Electrocatalysis of oxygen at hemoglobin-Au colloid-1,4-benzenedimethanethiol modified electrode

A novel renewable O2 sensor based on the direct electron transfer of hemoglobin (Hb) is proposed. Hb was immobilized on a gold nanoparticles (GNP) associated with a 1,4-benzenedimethanethiol (BDT) monolayer which were modified the electrode. The direct electrochemistry of Hb was investigated by electrochemical methods and cyclic voltammetric showing a pair of redox peaks of Hb. The high efficiency of the Hb/GNP/BDT modified gold electrode towards the catalytic electro-reduction of oxygen has been observed and the potential application of Hb/GNP/BDT modified gold electrode as biosensors to monitor O2 is proposed. The electrocatalytic response showed a linear dependence on the O2 concentration ranging from 2.0 to 40.0 micromol/L.     

Liquid phase deposition of hemoglobin/SDS/TiO2 hybrid film preserving photoelectrochemical activity

This work demonstrates that liquid phase deposition (LPD) technique provides a novel approach to the immobilization of hemoglobin (Hb) in TiO(2) film for studying the direct electron transfer of Hb. Using the LPD process, a hybrid film composed of Hb, TiO(2) and sodium dodecylsulfonate (SDS) is successfully prepared on the electrode surface. The surface morphology of as-deposited Hb/SDS/TiO(2) film shows a flower-like structure. The cyclic voltammetric measurement indicates that the LPD hybrid film facilitates the electron transfer of Hb, which yields a pair of redox peaks prior to the characteristic voltammetric peaks of TiO(2). Due to the electrocatalytic activity of Hb towards H(2)O(2), the Hb/SDS/TiO(2) hybrid LPD film can be utilized as an H(2)O(2) sensor, showing a sensitive response linearly proportional to the concentration of H(2)O(2) in the range of 5.0×10(-7)-4.0×10(-5) mol/L. At the same time, the Hb/SDS/TiO(2) hybrid film preserves the photoelectrochemical activity of TiO(2). The photovoltaic effect on the electrochemical behavior of Hb/SDS/TiO(2) film is observed after long-time UV irradiation on the film, which could improve the calibration sensitivity for H(2)O(2).     

Construction of hyaluronan-silver nanoparticle–hemoglobin multilayer composite film and investigations on its electrocatalytic properties

In this work, hyaluronan-silver nanoparticles (HSNPs) were prepared by UV-initiated photoreduction, and protein hemoglobin (Hb) was then alternately assembled with the prepared negatively charged HSNPs into layer-by-layer (LBL) films on solid surface. The electrochemical behavior and electrocatalytic activities toward oxygen and hydrogen peroxide of the resulting films were studied. It was found that the HSNPs greatly enhanced the electron transfer reactivity of Hb as a bridge. The assembly films showed a pair of nearly reversible redox peaks with a formal potential of −0.32 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) for the heme Fe(III)/Fe(II) redox couple. The immobilized Hb in the films maintained its biological activity, showing a surface-controlled process with a heterogeneous electron transfer rate constant (k _s) of 1.0 s⁻¹ and displaying the same features of a peroxidase in the electrocatalytic reduction of oxygen and hydrogen peroxide. This work provides a novel model to fabricate LBL films with protein, polysaccharide and nanoparticles, which may establish a foundation for fabricating new type of biosensors based on the direct electron transfer of redox proteins immobilized in nanocomposite multilayer films with underlying electrodes.     

Effect of Gold Nanoparticles on the Structure and Electron‐Transfer Characteristics of Glucose Oxidase Redox Polyelectrolyte‐Surfactant Complexes

Efficient electrical communication between redox proteins and electrodes is a critical issue in the operation and development of amperometric biosensors. The present study explores the advantages of a nanostructured redox‐active polyelectrolyte–surfactant complex containing [Os(bpy)₂Clpy]²⁺ (bpy=2,2′‐bipyridine, py= pyridine) as the redox centers and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) as nanodomains for boosting the electron‐transfer propagation throughout the assembled film in the presence of glucose oxidase (GOx). Film structure was characterized by grazing‐incidence small‐angle X‐ray scattering (GISAXS) and atomic force microscopy (AFM), GOx incorporation was followed by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and quartz‐crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM‐D), whereas Raman spectroelectrochemistry and electrochemical studies confirmed the ability of the entrapped gold nanoparticles to enhance the electron‐transfer processes between the enzyme and the electrode surface. Our results show that nanocomposite films exhibit five‐fold increase in current response to glucose compared with analogous supramolecular AuNP‐free films. The introduction of colloidal gold promotes drastic mesostructural changes in the film, which in turn leads to a rigid, amorphous interfacial architecture where nanoparticles, redox centers, and GOx remain in close proximity, thus improving the electron‐transfer process.     

