Direct electrochemistry of heme proteins: effect of electrode surface modification by neutral surfactants

Enhanced reversible redox activity of hemin on cellulose microfiber integrated reduced graphene oxide for H2O2 biosensor applications

In recent years, the carbohydrate polymers incorporated composite materials have shown significant interest in the bioanalytical chemistry due to their enhanced catalytic performances of various enzymes or mimics. This paper reports the fabrication of novel H₂O₂ biosensor using a hemin immobilized reduced graphene oxide-cellulose microfiber composite (hemin/RGO-CMF). The RGO-CMF composite was prepared by the reduction of GO-CMF composite using vitamin C as a reducing agent. Various physio-chemical methods have applied for the characterization of RGO-CMF composite. Cyclic voltammetry results revealed that the hemin/RGO-CMF composite shows a better redox electrochemical behavior than hemin/RGO and hemin/GO-CMF. Under optimized conditions, the hemin/RGO-CMF composite exhibit a linear response to H₂O₂ in the concentration range from 0.06 to 540.6 μM with the lower detection limit of 16 nM. The sensor also can able to detect the H₂O₂ in commercial contact lens solution and milk samples with functional recovery, which authenticates the potential ability in practical sensors.

An enzymatic biosensor for hydrogen peroxide based on one-pot preparation of CeO2-reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite

The study describes cerium oxide-reduced graphene oxide (CeO₂-rGO) prepared by a facile one-pot hydrothermal approach and its assembly with horseradish peroxidase (HRP) for the detection of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) at trace levels.

Electrochemical sensing of concanavalin A using a non-ionic surfactant with a maltose moiety

To electrochemically detect concanavalin A (ConA), a new method was developed using mixed micelles between a non-ionic surfactant with a maltose moiety and electroactive daunomycin. The surfactants, in which the length of the alkyl chain was different, were n-decyl-β-D-maltoside, n-dodecyl-β-D-maltoside, and n-tetradecyl-β-D-maltoside. The measurement principle was due to the micelle breakdown caused by the binding between the ConA and maltose moieties. When ConA was combined with maltose moieties at a concentration of surfactant that was near the critical micelle concentration, the daunomycin that formed the micelles was moved to a solution from the micelles. As a result, the peak current of daunomycin increased as the concentration of ConA was increased. The mechanism was proposed using voltammetry, spectrometry, and gel filtration. The linear range using n-tetradecyl-β-D-maltoside was 2.0×10(-9) to 8.0×10(-8) M of ConA, and it was the most sensitive in the presence of the three surfactants. To examine whether selective binding took place, measurements with several proteins were carried out. The electrode responses of daunomycin were not influenced by the presence of 5.0×10(-6) M protein. Furthermore, this method could be applied to the determination of ConA in a serum, and to the measurement of sugar chains that can be combined with ConA on the cell surface.

Myoglobin within graphene oxide sheets and Nafion composite films as highly sensitive biosensor

A highly sensitive biosensor was fabricated by incorporating myoglobin (Mb) within graphene oxide (GO) sheets and Nafion composite films. The stable composite Mb-GO-Nafion films were characterized by electrochemistry, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and UV-vis spectroscopy. It was found that Mb in Mb-GO-Nafion films retained its secondary structure similar to its native states. Cyclic voltammetry of Mb-GO-Nafion films showed a pair of well defined, quasi-reversible peaks at about -0.312 V vs saturated calomel electrode (SCE) at pH 5.5, corresponding to direct electron transfer (DET) between Mb and the glassy carbon electrode. Electrochemical parameter of Mb in Mb-GO-Nafion film such as apparent heterogeneous electron transfer rate constant (k_s) and formal potential (E^o') were obtained. The dependence of E^o' on solution pH indicated that the DET reaction of Mb was coupled with proton transfer. Mb in the films displayed good electrocatalytic activities towards various substrates such as hydrogen peroxide, nitrite and oxygen, indicating that the composite films have potential applications in fabricating novel biosensors without using mediators.

Comparative electrochemical study of superoxide reductases

Superoxide reductases are involved in relevant biological electron transfer reactions related to protection against oxidative stress caused by reactive oxygen species. The electrochemical features of metalloproteins belonging to the three different classes of enzymes were studied by potentio-dynamic techniques (cyclic and square wave voltammetry): desulfoferrodoxin from Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough, class I superoxide reductases and neelaredoxin from Desulfovibrio gigas and Treponema pallidum, namely class II and III superoxide reductases, respectively. In addition, a small protein, designated desulforedoxin from D. gigas, which has high homology with the N-terminal domain of class I superoxide reductases, was also investigated. A comparison of the redox potentials and redox behavior of all the proteins is presented, and the results show that SOR center II is thermodynamically more stable than similar centers in different proteins, which may be related to an intramolecular electron transfer function.

