Polymer-supported electron transfer of PQQ-dependent glucose dehydrogenase at carbon nanotubes modified by electropolymerized polythiophene copolymers

The establishment of a polythiophene-supported electron transfer of PQQ-dependent glucose dehydrogenase (PQQ-GDH) at multiwalled carbon nanotubes is reported. For this purpose, thiol-functionalized MWCNTs are deposited on a gold electrode, which is further modified by on-top electropolymerization of different thiophene monomers. The enzyme is covalently bound to such an electrode by activating the carboxy groups of the polymer. The presence of the polythiophene copolymers allows for electrochemical wiring of PQQ-GDH that can subsequently transfer the electrons from the glucose oxidation to the electrode. Bioelectrocatalysis starts just at −0.2 V vs. Ag/AgCl and the anodic current reaches high values already at 0 V vs. Ag/AgCl. In order to improve the catalytic response, different parameters in the electropolymerization process are evaluated and buffer effects are investigated. The modified electrode surface is characterized by SEM-EDX, FTIR, UV–vis and XPS. The bioelectrocatalytic response towards increasing glucose concentrations is measured at 0 V vs. Ag/AgCl, showing a dynamic range extending from 1 μM to 500 μM.