Electrochemical sensors

From the solution processing of hydrophilic molecules to polymer-phthalocyanine hybrid materials for ammonia sensing in high humidity atmospheres

We have prepared different hybrid polymer-phthalocyanine materials by solution processing, starting from two sulfonated phthalocyanines, s-CoPc and CuTsPc, and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), polyethylene glycol (PEG), poly(acrylic acid-co-acrylamide) (PAA-AM), poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA) and polyaniline (PANI) as polymers. We also studied the response to ammonia (NH₃) of resistors prepared from these sensing materials. The solvent casted films, prepared from s-CoPc and PVP, PEG and PAA-AM, were highly insulating and very sensitive to the relative humidity (RH) variation. The incorporation of s-CoPc in PDDA by means of layer-by-layer (LBL) technique allowed to stabilize the film, but was too insulating to be interesting. We also prepared PANI-CuTsPc hybrid films by LBL technique. It allowed a regular deposition as evidenced by the linear increase of the absorbance at 688 nm as a function of the number of bilayers. The sensitivity to ammonia (NH₃) of PANi-CuTsPc resistors was very high compared to that of individual materials, giving up to 80% of current decrease when exposed to 30 ppm NH₃. Contrarily to what happens with neutral polymers, in PANI, CuTsPc was stabilized by strong electrostatic interactions, leading to a stable response to NH₃, whatever the relative humidity in the range 10%–70%. Thus, the synergy of PANI with ionic macrocycles used as counteranions combined with their simple aqueous solution processing opens the way to the development of new gas sensors capable of operating in real world conditions.

Development of spiropyran-based electrochemical sensor via simultaneous photochemical and target-activatable electron transfer

In traditional electrochemical sensors, the electrochemical signal transduction of the redox-active material is usually controlled by the analytical target. Due to non-specific interaction between the redox mediator and the target, false signal by single stimulus may not be avoided. To address this issue, we have developed a new electrochemical sensor that uses a functional spiropyran, an important class of photo and thermochromic compounds, as both recognition receptor and latent redox mediator, to realize simultaneous photochemical and target-modulated electron transfer. As a proof of principle, β-galactosidase was chosen as a model target. The new synthesized spiropyran probe, SP-β-gal, undergoes reversibly structural isomerization to form merocyanine under UV light irradiation. After the glycosidic bond being cleaved by β-galactosidase, the opened merocyanine of SP-β-gal forms redox-active 2-(2.5-dihydroxystyryl)-1.3.3-trimethyl-3H-indolium, and thus produces a pair of reversible redox current peaks under the electrochemical scanning. To amplify the detection signal, SP-β-gal was self-assembled with single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) on the surface of glass carbon electrode. Kinetics experiments confirm that the probe is an ideal candidate for the determination of different concentrations of β-galactosidase digestion kinetics. Further, the SP-β-gal/SWCNTs-modified electrode is chemically stable in complex biological fluids. It was successfully applied to monitor β-galactosidase activity in the 10% calf thymus. This work represents not only a significant step forward in the further development of low-dimensional carbon nanomaterials/small organic molecular probes-based electrochemical biosensors, but also a new platform which may be extended to the assay of other enzyme such as β-D-glycosidase and so on by translating the biorecognition into electrochemical signal responses.

Optical sensor arrays for chemical sensing: the optoelectronic nose

A comprehensive review is presented on the development and state of the art of colorimetric and fluorometric sensor arrays. Optical arrays based on chemoresponsive colorants (dyes and nanoporous pigments) probe the chemical reactivity of analytes, rather than their physical properties. This provides a high dimensionality to chemical sensing that permits high sensitivity (often down to ppb levels), impressive discrimination among very similar analytes and exquisite fingerprinting of extremely similar mixtures over a wide range of analyte types, both in the gas and liquid phases.

