Nafion‐coated carbon fiber for acetylcholine and choline sensors

Abstract

Abstract A major improvement in the selectivity of carbon fiber microelectrodes for acetylcholine (Ach) and choline (Ch) as cationic amines is described. The electrodes are coated with Nafion, a perfluorosulfonated polymer. This coating is practically impermeable to ascorbic acid (AA) and anionic biogenic amine metabolites. Nafion‐coated fiber was characterized by cyclic voltammetry (CV). Selectivity and the dynamic range of these coated electrodes were evaluated using amperometric determination at a fixed potential of 1.2 V. The esterase activity was determined using choline sensor, and the relative slope values showed a fast response between 1 and 3 minutes. Calibration plots for Ach and choline showed a linearity range between 0.1 and 3 mM, with an increase of two orders of magnitude better than the previously used PVA‐SbQ membrane. No response was obtained between 0.1 and 0.3 mM of AA conc. The procedure, in preparing this type of coated electrodes, indicates some attractive perspectives for its use, especially for in vivo monitoring.