A hydrogen peroxide biosensor based on Langmuir-Blodgett technique: Direct electron transfer of hemoglobin in octadecylamine layer

The present paper describes the modification of hemoglobin (Hb)-octadecylamine (ODA) Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) film on a gold electrode surface to develop a novel electrochemical biosensor for the detection of hydrogen peroxide. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) image of Hb-ODA LB film indicated Hb molecules existed in ODA layer in a well-ordered and compact form. The immobilized Hb displayed a couple of stable and well-defined redox peaks with an electron transfer rate constant of 4.58 ± 0.95 s⁻¹ and a formal potential of −185 mV (versus Ag/AgCl) in phosphate buffer (1.0 mM, pH 5.0) contain 0.1 M KCl at a scan rate of 200 mV s⁻¹, characteristic of Hb heme Fe(III)/Fe(II) redox couple. The formal potential of Hb heme Fe(III)/Fe(II) redox couple in ODA film shifted linearly between pH 5 and 8 with a slope of −23.8 mV pH⁻¹, suggesting that proton took part in electrochemical reaction. The ODA could accelerate the electron transfer between Hb and the electrode. This modified electrode showed an electrochemical activity to the reduction of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) without the aid of any electron mediator.     

Electrochemical biosensing based on noble metal nanoparticles

The interest in the fabrication of electrochemical biosensors with high sensitivity, selectivity and efficiency is rapidly growing. In recent years, noble metal nanoparticles (NMNPs), with extraordinary conductivity, large surface-to-volume ratio and biocompatibility, have been extensively employed for developing novel electrochemical sensing platforms and improving their performances. Through distinct surface modification strategies (e.g. self-assembly, layer-by-layer, hybridization and sol-gel technology), NMNPs provide well control over the microenvironment of biological molecules retaining their activity, and facilitate the electron transfer between the redox center of biomolecules and electrode surface. Moreover, NMNPs have been involved into biorecognition events (e.g. immunoreactions, DNA hybridization and ligand-receptor interactions) by conjugating with various biomolecules, chemical labels and other nanomaterials, achieving the signal transduction and amplification. The aim of this review is to summarize different strategies for NMNP-based signal amplification, as well as to provide a snapshot of recent advances in the design of electrochemical biosensing platforms, including enzyme/protein sensors focused on their direct electrochemistry on NMNP-modified electrode surface; immunosensors and gene sensors in which NMNPs not only participate into biorecognition, but also act as electroactive tags to enhance the signal output. In addition, NMNP alloy-based multifunctional electrochemical biosensors are briefly introduced in terms of their unique heterostructures and properties.

Impedance sensing of allergen-antibody interaction on glassy carbon electrode modified by gold electrodeposition

The interactions between the recombinant dust mite allergen Der f2 and murine monoclonal antibody were monitored by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Allergen Der f2 were immobilized through the nanogold formed by electrodeposition of gold on planar glassy carbon electrode. A 30-s gold electrodeposition provided a desirable substrate for the immobilization of allergen. Electrochemical deposition of gold on a glassy carbon electrode showed significant improvement in allergen immobilization. The impedance measurements were based on the charge-transfer kinetics of the [Fe(CN)(6)](3-/4-) redox pair. The interactions between allergen and antibody occurred on electrode surface altered the interfacial electron transfer resistance, R(CT), by preventing the redox species approaching the electrode. The results showed that R(CT) increased with increasing concentration of monoclonal antibodies.     

Electrocatalysis of Hemoglobin in ZnO Nanoparticle/Ionic Liquid Composite Film Modified Glassy Carbon Electrode

A nanobiocompatible composite containing hemoglobin (Hb), ZnO nanoparticles (nano‐ZnO) and ionic liquid 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate (BMIMPF₆) was fabricated and further modified on the glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The electrochemical behaviours of Hb in the composite film were carefully studied and a pair of quasi‐reversible redox peaks appeared in pH 7.0 phosphate buffer solution, which was attributed to the electrode reaction of Hb heme Fe(III)/Fe(II) redox couple. The presences of nano‐ZnO and BMIMPF₆ in the film can retain the bioactivity of Hb and greatly enhance the direct electron transfer of Hb. The immobilized Hb showed high stability and good electrocatalytic ability to the reduction of hydrogen peroxide and O₂.     

