Fully integrated biocatalytic electrodes based on bioaffinity interactions

Multicomponent syntheses of functional chromophores

Multicomponent reactions are a valuable tool for the synthesis of functional π-electron systems. Two different approaches can be taken into account for accessing the target structures. In the more conventional scaffold approach an already existing chromophore is coupled with other components to give a complex functional π-system. Here, electronically monotonous components can also be introduced, which may exert synergistic electronic effects within the novel compound. The more demanding chromophore concept generates a complete π-electron system and a scaffold concurrently. The latter approach is particularly stimulating for methodologists since π-systems might be accessible from simple starting materials. This review encompasses the advances in the preparation of functional π-electron systems via multicomponent processes during the past few years, based both on the scaffold and chromophore concepts. Besides the synthetic strategies the most important properties, i.e. redox potentials, absorption and emission maxima or fluorescence quantum yields, of the synthesized molecules are highlighted.

Electrochemically mediated enantioselective reduction of chiral sulfoxides

The respiratory DMSO reductase from Rhodobacter capsulatus catalyzes the reduction of dimethyl sulfoxide to dimethyl sulfide. Herein, we have utilized this Mo enzyme as an enantioselective catalyst to generate optically pure sulfoxides (methyl p-tolyl sulfoxide, methyl phenyl sulfoxide and phenyl vinyl sulfoxide) from racemic starting materials. A hexaaminecobalt coordination compound in its divalent oxidation state was employed as the mediator of electron transfer between the working electrode and DMSO reductase to continually reactivate the enzyme after turnover. In all cases, chiral HPLC analysis of the reaction mixture revealed that the S-sulfoxide was reduced more rapidly leading to enrichment or isolation of the R isomer.

Engineered proteins: redox properties and their applications

Oxidoreductases and metalloproteins, representing more than one third of all known proteins, serve as significant catalysts for numerous biological processes that involve electron transfers such as photosynthesis, respiration, metabolism, and molecular signaling. The functional properties of the oxidoreductases/metalloproteins are determined by the nature of their redox centers. Protein engineering is a powerful approach that is used to incorporate biological and abiological redox cofactors as well as novel enzymes and redox proteins with predictable structures and desirable functions for important biological and chemical applications. The methods of protein engineering, mainly rational design, directed evolution, protein surface modifications, and domain shuffling, have allowed the creation and study of a number of redox proteins. This review presents a selection of engineered redox proteins achieved through these methods, resulting in a manipulation in redox potentials, an increase in electron-transfer efficiency, and an expansion of native proteins by de novo design. Such engineered/modified redox proteins with desired properties have led to a broad spectrum of practical applications, ranging from biosensors, biofuel cells, to pharmaceuticals and hybrid catalysis. Glucose biosensors are one of the most successful products in enzyme electrochemistry, with reconstituted glucose oxidase achieving effective electrical communication with the sensor electrode; direct electron-transfer-type biofuel cells are developed to avoid thermodynamic loss and mediator leakage; and fusion proteins of P450s and redox partners make the biocatalytic generation of drug metabolites possible. In summary, this review includes the properties and applications of the engineered redox proteins as well as their significance and great potential in the exploration of bioelectrochemical sensing devices.

Enaminones in a multicomponent synthesis of 4-aryldihydropyridines for potential applications in photoinduced intramolecular electron-transfer systems

An efficient three component reaction with enaminones, primary amines and aldehydes resulted in easy access to 1,4-dihydropyridines with different substituents at the 1-, 3-, 4- and 5-positions. Microwaves improved the reaction yield, reducing also considerably the reaction time and the amount of solvent used. Chiral primary amines gave chiral 1-substituted-1,4-dihydropyridines. The 4-(1-naphthyl) and 4-(phenanthren-9-yl)dihydropyridine derivatives exhibited an interesting photoluminescence behavior, which suggests their potential application as suitable photoinduced intramolecular electron-transfer systems.

