Novel CeO2–CuO-decorated enzymatic lactate biosensors operating in low oxygen environments

The detection of the lactate level in blood plays a key role in diagnosis of some pathological conditions including cardiogenic or endotoxic shocks, respiratory failure, liver disease, systemic disorders, renal failure, and tissue hypoxia. Here, we described for the first time the use of a novel mixed metal oxide solution system to address the oxygen dependence challenge of first generation amperometric lactate biosensors. The biosensors were constructed using ceria-copper oxide (CeO2–CuO) mixed metal oxide nanoparticles for lactate oxidase immobilization and as electrode material. The oxygen storage capacity (OSC, 492 μmol-O2/g) of these metal oxides has the potential to reduce the oxygen dependency, and thus eliminate false results originated from the fluctuations in the oxygen concentration. In an effort to compare the performance of our novel sensor design, ceria nanoparticle decorated lactate sensors were also constructed. The enzymatic activity of the sensors were tested in oxygen-rich and oxygen-lean solutions. Our results showed that the OSC of the electrode material has a big influence on the activity of the biosensors in oxygen-lean environments. While the CeO2 containing biosensor showed an almost 21% decrease in the sensitivity in a O2-depleted solution, the CeO2–CuO containing electrode, with a higher OSC value, experienced no drop in sensitivity when moving from oxygen-rich to oxygen-lean conditions. The CeO2–CuO decorated sensor showed a high sensitivity (89.3 ± 4 μA mM−1 cm−2), a wide linear range up to 0.6 mM, and a low limit of detection of 3.3 μM. The analytical response of the CeO2–CuO decorated sensors was studied by detecting lactate in human serum with good selectivity and reliability. The results revealed that CeO2–CuO containing sensors are promising candidates for continuous lactate detection. High OSC of CeO2–CuO nanoparticles and effects on sensor performance in oxygen-lean environment. [Display omitted] •Here, we described the use of CeO2–CuO nanoparticles to address the oxygen dependence challenge of first generation amperometric lactate biosensors.•The use of CeO2–CuO mixed metal oxide acted as an oxygen buffer on the sensing platform in oxygen-depleted buffer solution.•The false results associated with the depletion of oxygen tension in PBS solution were eliminated.