Electrochemical catalysis with redox polymer and polyion–protein films

Fabrication of low-cost sustainable electrocatalyst: a diagnostic tool for multifunctional disorders in human fluids

In purine metabolism, the xanthine oxidoreductase enzyme converts hypoxanthine (HXN) to xanthine (XN) and XN to uric acid (UA). This leads to the deposition of UA crystals in several parts of the body and the serum UA level might be associated with various multifunctional disorders. The dietary intake of caffeine (CF) and ascorbic acid (AA) decreases the UA level in the serum, which leads to cellular damage. Hence, it is highly needed to monitor the UA level in the presence of AA, XN, HXN, and CF and vice versa. Considering this sequence of complications, the present paper reports the fabrication of an electrochemical sensor using low-cost N-doped carbon dots (CDs) for the selective and simultaneous determination of UA in the presence of AA, XN, HXN, and CF at the physiological pH. The colloidal solution of CDs was prepared by the pyrolysis of asparagine and fabricated on a GC electrode by cycling the potential from -0.20 to +1.2 V in a solution containing CDs and 0.01 M H2SO4. Here, the surface -NH2 functionalities of CDs were used to make a thin film of CDs on the GC electrode. FT-IR spectroscopy confirmed the involvement of the -NH2 group in the formation of the CD film. HR-TEM analysis depicts that the formed CDs showed spherical particles with a size of 1.67 nm and SEM analysis exhibits the 89 nm CD film on the GC electrode surface. The fabricated CD film was successfully used for the sensitive and selective determination of UA. The determination of UA was achieved selectively in a mixture consisting of AA, XN, HXN, and CF with 50-fold high concentration. The CDs-film fabricated electrode has several benefits over the bare electrode: (i) well-resolved oxidation peaks for five analytes, (ii) boosted sensitivity, (iii) shifted oxidation as well as on-set potentials toward less positive potentials, and (iv) high stability. The practical utility of the present sensor was tested by simultaneously determining the multifactorial disorders-causing agents in human fluids. The electrocatalyst developed in the present study is sustainable and can be used for multiple analyses; besides, the electrochemical method used for the fabrication of the CD film is environmentally benign.

A review on graphene-based nanocomposites for electrochemical and fluorescent biosensors

Biosensors with high sensitivity, selectivity and a low limit of detection, reaching nano/picomolar concentrations of biomolecules, are important to the medical sciences and healthcare industry for evaluating physiological and metabolic parameters.

Fast Proton Conduction in Denatured Bovine Serum Albumin-Coated Nafion Membranes

Bovine serum albumin (BSA) is a globular soluble protein, which has been extensively used in biochemical engineering. BSA materials possess abundant hydrophilic charged amino acids, H-bonded networks, and various secondary structures, which has great potential in facilitating proton transfer. Herein, BSA-N117 (BSA-Nafion 117) membranes are conveniently and eco-friendly prepared by utilizing the adsorption and denaturation of BSA on the Nafion 117 surface. The morphology and secondary structures of the BSA layer are studied with field-emission scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. BSA-N117 membranes show highly increased proton conductivity under various conditions, which could be attributed to the improved wettability, water uptake, and the denaturation of BSA. The in-plane proton conductivity of BSA-N117-5 reaches 0.3 and 0.06 S cm^-1 under 80 °C-95% RH and 100 °C-40% RH, respectively. The denaturation of BSA leads to the unfolding of α-helix structures and the formation of β-sheet structures. β-Sheet structures are more beneficial to proton conduction since β-sheet structures have stronger interactions with water molecules and protons could transport more directly in the parallel H-bonded network. Moreover, the denatured BSA modification layer could effectively help BSA-N117 membranes to possess higher selectivity and overcome the "trade-off" effect between proton conductivity and methanol resistance. The methanol permeability of BSA-N117 membranes is 1 order of magnitude lower than that of Nafion 117.

Steamed cake-derived 3D carbon foam with surface anchored carbon nanoparticles as freestanding anodes for high-performance microbial fuel cells

Anode design is highly significant for microbial fuel cells, since it simultaneously serves as the scaffold for electroactive microorganisms and as a medium for electron migration. In this study, a stiff 3D carbon foam with surface anchored nitrogen-containing carbon nanoparticles was facilely constructed via in-situ polyaniline coating of carbonized steamed cake prior to the carbonization process. The resultant product was determined to be an excellent freestanding anode that enabled the microbial fuel cell to deliver a maximum power density of up to 1307 mW/m², which significantly outperformed its non-coated counterpart, the widely used commercial carbon felt. Further investigations revealed that the overall performance enhancement was associated with the open porosity, enlarged electroactive surface, increased biocompatibility, and decreased electric resistance of the anode scaffold. This promising anode material would offer a green and economical option for fabricating high-performance microbial fuel cell-based devices towards various ends.