Photoinduced electron and energy transfer in aryldihydropyridines

Dimethyl 2,6-dimethyl-1,4-dihydropyridine-3,5-dicarboxylates (Hantzsch DHPs) fluoresce weakly in fluid solution. However, these compounds exhibit an efficient fluorescence both in a viscous medium (glycerin) at room temperature and in a glassy matrix at 77 K (but no phosphorescence, since ISC is negligible). DHPs bearing an aryl group in position 4 have been synthesized. These contain two different pi systems separated by an sp(3) carbon (DHP-Ar dyads). The occurrence of energy and electron transfer processes between the chromophores is investigated through luminescence measurements. In particular, when (3)Ar emits at a slow rate (e.g., Ar = phenanthryl) or not at all (Ar = nitrophenyl) the intradyad forward/backward electron transfer sequence offers a path for arriving at the DHP-localized triplet and the corresponding phosphorescence is observed. When (3)Ar emits at a faster rate (Ar = acylphenyl), the phosphorescence from either of the two localized triplets, (3)Ar or (3)DHP, can be observed depending on lambda(exc). When the aryl group has a triplet energy lower than that of (3)DHP, this functions as emitting (4-cyano-1-naphthyl) or nonemitting (MeO(2)CCH horizontal lineCHC(6)H(4)) energy sink. The results document the possibility of building tailor-made Hantzsch aryldihydropyridines as versatile photoactivated dyads.

Direct electrochemistry of lactate dehydrogenase immobilized on silica sol–gel modified gold electrode and its application

The direct electrochemistry of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) immobilized in silica sol-gel film on gold electrode was investigated, and an obvious cathodic peak at about -200 mV (versus SCE) was found for the first time. The LDH-modified electrode showed a surface controlled irreversible electrode process involving a one electron transfer reaction with the charge-transfer coefficient (alpha) of 0.79 and the apparent heterogeneous electron transfer rate constant (K(s)) of 3.2 s(-1). The activated voltammetric response and decreased charge-transfer resistance of Ru(NH(3))(6)(2+/3+) on the LDH-modified electrode provided further evidence. The surface morphologies of silica sol-gel and the LDH embedded in silica sol-gel film were characterized by SEM. A potential application of the LDH-modified electrode as a biosensor for determination of lactic acid was also investigated. The calibration range of lactic acid was from 2.0 x 10(-6) to 3.0 x 10(-5) mol L(-1) and the detection limit was 8.0 x 10(-7) mol L(-1) at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3. Finally, the effect of environmental pollutant resorcinol on the direct electrochemical behavior of LDH was studied. The experimental results of voltammetry indicated that the conformation of LDH molecule was altered by the interaction between LDH and resorcinol. The modified electrode can be applied as a biomarker to study the pollution effect in the environment.

Electrochemical determination of nitrate with nitrate reductase-immobilized electrodes under ambient air

Nitrate monitoring biosensors were prepared by immobilizing nitrate reductase derived from yeast on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE, d = 3 mm) or screen-printed carbon paste electrode (SPCE, d = 3 mm) using a polymer (poly(vinyl alcohol)) entrapment method. The sensor could directly determine the nitrate in an unpurged aqueous solution with the aid of an appropriate oxygen scavenger: the nitrate reduction reaction driven by the enzyme and an electron-transfer mediator, methyl viologen, at -0.85 V (GCE vs Ag/AgCl) or at -0.90 V (SPCE vs Ag/AgCl) exhibited no oxygen interference in a sulfite-added solution. The electroanalytical properties of optimized biosensors were measured: the sensitivity, linear response range, and detection limit of the sensors based on GCE were 7.3 nA/microM, 15-300 microM (r2 = 0.995), and 4.1 microM (S/N = 3), respectively, and those of SPCE were 5.5 nA/microM, 15-250 microM (r2 = 0.996), and 5.5 microM (S/N = 3), respectively. The disposable SPCE-based biosensor with a built-in well- or capillary-type sample cell provided high sensor-to-sensor reproducibility (RSD < 3.4% below 250 microM) and could be used more than one month in normal room-temperature storage condition. The utility of the proposed sensor system was demonstrated by determining nitrate in real samples.

