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Heitkämper T, Roth R, Harteneck S, Berger F, Salam S, Fey-Du C, Flöck C, Tschierske N, Vonderbank V, Martin A, Erren S, Zimmermann J, Lutz M, Kujala K. Flying microbes-survival in the extreme conditions of the stratosphere during a stratospheric balloon flight experiment. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0398223. [PMID: 38869294 PMCID: PMC11302731 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03982-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Earth's stratosphere is characterized by hypobaric conditions, low temperatures, and high intensities of ultraviolet (UV) and cosmic radiation as well as low water and nutrient availability. While it is not considered a permanent habitat for microorganisms, they can be transported to the stratosphere by storms, volcanic action, or human activity. The impact of those extreme conditions on microorganisms and their survival were tested by sending a sample gondola to the stratosphere. The sample gondola was built to allow exposure of Bacillus subtilis endospores at different angles to the sun. It moreover had holders for three environmental samples to test the effect of stratospheric conditions on complex microbial communities. The gondola attached to a stratospheric balloon was launched near Kiruna, Sweden, ascended to ~25 km, and drifted eastward for ~200 km. Samples were exposed to pressures as low as 2 kPa and temperatures as low as -50°C as well as high UV radiation. Survival rates of B. subtilis were determined by comparing the numbers of colony-forming units (CFUs) for the different exposure angles. Survival was negatively correlated with exposure angle, indicating the significant impact of UV radiation. The effect of stratospheric conditions on environmental samples was assessed by comparing most probable numbers, microbial community composition, and substrate-use profiles to controls that had stayed on the ground. Cultivation was possible from all samples with survival rates of at least 1%, and differences in community composition were observed. Survival of environmental microorganisms might have been supported by the sample matrix, which provided protection from radiation and desiccation. IMPORTANCE Earth's stratosphere is a hostile environment that has challenged microbial survival. We set out to test the effect of stratosphere exposure on survival of single species (Bacillus subtilis) and complex microbial communities from soils and sediment. B. subtilis survival was strongly impacted by sun exposure, i.e., ultraviolet (UV) radiation, with only 1% survival at full sun exposure. Complex microbial communities had high survival rates, and the soil or sediment matrix may have provided protection against radiation and desiccation, supporting the survival of environmental microorganisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim Heitkämper
- FH Aachen, Faculty 03 Chemistry and Biotechnology/Faculty 10 Energy Technology, Jülich, Germany
| | - Raphael Roth
- FH Aachen, Faculty 03 Chemistry and Biotechnology/Faculty 10 Energy Technology, Jülich, Germany
| | - Stephan Harteneck
- FH Vorarlberg, Faculty of Business Administration, Dornbirn, Austria
| | - Felix Berger
- FH Aachen, Faculty 03 Chemistry and Biotechnology/Faculty 10 Energy Technology, Jülich, Germany
| | - Sonya Salam
- FH Aachen, Faculty 03 Chemistry and Biotechnology/Faculty 10 Energy Technology, Jülich, Germany
| | - Chunyu Fey-Du
- FH Aachen, Faculty 03 Chemistry and Biotechnology/Faculty 10 Energy Technology, Jülich, Germany
| | - Christopher Flöck
- FH Aachen, Faculty 03 Chemistry and Biotechnology/Faculty 10 Energy Technology, Jülich, Germany
| | - Niclas Tschierske
- FH Aachen, Faculty 03 Chemistry and Biotechnology/Faculty 10 Energy Technology, Jülich, Germany
| | - Vincent Vonderbank
- FH Aachen, Faculty 03 Chemistry and Biotechnology/Faculty 10 Energy Technology, Jülich, Germany
| | - Alexander Martin
- FH Aachen, Faculty 03 Chemistry and Biotechnology/Faculty 10 Energy Technology, Jülich, Germany
| | - Sebastian Erren
- FH Aachen, Faculty 03 Chemistry and Biotechnology/Faculty 10 Energy Technology, Jülich, Germany
| | - Joel Zimmermann
- FH Aachen, Faculty 03 Chemistry and Biotechnology/Faculty 10 Energy Technology, Jülich, Germany
| | - Mike Lutz
- FH Aachen, Faculty 03 Chemistry and Biotechnology/Faculty 10 Energy Technology, Jülich, Germany
| | - Katharina Kujala
- University of Oulu, Water, Energy and Environmental Engineering Research Unit, Oulu, Finland
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Melo RLF, Neto FS, Dari DN, Fernandes BCC, Freire TM, Fechine PBA, Soares JM, Dos Santos JCS. A comprehensive review on enzyme-based biosensors: Advanced analysis and emerging applications in nanomaterial-enzyme linkage. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 264:130817. [PMID: 38479669 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.130817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