From single crystal surfaces to single atoms: investigating active sites in electrocatalysis

Electrocatalytic processes will undoubtedly be at the heart of energising future transportation and technology with the added importance of being able to create the necessary fuels required to do so in an environmentally friendly and cost effective manner. For this to be successful two almost mutually exclusive surface properties need to be reconciled, namely producing highly active/reactive surface sites that exhibit long term stability. This article reviews the various approaches which have been undertaken to study the elusive nature of these active sites on metal surfaces which are considered as adatoms or clusters of adatoms with low coordination number. This includes the pioneering studies at extended well defined stepped single crystal surfaces using cyclic voltammetry up to the highly sophisticated in situ electrochemical imaging techniques used to study chemically synthesised nanomaterials. By combining the information attained from single crystal surfaces, individual nanoparticles of defined size and shape, density functional theory calculations and new concepts such as mesoporous multimetallic thin films and single atom electrocatalysts new insights into the design and fabrication of materials with highly active but stable active sites can be achieved. The area of electrocatalysis is therefore not only a fascinating and exciting field in terms of realistic technological and economical benefits but also from the fundamental understanding that can be acquired by studying such an array of interesting materials.

A molecularly imprinted electrochemical enzymeless sensor based on functionalized gold nanoparticle decorated carbon nanotubes for methyl-parathion detection

Schematic of MP MIP sensor and the possible mechanism.

Diffusion-controlled detection of glucose with microelectrodes in mediated bioelectrocatalytic oxidation

This paper describes a diffusion-controlled electrolysis of glucose with mediated bioelectrocatalysis at microdisk-electrodes. Under conditions of an extremely fast enzyme reaction, compared with the diffusion of glucose, the current in potential-step chronoamperometry reaches an almost steady state within 10 s, and is proportional to the glucose concentration. The current can be detected at +0.1 V (vs. Ag|AgCl) with 9,10-phenanthrenequinone as a mediator. The addition of carboxymethylcellulose increased the linear range up to 10 mM.

Development of amperometric biosensors based on nanostructured tyrosinase-conducting polymer composite electrodes

Bio-composite coatings consisting of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) and tyrosinase (Ty) were successfully electrodeposited on conventional size gold (Au) disk electrodes and microelectrode arrays using sinusoidal voltages. Electrochemical polymerization of the corresponding monomer was carried out in the presence of various Ty amounts in aqueous buffered solutions. The bio-composite coatings prepared using sinusoidal voltages and potentiostatic electrodeposition methods were compared in terms of morphology, electrochemical properties, and biocatalytic activity towards various analytes. The amperometric biosensors were tested in dopamine (DA) and catechol (CT) electroanalysis in aqueous buffered solutions. The analytical performance of the developed biosensors was investigated in terms of linear response range, detection limit, sensitivity, and repeatability. A semi-quantitative multi-analyte procedure for simultaneous determination of DA and CT was developed. The amperometric biosensor prepared using sinusoidal voltages showed much better analytical performance. The Au disk biosensor obtained by 50 mV alternating voltage amplitude displayed a linear response for DA concentrations ranging from 10 to 300 μM, with a detection limit of 4.18 μM.

Photolysis and thermolysis of pyridyl carbonyl azide monolayers on single-crystal platinum

The photochemical and thermal reactivity of a number of acyl azide-substituted pyridine compounds, namely nicotinyl azide, isonicotinyl azide, picolinyl azide and dinicotinyl azide with investigated as saturated monolayers on a single-crystal Pt(111) surface in an ultrahigh vacuum chamber. Multilayers of the substrates exhibited a maximum rate of desorption at 270 K, above which, stable saturated monolayers formed as characterized by reflection-absorption infrared spectroscopy by observation of C=O and N3 bands at 1700 cm(-1), and 2100 and 1300 cm(-1) respectively. The monolayers were stable up to 400 K. Photolysis of the monolayer (or heating above 400 K) results in the formation of the respective isocyanate intermediate after loss of nitrogen as evidenced by the appearance of a new infrared band at 2260 cm(-1) with concomitant loss of the azide bands. The resulting isocyanate saturated monolayer is stable in absence of nucleophiles, but can be quenched with appropriate nucleophiles.