Voltammetry and in situ scanning tunnelling microscopy of de novo designed heme protein monolayers on Au(111)-electrode surfaces

In the present work, we report the electrochemical characterization and in situ scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) studies of monolayers of an artificial de novo designed heme protein MOP-C, covalently immobilized on modified Au(111) surfaces. The protein forms closely packed monolayers, which remain electroactive upon immobilization. In situ STM images show circular structures indicating that MOP-C stands upright on the surface in accordance with the molecular design. Despite the large spatial extension of MOP-C, about 5 nm in height, conditions could be found where tip/sample interaction is minimal and proteins could be imaged without detectable tip interference. The results indicate further that the structural sensitivity of (in situ) STM depends to a significant extent on associated electron transfer kinetics. In the present case, the heme group does not contribute significantly to the tunnelling current, apparently due to slow electron transfer kinetics. As a consequence, STM images of heme-containing and heme-free MOP-C did not reveal any notable differences in apparent height or physical extension. The apparent height of heme-containing MOP-C did not show any dependence on the substrate potential being varied around the redox potential of the protein. The mere presence of an accessible molecular energy level is not sufficient to result in detectable tunnelling current modulation.

Development of a bienzyme system for the electrochemical determination of nitrate in ambient air

This work reports the development of a bienzyme system consisting of salicylate hydroxylase (SHL) and nitrate reductase (NaR) for the electrochemical determination of nitrate. This method measures the concentration of nitrate directly under ambient air without suffering from oxygen interferences. The determination is based on the detection of NADH consumption, and the principle is as follows: NADH initiates the irreversible decarboxylation and hydroxylation of salicylate by SHL in the presence of oxygen to produce catechol, which results in a detectable signal due to its oxidation at the working electrode; the second enzyme, NaR, in the presence of nitrate, reduced the availability of NADH, and consequently, the current difference after the injection of nitrate is proportional to its concentration. This method shows high performance characteristics for nitrate determination with a broad detection range between 10 microM and 1,000 microM, a short measuring time of around 5 min, and a simple operation without sample pretreatment by inert gas purge or oxygen scavenger.

Synthetic Peptide Templates for Molecular Recognition: Recent Advances and Applications

The creation of molecular systems that can mimic some of the properties of natural macromolecules is one of the major endeavors in contemporary protein chemistry. However, the construction of artificial proteins with predetermined structure and function is difficult on account of complex folding pathways. The use of topological peptide templates has been suggested to induce and stabilize defined secondary and tertiary structures. This is because the recent advances in the chemistry of coupling reagents, protecting groups, and solid-phase synthesis have made the chemical synthesis of peptides with conformationally controlled and complex structures feasible. Besides their use as structure-inducing devices, these peptide templates can also be utilized to construct novel structures with tailor-made functions. Herein, we present recent advances in the field of peptide-template-based approaches with particular emphasis on the demonstrated utility of this approach in molecular recognition, along with related applications.

Challenges in biocatalysis for enzyme-based biofuel cells

Enzyme-based biofuel cells are attracting attention rapidly partially due to the promising advances reported recently. However, there are issues to be addressed before biofuel cells become competitive in practical applications. Two critical issues are short lifetime and poor power density, both of which are related to enzyme stability, electron transfer rate, and enzyme loading. Recent progress in nanobiocatalysis opens the possibility to improve in these aspects. Many nano-structured materials, such as mesoporous media, nanoparticles, nanofibers, and nanotubes, have been demonstrated as efficient hosts of enzyme immobilization. It is evident that, when nanostructure of conductive materials are used, the large surface area of these nanomaterials can increase the enzyme loading and facilitate reaction kinetics, and thus improving the power density of biofuel cells. In addition, research efforts have also been made to improve the activity and stability of immobilized enzymes by using nanostructures. It appears to be reasonable to us to expect that progress in nanostuctured biocatalysts will play a critical role in overcoming the major obstacles in the development of powerful biofuel cells.