Synthesis of gold nanoparticles supported on functionalized nanosilica using deep eutectic solvent for an electrochemical enzymatic glucose biosensor

Engineering of nanoparticle (NP) surfaces offers an effective approach for the development of enzymatic biosensors or microbial fuel cells with a greatly enhanced direct electron transport process. However, lack of control over the surface functionalization process and the operational instability of the immobilized enzymes are serious issues. Herein, we demonstrate a facile and green deep eutectic solvent (DES)-mediated synthetic strategy for efficient amine-surface functionalization of silicon dioxide and to integrate small gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) for a glucose biosensor. Owing to the higher viscosity of the DES, it provides uniform surface functionalization and further coupling of the AuNPs on the SiO₂ support with improved stability and dispersion. The amine groups of the functionalized Au-SiO₂NPs were covalently linked to the FAD-center of glucose oxidase (GOx) through glutaraldehyde as a bifunctional cross-linker, which promotes formation of "electrical wiring" with the immobilized enzymes. The Au-SiO₂NP/GOx/GC electrode exhibits direct electron transfer (DET) for sensing of glucose with a sensitivity of 9.69 μA mM^-1, a wide linear range from 0.2 to 7 mM and excellent stability. The present green DES-mediated synthetic approach expands the possibilities to support different metal NPs on SiO₂ as a potential platform for biosensor applications.

Chitosan-Covered Pd@Pt Core-Shell Nanocubes for Direct Electron Transfer in Electrochemical Enzymatic Glucose Biosensor

Development of biosensors with high sensitivity, high spatial resolution, and low cost has received significant attention for their applications in medical diagnosis, diabetes management, and environment-monitoring. However, achieving a direct electrical contact between redox enzymes and electrode surfaces and enhancing the operational stability still remain as challenges. Inorganic metal nanocrystals (NCs) with precisely controlled shape and surface structure engineered with an appropriate organic coating can help overcome the challenges associated with their stability and aggregation for practical biosensor applications. Herein, we describe a facile, room-temperature, seed-mediated solution-phase route to synthesize monodisperse Pd@Pt core-shell nanocubes with subnanometer-thick platinum (Pt) shells. The enzyme electrode consisting of Pd@Pt core-shell NCs was first covered with a chitosan (CS) polymer and then glucose oxidase (GOx) immobilized by a covalent linkage to the CS. This polymer permits covalent immobilization through active amino (-NH) side groups to improve the stability and preserve the biocatalytic functions while the Pd@Pt NCs facilitate enhanced direct electron transfer (DET) in the biosensor. The resultant biosensor promotes DET and exhibits excellent performance for the detection of glucose, with a sensitivity of 6.82 μA cm-2 mM-1 and a wide linear range of 1-6 mM. Our results demonstrate that sensitive electrochemical glucose detection based on Pd@Pt core-shell NCs provides remarkable opportunities for designing low-cost and sensitive biosensors.

Screening Genotoxicity Chemistry with Microfluidic Electrochemiluminescent Arrays

This review describes progress in the development of electrochemiluminescent (ECL) arrays aimed at sensing DNA damage to identify genotoxic chemistry related to reactive metabolites. Genotoxicity refers to chemical or photochemical processes that damage DNA with toxic consequences. Our arrays feature DNA/enzyme films that form reactive metabolites of test chemicals that can subsequently react with DNA, thus enabling prediction of genotoxic chemical reactions. These high-throughput ECL arrays incorporating representative cohorts of human metabolic enzymes provide a platform for determining chemical toxicity profiles of new drug and environmental chemical candidates. The arrays can be designed to identify enzymes and enzyme cascades that produce the reactive metabolites. We also describe ECL arrays that detect oxidative DNA damage caused by metabolite-mediated reactive oxygen species. These approaches provide valuable high-throughput tools to complement modern toxicity bioassays and provide a more complete toxicity prediction for drug and chemical product development.

