Amperometric hydrogen peroxide biosensor based on a glassy carbon electrode modified with polythionine and gold nanoparticles

We report on a novel hydrogen peroxide biosensor that was fabricated by the layer-by-layer deposition method. Thionine was first deposited on a glassy carbon electrode by two-step electropolymerization to form a positively charged surface. The negatively charged gold nanoparticles and positively charged horseradish peroxidase were then immobilized onto the electrode via electrostatic adsorption. The sequential deposition process was characterized using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy by monitoring the impedance change of the electrode surface during the construction process. The electrochemical behaviour of the modified electrode and its response to hydrogen peroxide were studied by cyclic voltammetry. The effects of the experimental variables on the amperometric determination of H2O2 such as solution pH and applied potential were investigated for optimum analytical performance. Under the optimized conditions, the biosensor exhibited linear response to H2O2 in the concentration ranges from 0.20 to 1.6 mM and 1.6 to 4.0 mM, with a detection limit of 0.067 mM (at an S/N of 3). In addition, the stability and reproducibility of this biosensor was also evaluated and gave satisfactory results.