A reagentless amperometric hydrogen peroxide biosensor based on covalently binding horseradish peroxidase and thionine using a thiol-modified gold electrode

Carbon Felt-Based Bioelectrocatalytic Flow-Through Detectors: 2,6-Dichlorophenol Indophenol and Peroxidase Coadsorbed Carbon-Felt for Flow-Amperometric Determination of Hydrogen Peroxide

2,6-dichlorophenol indophenol (DCIP) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) were coadsorbed on a porous carbon felt (CF) from their mixed aqueous solution under ultrasound irradiation for 5 min. The resulting DCIP and HRP-coadsorbed CF (DCIP/HRP-CF) showed an excellent bioelectrocatalytic activity for the reduction of H₂O₂. The coadsorption of DCIP together with HRP was essential to obtain larger bioelectrocatalytic current to H₂O₂. The DCIP/HRP-CF was successfully used as a working electrode unit of a bioelectrocatalytic flow-through detector for highly sensitive and continuous amperometric determination of H₂O₂. Under the optimized operational conditions (i.e., applied potential, +0.2 V versus Ag/AgCl; carrier pH 5.0, and carrier flow rate, 1.9 mL/min), the cathodic peak current of H₂O₂ linearly increased over the concentration range from 0.1 to 30 μM (the sensitivity, 0.88 μA/μM (slope of linear part); the limit of detection, 0.1 μM (S/N = 3) current noise level, 30 nA) with a sample through-put of ca. 40–90 samples/h.

A novel protocol for covalent immobilization of thionine on glassy carbon electrode and its application in hydrogen peroxide biosensor

A novel protocol for effectively covalent immobilization of thionine (Th) was proposed, which was based on Schiff-base reaction between -NH(2) of Th and -COH which was in situ generated on glassy carbon electrode (GCE) via simple potentiostatic activation in diluted nitric acid. GCE pretreated by potentiostatic activation possessed CHO-riched surface and microporous structure with high distribution density of electron transfer sites, and thus it became a good candidate for effective immobilization of Th through imine bond with high stability. The application of the resulting Th modified electrode in hydrogen peroxide biosensor was also investigated and it exhibited rapid response to H(2)O(2) within 3s. The linear calibration ranged from 5.0x10(-7) to 5.8x10(-3)M with a detection limit of 1.0x10(-7)M. The effective immobilization of Th on potentiostatically activated GCE surface has deep significance in mediator immobilization, on which further researches based are under way.

Carbon Felt-based Bioelectrocatalytic Flow Detectors: Highly Sensitive Amperometric Determination of Hydrogen Peroxide Using Adsorbed Peroxidase and Thionine

Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and thionine (TN) were co-adsorbed onto a porous carbon felt (CF), and the resulting HRP and TN-adsorbed CF (HRP-TN-CF) was successfully used as a working electrode unit of a novel bioelectrocatalytic flow detector for a highly sensitive amperometric determination of hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)). Co-adsorbed TN was essential to enhance the cathodic peak current of H(2)O(2), and the current responses of the HRP-TN-CF-based detector were much larger than those of the HRP-CF-based detector (without TN). When air-saturated 0.1 M phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) was used as a carrier at a flow rate of 3.9 ml/min, cathodic peak currents of H(2)O(2) (sample injection volume, 200 microl) obtained at an applied potential of 0 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) increased linearly up to 50 microM with a detection limit of 0.1 microM. Repetitive 100 sample injection of 100 microM H(2)O(2) induced no serious current decrease, and RSD was 0.41 to 1.21% (n = 100). The HRP-TN-CF retained 42% of its original activity after 8 days of storage in 0.1 M phosphate buffer at 4 degrees C.