Direct electrochemistry of microperoxidase at Pt microelectrodes modified with carbon nanotubes

Direct electrochemistry of microperoxidase (MP-11) was found at Pt microelectrodes modified with multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs). The MWNTs used as the immobilization matrix cooperatively promote the bioactivity of MP-11. When MP-11 was immobilized on MWNTs film-modified Pt microelectrodes, a pair of well-defined redox waves was obtained. The resulted stable microelectrode could be used to catalyze the reduction of H2O2 and O2.

Enabling multienzyme biocatalysis using nanoporous materials

Multistep reactions catalyzed by a covalently immobilized enzyme-cofactor-enzyme system were achieved. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), glucose dehydrogenase (GDH), and cofactor NADH were incorporated into two porous silica glass supports. One of the glass supports had pores of 30 nm in diameter, while the other was of 100-nm pore size. Effective shuttling of the covalently bound NADH between LDH and GDH was achieved, such that regeneration cycles of NADH/NAD(+) were observed. The glass of 30-nm pore size afforded enzyme activities that were about twice those observed for the glass of 100-nm pore size, indicating the former provided better enzyme-cofactor integration. The effect of the size of spacers was also examined. The use of longer spacers increased the reaction rates by approximately 18 times as compared to those achieved with glutaraldehyde linkage. It appeared that the concave configuration of the nanopores played an important role in enabling the multistep reactions. The same multienzyme system immobilized on nonporous polystyrene particles of 500-nm diameter was only approximately 2% active as the glass-supported system. It is believed that the nanoporous structure of the glass supports enhances the molecular interactions among the immobilized enzymes and cofactor, thus improving the catalytic efficiency of the system.

Magnetic Field Effects on Bioelectrocatalytic Reactions of Surface-Confined Enzyme Systems: Enhanced Performance of Biofuel Cells

The effect of a constant magnetic field on bioelectrocatalytic transformations of three different enzyme assemblies linked to electrodes is examined and correlated with a theoretical magnetohydrodynamic model. The systems consist of surface-reconstituted glucose oxidase (GOx), an integrated lactate dehydrogenase/nicotinamide/pyrroloquinoline quinone assembly (LDH/NAD+ -PQQ), and a cytochrome c/cytochrome oxidase system (Cyt c/COx) linked to the electrodes. Pronounced effects of a constant magnetic field applied parallel to the electrode surface are observed for the bioelectrocatalyzed oxidation of glucose and lactate by the GOx-electrode and LDH/NAD+ -PQQ-electrode, respectively. The enhancement of the bioelectrocatalytic processes correlates nicely with the magnetohydrodynamic model, and the limiting current densities (iL) relate to B1/3 (B = magnetic flux density) and to C4/3 (C* = bulk concentration of the substrate). A small magnetic field effect is observed for the Cyt c/COx-electrode, and its origin is still questionable. The effect of the constant magnetic field on the performance of biofuel cells with different configurations is examined. For the biofuel cell consisting of LDH/NAD+ -PQQ anode and Cyt c/COx cathode, a 3-fold increase in the power output was observed at an applied magnetic field of B = 0.92 T and external load of 1.2 kOhms.

