Colorimetric
detection of glucose using enzyme-mimic nanoparticles
(NPs) has been drawing great attention. However, many NPs lack good
stability in solution, which results in reduced color change of substrates
in colorimetric detection. Liner soluble macromolecules with high
cationic density may be suitable candidates for the stabilization
of NPs. Herein, we prepared polyethyleneimine-stabilized platinum
NPs (Pt
n
-PEI NPs) for colorimetric detection
of glucose. The platinum NPs (Pt NPs) used in this system had small
size (from 3.21 to 3.70 nm) and narrow size distribution. Pt50-PEI NPs had high stability within one week with a hydrodynamic size
of ∼25 nm and slightly positive zeta potential. Pt50-PEI NPs-catalyzed oxidation of 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine
(TMB) in the presence of H2O2, generating blue
oxidized TMB (oxTMB), which indicated the peroxidase-like property
of Pt50-PEI NPs. The optimal condition for this reaction
was pH = 4.0 at 30 °C. More importantly, Pt50-PEI
NPs were successfully used to detect glucose concentration by a colorimetric
method with high selectivity. The established method had a linear
concentration range from 10 to 5000 μM with a detection limit
of 4.2 μM. For example, the concentration of glucose in saliva
was tested to be 0.15 mM using our method. The high stability of Pt50-PEI NPs enhanced the high accessibility of the active center
of Pt NPs for substrates and consequent excellent catalytic property.
This established method has great potential to be used in various
applications for glucose detection in the future.