DNA–Cu(II) poly(amine) complex membrane as novel catalytic layer for highly sensitive amperometric determination of hydrogen peroxide

A novel hydrogen peroxide biosensor was fabricated by using a DNA-Cu(II) complex as a novel electrocatalyst for the reduction of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). A polyion complex (PIC) membrane composed of DNA and poly(allylamine) (PAA) functioned as a support matrix for immobilization of electrocatalytic element-copper ion. The circular dichroism (CD) spectrum of the DNA-Cu(II)/PAA membrane in wet state showed that the DNA exists in B-like form within the membrane. Electrochemical measurements of the DNA-Cu(II)/PAA membrane-modified glassy carbon (GC) electrode revealed that the copper ion embedded in the DNA/PAA layer exhibits good electrochemical behaviors, and the electrochemical rate constant between the immobilized copper ion and the GC electrode surface was estimated to be 26.4 s(-1). The resulting DNA-Cu(II)/PAA/GC electrode showed an excellent electrocatalytic activity for the H2O2 reduction. The sensitivity of the sensor for the determination of H2O2 was affected by the amount of each component, such as copper ion, DNA and PAA in the DNA-Cu(II)/PAA membrane. Effects of applied potential, pH, temperature, ionic strength and buffer concentrations upon the response currents of the sensor were also investigated for an optimum analytical performance. Even in the presence of dissolved oxygen, the sensor exhibited highly sensitive and rapid (response time, less than 5 s) response to H2O2. The steady-state cathodic current responses of the sensor obtained at -0.2 V versus Ag/AgCl in air-saturated 50 mM phosphate buffer (pH 5.0) increased linearly up to 135 microM with the detection limit of 50 nM. Interference by ascorbic acid and uric acid due to the reduction of Cu(II) was effectively cancelled by further modification of outermost layer of polyion complex film. In addition, the sensor exhibited good reproducibility and stability.

Metal nanoshells

Metal nanoshells are a new class of nanoparticles with highly tunable optical properties. Metal nanoshells consist of a dielectric core nanoparticle such as silica surrounded by an ultrathin metal shell, often composed of gold for biomedical applications. Depending on the size and composition of each layer of the nanoshell, particles can be designed to either absorb or scatter light over much of the visible and infrared regions of the electromagnetic spectrum, including the near infrared region where penetration of light through tissue is maximal. These particles are also effective substrates for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and are easily conjugated to antibodies and other biomolecules. One can envision a myriad of potential applications of such tunable particles. Several potential biomedical applications are under development, including immunoassays, modulated drug delivery, photothermal cancer therapy, and imaging contrast agents.

Coadsorption of horseradish peroxidase with thionine on TiO2 nanotubes for biosensing

In this study, we investigate the coadsorption of protein with thionine on TiO(2) nanotubes for biosensor design. The TiO(2) nanotube arrays fabricated by anodic oxidation of titanium substrate possess large surface areas and good uniformity and conformability and are ready for enzyme immobilization. Electrochemical and spectroscopic measurements show that the TiO(2) nanotube arrays provide excellent matrixes for the coadsorption of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and thionine and that the adsorbed HRP on these TiO(2) nanotube arrays effectively retains its bioactivity. The immobilized thionine can be electrochemically reduced but cannot be reoxidized in the electrode potential range between -0.7 and 0.0 V. The addition of H(2)O(2) leads to the biocatalytic oxidation of the reduced thionine in the presence of HRP, resulting in developing a novel H(2)O(2) sensor with good stability and reproducibility. The fabricated TiO(2) nanotubes offer a stage for further study of immobilization and electrochemistry of proteins. The proposed method opens a way to develop biosensors using nanostructured materials with low electrical conductivity.

Structured thin films as functional components within biosensors

This review provides an introduction to the field of thin films formed by Langmuir-Blodgett or self-assembly techniques and discusses applications in the field of biosensors. The review commences with an overview of thin films and methods of construction. Methods covered will include Langmuir-Blodgett film formation, formation of self-assembled monolayers such as gold-thiol monolayers and the formation of multilayers by the self-assembly of polyelectrolytes. The structure and forces governing the formation of the materials will also be discussed. The next section focussed on methods for interrogating these films to determine their selectivity and activity. Interrogation methods to be covered will include electrochemical measurements, optical measurements, quartz crystal microbalance, surface plasmon resonance and other techniques. The final section is dedicated to the functionality of these films, incorporation of biomolecules within these films and their effect on film structure. Species for incorporation will include antibodies, enzymes, proteins and DNA. Discussions on the location, availability, activity and stability of the included species are included. The review finishes with a short consideration of future research possibilities and applications of these films.