A biofuel cell with electrochemically switchable and tunable power output

An electroswitchable and tunable biofuel cell based on the biocatalyzed oxidation of glucose is described. The anode consists of a Cu(2+)-poly(acrylic acid) film on which the redox-relay pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) and the flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) cofactor are covalently linked. Apo-glucose oxidase is reconstituted on the FAD sites to yield the glucose oxidase (GOx)-functionalized electrode. The cathode consists of a Cu(2+)-poly(acrylic acid) film that provides the functional interface for the covalent linkage of cytochrome c (Cyt c) that is further linked to cytochrome oxidase (COx). Electrochemical reduction of the Cu(2+)-poly(acrylic acid) films (applied potential -0.5 V vs SCE) associated with the anode and cathode yields the conductive Cu(0)-poly(acrylic acid) matrixes that electrically contact the GOx-electrode and the COx/Cyt c-electrode, respectively. The short-circuit current and open-circuit voltage of the biofuel cell correspond to 105 microA (current density ca. 550 microA cm(-2)) and 120 mV, respectively, and the maximum extracted power from the cell is 4.3 microW at an external loading resistance of 1 kOmega. The electrochemical oxidation of the polymer films associated with the electrodes (applied potential 0.5 V) yields the nonconductive Cu(2+)-poly(acrylic acid) films that completely block the biofuel cell operation. By the cyclic electrochemical reduction and oxidation of the polymer films associated with the anode and cathode between the Cu(0)-poly(acrylic acid) and Cu(2+)-poly(acrylic acid) states, the biofuel cell performance is reversibly switched between "ON" and "OFF" states, respectively. The electrochemical reduction of the Cu(2+)-polymer film to the Cu(0)-polymer film is a slow process (ca. 1000 s) because the formation and aggregation of the Cu(0)-clusters requires the migration of Cu(2+) ions in the polymer film and their reduction at conductive sites. The slow reduction of the Cu(2+)-polymer films allows for the controlling of the content of conductive domains in the films and the tuning of the output power of the biofuel cell. The electron-transfer resistances of the cathodic and anodic processes were characterized by impedance spectroscopy. Also, the overall resistances of the biofuel cell generated by the time-dependent electrochemical reduction process were followed by impedance spectroscopy and correlated with the internal resistances of the cell upon its operation.

Monolayer assemblies of a de novo designed 4-alpha-helix bundle carboprotein and its sulfur anchor fragment on Au(111) surfaces addressed by voltammetry and in situ scanning tunneling microscopy

Mapping and control of proteins and oligonucleotides on metallic and nonmetallic surfaces are important in many respects. Electrochemical techniques based on single-crystal electrodes and scanning probe microscopies directly in aqueous solution (in situ SPM) have recently opened perspectives for such mapping at a resolution that approaches the single-molecule level. De novo design of model proteins has evolved in parallel and holds promise for testing and controlling protein folding and for new tailored protein structural motifs. In this report we combine these two strategies. We present a scheme for the synthesis of a new 4-alpha-helix bundle carboprotein built on a galactopyranoside derivative with a thiol anchor aglycon suitable for surface immobilization on gold. The carboprotein with thiol anchor in monomeric and dimeric (disulfide) form, the thiol anchor alone, and a sulfur-free 4-alpha-helix bundle carboprotein without thiol anchor have been prepared and investigated for comparison. Cyclic and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) of the proteins show desorption peaks around -750 mV (SCE), whereas the thiol anchor desorption peak is at -685 mV. The peaks are by far the highest for thiol monomeric 4-alpha-helix bundle carboprotein and the thiol anchor. This pattern is supported by capacitance data. The DPV and capacitance data for the thiolated 4-alpha-helix bundle carboproteins and the thiol anchor hold a strong Faradaic reductive desorption component as supported by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The desorption peak of the sulfur-free 4-alpha-helix bundle carboprotein, however, also points to a capacitive component. In situ scanning tunneling microscopy (in situ STM) of the thiol anchor discloses an adlayer with small domains and single molecules ordered in pin-striped supramolecular structures. In situ STM of thiolated 4-alpha-helix bundle carboprotein monomer shows a dense monolayer in a broad potential range on the positive side of the desorption potential. The coverage decreases close to this potential and single-molecule structures become apparent. The in situ STM contrast is also strengthened, indicative of a new redox-based tunneling mechanism. The data overall suggest that single-molecule mapping of natural and synthetic proteins on well-characterized surfaces by electrochemistry and in situ STM is within reach.