Biosensors with nanomaterials and enzymes detect and quantify specific targets in samples, converting recognition into measurable signals. The study explores the intrinsic synergy between these elements for detecting and quantifying particular targets in biological and environmental samples, with results demonstrated through bibliometric analysis and a comprehensive review of enzyme-based biosensors. Using WoS, 57,331 articles were analyzed and refined to 880. Key journals, countries, institutions, and relevant authors were identified. The main areas highlighted the multidisciplinary nature of the field, and critical keywords identified five thematic clusters, revealing the primary nanoparticles used (CNTs, graphene, AuNPs), major application fields, basic application themes, and niche topics such as sensitive detection, peroxidase activity, and quantum dot utilization. The biosensor overview covered nanomaterials and their primary applications, addressing recent advances and inherent challenges. Patent analysis emphasized the U.S. leadership in the industrial sector, contrasting with China's academic prominence. Future studies should focus on enhancing biosensor portability and analysis speed, with challenges encompassing efficient integration with recent technologies and improving stability and reproducibility in the nanomaterial-enzyme interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Leandro Fernandes Melo
- Departamento de Engenharia Metalúrgica e de Materiais, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Campus do Pici, Bloco 729, CEP 60440-554 Fortaleza, CE, Brazil; Grupo de Química de Materiais Avançados (GQMat), Departamento de Química Analítica e Físico-Química, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Campus do Pici, CEP 60451-970 Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
| | - Francisco Simão Neto
- Departamento de Engenharia Química, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Campus do Pici, CEP 60455-760 Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
| | - Dayana Nascimento Dari
- Instituto de Engenharias e Desenvolvimento Sustentável, Universidade da Integração Internacional da Lusofonia Afro-Brasileira, Campus das Auroras, CEP 62790-970 Redenção, CE, Brazil
| | - Bruno Caio Chaves Fernandes
- Departamento de Agronomia e Ciência Vegetais, Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido, Campus Mossoró, Mossoró CEP 59625-900, RN, Brazil
| | - Tiago Melo Freire
- Grupo de Química de Materiais Avançados (GQMat), Departamento de Química Analítica e Físico-Química, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Campus do Pici, CEP 60451-970 Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
| | - Pierre Basílio Almeida Fechine
- Grupo de Química de Materiais Avançados (GQMat), Departamento de Química Analítica e Físico-Química, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Campus do Pici, CEP 60451-970 Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
| | - João Maria Soares
- Departamento de Física, Universidade do Estado do Rio Grande do Norte, Campus Mossoró, Mossoró CEP 59610-090, RN, Brazil.
| | - José Cleiton Sousa Dos Santos
- Instituto de Engenharias e Desenvolvimento Sustentável, Universidade da Integração Internacional da Lusofonia Afro-Brasileira, Campus das Auroras, CEP 62790-970 Redenção, CE, Brazil.
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Yuksel M, Luo W, McCloy B, Mills J, Kayaharman M, Yeow JTW. A precise and rapid early pregnancy test: Development of a novel and fully automated electrochemical point-of-care biosensor for human urine samples. Talanta 2023; 254:124156. [PMID: 36525867 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2022.124156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), a glycoprotein hormone secreted from the placenta, is an important biomarker for pregnancy. In this study, we designed a precise, rapid and fully automatic device with an electrochemical point-of-care biosensor capable of quantitative hCG detection from human urine samples for early pregnancy detection. Gold and Ag/AgCl electrodes, whose structure with optimum isopotential region and current density, were simulated using COMSOL Multiphysics® software and custom-made from Flex Medical. The sensing surface was fabricated with DSP self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) and covalently immobilized anti-hCG-beta antibody. The detection method involved a sandwich assay using anti-hCG alpha-HRP. Based on an automated agitation design implemented in our device, the surface reaction rate is significantly improved comparing to routinely performed sandwich assays, and therefore a rapid detection of very low concentration can be achieved. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and chronoamperometry (CA) measurements were used to characterize the immobilization of the antibodies and to determine the sensor activities respectively. The sensors displayed a limit of detection (LOD) of 2.17 mIU/ml within established clinical hCG levels for early detection of pregnancy. They responded very well to hCG, but not to luteinizing hormone (LH), which has a high degree of cross-reactivity with hCG. The results showed that the immunosensor has high specificity, good reproducibility, and long-term stability for the detection of hCG in urine samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mustafa Yuksel
- Dept. of Systems Design Engineering, University of Waterloo, ON, Canada; SannTek Labs Inc, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | - Wei Luo
- SannTek Labs Inc, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | | | | | - Muhammed Kayaharman
- SannTek Labs Inc, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada; Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | - John T W Yeow
- Dept. of Systems Design Engineering, University of Waterloo, ON, Canada; Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, ON, Canada.
