This study is focused on possible application of some 1,10-phenanthroline derivatives (PDs) in the development of biosensors and biofuel cells. Differently from some other studies, the PDs that were not involved into structures of metal complexes were investigated. Five PDs [1,10-phenanthroline monohydrate (PMH); 5-nitro-1,10-phenanthroline (5NP); 5-amino-1,10-phenanthroline (5AP), 5-amino,6-nitro-1,10-phenanthroline (5A6NP) and 5,6-diamino-1,10-phenanthroline (56DAP)] were selected for this study. Bioelectrochemical responses of PDs and glucose oxidase (GOX)-modified graphite rod electrodes (GREs) were studied amperometrically and potentiometrically. The best redox mediators for GOX were found on PDs containing amino groups: 5AP and 56DAP. Amperometrical measurements have shown that 5NP derivative was also acting as a redox mediator but activity of 5NP was approximately four times lower than 5AP and three times lower than 56DAP. This study clearly illustrates that some PDs can be applied as redox mediators for oxidases and are suitable for the development of reagent-less biosensors and biofuel cells. Since amino groups can be very easily involved in the formation of chemical bounds, the amino-PDs are interesting compounds for the development of nanobiotechnological tools by bottom-up technique. © 2010 Elsevier B.V.