TRANSITION METAL CHEMISTRY OF GLUCOSE OXIDASE, HORSERADISH PEROXIDASE, AND RELATED ENZYMES. Including Bioinorganic Studies. Elsevier; 2004. pp. 201-69. [DOI: 10.1016/s0898-8838(03)55004-8]

Ferrocenyl Compounds as Alternative Redox Labels for Robust and Versatile Electrochemical Aptamer-Based Sensors

This study explores the potential of seven ferrocenyl (Fc) compounds with cross-linking groups as alternative redox labels to methylene blue (MB) for electrochemical aptamer-based (E-AB) sensors. The cross-linking efficiency, formal potential (E0'), and electrochemical durability of these compounds were evaluated. Compound Fc1a-X exhibited superior performance, characterized by efficient cross-linking, a moderate and pH-insensitive E0', and enhanced durability during repeated potential scans. The attachment of Fc1a-X, which includes a 3-carbon chain spacer and an N-hydroxysuccinimide-ester cross-linking group, to an amine-terminated monolayer on a Au electrode demonstrated high cross-linking efficiency, which is critical for achieving high sensitivity. The E0' of Fc1a-X attached to the aptamer monolayer was 0.14 V, which is within the optimal range of -0.2 to 0.2 V vs Ag/AgCl. Square wave voltammetry showed that the peak potential and current of Fc1a-X are pH-insensitive, which is critical for versatile use. In serum, Fc1a-X maintained stable peak current levels without a gradual decrease after an initial rapid decrease during the first 2 h with considerably less reduction over 12 h compared to MB. Using Fc1a-X as the redox label, an E-AB sensor effectively detected doxorubicin in serum, covering the clinical range. These findings suggest Fc1a-X as a promising candidate for developing robust, versatile, and sensitive E-AB sensors.

Di(Thioether Sulfonate)-Substituted Quinolinedione as a Rapidly Dissoluble and Stable Electron Mediator and Its Application in Sensitive Biosensors

The commonly required properties of diffusive electron mediators for point-of-care testing are rapid dissolubility, high stability, and moderate formal potential in aqueous solutions. Inspired by nature, various quinone-containing electron mediators have been developed; however, satisfying all these requirements remains a challenge. Herein, a strategic design toward quinones incorporating sulfonated thioether and nitrogen-containing heteroarene moieties as solubilizing, stabilizing, and formal potential-modulating groups is reported. A systematic investigation reveals that di(thioether sulfonate)-substituted quinoline-1,4-dione (QLS) and quinoxaline-1,4-dione (QXS) display water solubilities of ≈1 m and are rapidly dissoluble. By finely balancing the electron-donating effect of the thioethers and the electron-withdrawing effect of the nitrogen atom, formal potentials suitable for electrochemical biosensors are achieved with QLS and QXS (-0.15 and -0.09 V vs Ag/AgCl, respectively, at pH 7.4). QLS is stable for >1 d in PBS (pH 7.4) and for 1 h in tris buffer (pH 9.0), which is sufficient for point-of-care testing. Furthermore, QLS, with its high electron mediation ability, is successfully used in biosensors for sensitive detection of glucose and parathyroid hormone, demonstrating detection limits of ≈0.3 × 10^-3 m and ≈2 pg mL^-1 , respectively. This strategy produces organic electron mediators exhibiting rapid dissolution and high stability, and will find broad application beyond quinone-based biosensors.

Bypassing the Resistance Mechanisms of the Tumor Ecosystem by Targeting the Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Pathway Using Ruthenium- and Osmium-Based Organometallic Compounds: An Exciting Long-Term Collaboration with Dr. Michel Pfeffer

Metal complexes have been used to treat cancer since the discovery of cisplatin and its interaction with DNA in the 1960’s. Facing the resistance mechanisms against platinum salts and their side effects, safer therapeutic approaches have been sought through other metals, including ruthenium. In the early 2000s, Michel Pfeffer and his collaborators started to investigate the biological activity of organo-ruthenium/osmium complexes, demonstrating their ability to interfere with the activity of purified redox enzymes. Then, they discovered that these organo-ruthenium/osmium complexes could act independently of DNA damage and bypass the requirement for the tumor suppressor gene TP53 to induce the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress pathway, which is an original cell death pathway. They showed that other types of ruthenium complexes—as well complexes with other metals (osmium, iron, platinum)—can induce this pathway as well. They also demonstrated that ruthenium complexes accumulate in the ER after entering the cell using passive and active mechanisms. These particular physico-chemical properties of the organometallic complexes designed by Dr. Pfeffer contribute to their ability to reduce tumor growth and angiogenesis. Taken together, the pioneering work of Dr. Michel Pfeffer over his career provides us with a legacy that we have yet to fully embrace.