Fabrication of a novel and simple microcystin-LR photoelectrochemical sensor with high sensitivity and selectivity

Microcystin-LR (MC-LR), an inert electrochemical species, is difficult to be detected by a simple and direct electrochemical method. In the present work, a novel photoelectrochemical sensor is developed on highly ordered and vertically aligned TiO(2) nanotubes (TiO(2) NTs) with convenient surface modification of molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) (denoted as MIP@TiO(2) NTs) for highly sensitive and selective determination of MC-LR in solutions. Molecularly imprinted polypyrrole (PPy) of MC-LR is chosen as the recognition element. The designed MIP@TiO(2) NTs photoelectrochemical sensor presents excellent applicability in MC-LR determination, with linear range from 0.5 to 100 μg L(-1) and limit of detection of 0.1 μg L(-1). Moreover, the sensor exhibits outstanding selectivity while used in coexisting systems containing 2,4-dichorophenoxyacetic acid, atrazine, paraquat, or monosultap with high concentration, 100 times that of MC-LR. The sensor presents good photoelectric conversion efficiency and detection sensitivity, as well as broad linear detection range, mainly because of the high specific surface area and photoelectric activity of TiO(2) NTs and the π bond delocalized electron system of PPy that promotes the separation of electron-holes. The prominent selectivity is from the MIP by forming multiple hydrogen bonds between PPy and MC-LR. Mechanisms for photoelectrochemical analysis and selective recognition are also discussed.

The promise of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy as novel technology for the management of patients with diabetes mellitus

Self-monitoring of blood glucose is the standard of care in management of hyperglycemia among patients with diabetes mellitus. To increase the sensitivity and specificity of current devices, a novel method of detecting glucose using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) technology is explored. The enzyme glucose oxidase (GOx) was fixed to gold electrodes and a sine wave of sweeping frequencies was induced using a wide range of concentrations of glucose. Each frequency in the impedance sweep was analyzed for the highest response and R-squared value. The frequency with both factors optimized is specific for the glucose-GOx binding interaction and was determined to be 1.17 kHz in purified solutions in both higher and lower ranges of glucose. The correlation between the impedance response and concentration at the low range of detection (0-100 mg dL(-1) of glucose) was determined to be 3.53 ohm/ln (mg dL(-1)) with an R-squared value of 0.90 with a 39 mg dL(-1) lower limit of detection. The same frequency of 1.17 kHz was verified in whole blood under the same glucose range. The above data confirm that EIS offers a new method of glucose detection as an alternative to current technology in use by patients. Additionally, the unique frequency response of individual markers allows for modulation of signals so that several other markers important in the management of diabetes could be measured with a single sensor.

Application of Aptamer Based Biosensors for Detection of Pathogenic Microorganisms

Aptamer is a kind of synthetic oligonucleotides discriminated by in vitro screening and systematic evolution of exponential enrichment technology (SELEX), which can bind to certain targets (small molecules, proteins, or even entire cells) with extremely high specificity. Owing to the advantages of simple preparation, easy modification and good stability, aptamers have been used to construct biosensors for the detection of pathogenic microorganisms. This paper presents the latest advances in SELEX for screening aptamers for pathogenic microorganisms, demonstrates some reported aptamers for pathogenic microorganisms (protozoa, viruses, bacteria), and reviews aptamer based biosensors for detection of pathogenic microorganisms. Finally, the new trends in aptamer based biosensors for detection of pathogenic microorganisms are also discussed.

Electrochemical uranyl biosensor with DNA oligonucleotides as receptor layer

The feasibility of using gold electrodes modified with short-chain ssDNA oligonucleotides for determination of uranyl cation is examined. Interaction between UO(2)(2+) and proposed recognition layer was studied by means of voltammetric and quartz crystal microbalance measurements. It was postulated that ssDNA recognition layer functions via strong binding of UO(2)(2+) to phosphate DNA backbone. The methylene blue was used as a redox marker for analytical signal generation. Biosensor response was based on the difference in electrochemical signal before and after subjecting it to sample containing uranyl ion. The lower detection limit of 30 nmol L(-1) for UO(2)(2+) was observed for a sample incubation time of 60 min. Proposed ssDNA-modified electrodes demonstrated good selectivity towards UO(2)(2+) against common metal cations, with only Pb(2+) and Ca(2+) showing considerable interfering effect.