Emerging synergy between nanotechnology and implantable biosensors: a review

The development of implantable biosensors for continuous monitoring of metabolites is an area of sustained scientific and technological interests. On the other hand, nanotechnology, a discipline which deals with the properties of materials at the nanoscale, is developing as a potent tool to enhance the performance of these biosensors. This article reviews the current state of implantable biosensors, highlighting the synergy between nanotechnology and sensor performance. Emphasis is placed on the electrochemical method of detection in light of its widespread usage and substantial nanotechnology based improvements in various aspects of electrochemical biosensor performance. Finally, issues regarding toxicity and biocompatibility of nanomaterials, along with future prospects for the application of nanotechnology in implantable biosensors, are discussed.

Cerium phosphate nanotubes: synthesis, characterization and biosensing

Cerium phosphate (CeP) nanotubes have been synthesized and confirmed by x-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The 1D nanomaterial has a monoclinic crystal structure with a mean width of 15-20 nm and a length up to several micrometers. The nanotubes have been employed as electrode substrates for immobilization and direct electrochemistry of heme proteins/enzymes with myoglobin (Mb) as a model. The electrochemical characteristics of the Mb-CeP/GC electrode were studied by voltammetry. After being immobilized on the nanotubes, Mb can keep its natural structure and undergo effective direct electron transfer reaction with a pair of well-defined redox peaks at -(367 +/- 3) mV (pH 7.5). The apparent electron transfer rate constant is (9.1 +/- 1.4) s(-1). The electrode displays good features in the electrocatalytic reduction of H(2)O(2), and thus can be used as a biosensor for detecting the substrate with a low detection limit (0.5 +/- 0.05 microM), a wide linear range (0.01-2 mM), high sensitivity (14.4 +/- 1.2 microA mM(-1)), as well as good stability and reproducibility. CeP nanotubes can become a simple and effective biosensing platform for the integration of heme proteins/enzymes and electrodes, which can provide analytical access to a large group of enzymes for a wide range of bioelectrochemical applications.

Direct electrochemistry and electrocatalysis based on film of horseradish peroxidase intercalated into layered titanate nano-sheets

Intercalation of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) into layered titanate by assembling it with titanate nano-sheets (TNS) was firstly used for fabrication of enzyme electrode (HRP-TNS electrode). XRD result revealed that HRP-TNS film featured layered structure with HRP monolayer intercalated between the titanate layers. UV-vis spectra result indicated the intercalated HRP in TNS film well retained its native structure. The HRP-TNS film was uniform with porous structures which were confirmed by SEM. The immobilized HRP in the TNS film exhibited fast direct electron transfer and showed a good electrocatalytic performance to H2O2 with high sensitivity, wide linear range and low detection. The excellent electrochemical performance of the HRP-TNS electrode was attributed to biocompatibility of the titanate sheets, porous architectures of the HRP-TNS film which retained activity of HRP to large extent, avoided aggregation of HRP, provided better mass transport and allowed more HRP loading per unit area. Thus, the simple method described here provides a novel and effective platform for immobilization of enzyme in realizing direct electrochemistry and has a promising application in fabrication of the third-generation electrochemical biosensors.

Sodium dodecyl sulfate-modified carbon paste electrodes for selective determination of dopamine in the presence of ascorbic acid

A carbon paste electrode (CPE) modified by a monolayer film of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) was used for detection of dopamine (DA). Cyclic voltammetry demonstrated improved response of the DA sensor. This suggests the effectivity of surface modification of CPE by SDS. Impedance spectroscopy was used for the characterization of CPE surface properties. The effect of SDS concentration on the electrode quality also reveals that SDS formed a monolayer on CPE surface with a high density of negative-charged end directed outside the electrode. As a result, the carbon paste electrode modified with SDS (SDS/CPE) exerted discrimination against ascorbic acid in physiological circumstance. Thus, it can selectively determine dopamine even in the presence of 220-fold AA combined with differential pulse stripping voltammetry. In pH 7.40 phosphate buffer solution, the oxidation peak current on differential pulse voltammograms increases linearly with the concentration of DA in the range of 5.0 x 10(-7) to 8.0 x 10(-4) mol . L(-1) with a detection limit of 5.0 x 10(-8) mol . L(-1). Satisfying results are achieved when detecting the DA in injection and simulated biology sample.

