Realization of user‐friendly bioanalytical tools to quantify and monitor critical components in bio‐industrial processes through conceptual design

This minireview suggests a conceptual and user‐oriented approach for the design of process monitoring systems in bioprocessing. Advancement of process analytical techniques for quantification of critical analytes can take advantage of basic conceptual process design to support reasoning, reconsidering and ranking solutions. Issues on analysis in complex bio‐industrial media, sensitivity and selectivity are highlighted from users’ perspectives. Meeting challenging analytical demands for understanding the critical interplay between the emerging bioprocesses, their biomolecular complexity and the needs for user‐friendly analytical tools are discussed. By that, a thorough design approach is suggested based on a holistic design thinking in the quest for better analytical opportunities to solve established and emerging analytical needs.

Flow injection analysis biosensor for urea analysis in urine using enzyme thermistor

There is a need for analytical methods capable of monitoring urea levels in urine for patients under clinical monitoring to appraise renal function. Herein, we present a practical method to quantify levels of urea in human urine samples using flow injection analysis-enzyme thermistor (FIA-ET) biosensor. The biosensor comprises a covalently immobilized enzyme urease (Jack bean) on aminated silica support, which selectively hydrolyzes the urea present in the sample. Under optimized conditions, the developed biosensor showed a linear response in the range of 10-1,000 mM, R (2) = 0.99, and response time of 90 s in 100 mM phosphate buffer (PB) (flow rate of 0.5 mL/min, sample volume of 0.1 mL, and pH 7.2). The urea-spiked human urine samples showed minimal matrix interference in the range of 10-1,000 mM. Recoveries were obtained (92.26-99.80 %) in the spiked urine samples. The reliability and reproducibility of the developed biosensor were found satisfactory with percent relative standard deviation (% RSD) = 0.741. The developed biosensor showed excellent operational stability up to 30 weeks with 20 % loss in original response when used continuously at room temperature. These results indicate that the developed biosensor could be very effective to detect low and high levels of urea in urine samples.

Thermal Biosensor and Microbiosensor Techniques

This chapter describes principles and features of thermal biosensors and microbiosensors and includes a discussion of different thermal transducers. A number of instrumental concepts are described in detail from larger flow injection instruments to miniaturized devices and chip designs with thermal arrays. A thermal–electrochemical hybrid sensor is also presented. The chapter contains many descriptions of actual assays from different fields, such as process and in vivo monitoring, multianalyte determination, operation in organic solvents, and environmental analysis.

Enzyme Thermistor Analysis of Penicillin in Standard Solutions and in Fermentation Broth

Immobilized penicillinase was applied in an enzyme thermistor for calorimetric analysis of samples containing penicillin G. Standard solutions as well as extracts from fermentation broth were analyzed. The enzyme was applied bound either to porous glass or, when dealing with crude preparations, to the inner surface of nylon tubing. In the fermentation system studied, high concentrations of penicillin were present, thus allowing dilution to reduce the influence of the composition of the medium on the analysis. The useful linear concentration range was from 0.1 to 100 mM. The coefficient of correlation between analytical results obtained with the present method and those from conventional assays was 0.997.

Simple routine assay for serum urea using immobilized urease

The method described is a simple routine assay suited for a short series of serum samples. The time needed for one assay is 2 to 3 min from a stand-by arrangement. The urease is immobilized on controlled pore glass. The beads are placed in the column of an enzyme thermistor unit that is part of a continuous flow system. The heat of reaction when urea is degraded to ammonia and carbon dioxide by immobilized urease is measured and recorded continuously. The technique was investigated as regards to flow dependence, linearity, recovery, precision and some possible interfering substances. The within day precision was 0.8% (C.V.) and the day to day precision, during 56 days, was 3.0% (C.V.). Furthermore, the coefficient of correlation between results obtained with the enzyme thermistor unit and a conventional spectrophotometric method was 0.991.