In-situ silver nanoparticles formation as a tool for non-enzymatic glucose sensing: Study with an enzyme mimicking salt

Enzyme mimicking materials have attracted significant interest due to their ability to replace expensive and unstable enzymes, in a range of applications. The present study is focused on an effective and economic metal salt that mimics enzymatic catalysts, in oxidising D-glucose, for glucose analysis. This enzyme mimicking salt, termed as 'salzyrne', mimics the activity of D-glucose oxidase, by converting D-glucose to D-gluconic acid, along with spontaneous formation of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and hydrogen peroxide. The resulting AgNPs were characterized by TEM, for determining their size and morphology and UV spectroscopy for estimation of D-glucose. The detection of hydrogen peroxide produced during D-glucose oxidation was confirmed by dye tests. The results suggest the potential of this enzyme mimicking salt for further exploration in diagnostic and therapeutic applications.