Immobilization of glucose oxidase and lactate dehydrogenase onto magnetic nanoparticles for bioprocess monitoring system

Synthesis and Comparative Studies of Glucose Oxidase Immobilized on Fe3O4 Magnetic Nanoparticles Using Different Coupling Agents

Squaric acid (SA) is a compound with potential to crosslink biomacromolecules. Although SA has become over the last years a well-known crosslinking agent as a result of its good biocompatibility, glutaraldehyde (GA), a compound with proven cytotoxicity is still one of the most used crosslinkers to develop nanomaterials. In this regard, the novelty of the present study consists in determining whether it may be possible to substitute GA with a new bifunctional and biocompatible compound, such as SA, in the process of enzyme immobilization on the surface of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs). Thus, a direct comparison between SA- and GA-functionalized magnetic nanoparticles was realized in terms of physico-chemical properties and ability to immobilize catalytic enzymes. The optimal conditions of the synthesis of the two types of GOx-immobilized MNPs were described, thus emphasizing the difference between the two reagents. Scanning Electron Microscopy and Dynamic Light Scattering were used for size, shape and colloidal stability characterization of the pristine MNPs and of those coupled with GOx. Binding of GOx to MNPs by using GA or SA was confirmed by FT-IR spectroscopy. The stability of the immobilized and free enzyme was investigated by measuring the enzymatic activity. The study confirmed that the resulting activity of the immobilized enzyme and the optimization of enzyme immobilization depended on the type of reagent used and duration of the process. The catalytic performance of immobilized enzyme was tested, revealing that the long-term colloidal stability of SA-functionalized MNPs was superior to those prepared with GA. In conclusion, the SA-functionalized bioconjugates have a better potential as compared to the GA-modified nanosystems to be regarded as catalytic nanodevices for biomedical purposes such as biosensors.

Magnetic Cross-Linked Enzyme Aggregates (mCLEAs) of Candida antarctica lipase: an efficient and stable biocatalyst for biodiesel synthesis

Enzyme-catalyzed production of biodiesel is the object of extensive research due to the global shortage of fossil fuels and increased environmental concerns. Herein we report the preparation and main characteristics of a novel biocatalyst consisting of Cross-Linked Enzyme Aggregates (CLEAs) of Candida antarctica lipase B (CALB) which are covalently bound to magnetic nanoparticles, and tackle its use for the synthesis of biodiesel from non-edible vegetable and waste frying oils. For this purpose, insolubilized CALB was covalently cross-linked to magnetic nanoparticles of magnetite which the surface was functionalized with -NH2 groups. The resulting biocatalyst combines the relevant catalytic properties of CLEAs (as great stability and feasibility for their reutilization) and the magnetic character, and thus the final product (mCLEAs) are superparamagnetic particles of a robust catalyst which is more stable than the free enzyme, easily recoverable from the reaction medium and reusable for new catalytic cycles. We have studied the main properties of this biocatalyst and we have assessed its utility to catalyze transesterification reactions to obtain biodiesel from non-edible vegetable oils including unrefined soybean, jatropha and cameline, as well as waste frying oil. Using 1% mCLEAs (w/w of oil) conversions near 80% were routinely obtained at 30°C after 24 h of reaction, this value rising to 92% after 72 h. Moreover, the magnetic biocatalyst can be easily recovered from the reaction mixture and reused for at least ten consecutive cycles of 24 h without apparent loss of activity. The obtained results suggest that mCLEAs prepared from CALB can become a powerful biocatalyst for application at industrial scale with better performance than those currently available.

Fabrication of lactate biosensor based on lactate dehydrogenase immobilized on cerium oxide nanoparticles

An electrochemical biosensor was developed to determine lactate that plays an important role in clinical diagnosis, fermentation and food quality analysis. Abnormal concentration of lactate has been related to diseases such as hypoxia, acute heart disorders, lactic acidosis, muscle fatigue and meningitis. Also, lactate concentration in blood helps to evaluate the athletic performance in sports. The main aim of the work is to fabricate NADH/LDH/Nano-CeO2/GCE bio-electrode for sensing lactate in human blood samples. Toward this, CeO2 nanoparticles were synthesized by a hydroxide mediated approach using cerium nitrate hexahydrate (Ce(NO3)3·6H2O) and NaOH as precursors. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM) studies were carried out to determine the structural and morphological characteristics of CeO2 nanoparticles. XRD pattern indicated the formation of highly crystalline CeO2 nanoparticles with face centered cubic structure. The FE-SEM studies revealed the formation of nanospherical particles of size 29.73±2.59 nm. The working electrode was fabricated by immobilizing nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) on GCE surface with CeO2 nanoparticles as an interface. Electrochemical studies were carried out through cyclic voltammetry using a three electrode system with NADH/LDH/NanoCeO2/GCE as a working electrode, Ag/AgCl saturated with 0.1M KCl as a reference electrode and Pt wire as a counter electrode. From the amperometric study, the linearity was found to be in the range of 0.2-2 mM with the response time of less than 4s.

Automated measurement and monitoring of bioprocesses: key elements of the M(3)C strategy

The state-of-routine monitoring items established in the bioprocess industry as well as some important state-of-the-art methods are briefly described and the potential pitfalls discussed. Among those are physical and chemical variables such as temperature, pressure, weight, volume, mass and volumetric flow rates, pH, redox potential, gas partial pressures in the liquid and molar fractions in the gas phase, infrared spectral analysis of the liquid phase, and calorimetry over an entire reactor. Classical as well as new optical versions are addressed. Biomass and bio-activity monitoring (as opposed to "measurement") via turbidity, permittivity, in situ microscopy, and fluorescence are critically analyzed. Some new(er) instrumental analytical tools, interfaced to bioprocesses, are explained. Among those are chromatographic methods, mass spectrometry, flow and sequential injection analyses, field flow fractionation, capillary electrophoresis, and flow cytometry. This chapter surveys the principles of monitoring rather than compiling instruments.

Assessing iron oxide nanoparticle toxicity in vitro: current status and future prospects

The in vitro labeling of stem or therapeutic cells with engineered nanoparticles with the aim of transplanting these cells into live animals and, for example, noninvasively monitoring their migration, is a hot topic in nanomedicine research. It is of crucial importance that cell–nanoparticle interactions are studied in depth in order to exclude any negative effects of the cell labeling procedure. To date, many disparate results can be found in the literature regarding nanoparticle toxicity due to the great versatility of different parameters investigated. In the present work, an overview is presented of different types of nanomaterials, focusing mostly on iron oxide nanoparticles, developed for biomedical research. The difficulties in assessing nanoparticle-mediated toxicity are discussed, an overview of some of the problems encountered using commercial (dextran-coated) iron oxide nanoparticles is presented, several key parameters are highlighted and novel methods suggested – emphasizing the importance of intracellular nanoparticle degradation and linking toxicity data to functional (i.e., cell-associated) nanoparticle levels, which could help to advance any progress in this highly important research topic.