Here we describe a novel electrochemical biosensing platform based on biocompatible, well-ordered, self-assembled diphenylalanine peptide nanotubes. Voltammetric and time-based amperometric techniques were applied to demonstrate the ability of the peptide nanotubes to improve the electrochemical parameters of graphite electrodes. The findings clearly show that this novel class of peptide nanotubes provides an attractive component for future electroanalytical devices.

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The fabrication and notably improved performance of composite electrodes based on modified self-assembled diphenylalanine peptide nanotubes is described. Peptide nanotubes were attached to gold electrodes, and we studied the resulting electrochemical behavior using cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. The peptide nanotube-based electrodes demonstrated a direct and unmediated response to hydrogen peroxide and NADH at a potential of +0.4 V (vs SCE). This biosensor enables a sensitive determination of glucose by monitoring the hydrogen peroxide produced by an enzymatic reaction between the glucose oxidase attached to the peptide nanotubes and glucose. In addition, the marked electrocatalytic activity toward NADH enabled a sensitive detection of ethanol using ethanol dehydrogenase and NAD+. The peptide nanotube-based amperometric biosensor provides a potential new tool for sensitive biosensors and biomolecular diagnostics.

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We explore the central role of neoliberalism within portrayals of internationalisation in higher education. Through an analysis of four features of internationalisation, we suggest that they embody a complex entanglement of neoliberal categories and assumptions with other, primarily progressive humanitarian ideals. This framing of internationalisation has three affects. One, humanitarian ideals coupled with neoliberal categories serve to normalise inequalities, turning internationalisation into a meritocratic global race, focusing on celebrating the possibility of the few who can achieve, instead of the embedded inequalities within the system, which disadvantage the many. Two, this allows neoliberal practices to be promoted and advanced through the discourse of internationalisation and its association with progressive humanitarian values. Three, this neoliberal framing does not explain the nature and motives for the internationalisation of HE in many nations and we demonstrate this by analysing internationalisation in China, Israel and Cuba. We suggest that internationalisation in HE cannot be adequately explained by analyses which rely on neoliberalism, and particularly the progressive version which prevails in the literature and we argue for a more nuanced, historical and contextually-dependent understanding of internationalisation.