Electroactive hemoglobin-surfactant-polymer biomembrane-like films

Assembly of layer-by-layer films of electroactive hemoglobin and surfactant didodecyldimethylammonium bromide

When a solid substrate with negative surface charges was placed in an aqueous didodecyldimethylammonium bromide (DDAB) vesicle dispersion, the cationic surfactant DDAB with two hydrocarbon chains could be assembled into the biomembrane-like tail-to-tail double-layer structure on the solid surface with the positively charged head groups toward outside, making the surface charge reverse from negative to positive. After the solid substrate with DDAB was immersed in a hemoglobin (Hb) solution at pH 9.0, the negatively charged Hb was adsorbed on the surface of DDAB layer by electrostatic attraction, forming a DDAB/Hb film. By repeating this adsorption cycle, the {DDAB/Hb}(n) layer-by-layer films were assembled on solid surfaces, which was confirmed by UV-vis spectroscopy, quartz crystal microbalance (QCM), and cyclic voltammetry (CV). The stable {DDAB/Hb}(n) films assembled on pyrolytic graphite (PG) electrodes showed two pairs of nearly reversible redox peaks at about -0.22 and -1.14 V vs SCE in pH 7.0 buffers, characteristic of the Hb heme Fe(III)/Fe(II) and Fe(II)/Fe(I) redox couples, respectively. The direct electrochemistry of Hb in the films could be used to electrocatalyze reduction of various substrates. UV-vis and IR spectroscopic results and comparison experiments with {DDAB/hemin}(n) films indicate that Hb in the {DDAB/Hb}(n) films essentially retains its native structure. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to characterize the morphology of the films with different outermost layers.

Direct electrochemistry of hemoglobin in the hyaluronic acid films

Hemoglobin (Hb) in the hyaluronic acid (HA) was cast at pyrolytic graphite (PG) electrodes for researching its electrochemical and electrocatalytic properties. The formal potential and electron transfer rate constant of Hb on HA films were determined, and the stability of the films, the pH effect, and the influence of supporting electrolyte concentrations upon Hb electrochemistry on the films were investigated by cyclic voltammetry and square wave voltammetry. UV-Vis absorption and reflectance absorption infrared (RAIR) spectra showed that the protein on HA film retained near-native secondary structure. The stable Hb-HA/PG gave analytically useful electrochemical catalytic responses to hydrogen peroxide. Thus, the property of the HA film for sorption and retention of water maybe utilized to develop some new biosensors.

Thirty years of haemoglobin electrochemistry

Electrochemical investigations of the blood oxygen carrier protein include both mediated and direct electron transfer. The reaction of haemoglobin (Hb) with typical mediators, e.g., ferricyanide, can be quantified by measuring the produced ferrocyanide which is equivalent to the Hb concentration. Immobilization of the mediator within the electrode body allows reagentless electrochemical measuring of Hb. On the other hand, entrapment of the protein within layers of polyelectrolytes, lipids, nanoparticles of clay or gold leads to a fast heterogeneous electron exchange of the partially denatured Hb.

Studies on direct electron transfer and biocatalytic properties of heme proteins in lecithin film

Myoglobin (Mb), hemoglobin (Hb) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) were incorporated in lecithin (PC) film on glassy carbon (GC) electrode by the method of vesicle-fusion. A pair of well-defined and quasi-reversible cyclic voltammetric peaks was obtained, which reflected the direct electron transfer of heme proteins. UV-Vis and reflectance absorption infrared (RAIR) spectroscopy showed that proteins in PC films remained at their secondary structure similar to their native states. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) demonstrated the interaction between the proteins and PC would make the morphology of protein-PC films very different from the PC films alone. The immobilized proteins retained their biocatalytic activity to the reduction of NO and hydrogen peroxide, which provide the perspective to be the third generation sensors.

