Gold and TiO2 Nanostructurated Surfaces for Assembling of Electrochemical Biosensors

Devices based on nanomaterials are emerging as a powerful and general class of ultrasensitive sensors for the direct detection of biological and chemical species. In this work, we report the preparation and the full characterization of nanomaterials such as gold nanowires and TiO2 nanostructured films to be used for assembling of electrochemical biosensors. Gold nanowires were prepared by electroless deposition within the pores of polycarbonate particle track-etched membranes (PTMs). Glucose oxidase was deposited onto the nanowires using self-assembling monolayer as an anchor layer for the enzyme molecules. Finally, cyclic voltammetry was performed for different enzymes to test the applicability of gold nanowires as biosensors. Considering another interesting nanomaterial, the realization of functionalised TiO2 thin films on Si substrates for the immobilization of enzymes is reported. Glucose oxidase and horseradish peroxidase immobilized onto TiO2-based nanostructured surfaces exhibited a pair of well-defined and quasireversible voltammetric peaks. The electron exchange between the enzyme and the electrodes was greatly enhanced in the TiO2 nanostructured environment. The electrocatalytic activity of HRP and GOD embedded in TiO2 electrodes toward H2O2 and glucose, respectively, may have a potential perspective in the fabrication of third-generation biosensors based on direct electrochemistry of enzymes.