Critical review and perspective of macromolecularly imprinted polymers

Molecular recognition is a fundamental and ubiquitous process that is the driving force behind life. Natural recognition elements - including antibodies, enzymes, nucleic acids, and cells - exploit non-covalent interactions to bind to their targets with exceptionally strong affinities. Due to this unparalleled proficiency, scientists have long sought to mimic natural recognition pathways. One promising approach is molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs), which are fully synthetic systems formed via the crosslinking of organic polymers in the presence of a template molecule, which results in stereo-specific binding sites for this analyte of interest. Macromolecularly imprinted polymers, those synthesized in the presence of macromolecule templates (>1500 Da), are of particular importance because they open up the field for a whole new set of robust diagnostic tools. Although the specific recognition of small-molecular-weight analytes is now considered routine, extension of these efficacious procedures to the protein regime has, thus far, proved challenging. This paper reviews the main approaches employed, highlights studies of interest with an emphasis on recent work, and offers suggestions for future success in the field of macromolecularly imprinted polymers.

A hairpin DNA aptamer coupled with groove binders as a smart switch for a field-effect transistor biosensor

We report here that a hairpin-structured DNA that possesses an anti-ATP aptamer sequence successfully detected target ATP or adenosine in a temperature-dependent manner by nanoscale intramolecular displacement on the surface of a gold electrode as an extended gate of a field-effect transistor (FET). The structural switching of the hairpin aptamer from closed loop to open-loop conformations was accompanied by the release of the preloaded DNA binder (DAPI) from the stem part of the hairpin aptamer into the solution phase. The loss of intrinsic positive charges of DAPI (2+) from the diffusion layer at the gate/solution nano-interface as a result of target capturing was responsible for generating a specific signal by the field-effect. We emphasize a new aspect of the structured DNA aptamer in combination with FET: the DAPI-loaded hairpin aptamer successfully detected even uncharged adenosine, which remains a major challenge for FET-based biosensors. Given the simplicity in design of the primary and secondary structures of oligonucleotide aptamers, it is easy to apply this technology to a wide variety of bio-analytes, irrespective of their electric charges. In view of these advantages, our findings may offer a new trend in the design of stimuli-responsive "smart" biomolecular switches for semiconductor-based biosensors.

An electrode array for electrochemical immuno-sensing using the example of impedimetric tenascin C detection

Electrochemical biosensors allow simple, fast and sensitive analyte detection for various analytical problems. Especially immunosensors are favourable due to specificity and affinity of antigen recognition by the associated antibody. We present a novel electrode array qualified for parallel analysis and increased sample throughput. The chip has nine independent sample chambers. Each chamber contains a circular gold working electrode with a diameter of 1.9 mm that is surrounded by a ring-shaped auxiliary electrode with a platinum surface. The corresponding silver/silver chloride reference electrodes are embedded in a sealing lid. The chip is open to the full range of electrochemical real-time detection methods. Among these techniques, impedance spectroscopy is an attractive tool to detect fast and label-free interfacial changes originating from the biorecognition event at the electrode surface. The capabilities of the novel electrode array are demonstrated using the example of tumour marker tenascin C detection. This glycoprotein of the extracellular matrix is expressed in cancerous tissues, especially in solid tumours such as glioma or breast carcinoma. Electrodes covered with specific antibodies were exposed to tenascin C containing samples. Non-occupied binding sites were identified using a secondary peroxidase-conjugated antibody that generated an insoluble precipitate on the electrode in a subsequent amplification procedure. The charge transfer resistance obtained from impedimetric analysis of ferri-/ferrocyanide conversion at the electrode served as analytic parameter. This assay detected 14 ng (48 fmol) tenascin C that is sufficient for clinical diagnostics. The electrode surface could be regenerated at least 20-fold without loss of its analytical performance.