Superior performance of a carbon-paste electrode based glucose biosensor containing glucose oxidase enzyme in mesoporous silica powder

A carbon paste electrode (CPE) based glucose biosensor was developed with an optimized composition. It had 60 wt.% graphitic carbon powder mixed with 15 wt.% silicone oil binder, to which was added 2.3 wt.% glucose oxidase (GOD) enzyme (the sensing molecule) immobilized in 12.7 wt.% mesoporous silica (SBA-15) host particles, and 10 wt.% ferrocene, as an electron mediator. Optimization was achieved by first fixing the SBA-15 content in the CPE based on detection of hydrogen peroxide, an intermediate formed during oxidation of glucose by GOD. Subsequent glucose sensing measurements necessitated addition of ferrocene to improve sensitivity. This sensor gave a very high linear sensing-range of glucose (2.0-18.2 mM) from the hypo- to hyperglycemic range, a high sensitivity (1.5 mu A cm(-2) mM(-1)), a fast response time (