Smart Electrochemical Glucose Biosensor via Assemblies of DNA– Silver Nanoclusters as Sensitive probes

The incidence of diabetes and prediabetes remains a major risk factor for long-term complications, deaths, and costs increasing yearly [1]. This metabolic condition due to insulin deficiency causes hyperglycemia characterized by blood glucose readings that are either higher or lower than normal. Monitoring blood glucose levels is crucial in diabetes diagnosis and management [2]. Consequently, improving existing methodologies and creating a better glucose detection method that is straightforward, precise, and sensitive is an essential step. Herein, we propose the construction of glucose biosensors utilizing an electrochemical approach in combination with DNA-templated silver nanoclusters (AgNCs@DNA). Due to the small size of AgNC@DNA, they also exhibit advantageous characteristics as optical probes providing a second readout strategy. We investigated the efficacy of the AgNCs@DNA/Glucose Oxidase/Glucose system for sensing small glucose amounts. H₂O₂ is produced during the oxidation process of glucose catalyzed by GOx etches AgNCs producing the extensive amount of charges detected electrochemically. We achieved a sensitive and reliable method for the accurate detection of glucose. The biosensor design involving AgNCs@DNA opens new prospects for developing smart biosensor devices, which are expected to help solve the key challenges and opportunities in their further development and use.

Keywords: Glucose biosensor, AgNCs@DNA, electrochemical method, Sensitive probe, Smart technology