Enzyme Electrochemistry — Biocatalysis on an Electrode

Oxidoreductase enzymes catalyze single- or multi-electron reduction/oxidation reactions of small molecule inorganic or organic substrates, and they are integral to a wide variety of biological processes including respiration, energy production, biosynthesis, metabolism, and detoxification. All redox enzymes require a natural redox partner such as an electron-transfer protein (e.g. cytochrome, ferredoxin, flavoprotein) or a small molecule cosubstrate (e.g. NAD(P)H, dioxygen) to sustain catalysis, in effect to balance the substrate/product redox half-reaction. In principle, the natural electron-transfer partner may be replaced by an electrochemical working electrode. One of the great strengths of this approach is that the rate of catalysis (equivalent to the observed electrochemical current) may be probed as a function of applied potential through linear sweep and cyclic voltammetry, and insight to the overall catalytic mechanism may be gained by a systematic electrochemical study coupled with theoretical analysis. In this review, the various approaches to enzyme electrochemistry will be discussed, including direct and indirect (mediated) experiments, and a brief coverage of the theory relevant to these techniques will be presented. The importance of immobilizing enzymes on the electrode surface will be presented and the variety of ways that this may be done will be reviewed. The importance of chemical modification of the electrode surface in ensuring an environment conducive to a stable and active enzyme capable of functioning natively will be illustrated. Fundamental research into electrochemically driven enzyme catalysis has led to some remarkable practical applications. The glucose oxidase enzyme electrode is a spectacularly successful application of enzyme electrochemistry. Biosensors based on this technology are used worldwide by sufferers of diabetes to provide rapid and accurate analysis of blood glucose concentrations. Other applications of enzyme electrochemistry are in the sensing of macromolecular complexation events such as antigen–antibody binding and DNA hybridization. The review will include a selection of enzymes that have been successfully investigated by electrochemistry and, where appropriate, discuss their development towards practical biotechnological applications.

Electron transfer reactivity and the catalytic activity of horseradish peroxidase incorporated in dipalmitoylphosphatidic acid films

Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was incorporated in dipalmitoylphosphatidic acid (DPPA) to form a film and the film was modified on pyrolytic graphite electrode. UV-Vis spectra suggested that HRP in the film could keep its secondary structure similar to the native state. A pair of stable, well-defined, and quasi-reversible cyclic voltammetric peaks was observed with the formal potential at -276.2 mV (vs. saturated calomel electrode), characteristic of heme Fe(III)/Fe(II) redox couple of HRP. The apparent heterogeneous electron transfer rate constant and other electrochemical parameters were presented. The catalytic activity of HRP in DPPA film toward oxygen, hydrogen peroxide and nitric oxide were also examined.

Voltammetric investigation of cytochrome c on gold coated with a self-assembled glutathione monolayer

The direct, reversible electrochemistry of horse-heart cytochrome c (cyt. c) was realized on a self-assembled glutathione (GSH) monolayer modified Au electrode. The voltammetric responses of cyt. c on GSH/Au electrode were found to be affected by pH during the electrode modification, metal ions and surfactants. Using potassium ferricyanide [K4Fe(CN)6] as a probe, these effects on the voltammetric responses of cyt. c were characterized by electrochemical methods. It was found that the pH during the electrode modification, metallic ions and surfactants changed GSH monolayer's charge state and the conformation on the electrode surface, and resulted in the influence on the voltammetric responses of cyt. c. The experimental results provided us information to understand the mechanism of the interfacial electron transfer of electrode-protein, as well as the electron transfer of cyt. c in life system.

Hydrogen peroxide sensor based on horseradish peroxidase immobilized on a silver nanoparticles/cysteamine/gold electrode

A third-generation hydrogen peroxide biosensor was prepared by immobilizing horseradish peroxidase (HRP) on a gold electrode modified with silver nanoparticles. A freshly-cleaned gold electrode was first immersed in a cysteamine-ethanol solution, and then silver nanoparticles were immobilized on the cysteamine monolayer, and finally HRP was adsorbed onto the surfaces of the silver nanoparticles. This self-assemble process was examined via atomic force microscopy (AFM). The immobilized horseradish peroxidase exhibited an excellent electrocatalytic response toward the reduction of hydrogen peroxide. The linear range of the biosensor was 3.3 microM to 9.4 mM, and the detection limit was estimated to be 0.78 microM. Moreover, the biosensor exhibited a fast response, high sensitivity, good reproducibility, and long-term stability.