The main focus in our research group has been targeted toward the fabrication of selective glucose biosensors and biofuel cells. In fabricating glucose biofuel cells and biosensors, ferrocene (Fc) or its methylated derivatives is attached to the nitrogen of linear-poly(ethylenimine) (LPEI) with a carbon tether of between 1-6 carbons to make a redox polymer (Fc-Cx-LPEI). Glucose oxidase (GOx) is immobilized by in a hydrogel film of cross-linked Fc-Cx-LPEI. This new material is used as a bioanode within a biofuel cell. For our particular system, both carbon tether length and methylation of the Fc have shown improvements in the overall working potential, maximum current density, and stability of the bioanode material. While this bioanode material has been thoroughly investigated and optimized for potential and maximum current density, there is still a need for an understanding of the parameters in the selection of each component of the bioanode material. To date, there still lacks a fundamental understanding as to how the length of the carbon spacer and the methylation of the Fc alter the fuel cell properties. This investigation utilizes model compounds that are analogous to the redox polymer to probe the nature of these observed changes in the aforementioned biofuel cell properties, as well as providing a methodology that can be used in redox mediator/enzyme pair selection. Cyclic voltammetric (CV) experiments are used to look for any interactions between the analogous Fc model compounds and GOx via changes in E1/2 or ip. From these changes an adsorption isotherm is plotted and adsorption constants Ka are determined for a series of ferrocene derivatives. These binding data can be used in determining redox mediator-enzyme pairs. This methodology can also be applied toward material fabrication and diagnostic tools.

Cyclic voltammetric studies of the interactions between ferrocene mediators and glucose oxidase

249th National Meeting (2015)

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