Electro-chemo-biomimetics from conducting polymers: fundamentals, materials, properties and devices

Conjugated conducting polymers, intrinsic conducting polymers or conducting polymers are complex and mixed materials; their electroactive fractions follow reversible oxidation/reduction reactions giving reversible volume variations to lodge or expel charge-balance counterions and osmotic-balance solvent molecules. The material content (reactive macromolecules, ions and water) mimics the dense intracellular matrix gel of living cells. Here the electropolymerization mechanism is reviewed highlighting the presence of parallel reactions resulting in electroactive and non-electroactive fractions of the final material. Conducting polymers are classified into nine different material families. Each of those families follows a prevalent reaction-driven exchange of anions or cations during oxidation/reduction (p-doping/p-dedoping or n-doping/n-dedoping). Polyaniline families also follow reaction-driven exchange of protons. The polymer/counterion composition changes for several orders of magnitude in a reversible way with the reversible reaction. The value of each of the different composition-dependent properties of the material also shifts in a reversible way driven by the reaction. Each property mimics another change in functional biological organs. A family of biomimetic devices is being developed based on each biomimetic property. Those electrochemical devices work driven by reactions of the constitutive material, as biological organs do. The simultaneous variation of several composition-dependent properties during the reaction announces an unparalleled technological world of multifunctional devices: several tools working simultaneously in one device. Such properties and devices are driven by electrochemical reactions: they are Faradaic devices and must be characterized by using electrochemical cells and electro-chemical methodologies.

Gold-Coated M13 Bacteriophage as a Template for Glucose Oxidase Biofuel Cells with Direct Electron Transfer

Glucose oxidase-based biofuel cells are a promising source of alternative energy for small device applications, but still face the challenge of achieving robust electrical contact between the redox enzymes and the current collector. This paper reports on the design of an electrode consisting of glucose oxidase covalently attached to gold nanoparticles that are assembled onto a genetically engineered M13 bacteriophage using EDC-NHS chemistry. The engineered phage is modified at the pIII protein to attach onto a gold substrate and serves as a high-surface-area template. The resulting "nanomesh" architecture exhibits direct electron transfer (DET) and achieves a higher peak current per unit area of 1.2 mA/cm(2) compared to most other DET attachment schemes. The final enzyme surface coverage on the electrode was calculated to be approximately 4.74 × 10(-8) mol/cm(2), which is a significant improvement over most current glucose oxidase (GOx) DET attachment methods.

Mechanistic Scrutiny Identifies a Kinetic Role for Cytochrome b5 Regulation of Human Cytochrome P450c17 (CYP17A1, P450 17A1)

Cytochrome P450c17 (P450 17A1, CYP17A1) is a critical enzyme in the synthesis of androgens and is now a target enzyme for the treatment of prostate cancer. Cytochrome P450c17 can exhibit either one or two physiological enzymatic activities differentially regulated by cytochrome b5. How this is achieved remains unknown. Here, comprehensive in silico, in vivo and in vitro analyses were undertaken. Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer analysis showed close interactions within living cells between cytochrome P450c17 and cytochrome b5. In silico modeling identified the sites of interaction and confirmed that E48 and E49 residues in cytochrome b5 are essential for activity. Quartz crystal microbalance studies identified specific protein-protein interactions in a lipid membrane. Voltammetric analysis revealed that the wild type cytochrome b5, but not a mutated, E48G/E49G cyt b5, altered the kinetics of electron transfer between the electrode and the P450c17. We conclude that cytochrome b5 can influence the electronic conductivity of cytochrome P450c17 via allosteric, protein-protein interactions.

Electrical Wiring of the Aldehyde Oxidoreductase PaoABC with a Polymer Containing Osmium Redox Centers: Biosensors for Benzaldehyde and GABA

Biosensors for the detection of benzaldehyde and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) are reported using aldehyde oxidoreductase PaoABC from Escherichia coli immobilized in a polymer containing bound low potential osmium redox complexes. The electrically connected enzyme already electrooxidizes benzaldehyde at potentials below -0.15 V (vs. Ag|AgCl, 1 M KCl). The pH-dependence of benzaldehyde oxidation can be strongly influenced by the ionic strength. The effect is similar with the soluble osmium redox complex and therefore indicates a clear electrostatic effect on the bioelectrocatalytic efficiency of PaoABC in the osmium containing redox polymer. At lower ionic strength, the pH-optimum is high and can be switched to low pH-values at high ionic strength. This offers biosensing at high and low pH-values. A "reagentless" biosensor has been formed with enzyme wired onto a screen-printed electrode in a flow cell device. The response time to addition of benzaldehyde is 30 s, and the measuring range is between 10-150 µM and the detection limit of 5 µM (signal to noise ratio 3:1) of benzaldehyde. The relative standard deviation in a series (n = 13) for 200 µM benzaldehyde is 1.9%. For the biosensor, a response to succinic semialdehyde was also identified. Based on this response and the ability to work at high pH a biosensor for GABA is proposed by coimmobilizing GABA-aminotransferase (GABA-T) and PaoABC in the osmium containing redox polymer.

