Glucose oxidase and polyacrylic acid based water swellable enzyme–polymer conjugates for promoting glucose detection

Abstract

Glucose oxidase (GOx) and polyacrylic acid (PAA) based water swellable non-toxic enzyme-polymer conjugate (PAA-GOx) was immobilized on a substrate consisting of graphene oxide (GO) and polyethyleneimine (PEI) (GO-PEI) and the electrochemical performances of the new catalyst were investigated. According to the measurements, although the amount of GOx immobilized on PAA-GOx was lower than that on glutaraldehyde (GA)-GOx, which is a conventionally used conjugate, its catalytic activity was 9.6 times higher than that of GA-GOx. The superior catalytic activity (102.0 μA cm⁻², 20 mM of glucose) and glucose sensitivity (6.9 μA cm⁻² mM⁻¹) were due to its high swellability in water. Due to this, the PAA-GOx absorbs a large amount of aqueous glucose molecules and rapidly transfers them to the active site of GOx. Desirable hydrogen peroxide and glucose oxidation reactions are accordingly promoted. In addition, since PAA has abundant free carboxylic acid groups, the PAA-GOx forms covalent bonds with the GO-PEI to curtail the leaching-out of GOx molecules.