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An Enzyme-Based Interdigitated Electrode-Type Biosensor for Detecting Low Concentrations of H2O2 Vapor/Aerosol. CHEMOSENSORS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/chemosensors10060202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
This work introduces a novel method for the detection of H2O2 vapor/aerosol of low concentrations, which is mainly applied in the sterilization of equipment in medical industry. Interdigitated electrode (IDE) structures have been fabricated by means of microfabrication techniques. A differential setup of IDEs was prepared, containing an active sensor element (active IDE) and a passive sensor element (passive IDE), where the former was immobilized with an enzymatic membrane of horseradish peroxidase that is selective towards H2O2. Changes in the IDEs’ capacitance values (active sensor element versus passive sensor element) under H2O2 vapor/aerosol atmosphere proved the detection in the concentration range up to 630 ppm with a fast response time (<60 s). The influence of relative humidity was also tested with regard to the sensor signal, showing no cross-sensitivity. The repeatability assessment of the IDE biosensors confirmed their stable capacitive signal in eight subsequent cycles of exposure to H2O2 vapor/aerosol. Room-temperature detection of H2O2 vapor/aerosol with such miniaturized biosensors will allow a future three-dimensional, flexible mapping of aseptic chambers and help to evaluate sterilization assurance in medical industry.
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Assessment of Various Process Parameters for Optimized Sterilization Conditions Using a Multi-Sensing Platform. Foods 2022; 11:foods11050660. [PMID: 35267293 PMCID: PMC8909493 DOI: 10.3390/foods11050660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
In this study, an online multi-sensing platform was engineered to simultaneously evaluate various process parameters of food package sterilization using gaseous hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The platform enabled the validation of critical aseptic parameters. In parallel, one series of microbiological count reduction tests was performed using highly resistant spores of B. atrophaeus DSM 675 to act as the reference method for sterility validation. By means of the multi-sensing platform together with microbiological tests, we examined sterilization process parameters to define the most effective conditions with regards to the highest spore kill rate necessary for aseptic packaging. As these parameters are mutually associated, a correlation between different factors was elaborated. The resulting correlation indicated the need for specific conditions regarding the applied H2O2 gas temperature, the gas flow and concentration, the relative humidity and the exposure time. Finally, the novel multi-sensing platform together with the mobile electronic readout setup allowed for the online and on-site monitoring of the sterilization process, selecting the best conditions for sterility and, at the same time, reducing the use of the time-consuming and costly microbiological tests that are currently used in the food package industry.
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Wolf NR, Rai P, Glass M, Milos F, Maybeck V, Offenhäusser A, Wördenweber R. Mechanical and Electronic Cell-Chip Interaction of APTES-Functionalized Neuroelectronic Interfaces. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2021; 4:6326-6337. [PMID: 35006867 DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.1c00576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
In this work, we analyze the impact of a chip coating with a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES) on the electronic and mechanical properties of neuroelectronic interfaces. We show that the large signal transfer, which has been observed for these interfaces, is most likely a consequence of the strong mechanical coupling between cells and substrate. On the one hand, we demonstrate that the impedance of the interface between Pt electrodes and an electrolyte is slightly reduced by the APTES SAM. However, this reduction of approximately 13% is definitely not sufficient to explain the large signal transfer of APTES coated electrodes demonstrated previously. On the other hand, the APTES coating leads to a stronger mechanical clamping of the cells, which is visible in microscopic images of the cell development of APTES-coated substrates. This stronger mechanical interaction is most likely caused by the positively charged amino functional group of the APTES SAM. It seems to lead to a smaller cleft between substrate and cells and, thus, to reduced losses of the cell's action potential signal at the electrode. The disadvantage of this tight binding of the cells to the rigid, planar substrate seems to be the short lifetime of the cells. In our case the density of living cells starts to decrease together with the visual deformation of the cells typically at DIV 9. Solutions for this problem might be the use of soft substrates and/or the replacement of the short APTES molecules with larger molecules or molecular multilayers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolaus R Wolf
- Institute of Biological Information Processing - Bioelectronics (IBI-3), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - Pratika Rai
- Institute of Biological Information Processing - Bioelectronics (IBI-3), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - Manuel Glass
- Institute of Biological Information Processing - Bioelectronics (IBI-3), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - Frano Milos
- Institute of Biological Information Processing - Bioelectronics (IBI-3), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - Vanessa Maybeck
- Institute of Biological Information Processing - Bioelectronics (IBI-3), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - Andreas Offenhäusser
- Institute of Biological Information Processing - Bioelectronics (IBI-3), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - Roger Wördenweber