Electrical contacting of flavoenzymes and NAD(P)+-dependent enzymes by reconstitution and affinity interactions on phenylboronic acid monolayers associated with Au-electrodes

The preparation of integrated, electrically contacted, flavoenzyme and NAD(P)(+)-dependent enzyme-electrodes is described. The reconstitution of apo-glucose oxidase, apo-GOx, on a FAD cofactor linked to a pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) phenylboronic acid monolayer yields an electrically contacted enzyme monolayer (surface coverage 2.1 x 10(-)(12) mol cm(-)(2)) exhibiting a turnover rate of 700 s(-)(1) (at 22 +/- 2 degrees C). The system is characterized by microgravimetric quartz-crystal microbalance analyses, Faradaic impedance spectroscopy, rotating disk electrode experiments, and cyclic voltammetry. The performance of the enzyme-electrode for glucose sensing is described. Similarly, the electrically contacted enzyme-electrodes of NAD(P)(+)-dependent enzymes malate dehydrogenase, MalD, and lactate dehydrogenase, LDH, are prepared by the cross-linking of affinity complexes generated between the enzymes and the NADP(+) and NAD(+) cofactors linked to a pyrroloquinoline quinone phenylboronic acid monolayer, respectively. The MalD enzyme-electrode (surface coverage 1.2 x 10(-)(12) mol cm(-)(2)) exhibits a turnover rate of 190 s(-)(1), whereas the LDH enzyme-electrode (surface coverage 7.0 x 10(-)(12) mol cm(-)(2)) reveals a turnover rate of 2.5 s(-)(1). Chronoamperometric experiments reveal that the NAD(+) cofactor is linked to the PQQ-phenylboronic acid by two different binding modes. The integration of the LDH with the two NAD(+) cofactor configurations yields enzyme assemblies differing by 1 order of magnitude in their bioelectrocatalytic activities.

Integration of enzymes and electrodes: spectroscopic and electrochemical studies of chitosan-enzyme films

A new film-forming solution was developed for the efficient immobilization of enzymes on solid substrates. The solution consisted of a biopolymer, chitosan (CHIT), that was chemically modified with a permeability-controlling agent, Acetyl Yellow 9 (AY9), using glutaric dialdehyde (GDI) as a molecular tether. A model enzyme, glucose oxidase (GOx), was mixed with the CHIT-GDI-AY9 solution and cast on the surface of platinum electrodes to form robust CHIT-GDI-AY9-GOx films for glucose biosensing. UV-visible and infrared spectroscopies were used to determine the composition of the films. The optimized films contained on average 1 molecule of AY9/3 glucosamine units of chitosan and 25 free GDI tethers/1 molecule of GOx. The electrochemical assays of the films indicated both a very high efficiency of enzyme immobilization (approximately 99%) and large enzyme activity (60 units cm(-2)). The latter translated into a high sensitivity (42 mA M(-1) cm(-2)) of the Pt/CHIT-GDI-AY9-GOx biosensor toward glucose. The biosensor operated at 0.450 V, had a fast response time (t90% < or = 3 s), and was free of typical interferences, and its dynamic range covered 3 orders of magnitude of glucose concentrations. The lowest actually detectable concentration was 10 microM glucose. In addition, the biosensor displayed a practical shelf life and excellent operational stability, e.g. its response was stable during 24-h testing under continuous polarization and continuous flow of 5.0 mM glucose solution. The proposed approach to enzyme immobilization is simple, efficient, and cost-effective and should be of importance in the development of biosensors based on other enzymes that are more expensive than glucose oxidase.

Monolayers of a de novo designed 4-alpha-helix bundle carboprotein and partial structures on Au(111)-surfaces

Mapping of structure and function of proteins adsorbed on solid surfaces is important in many contexts. Electrochemical techniques based on single-crystal metal surfaces and in situ scanning probe microscopies (SPM) have recently opened new perspectives for mapping at the single-molecule level. De novo design of model proteins has evolved in parallel and holds promise for test and control of protein folding and for new tailored protein structural motifs. These two strategies are combined in the present report. We present a synthetic scheme for a new 4-alpha-helix bundle carboprotein built on a galactopyranoside derivative with a thiol anchor aglycon suitable for surface immobilization on gold. The galactopyranoside with thiol anchor and the thiol anchor alone were prepared for comparison. Voltammetry of the three molecules on Au(111) showed reductive desorption peaks caused by monolayer adsorption via thiolate-Au bonding. In situ STM of the thiol anchor disclosed an ordered adlayer with clear domains and molecular features. This holds promise, broadly for single-molecule voltammetry and the SPM and scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) of natural and synthetic proteins.

