protein. The electropolymerization of the thioaniline-modified GOx in the presence of thioaniline-functionalized Au nanoparticles (NPs) yielded a three-dimensional bis-aniline-cross-linked Au NPs/GOx network. The bis-aniline bridging units are redox active and mediate the electron transfer between the enzyme redox sites and the electrode, and the Au NPs provide the three-dimensional conductivity for transporting the electrons to the electrode. The covalently linked GOx displays an effective electrical contact with the electrode (turnover rate of ca. 500 s(-1)), which results in a sensitive and selective glucose-sensing electrode. The preparation of the electrode by means of electropolymerization, and the bioelectrocatalytic features of the electrode, suggest its feasibility as a miniaturized electrode with a sensing matrix and as an implantable glucose sensor in future applications.