- Institute of Biological Information Processing - Bioelectronics (IBI-3), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany
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Wolf NR, Yuan X, Hassani H, Milos F, Mayer D, Breuer U, Offenhäusser A, Wördenweber R. Surface Functionalization of Platinum Electrodes with APTES for Bioelectronic Applications. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2020; 3:7113-7121. [PMID: 35019371 DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.0c00936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The interface between electronic components and biological objects plays a crucial role in the success of bioelectronic devices. Since the electronics typically include different elements such as an insulating substrate in combination with conducting electrodes, an important issue of bioelectronics involves tailoring and optimizing the interface for any envisioned applications. In this paper, we present a method for functionalizing insulating substrates (SiO2) and metallic electrodes (Pt) simultaneously with a stable monolayer of organic molecules ((3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES)). This monolayer is characterized by high molecule density, long-term stability, and positive surface net charge and most likely represents a self-assembled monolayer (SAM). It facilitates the conversion of biounfriendly Pt surfaces into biocompatible surfaces, which allows cell growth (neurons) on both functionalized components, SiO2 and Pt, which is comparable to that of reference samples coated with poly-L-lysine (PLL). Moreover, the functionalization greatly improves the electronic cell-chip coupling, thereby enabling the recording of action potential signals of several millivolts at APTES-functionalized Pt electrodes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolaus R Wolf
- Institute of Biological Information Processing, Bioelectronics (IBI-3), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - Xiaobo Yuan
- Institute of Biological Information Processing, Bioelectronics (IBI-3), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - Hossein Hassani
- Institute of Biological Information Processing, Bioelectronics (IBI-3), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - Frano Milos
- Institute of Biological Information Processing, Bioelectronics (IBI-3), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - Dirk Mayer
- Institute of Biological Information Processing, Bioelectronics (IBI-3), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - Uwe Breuer
- Central Institute for Engineering, Electronics and Analytics-Analytics (ZEA-3), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - Andreas Offenhäusser
- Institute of Biological Information Processing, Bioelectronics (IBI-3), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - Roger Wördenweber
- Institute of Biological Information Processing, Bioelectronics (IBI-3), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany
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Ollé EP, Farré-Lladós J, Casals-Terré J. Advancements in Microfabricated Gas Sensors and Microanalytical Tools for the Sensitive and Selective Detection of Odors. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2020; 20:E5478. [PMID: 32987904 PMCID: PMC7583964 DOI: 10.3390/s20195478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2020] [Revised: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
In recent years, advancements in micromachining techniques and nanomaterials have enabled the fabrication of highly sensitive devices for the detection of odorous species. Recent efforts done in the miniaturization of gas sensors have contributed to obtain increasingly compact and portable devices. Besides, the implementation of new nanomaterials in the active layer of these devices is helping to optimize their performance and increase their sensitivity close to humans' olfactory system. Nonetheless, a common concern of general-purpose gas sensors is their lack of selectivity towards multiple analytes. In recent years, advancements in microfabrication techniques and microfluidics have contributed to create new microanalytical tools, which represent a very good alternative to conventional analytical devices and sensor-array systems for the selective detection of odors. Hence, this paper presents a general overview of the recent advancements in microfabricated gas sensors and microanalytical devices for the sensitive and selective detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The working principle of these devices, design requirements, implementation techniques, and the key parameters to optimize their performance are evaluated in this paper. The authors of this work intend to show the potential of combining both solutions in the creation of highly compact, low-cost, and easy-to-deploy platforms for odor monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enric Perarnau Ollé
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Polytechnical University of Catalonia (UPC), MicroTech Lab, Colom street 11, 08222 Terrassa, Spain; (J.F.-L.); (J.C.-T.)
- SEAT S.A., R&D Department in Future Urban Mobility Concepts, A-2, Km 585, 08760 Martorell, Spain
| | - Josep Farré-Lladós
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Polytechnical University of Catalonia (UPC), MicroTech Lab, Colom street 11, 08222 Terrassa, Spain; (J.F.-L.); (J.C.-T.)
| | - Jasmina Casals-Terré
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Polytechnical University of Catalonia (UPC), MicroTech Lab, Colom street 11, 08222 Terrassa, Spain; (J.F.-L.); (J.C.-T.)
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Effects of humidity on cellulose pellets loaded with potassium titanium oxide oxalate for detection of hydrogen peroxide vapor in powders. POWDER TECHNOL 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.powtec.2020.02.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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