Direct electrochemistry and electrocatalysis of hemoglobin on gold nanoparticle decorated carbon ionic liquid electrode

In this paper a carbon ionic liquid electrode (CILE) was fabricated by using ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium ethylsulfate ([EMIM]EtOSO₃) as modifier and further gold nanoparticles were in situ electrodeposited on the surface of CILE. The fabricated Au/CILE was used as a new platform for the immobilization of hemoglobin (Hb) with the help of a Nafion film. Electrochemical experimental results indicated that direct electron transfer of Hb was realized on the surface of Au/CILE with a pair of well-defined quasi-reversible redox peaks appeared. The formal peak potential (E⁰′) was obtained as −0.210 V (vs. SCE) in pH 7.0 phosphate buffer solution (PBS), which was the characteristic of Hb heme Fe(III)/Fe(II) redox couple. The fabricated Nafion/Hb/Au/CILE showed excellent electrocatalytic activity to the reduction of trichloroacetic acid (TCA) and the reduction peak current was in proportional to TCA concentration in the range from 0.2 to 18.0 mmol/L with the detection limit as 0.16 mmol/L (S/N = 3). The proposed electrode showed good stability and reproducibility, and it had the potential application as a new third-generation electrochemical biosensor.     

血红蛋白在离子液体[BMIM]PF6碳糊电极上的直接电化学

制备了离子液体[BMIM]PF6修饰碳糊电极(CILE), 并对其形貌和电化学行为进行了表征. 采用涂布法利用壳聚糖-皂土有机-无机复合膜将血红蛋白(Hb)固定于CILE电极表面, 利用紫外可见光谱、红外光谱和电化学方法等手段对包埋于膜内的Hb的性质进行了表征. 结果表明, Hb在薄膜内保持了其原始构象与生物活性, 循环伏安实验表明, 在pH=7.0的Britton-Robinson (B-R)缓冲液中, Hb表现出一对峰形良好的准可逆氧化还原峰, 为Hb Fe(III)/Fe(II)电对的特征峰, 对其直接电化学行为进行了研究, 求出式电位为-0.352 V(vs SCE), 电子转移数为0.885, 电荷传递系数为0.578, 表观异相电子转移速率常数为0.149 s-1.     

Direct electrochemistry and electrocatalysis of hemoglobin in a multilayer {nanogold/PDDA}n inorganic–organic hybrid film

A new amperometric biosensor for hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) has been developed that is based on direct electrochemistry and electrocatalysis of hemoglobin (Hb) in a multilayer inorganic–organic hybrid film. o-Phenylenediamine (PDA) was electropolymerized onto a glassy carbon electrode (GCE), and then negatively charged nanogold particles and positively charged poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA) were alternately assembled on the PDA/GCE surface. Finally, Hb was electrostatically adsorbed on the surface of gold nanoparticles. The electrochemical behavior of the resulting biosensor (Hb/{nanogold/PDDA}_n/PDA/GCE) was assessed and optimized. The performance and factors influencing the biosensor were studied in detail. Under optimal conditions, the immobilized Hb displayed good electrocatalytic response to the H₂O₂ reduction ranging from 1.3 μM to 1.4 mM with a detection limit of 0.8 μM (at 3δ). In addition, the biosensor exhibited rapid response, good reproducibility, and long-term stability. Electronic supplementary material to this paper is available in electronic form at Correspondence: Dianyong Tang, Department of Chemistry and Life Science, Leshan Teachers College, Sichuan (Leshan) 614000, P.R. China     

Electrochemical growth of two-dimensional gold nanostructures on a thin polypyrrole film modified ITO electrode

Two-dimensional gold nanostructures have been fabricated by electrochemical deposition of gold nanoparticles onto indium tin oxide (ITO) glass substrate modified with thin polypyrrole film. By controlling the electrodeposition conditions, gold nanoparticles with dendritic rod, sheet, flower-like (consisting of staggered nanosheets), and pinecone-like structures were generated. The flower-like gold nanoparticles showed high catalytic activity on electrochemical reduction of oxygen, and its activity was measured to be approximately 25 times that of gold pinecones and 10(4) times that of gold nanosheets in terms of gold weight. The pinecone-like nanoparticles can form a compact film with nano-/microscale binary structure like a lotus leaf surface. After modification with n-dodecanethiol, the surface showed superhydrophobic properties with a water contact angle of 153.4 degrees and a tilt angle of 4.4 degrees (5 microL droplet).     