An electrochemical investigation of hemoglobin and catalase incorporated in collagen films

Collagen, an electrochemically inert protein, formed films on pyrolytic graphite (PG) electrodes, which provided a suitable microenvironment for heme proteins to transfer electron directly with the underlying electrodes. Hemoglobin (Hb) and catalase (Cat) incorporated in collagen films exhibited a pair of well-defined and quasi-reversible cyclic voltammetric peaks at around -0.35 V and -0.47 V (vs. SCE) in pH 7.0 buffers, respectively, characteristic of the protein heme Fe(III)/Fe(II) redox couples. UV-vis spectra showed that the heme proteins in collagen films retained their near-native conformations in the medium pH range. The results of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) demonstrated that the interaction between heme proteins and collagen made the morphology of dry protein-collagen films different from the collagen films alone. The electrochemical parameters such as apparent heterogeneous electron transfer rate constant (k(s)) and formal potential (E degrees ') of the films were estimated by using square wave voltammograms (SWV) and nonlinear regression analysis. The heme protein-collagen film electrodes were also used to catalyze the reduction of nitrite, oxygen and hydrogen peroxide, indicating potential applications of the films for the fabrication of a new type of biosensor that does not use mediators.

Voltammetric studies of hemoglobin-coated polystyrene latex bead films on pyrolytic graphite electrodes

A novel hemoglobin (Hb)-coated polystyrene (PS) latex bead film was deposited on pyrolytic graphite (PG) electrode surface. In the first step, positively charged Hb molecules in pH 5.0 buffers were adsorbed on the surface of negatively charged, 500 nm diameter PS latex beads bearing sulfate groups by electrostatic interaction. The aqueous dispersion of Hb-coated PS particles was then deposited on the surface of PG electrodes and, after evaporation of the solvent, Hb-PS films were formed. The Hb-PS film electrodes exhibited a pair of well-defined, quasi-reversible cyclic voltammetric (CV) peaks at about -0.36 V vs. SCE in pH 7.0 buffers, characteristic of Hb heme Fe(III)/Fe(II) redox couples. Positions of Soret absorption band of Hb-PS films suggest that Hb retains its near-native structure in the films in its dry form and in solution at medium pH. The Hb in PS films was also acted as a catalyst to catalyze electrochemical reduction of various substrates such as trichloroacetic acid (TCA), nitrite, oxygen and hydrogen peroxide.

Heme protein films with polyamidoamine dendrimer: direct electrochemistry and electrocatalysis

Biocompatible nanosized polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimer films provided a suitable microenvironment for heme proteins to transfer electron directly with underlying pyrolytic graphite (PG) electrodes. Hemoglobin (Hb), myoglobin (Mb), horseradish peroxidase (HRP), and catalase (Cat) incorporated in PAMAM films exhibited a pair of well-defined, quasi-reversible cyclic voltammetric peaks, respectively, characteristic of the protein heme Fe(III)/Fe(II) redox couples. While Hb-, Mb-, and HRP-PAMAM films showed the cyclic voltammetry (CV) peaks at about -0.34 V vs. saturated calomel electrode (SCE) in pH 7.0 buffers, Cat-PAMAM films displayed the peak pair at a more negative potential of -0.47 V. The protein-PAMAM films demonstrated a surface-confined or thin-layer voltammetric behavior. The electrochemical parameters such as apparent heterogeneous electron transfer rate constants (k(s)) and formal potentials (E (degrees ')) were estimated by square wave voltammetry with nonlinear regression analysis. UV-vis and IR spectroscopy showed that the proteins retained their near-native secondary structures in PAMAM films. Oxygen, hydrogen peroxide, and nitrite were catalytically reduced at the protein-PAMAM film electrodes, showing the potential applicability of the films as the new type of biosensors or bioreactors based on direct electrochemistry of the proteins.

Driving forces for layer-by-layer self-assembly of films of SiO2 nanoparticles and heme proteins

Heme protein hemoglobin (Hb) or myoglobin (Mb) and silica nanoparticles in a variety of charge states were assembled layer-by-layer into films on solid surfaces to investigate the driving forces for film assembly. Cyclic voltammetry (CV), quartz crystal microbalance (QCM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and UV-vis and reflectance absorption infrared (RAIR) spectroscopy were used to characterize the different [SiO2/protein]n films. Even when the proteins and silica were both negatively charged, stable layer-by-layer [SiO2/protein]n films were successfully fabricated, although amounts of protein were smaller than when nanoparticles and proteins had opposite charges. Results suggest the importance of localized Coulombic attractions between the negative nanoparticle surface and positively charged amino acid residues on the Mb or Hb surfaces in the assembly and for the stability of [SiO2/protein]n films.

