Non-mediated glucose biosensing using nanostructured TiO2.
Insufficient insulin production in diabetics can be controlled by discontinuous measurement and insulin therapy. Ideally, an artificial pancreas system would be a closed loop system measuring glucose levels, and administering insulin as required, to minimise patient contribution. This paper presents an investigation into the use of titanium dioxide as an electrochemical transducer for the detection of hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide is the product of glucose oxidation by the enzyme glucose oxidase in the presence of oxygen. The results show that peroxide can be quantitatively detected by electrochemical reduction on titanium dioxide electrodes without interference due to dissolved oxygen. When tested for the indirect amperometric measurement of glucose (with free glucose oxidase) it was found that the electrodes responded linearly over the range of glucose concentration found in human blood. With further development, these electrodes may be suitable for implantable glucose sensors.