Investigators at University of New South Wales Report Findings in Artificial Enzyme (An Artificial Enzyme: How Nanoconfinement Allows the Selective Electrochemical Detection of Glucose Directly In Whole Blood).

Researchers at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia have developed an artificial enzyme that can selectively detect glucose directly in whole blood. The artificial enzyme mimics the 3D structure of natural enzymes, allowing for selective reactions in biological fluids. The enzyme is made up of a gold nanoparticle coated in a conducting mesoporous carbon shell, which creates isolated nanochannels that lead to the gold surface. By pulsing the electrode, the artificial enzyme generates the necessary alkalinity for an effective electrocatalytic reaction and expels fouling agents that could interfere with the reaction. The artificial enzyme has shown the ability to detect glucose in biological fluids for several months without any loss of signal. This study demonstrates how nanoconfinement in nanoparticles can be used to selectively detect a wide range of species in biological fluids with stability that exceeds that of natural enzymes. [Extracted from the article]