Chronopotentiometry and Faradaic impedance spectroscopy as signal transduction methods for the biocatalytic precipitation of an insoluble product on electrode supports: routes for enzyme sensors, immunosensors and DNA sensors

The biocatalyzed precipitation of an insoluble product produced on electrode supports is used as an amplification path for biosensing. Enzyme-based electrodes, immunosensors and DNA sensors are developed using this biocatalytic precipitation route. Faradaic impedance spectroscopy and chronopotentiometry are used as transduction methods to follow the precipitation processes. While Faradaic impedance spectroscopy leads to the characterization of the electron-transfer resistance at the electrode, chronopotentiometry provides the total resistance at the interfaces of the modified electrodes. A horseradish peroxidase, HRP, monolayer-functionalized electrode is used to sense H(2)O(2) by the biocatalyzed oxidation of 4-chloro-1-naphthol (1), to the insoluble product benzo-4-chlorohexadienone (2). An antigen monolayer electrode is used to sense the dinitrophenyl antibody, DNP-Ab, applying an anti-antibody-HRP conjugate as a biocatalyst for the oxidative precipitation of 1 by H(2)O(2) to yield the insoluble product 2. An oligonucleotide (3) functionalized monolayer electrode is used to sense the DNA-analyte (4), that is one of the Tay-Sachs genetic disorder mutants. Association of a biotin-labeled oligonucleotide to the sensing interface, followed by the association of the avidin-HRP conjugate and the biocatalyzed precipitation of 2 leads to the amplified sensing of 4. The amount of the precipitate accumulated on the conductive support is controlled by the concentration of the respective analytes and the time intervals employed for the biocatalytic precipitation of 2. The electron-transfer resistances of the electrodes covered by the insoluble product (2) are derived from Faradaic impedance measurements, whereas the total electrode resistances are extracted from chronopotentiometric experiments. A good correlation between the total electrode resistances and the electron-transfer resistances at the conducting supports are found. Chronopotentiometry is suggested as a rapid transduction means (a few seconds). The precautions needed to apply chronopotentiometry in biosensors are discussed.

Bioinorganic composites for enzyme electrodes

Sparingly soluble redox salts were combined with a model enzyme, glucose oxidase, in a host matrix of a biopolymer chitosan to form bioinorganic composite films on the surface of glassy carbon electrodes. Four redox salts, each containing the Ru(NH3)6(3+) cation and a selected anion, such as Ru(CN)6(4-), Fe(CN)6(4-), Co(CN)6(3-) or IrCl6(3-), were studied. The composition and catalytic properties of such composite materials toward glucose oxidation were investigated by spectroscopic and electrochemical methods. The composite films provided an oxygen-independent electrical communication between the enzyme's redox centers and a glassy carbon surface at a potential as low as -0.10 V vs Ag/AgCl(3 M Cl-). The nature of the electrical communication is discussed in terms of redox mediation by the Ru(NH3)6(3+)-containing ion pairs formed inside the biocomposites. The kinetic significance of the mediator's charge is considered by postulating that neutral ion pairs are more efficient redox mediators of the enzymatic reaction than those negatively charged. The low operating potential of enzyme electrodes based on the bioinorganic composites allows for an interference-free determination of glucose. The design of the biocomposites is generic and can incorporate oxidoreductase enzymes other than glucose oxidase to provide a host of biosensors for biologically and environmentally important analytes.