Bound oxygen-atom transfer endows peroxidase-mimic M-N-C with high substrate selectivity

Advances in nanoscience have stimulated the wide exploration of nanozymes as alternatives to enzymes. Nonetheless, nanozymes often catalyze multiple reactions and are not specialized to a specific substrate, restricting their broad application. Here, we report that the substrate selectivity of the peroxidase-mimic M-N-C can be significantly altered via forming bound intermediates with variable interactions with substrates according to the type of metal. Taking two essential reactions in chemical sensing as an example, Fe-N-C and Co-N-C showed opposite catalytic selectivity for the oxidation of 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) and 3-aminophthalhydrazide (luminol), respectively, by factors of up to 200-fold. It was revealed that specific transition metal-N coordination was the origin of the selective activation of H2O2 forming critically bound oxygen intermediates (M[double bond, length as m-dash]O) for oxygen-atom transfer and the consequent oxidization of substrates. Notably, owing to the embedded ligands in the rigid graphitic framework, surprisingly, the selectivity of M-N-C was even superior to that of commonly used horseradish peroxidase (HRP).

Cyclometalated Osmium Compounds and beyond: Synthesis, Properties, Applications

The synthesis of cyclometalated osmium complexes is usually more complicated than of other transition metals such as Ni, Pd, Pt, Rh, where cyclometalation reactions readily occur via direct activation of C–H bonds. It differs also from their ruthenium analogs. Cyclometalation for osmium usually occurs under more severe conditions, in polar solvents, using specific precursors, stronger acids, or bases. Such requirements expand reaction mechanisms to electrophilic activation, transmetalation, and oxidative addition, often involving C–H bond activations. Osmacycles exhibit specific applications in homogeneous catalysis, photophysics, bioelectrocatalysis and are studied as anticancer agents. This review describes major synthetic pathways to osmacycles and related compounds and discusses their practical applications.

Transforming the blood glucose meter into a general healthcare meter for in vitro diagnostics in mobile health

Recent advances in mobile network and smartphones have provided an enormous opportunity for transforming in vitro diagnostics (IVD) from central labs to home or other points of care (POC). A major challenge to achieving the goal is a long time and high costs associated with developing POC IVD devices in mobile Health (mHealth). Instead of developing a new POC device for every new IVD target, we and others are taking advantage of decades of research, development, engineering and continuous improvement of the blood glucose meter (BGM), including those already integrated with smartphones, and transforming the BGM into a general healthcare meter for POC IVDs of a wide range of biomarkers, therapeutic drugs and other analytical targets. In this review, we summarize methods to transduce and amplify selective binding of targets by antibodies, DNA/RNA aptamers, DNAzyme/ribozymes and protein enzymes into signals such as glucose or NADH that can be measured by commercially available BGM, making it possible to adapt many clinical assays performed in central labs, such as immunoassays, aptamer/DNAzyme assays, molecular diagnostic assays, and enzymatic activity assays onto BGM platform for quantification of non-glucose targets for a wide variety of IVDs in mHealth.

A glance at the reactivity of osma(II)cycles [Os(C-N)x(bpy)3-x](m+) (x=0-3) Covering a 1.8 V potential range toward peroxidase through Monte Carlo Simulations ((-)C-N=o-2-phenylpyridinato, bpy=2,2'-bipyridine)