Direct electron transfer and bioelectrocatalysis of hemoglobin at a carbon nanotube electrode

A stable suspension of carbon nanotube (CNT) can be obtained by dispersing the CNT in the solution of the surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide. CNT has promotion effects on the direct electron transfer of hemoglobin (Hb), which was immobilized onto the surface of CNT. The direct electron transfer rate of Hb was greatly enhanced after it was immobilized onto the surface of CNT. Cyclic voltammetric results showed a pair of well-defined redox peaks, which corresponded to the direct electron transfer of Hb, with the formal potential (E(0('))) at about -0.343V (vs. saturated calomel electrode) in the phosphate buffer solution (pH 6.8). The electrochemical parameters such as apparent heterogeneous electron transfer rate constant (k(s)) and the value of formal potential (E(0('))) were estimated. The dependence of E(0(')) on solution pH indicated that the direct electron transfer reaction of Hb is a one-electron transfer coupled with a one-proton transfer reaction process. The experimental results also demonstrated that the immobilized Hb retained its bioelectrocatalytic activity to the reduction of H(2)O(2). The electrocatalytic current was proportional to the concentration of H(2)O(2) at least up to 20mM.

Electrochemical and electrocatalytic properties of myoglobin and hemoglobin incorporated in carboxymethyl cellulose films

Protein-CMC films were made by casting a solution of myoglobin (Mb) or hemoglobin (Hb) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) on pyrolytic graphite electrodes. In pH 7.0 buffers, Mb and Hb incorporated in CMC films gave a pair of well-defined and quasi-reversible cyclic voltammetric peaks at about -0.34 V vs. SCE, respectively, characteristic of heme Fe(III)/Fe(II) redox couples of the proteins. The electrochemical parameters such as apparent standard heterogeneous electron transfer rate constants (k(s)) and formal potentials (E degrees ') were estimated by square wave voltammetry with nonlinear regression analysis. In aqueous solution, stable CMC films absorbed large amounts of water and formed hydrogel. Scanning electron microscopy of the films showed that interaction between Mb or Hb and CMC would make the morphology of dry protein-CMC films different from the CMC films alone. Positions of Soret absorbance band suggest that Mb and Hb in CMC films retain their secondary structure similar to the native states in the medium pH range. Trichloroacetic acid, nitrite, oxygen, and hydrogen peroxide were catalytically reduced at protein-CMC film electrodes.

Direct voltammetry and electrocatalytic properties of catalase incorporated in polyacrylamide hydrogel films

The direct voltammetry and electrocatalytic properties of catalase (Cat) in polyacrylamide (PAM) hydrogel films cast on pyrolytic graphite (PG) electrodes were investigated. Cat-PAM film electrodes showed a pair of well-defined and nearly reversible cyclic voltammetry peaks for Cat Fe(III)/Fe(II) redox couples at approximately -0.46 V vs. SCE in pH 7.0 buffers. The electron transfer between catalase and PG electrodes was greatly facilitated in the microenvironment of PAM films. The apparent heterogeneous electron transfer rate constant (k(s)) and formal potential (E degrees ') were estimated by fitting square wave voltammograms with non-linear regression analysis. The formal potential of Cat Fe(III)/Fe(II) couples in PAM films had a linear relationship with pH between pH 4.0 and 9.0 with a slope of -56 mV pH(-1), suggesting that one proton is coupled with single-electron transfer for each heme group of catalase in the electrode reaction. UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy demonstrated that catalase retained a near native conformation in PAM films at medium pH. The embedded catalase in PAM films showed the electrocatalytic activity toward dioxygen and hydrogen peroxide. Possible mechanism of catalytic reduction of H(2)O(2) at Cat-PAM film electrodes was proposed.

Electrochemical biosensors utilising electron transfer in heme proteins immobilised on Fe3O4nanoparticles

Fe3O4 nanoparticles cast on pyrolytic graphite (PG) electrodes were used to immobilize hemoglobin (Hb), myoglobin (Mb) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP). The Fe3O4 nanoparticles provided a favorable microenvironment for the proteins to directly transfer electrons with electrodes. The protein-Fe3O4 films were used to electrochemically catalyze the reduction of oxygen, trichloroacetic acid, nitrite and hydrogen peroxide, and showed a potential applicability in fabricating biosensors. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV-visible absorption and reflectance absorption infrared (RAIR) spectroscopy, and cyclic and square wave voltammetry, were used to characterize the films.