A new film for the fabrication of an unmediated H2O2 biosensor

A novel and stable film made from polyethylene glycol (PEG) on pyrolytic graphite (PG) electrode was presented in this paper for incorporating horseradish peroxidase (HRP) to study the direct electrochemistry of the enzyme. In PEG film, HRP showed a thin-layer electrochemistry behavior. The apparent standard potential (E degrees ') was -0.379 V versus SCE at pH 7.2. Moreover, the PEG-HRP modified electrode exhibited excellent electrocatalytical response to the reduction of H2O2 with a calibration range between 2.0 x 10(-6) and 6.0 x 10(-4) M and a good linear relation from 2.0 x 10(-6) to 1.0 x 10(-4) M, on which an unmediated H2O2 biosensor was based. The detection limit of 6.7 x 10(-7) M was estimated when the signal-to-noise ratio was 3. The relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) was 4.7% for six successive determinations at a concentration of 4.0 x 10(-5) M. The apparent Michaelis-Menten constant (Km app) of the sensor was found to be 1.38 mM. Epinephrine, dopamine, and ascorbic acid did not interfere with the sensitive determination of H2O2.

Electrochemical properties of Nile Blue covalently immobilized on self-assembled thiol-monolayer modified gold electrodes

A monolayer of Nile Blue (NB) has been covalently immobilized on the self-assembled thiol-monolayer modified gold electrode. Cyclic voltammograms indicated a stable and reverse redox process of NB bonded on the electrode surface. The mechanisms of redox process coupling with proton transfer were proposed. The NB-modified electrode showed excellent electrocatalytic activity toward Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) oxidation and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) reduction. A hydrogen peroxide biosensor based on NB as a mediator has been demonstrated.

Immobilization of peroxidase glycoprotein on gold electrodes modified with mixed epoxy-boronic Acid monolayers

The development of bioelectronic enzyme applications requires the immobilization of active proteins onto solid or colloidal substrates such as gold. Coverage of the gold surface with alkanethiol self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) reduces nonspecific adsorption of proteins and also allows the incorporation onto the surface of ligands with affinity for complementary binding sites on native proteins. We present in this work a strategy for the covalent immobilization of glycosylated proteins previously adsorbed through weak, reversible interactions, on tailored SAMs. Boronic acids, which form cyclic esters with saccharides, are incorporated into SAMs to weakly adsorb the glycoprotein onto the electrode surface through their carbohydrate moiety. To prevent protein release from the electrode surface, we combine the affinity motif of boronates with the reactivity of epoxy groups to covalently link the protein to heterofunctional boronate-epoxy SAMs. The principle underlying our strategy is the increased immobilization rate achieved by the weak interaction-induced proximity effect between slow reacting oxyrane groups in the SAM and nucleophilic residues from adsorbed proteins, which allows the formation of very stable covalent bonds. This approach is exemplified by the use of phenylboronates-oxyrane mixed monolayers as a reactive support and redox-enzyme horseradish peroxidase as glycoprotein for the preparation of peroxidase electrodes. Quartz crystal microbalance, atomic force microscopy, and electrochemical measurements are used to characterize these enzymatic electrodes. These epoxy-boronate functional monolayers are versatile, stable interfaces, ready to incorporate glycoproteins by incubation under mild conditions.

Biomedical application of immobilized enzymes

Reports on chemical immobilization of proteins and enzymes first appeared in the 1960s. Since then, immobilized proteins and enzymes have been widely used in the processing of variety of products and increasingly used in the field of medicine. Here, we present a review of recent developments in immobilized enzyme use in medicine. Generally speaking, the use of immobilized enzyme in medicine can be divided into two major categories: biosensors and bioreactors. A brief overview of the evolution of the biosensor and bioreactor technology, of currently existing applications of immobilized enzymes, of problems that researchers encountered, and of possible future developments will be presented.