Ultrasensitive photoelectrochemical detection of glutathione based on the multifunctional catalytic properties of phosphotungstic acid

Abstract

A novel photoelectrochemical (PEC) sensor was constructed for the highly sensitive detection of reduced glutathione (GSH) based on the multiple catalytic properties of phosphotungstic acid (PTA). In this work, the catalytic properties of PTA were applied to PEC sensing for the first time and interpreted in detail. First, PTA as an electron acceptor can inhibit the complexation of photogenerated electron–hole pairs in p-Cu₂O, thus significantly increasing the photogenerated current of p-type semiconductor material Cu₂O. Secondly, when GSH is oxidized to oxidized glutathione (GSSG) by photogenerated holes on the photocathode, PTA is able to reduce GSSG to GSH by transferring protons, forming a redox cycle regeneration process of GSH. Finally, the relatively large amount of PTA in the background solution was able to pre-oxidize interfering substances such as L-cysteine and ascorbic acid, which improved the selectivity of the method. Under the optimal experimental conditions, the linear range of the PEC sensor response to GSH was 0.050–100 nmol L⁻¹, with a detection limit as low as 0.017 nmol L⁻¹ (S/N = 3), which can be applied to the detection of GSH content in cell lysate samples.