Three cyclometalated and one coordination compounds [Os(C-N)x(bpy)3-x](m) (x/m=0/2+ (4); 1/1+ (3); 2/1+ (2); 3/0 (1); (-)C-N=2-phenylpyridinato, bpy=2,2'-bipyridine) with drastically different reduction potentials have been used for analyzing the second-order rate constants for one-electron, metal-based osmium(II) to osmium(III) oxidation of the complexes by compound I (k2) and compound II (k3) of horseradish peroxidase. Previously unknown k2 and k3 have been determined by digital simulation of cyclic voltammograms measured in phosphate buffer of pH7.6 and 21 ± 1°C. Osmium(II) species derived from osmium(III) complexes 1 and 2 were generated electrochemically in situ. Under the conditions used the reduction potentials for the Os(III/II) feature equal -0.90, -0.095, 0.23 and 0.85V versus NHE (normal hydrogen electrode) for 1-4, respectively. The rate constants k2 equal ~5 × 10(7), 6 × 10(8), 2 × 10(6) and 1 × 10(5)M(-1)s(-1) and the rate constants k3 equal ~9 × 10(6), 4× 10(7), 1 ×10(6) and 1 × 10(5)M(-1)s(-1) for complexes 1-4, respectively. Both rate constants k2 and k3 first increase with increasing the reaction driving force on going from 4 to 2 but then both decrease on going to complex 1 though the reaction driving force is the highest in this case. The system described has been explored theoretically using docking Monte Carlo simulations.

Metal‐Containing Polymers

The article provides an overview of the synthesis, properties, and applications of metal‐containing polymers. The past decade has shown an exponential increase in synthetic methods, resulting in metal‐containing polymers, their characterization techniques, and their potential application into a variety of fields, including chemistry, medicine, biotechnology, and more.

High-throughput screening for cellobiose dehydrogenases by Prussian Blue in situ formation

Extracellular fungal flavocytochrome cellobiose dehydrogenase (CDH) is a promising enzyme for both bioelectronics and lignocellulose bioconversion. A selective high-throughput screening assay for CDH in the presence of various fungal oxidoreductases was developed. It is based on Prussian Blue (PB) in situ formation in the presence of cellobiose (<0.25 mM), ferric acetate, and ferricyanide. CDH induces PB formation via both reduction of ferricyanide to ferrocyanide reacting with an excess of Fe³⁺ (pathway 1) and reduction of ferric ions to Fe²⁺ reacting with the excess of ferricyanide (pathway 2). Basidiomycetous and ascomycetous CDH formed PB optimally at pH 3.5 and 4.5, respectively. In contrast to the holoenzyme CDH, its FAD-containing dehydrogenase domain lacking the cytochrome domain formed PB only via pathway 1 and was less active than the parent enzyme. The assay can be applied on active growing cultures on agar plates or on fungal culture supernatants in 96-well plates under aerobic conditions. Neither other carbohydrate oxidoreductases (pyranose dehydrogenase, FAD-dependent glucose dehydrogenase, glucose oxidase) nor laccase interfered with CDH activity in this assay. Applicability of the developed assay for the selection of new ascomycetous CDH producers as well as possibility of the controlled synthesis of new PB nanocomposites by CDH are discussed.

Rapid, biomimetic degradation in water of the persistent drug sertraline by TAML catalysts and hydrogen peroxide

Iron TAML activators (oxidation catalysts based upon tetraamido macrocyclic ligands) at nanomolar concentrations in water activate hydrogen peroxide to rapidly degrade sertraline, the persistent, active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) in the widely used drug Zoloft. Although all the API is readily consumed, degradation slows significantly at one intermediate, sertraline ketone. The process occurs from neutral to basic pH. The pathway has been characterized through four early intermediates which reflect the metabolism of sertraline, providing further evidence that TAML activator/peroxide reactive intermediates mimic those of cytochrome P450 enzymes. TAML catalysts have been designed to exhibit considerable variability in reactivity and this provides an excellent tool for observing degradation intermediates of widely differing stabilities. Two elusive, hydrolytically sensitive intermediates and likely human metabolites, sertraline imine and N-desmethylsertraline imine, could be identified only by using a fast-acting catalyst. The more stable intermediates and known human metabolites, desmethylsertraline and sertraline ketone, were most easily detected and studied using a slow-acting catalyst. The resistance of sertraline ketone to aggressive TAML activator/peroxide treatment marks it as likely to be environmentally persistent and signals that its environmental effects are important components of the full implications of sertraline use.

