Sensitive sugar detection using 4-aminophenylboronic acid modified graphene

A sensitive electrochemical active interface for sugar sensing based on the specific boronic acid–diol binding was established. The sensing matrix was formed by stirring a suspension of graphene oxide (GO) with 4-aminophenylboronic acid (APBA). The resulting composite consists of a water insoluble precipitate of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) with APBA incorporated into the rGO matrix. Differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) on glassy carbon electrodes modified with rGO/APBA was used for the detection of fructose, mannose and glucose. The fabricated sensor exhibited a wide linear range with detection limits of 100nM for fructose, and around 800nM for mannose and glucose. •Reduced graphene oxide loaded with 4-aminophenylboronic (BA) acid was formed by mixing graphene oxide with BA and stirring for 12h at 100°C.•The rGO/BA matrix once deposited onto glassy carbon showed pH dependent currents for Fe(CN)64−.•An enzyme-free glycan sensor was constructed with a LOD of 100nM for fructose and 800nM for mannose or glucose.