Long-distance electron transfer by G. sulfurreducens biofilms results in accumulation of reduced c-type cytochromes

So close, but yet so far: G. sulfurreducens c-type cytochromes become reduced as biofilms grow on electrodes beyond a few cell thicknesses, even if the electrode is poised well above the potential required to oxidize all cytochromes. Cytochrome redox state also lags behind rapid potential changes during voltammetry, but only when the films are multiple cell layers thick, as would be expected if diffusional or exchange-based kinetics controls electron transfer between cytochromes.

Electrical and Proton Conducting Polymer Based Composite Electrodes Incorporating Fuel Cell Catalysts: Screen Printed Systems Analysed Using Hall Measurements

40% Pt on carbon black was used to make various inks. Compositions were altered by changing the organic component (2-propanol vs 1,2-¬propanediol), the liquid to solid ratio, and addition of Fullerenes to alter electronic properties. Inks were printed onto Nafion® or bond paper substrates using a Presco screen printer. The inks rheological properties were thoroughly characterized, and screen printed electrodes were characterized using optical microscopy, and hall measurements. Ink formulation had a major effect on final film morphology, with high water ratio formulations optimum for the Nafion® substrate and low water ratios ideal for bond paper. The final film integrity influenced sheet hall coefficients with p-type carriers dominating inhomogeneous films, and n – type carriers dominating well formed films. However hall mobility did not correlate with film thickness. Rheological studies showed that increasing the solid ratios and changing the solvent increased the viscosity, and the storage modulus (G') of between 84 and 224 and viscoelastic behaviour of inks correlated with good print quality.

High-sensitivity amperometric biosensors based on ferrocene-modified linear poly(ethylenimine)

Amperometric biosensors for glucose and hydrogen peroxide have been built by immobilizing glucose oxidase (GOX) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) in cross-linked films of ferrocene-modified linear poly(ethylenimine). At pH 7, the glucose sensors generated limiting catalytic current densities of 1.2 mA/cm2. These current densities are approximately 4 times higher than those with other ferrocene-based redox polymers and are comparable to the highest reported values for osmium-based redox polymers with GOX. Because of the high sensitivity of these films (73 nA/cm2.microM), glucose concentrations in the micromolar range could be detected. Similarly, sensors were constructed with HRP-generated current densities of 0.9 mA/cm2 under saturation conditions and sensitivities of 500 nA/cm2.microM. The results show that the ability of Fc-LPEI to effectively communicate with a variety of enzymes has potential applications in measuring low substrate concentrations in implantable biosensors and producing high current outputs in enzymatic biofuel cells.

Preparation and characterization of polyoxometalate/protein ultrathin films grown on electrode surfaces using layer-by-layer assembly

We report a new electrostatic layer-by-layer assembly method for the controlled deposition of electrocatalytically active enzymes onto electrode surfaces using polyoxometalate as the counteranion. Cytochrome c (cyt c), a redox active protein, and P(2)W(18)O(62)(6-), a Dawson-type polyoxometalate, were deposited onto glassy carbon electrodes by two procedures: static dipping and electrochemical cycling. Cyclic voltammetry and UV-vis spectroscopy reveal that approximately 1.5 x 10(-10) mol/cm(2) of P(2)W(18)O(62)(6-) and 2.2 x 10(-11) mol/cm(2) of cytochrome c are deposited per cycle, which correspond to approximately one monolayer of each molecule. The thicknesses of the resulting films measured by atomic force microscopy also indicate that the films are formed in a layer-by-layer fashion. Experimental factors that affect electron-transfer rate in these films, such as scan rate and film thickness, were systematically analyzed. The use of {P(2)W(18)O(62)(6-)/cyt c}n films to catalyze hydrogen peroxide reduction was demonstrated.

Entrapment of enzymes and carbon nanotubes in biologically synthesized silica: glucose oxidase-catalyzed direct electron transfer

This work demonstrates a new approach for building bioinorganic interfaces by integrating biologically derived silica with single-walled carbon nanotubes to create a conductive matrix for immobilization of enzymes. Such a strategy not only allows simple integration into biodevices but presents an opportunity to intimately interface an enzyme and manifest direct electron transfer features. Biologically synthesized silica/carbon nanotube/enzyme composites are evaluated electrochemically and characterized by means of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Voltammetry of the composites displayed stable oxidation and reduction peaks at an optimal potential close to that of the FAD/FADH(2) cofactor of immobilized glucose oxidase. The immobilized enzyme is stable for a period of one month and retains catalytic activity for the oxidation of glucose. It is demonstrated that the resulting composite can be successfully integrated into functional bioelectrodes for biosensor and biofuel cell applications.