Crumpled reduced graphene oxide–polyamidoamine dendrimer hybrid nanoparticles for the preparation of an electrochemical biosensor

Abstract

Reduced graphene nanoparticles were prepared from graphene oxide through a two-step covalent modification approach. Graphene oxide was first enriched with reactive epoxy groups by anchoring (3-glycidyloxypropyl)trimethoxysilane at the hydroxyl groups located on the nanocarbon basal plane. Modified graphene oxide was further cross-linked and partially reduced by treatment with the fourth-generation ethylenediamine core polyamidoamine G-4 dendrimer producing graphene nanoparticles with crumpled paper-like morphology. This graphene derivative was employed as a coating material for glassy carbon electrodes and the nanostructured electrode was tested for the preparation of electrochemical biosensors by immobilizing the enzyme tyrosinase through cross-linking with glutaraldehyde. This bioelectrode showed excellent electroanalytical behavior for catechol with a fast response in about 6 s, linear range of 10 nM to 22 μM, sensitivity of 424 mA M⁻¹, and low detection limit of 6 nM. The enzyme biosensor also showed high stability when stored at 4 °C under dry and wet conditions.