Direct Electrochemistry of Hemoglobin Immobilized on Colloidal Gold‐Hydroxyapatite Nanocomposite for Electrocatalytic Detection of Hydrogen Peroxide

A novel nanocomposite of colloidal gold (GNPs) and hydroxyapatite nanotubes (Hap) was prepared for immobilization of a redox protein, hemoglobin (Hb), on glassy carbon electrode. The immobilized Hb showed fast direct electron transfer and excellent electrocatalytic behavior toward reduction of hydrogen peroxide. A synergic effect between GNPs and Hap for accelerating the surface electron transfer of Hb was observed, which led to a pair of redox peaks with a formal potential of (?340±2) mV at pH 7.0, and a new biosensor for hydrogen peroxide with a linear range from 0.5 to 25 μM and a limit of detection of 0.2 μM at 3σ. Owing to the good biocompatibility of the nanocomposite, the biosensor exhibited good stability and acceptable reproducibility. The as‐prepared nanocomposite film provided a good matrix for protein immobilization and biosensor preparation.     

Hemoglobin/colloidal silver nanoparticles immobilized in titania sol-gel film on glassy carbon electrode: direct electrochemistry and electrocatalysis

By vapor deposition method, both hemoglobin (Hb) and colloidal silver nanoparticles (CSNs) were entrapped in a titania sol-gel matrix on the surface of a glassy carbon electrode (GCE). CSNs could greatly enhance the electron transfer reactivity of Hb and its catalytic ability toward nitrite. Direct fast electron transfer between Hb and the GCE was achieved, and a pair of well-defined, quasi-reversible redox peaks was observed. The anodic and cathodic peak potentials are located at -0.298 V and -0.364 V (vs. Ag/AgCl), respectively. The dependence of the formal potential on solution pH indicated that the direct electron transfer reaction of Hb was a one-electron transfer coupled with a one-proton transfer reaction process. Meanwhile, the catalytic ability of Hb toward the reduction of NO2- was also studied. Accordingly, a NO2- biosensor was prepared, with a linear range from 0.2 mM to 6.0 mM and a detection limit of 34.0 microM. The apparent Michaelis-Menten constant was calculated to be 7.48 mM. Moreover, the biosensor had good long-term stability.     

Fabrication of Pt nanoparticles-decorated CVD diamond electrode for biosensor applications

An electrochemical biosensor was developed using boron-doped diamond (BDD) as an electrode material. To enhance the electrical performance of the electrode, the BDD electrode was decorated with Pt-nanoparticles (Pt-NPs) by electrochemical deposition. Their morphology according to the applied potentials for the synthesis of Pt-NPs was characterized by SEM. To identify the performance of the electrode modified with Pt-NPs, glucose detection was used as a sample sensing process, and the results were compared with those of a gold electrode and a bare BDD electrode. The electrochemical characteristics of the modified electrode were examined by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The BDD electrode with the Pt-NPs showed higher sensitivity and a lower detection limit than the Au electrode and BDD electrode. The proposed biosensor based on the Pt-NPs decorated BDD electrode showed high sensitivity, a low detection limit, fast direct electron transfer and good stability.     

Polyvinyl alcohol–ionic liquid composition for promoting the direct electron transfer and electrocatalysis of hemoglobin

The direct electron transfer and electrocatalysis of hemoglobin (Hb) entrapped in polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)–room temperature ionic liquid (i.e., 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate [OMIM]PF₆) composition has been investigated by using cyclic voltammetry and chronocoulometry. It is found that the composition can promote the direct electron transfer of Hb and the heterogeneous electron transfer rate constant (k_s) of immobilized Hb is enhanced to 19.9 s⁻¹. The immobilized Hb also shows high electro-catalytic activity towards the redox of oxygen, hydrogen peroxide and nitrite. The Michaelis constants (K_m) decrease to 1.2 × 10⁻⁴ M (for hydrogen peroxide) and 9.4 × 10⁻³ M (for nitrite). The surface concentration of electroactive Hb is estimated and it is ca. 1.4 × 10⁻¹⁰ mol cm⁻², meaning that several layers of immobilized Hb take part in the electrochemical reaction. When gold nanoparticles (GNP) is introduced into the composition, the resulting PVA–GNP–[OMIM]PF₆ composition presents better performance. The electrochemical characteristic of immobilized Hb is improved further. Thus PVA–GNP–[OMIM]PF₆ composition is more suitable for the immobilization of Hb. Therefore, it is a good strategy to prepare novel composition for protein immobilization by using several materials with different function.     

Surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy and electrochemistry study of 4-nitro-1,2-phenylenediamine: a switchable redox polymer with nitro functional groups

Electrochemistry and electrochemical surface plasmon resonance (SPR) spectroscopy have been applied to study the electrochemical deposition and the redox transition of poly(4-nitro-1,2-phenylenediamine) (P4NoPD) on gold disk. It was shown that SPR can be the signal transducer for the different redox states of P4NoPD. Using a model biomolecular system, involving streptavidin, biotinylated DNA, and its complementary target DNA, it was found that the presence of nitro groups in P4NoPD allows the biorecognition events to be modulated by voltages. There is minimal nonspecific binding of biomolecules on oxidized (+0.2 V) or as-prepared P4NoPD, and binding occurs more significantly on the reduced P4NoPD (-0.2 to -0.6 V) with the presence of amine groups. The electrochemical deposition of P4NoPD film was also conducted on boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrode. The stability of the reduced P4NoPD film on gold and BDD was comparatively evaluated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The result showed that BDD allows the electrochemical reduction of the P4NoPD film at wider cathodic limits than gold.     

Direct Electron Transfer of Hemoglobin on a Carbon Ionic Liquid Electrode with TiO2 Nanopatricle as Enhancer

Room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) N‐butylpyridinium hexafluorophosphate (BPPF₆) modified carbon paste electrode (CILE) was fabricated and applied to adsorb the hemoglobin (Hb) and TiO₂ nanoparticles on the electrode surface step by step to form a Hb modified electrode noted as TiO₂/Hb/CILE. UV‐Vis and FT‐IR spectra showed that Hb in the film retained its native conformations. Cyclic voltammetric experiments indicated that a pair of well‐defined quasi‐reversible redox peaks appeared with the formal potential (E^0′) located at ?0.251 V (vs. SCE) at pH 7.0 phosphate buffer solution (PBS), which was the characteristic of heme Fe(III)/Fe(II) redox couples. Electrochemical parameters of the Hb in the film such as the electron transfer coefficient (α), the electron transfer number (n) and the standard electron transfer rate constant (k_s) were estimated as 0.469, 0.87 and 0.635 s^?1, respectively.     

Facile method to synthesize graphene-ZnS nanocomposites: preparation and application in bioelectrochemistry of hemoglobin

A novel electrochemical platform based on ZnS-doped graphene (GR-ZnS) nanocomposites was developed to achieve the direct electron transfer between hemoglobin (Hb) and the modified electrode. GR-ZnS nanocomposites were synthesized via noncovalent functionalization of pristine graphene (GR) by 1-aminopyrene and subsequent in situ synthesis of ZnS nanoparticles on the GR surface. During this process, the intrinsic electronic properties of GR could be efficiently protected. The as-prepared GR-ZnS nanocomposites were characterized and identified by means of transmission electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer analysis, indicating the uniform formation of ZnS nanoparticles on the surface of GR. Fourier transform infrared spectra spectroscopic results confirmed that Hb remained its native structure in the nanocomposite material. The GR-ZnS nanocomposites could efficiently promote the direct electron transfer between Hb and electrode with the electron transfer rate constant (k _s) of 3.42 s^?1. The modified electrode was then used for the determination of H₂O₂ based on the electrocatalytic activity of Hb towards H₂O₂, which exhibited a linear range from 10 to 250 μM with a detection limit of 1.12 μM. The proposed method to fabricate GR-based hybrid nanomaterials would have a great potential for applications in various fields such as electrochemical sensing, catalytic reaction, and super capacitors.     

Synthesis of hydroxyapatite crystals using amino acid-capped gold nanoparticles as a scaffold

Inorganic composites are of special interest for biomedical applications such as in dental and bone implants wherein the ability to modulate the morphology and size of the inorganic crystals is important. One interesting possibility to control the size of inorganic crystals is to grow them on nanoparticles. We report here the use of surface-modified gold nanoparticles as templates for the growth of hydroxyapatite crystals. Crystal growth is promoted by a monolayer of aspartic acid bound to the surface of the gold nanoparticles; the carboxylate ions in aspartic acid are excellent binging sites for Ca(2+) ions. Isothermal titration calorimetry studies of Ca(2+) ion binding with aspartic acid-capped gold nanoparticles indicates that the process is entropically driven and that screening of the negative charge by the metal ions leads to their aggregation. The aggregates of gold nanoparticles are believed to be responsible for assembly of the platelike hydroxyapatite crystals into quasi-spherical superstructures. Control experiments using uncapped gold nanoparticles and pure aspartic acid indicate that the amino acid bound to the nanogold surface plays a key role in inducing and directing hydroxyapatite crystal growth.