Electrochemistry and electrocatalysis with heme proteins in chitosan biopolymer films

Protein-chitosan (CS) films were made by casting a solution of proteins and CS on pyrolytic graphite electrodes. Myoglobin (Mb), hemoglobin (Hb), and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) incorporated in CS films gave a pair of stable, well-defined, and quasi-reversible cyclic voltammetric peaks at about -0.33V vs saturated calomel electrode in pH 7 buffers, respectively, while catalase (Ct) in CS films showed a peak pair at about -0.46V which was not stable. All these peaks are located at the potentials characteristic of heme Fe(III)/Fe(II) redox couples of the proteins. The electrochemical parameters such as formal potentials (E degrees (')) and apparent heterogeneous electron-transfer rate constants (k(s)) were estimated by square-wave voltammetry with nonlinear regression analysis. Chitosan films contained considerable water and formed hydrogel in aqueous solution. Positions of the Soret absorbance band suggest that Mb and Hb in CS films keep their secondary structure similar to the native states in the medium pH range, while HRP and Ct retain their native conformation at least in the dry CS films. Scanning electron microscopy of the films demonstrated that interaction between the proteins and CS would make the morphology of dry protein-CS films very different from the CS films alone. Oxygen, trichloroacetic acid, nitrite, and hydrogen peroxide were catalytically reduced by all four proteins in CS films.

Electrochemistry and Electrocatalysis with Myoglobin in Biomembrane-Like DHP-PDDA Polyelectrolyte-Surfactant Complex Films

The polyelectrolyte-surfactant complex DHP-PDDA was prepared by reacting the anionic surfactant dihexadecylphosphate (DHP) with polycationic poly(diallyldimethylammonium) (PDDA). Thin films made from DHP-PDDA on solid substrates demonstrated an ordered multibilayer structure by XRD and DSC. Incorporated myoglobin (Mb) in DHP-PDDA films on pyrolytic graphite (PG) electrodes showed a pair of well-defined and nearly reversible cyclic voltammetric peaks for the Mb Fe(III)/Fe(II) couple at about -0.3 V vs SCE in pH 7.0 buffers. Electron transfer between Mb and PG electrodes was greatly facilitated in the film microenvironment. The positions of the Soret absorption band suggest that Mb maintains its secondary structure similar to its native state in DHP-PDDA films in the medium pH range. Mb could act as an enzyme-like catalyst in DHP-PDDA films as demonstrated by catalytic reduction of trichloroacetic acid, nitrite, and oxygen with a decrease in the electrode potentials required. Mb-DHP-PDDA films may thus have potential application as biosensors. Copyright 2001 Academic Press.

Direct electrochemistry of hemoglobin in layer-by-layer films with poly(vinyl sulfonate) grown on pyrolytic graphite electrodes

Stable layer-by-layer electroactive films were grown on pyrolytic graphite (PG) electrodes by alternate adsorption of layers of polyanionic poly(vinyl sulfonate) (PVS) and positively charged hemoglobin (Hb) from their aqueous solutions. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) of [PVS/Hb]n films showed a pair of well-defined and nearly reversible peaks at about - 0.28 V vs. SCE at pH 5.5, characteristic of Hb heme Fe(III)/Fe(II) redox couple. The process of (PVS/Hb) bilayer growth was monitored and confirmed by CV, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and UV-Vis spectroscopy. While the amount of Hb adsorbed in each bilayer was the same, the amount of electroactive Hb in each bilayer decreased dramatically with increase of the number of bilayer, and electroactivity was just extended to 8 [PVS/Hb] bilayers. CVs of [PVS/Hb]8 films maintained stable in buffers containing no Hb. Positions of Soret band of Hb in [PVS/Hb]n films grown on transparent glass slides suggest that Hb in the films keeps its secondary structure similar to its native state in a wide pH range. Trichloroacetic acid and nitrite were catalytically reduced by [PVS/Hb]8 films with significant lowering of the electrode potential required.