Fabricating and imaging carbon-fiber immobilized enzyme ultramicroelectrodes with scanning electrochemical microscopy

The scanning electrochemical microscope (SECM) is used to image the activity of enzymes immobilized on the surfaces of disk-shaped carbon-fiber electrodes. SECM was used to map the concentration of enzymatically produced hydroquinone or hydrogen peroxide at the surface of a 33-microm diameter disk-shaped carbon-fiber electrode modified by an immobilized glucose-oxidase layer. Sub-monolayer coverage of the enzyme at the electrode surface could be detected with micrometer resolution. The SECM was also employed as a surface modification tool to produce microscopic regions of enzyme activity by using a variety of methods. One method is a gold-masking process in which microscopic gold patterns act as mask for producing patterns of chemical modification. The gold masks allow operation in both a positive or negative process for patterning enzyme activity. A second method uses the direct mode of the SECM to produce covalently attached amine groups on the carbon surface. The amine groups are anchors for attachment of glucose oxidase by use of a biotin/avidin process. The effect of non-uniform enzyme activity was investigated by using the SECM tip to temporarily damage an immobilized enzyme surface. SECM imaging can observe the spatial extent and time-course of the enzyme recovery process.

Sensing of acetylcholine by a tricomponent-enzyme layered electrode using faradaic impedance spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and microgravimetric quartz crystal microbalance transduction methods

A three-enzyme layered assembly on Au electrodes or Au-quartz crystals, consisting of horseradish peroxidase, HRP, choline oxidase, ChO, and acetylcholine esterase, AChE, is used to sense acetylcholine by the HRP-mediated oxidation of 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine, TMB (1), by H2O2, and the formation of the insoluble product (2) on the respective transducers. The analyte-substrate, acetylcholine, is hydrolyzed by AChE to choline that is oxidized by ChO and O2 to yield the respective betaine and H2O2. The amounts of generated H2O2 and the resulting insoluble product on the transducers correlate with the concentration of acetylcholine in the samples. The formation of the insoluble product (2) on electrode supports is followed by faradaic impedance spectroscopy that probes the increased interfacial electron-transfer resistance upon the formation of 2, and by cyclic voltammetry that reflects electron-transfer barriers upon the formation of the precipitate. The frequency of the Au-quartz crystal decreases as a result of the accumulation of the insoluble precipitate. The amount of insoluble product formed on the transducers is controlled by the concentration of acetylcholine and by the time interval of biocatalyzed precipitation. The generation of the insoluble product provides a means to amplify the sensing processes. Acetylcholine concentrations corresponding to 1 x 10(-5) M are easily sensed by the different transducers.

Precipitation of an insoluble product on enzyme monolayer electrodes for biosensor applications: characterization by Faradaic impedance spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and microgravimetric quartz crystal microbalance analyses

Precipitation of an insoluble, insulating product on monolayer-functionalized electrodes enables the development of new electrochemical biosensors. Faradaic impedance spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry are used to probe the electron-transfer resistance at the conductive support upon the accumulation of the insoluble product on the electrode surface. Similarly, microgravimetric quartz crystal microbalance, QCM, analyses were used to assay the formation of the precipitate on the electrode. A horseradish peroxidase, HRP, monolayer electrode is used to analyze H2O2 via the biocatalyzed oxidation of 4-chloro-1-naphthol (1) and the precipitation of the insoluble product (2). A bienzyme-layered electrode consisting of HRP and glucose oxidase, GOx, is used to sense glucose. Biocatalyzed oxidation of glucose by O2, in the presence of GOx, yields H2O2, and the generated hydrogen peroxide effects the formation of the insoluble product (2) in the presence of HRP. The insoluble product accumulated on the electrode, and the extent of the resulting electron-transfer resistance, correlated with the amounts of H2O2 or glucose, and appropriate calibration curves are extracted.

Chemoselective biosensors

New opportunities for biosensors are now appearing in clinical and genetic diagnostics, genomics, environmental protection, food processing and safety, drug discovery and bioprocess monitoring. Concerns about the cost, stability and selectivity of previous sensor technologies are being addressed by developing new recognition systems and their integration into transducers, micro- and nanofabricated devices, array technologies and novel magnetic, acoustic and optical transduction systems.