Easy access to bio-inspired osmium(II) complexes through electrophilic intramolecular C(sp2)-H bond cyclometalation

Mild electrophilic C(sp2)-H cyclometalation of 2-phenylpyridine and N,N-dimethylbenzylamine by the chloro-bridged osmium(II) dimer [OsCl(micro-Cl)(eta6-C6H6)]2 in acetonitrile affords cyclometalated pseudotetrahedral OsII complexes [Os(C approximately N)(eta6-C6H6)(NCMe)]PF6 (C approximately N=o-C6H4py-kappa C,N (2) and o-C6H4CH2NMe2-kappa C,N (5), respectively) in good to excellent yields. The cyclometalation reactions are super sensitive to the nature of an external base. Sodium hydroxide is essential for cyclometalation of 2-phenylpyridine, but NaOH retards metalation of N,N-dimethylbenzylamine, the tertiary amine being self-sufficient as a base. Further reactions of compounds 2 and 5 with 1,10-phenanthroline or 2,2'-bipyridine (N approximately N) lead to the substitution of the eta6-bound benzene to produce octahedral species [Os(C approximately N)(N approximately N)(NCMe)2]PF6 or [Os(C approximately N)(N approximately N)2]PF6 in MeCN or MeOH as solvent, respectively. The cis configuration of the MeCN ligands in [Os(C approximately N)(phen)(NCMe)2]PF6 has been confirmed by an X-ray crystallographic study. Electrochemical investigation of the octahedral osma(II)cycles by cyclic voltammetry showed a pseudoreversible MIII/II redox feature at (-50)-(+109) and 190-300 mV versus Ag/AgCl in water and MeCN, respectively. As a possible application of the compounds, a rapid electron exchange between the reduced active site of glucose oxidase enzyme from Aspergillus niger and the electrochemically generated OsIII species has been demonstrated. The corresponding second-order rate constants cover the range (0.7-4.8)x10(6) M(-1) s(-1) at 25 degrees C and pH 7.

A Laccase-Wiring Redox Hydrogel for Efficient Catalysis of O2 Electroreduction

Laccase was earlier wired to yield an O2 electroreduction catalyst greatly outperforming platinum and its alloys. Here we describe the design, synthesis optimization of the composition, and characterization of the +0.55 V (AgAgCl) laccase-wiring redox hydrogel, with an apparent electron diffusion coefficient (D(app)) of 7.6 x 10(-7) cm2 s(-1). The high D(app) results in the tethering of redox centers to the polymer backbone through eight-atom-long spacer arms, which facilitate collisional electron transfer between proximal redox centers. The O2 flux-limited, true-area-based current density was increased from the earlier reported 560 to 860 microA cm(-2). When the O2 diffusion to the 7-microm-diameter carbon fiber cathode was cylindrical, half of the O2 flux-limited current was reached already at 0.62 V and 90% at 0.56 V vs Ag/AgCl, merely -0.08 and -0.14 V versus the 0.7 V (Ag/AgCl) reversible O2/H2O half-cell potential at pH 5.

Wiring of PQQ–dehydrogenases

The performance of pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) dependent alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and two types of PQQ-glucose dehydrogenases in solution and when immobilized on the carbon paste electrodes modified with ferrocene derivatives is investigated. The immobilization of ADH consisting of PQQ and four hemes improves its stability up to 10 times. Both PQQ and heme moieties are involved in the electron transport from substrate to electrode. The ferrocene derivatives improve the electron transport 10-fold. Membrane-bound alcohol dehydrogenase from Gluconobacter sp. 33, intracellular soluble glucose dehydrogenase from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus L.M.D. 79.41 (s-GDH), and the membrane-bound enzyme (m-GDH) from Erwinia sp. 34-1 were purified and investigated. Soluble and membrane-bound PQQ-glucose dehydrogenases display different behavior during the immobilization on the modified carbon electrodes. The immobilization of s-GDH leads to a decrease in both stability and substrate specificity of the enzyme. This suggests that PQQ dissociates from the enzyme active center and operates as a free-diffusing mediator. The rate-limiting step of the process is likely the loading of PQQ onto the apo-enzyme. The immobilization of m-GDH leads to its substantial stabilization and improves the substrate specificity. The nature of m-GDH binding to the electrode surface is presumably similar to the binding to the cell membrane through its anchor-subunit. The enzyme operates as an enzyme and mediator complex.