Trans-membrane electron transfer in red blood cells immobilized in a chitosan film on a glassy carbon electrode

We have studied the trans-membrane electron transfer in human red blood cells (RBCs) immobilized in a chitosan film on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE). Electron transfer results from the presence of hemoglobin (Hb) in the RBCs. The electron transfer rate (k _s) of Hb in RBCs is 0.42 s^?1, and <1.13 s^?1 for Hb directly immobilized in the chitosan film. Only Hb molecules in RBCs that are closest to the plasma membrane and the surface of the electrode can undergo electron transfer to the electrode. The immobilized RBCs displayed sensitive electrocatalytic response to oxygen and hydrogen peroxide. It is believed that this cellular biosensor is of potential significance in studies on the physiological status of RBCs based on observing their electron transfer on the modified electrode.

Electrocatalytic reduction of nitrite ions by a copper complex attached as SAMs on gold by “self-induced electroclick”: Enhancement of the catalytic rate by surface coverage decrease

A biomimetic copper complex has been attached as SAMs onto an azidoundecanethiol-modified gold electrode by the “self-induced electroclick” procedure. The immobilized complex electrocatalyzes efficiently the reduction of nitrite ions in an acidic medium. The in-situ control of the surface coverage during the grafting process by the electroclick approach has been exploited to rationalize the influence of surface concentration on the electrocatalytic properties of the immobilized Cu complex. The voltammetric analysis shows an enhancement of the catalytic rate when the surface coverage is decreased, as a consequence of steric and electronic effects.     

Surface nanocrystallization of glassy carbon electrode: Application in direct electrochemistry of glucose oxidase

The surface nanocrystallization of glassy carbon (GC) electrode was carried out using cyclic voltammetry in anhydrous dimethylformamide containing 0.05 M tetra-n-butylammonium bromine, and carbon nanoparticles with diameter of 10–40 nm were formed on the electrode surface. Comparing with the typical GC electrode, the surface-nanocrystalline GC (SNGC) electrode showed higher electrocatalytic activity for direct electrochemistry of glucose oxidase (GOD) due to higher proportion of edge sites presented on the surface of the SNGC electrode. Because of the surface nanocrystallization of the electrode, a pair of well-defined and quasi-reversible redox peaks of the immobilized GOD was observed for the first time on the GC electrode.     

Immobilization of photosystem I or II complexes on electrodes for preparation of photoenergy-conversion devices

Photosystems, PSI and PSII isolated from Thermosynechococcus elongatus were successfully immobilized on a TiO₂ nanostructured film for use in dye-sensitized biosolar cells (DSBCs). The photosystem complexes were also immobilized on an ITO electrode modified with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane by utilizing the interactions between the electrode and the surface of the PSI or PSII polypeptide. Illumination of the PSI and PSII complexes immobilized on the ITO electrode resulted in action spectra in the presence of methyl viologen, which corresponded to the absorption spectra of the complexes. Compared with the ITO electrode, PSI or PSII complexes assembled on the TiO₂ electrode had much higher energy-conversion efficiency in the presence of an iodide/triiodide redox system of an ionic-liquid-based electrolyte. This could have interesting applications in the development of DSBCs.     

Fabrication of highly sensitive cysteine electrochemical sensor based on nanostructured compound and carbon nanotube modified electrode

This work describes the electrochemical behavior of copper(II)-bis[5-((4-ⁿ-decyloxyphenyl)azo)-N-(ⁿethanol)-salicylaldiminato]film immobilized on the surface of multiwall carbon nanotube glassy carbon electrode and its electrocatalytic activity toward the oxidation of L-cysteine. The surface structure and composition of the sensor was characterized by scanning electron microscopy. Electrocatalytic oxidation of L-cysteine on the surface of modified electrode was investigated with cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry and hydrodynamic amperometery methods and the results showed that the Cu-Schiff base film displays excellent electrochemical catalytic activities towards L-cysteine oxidation. The modified electrode indicated reproducible behavior and high level of stability during the electrochemical experiments.     

Pore tuned activated carbons as supports for an enantioselective molecular catalyst

The Jacobsen catalyst was immobilized onto four activated carbons with different average pore sizes, achieved by a gasification process followed by molecular oxygen oxidation. The influence of the textural properties of the activated carbon in the immobilization process and in the catalytic performance of the Mn(III) heterogeneous catalysts was investigated in detail. Three different catalytic systems were studied: styrene epoxidation using m-chloroperoxybenzoic acid; 6-CN-2,2-diMeChromene epoxidation using NaOCl and iodosylbenzene (PhIO) as oxidants. The catalysts tested were active and enantioselective in the three systems studied. Selectivity towards the desired epoxide only decreases in the case of the material with smaller pores, remaining identical to that of the homogeneous phase in all the other materials. The enantiomeric excess values (%ee) for alkene epoxidation increase with the pore size of the heterogeneous catalysts, and these values are even higher than the homogeneous counterparts in the styrene epoxidation reaction. Total Mn(III) loadings increase with the pore size, as well as their distribution within the carbon porous matrix. Characterization of the activated carbons bearing the immobilized manganese(III) complexes by TPD and XPS point to reaction between carbon surface phenolate groups and the manganese(III) complexes through axial coordination of the metal centers to these groups.     

Covalent immobilization of horseradish peroxidase via click chemistry and its direct electrochemistry

A simple and versatile approach for covalent immobilization of redox protein on solid surface via self-assembled technique and click chemistry is reported. The alkynyl-terminated monolayers are obtained by self-assembled technique, then, azido-horseradish peroxidase (azido-HRP) was covalent immobilized onto the formed monolayers by click reaction. The modified process is characterized by reflection absorption infrared spectroscopy (RAIR), surface-enhanced Raman scattering spectroscopy (SERS) and electrochemical methods. All the experimental results suggest that HRP is immobilized onto the electrode surface successfully without denaturation. Furthermore, the immobilized HRP shows electrocatalytic reduction for H₂O₂, and the linear range is from 5.0 to 700 μM. The heterogeneous electron transfer rate constant k_s is 1.11 s⁻¹ and the apparent Michaelis-Menten constant is calculated to be 0.196 mM.     

Electrocatalysis of Water Oxidation by H2O‐Capped Iridium‐Oxide Nanoparticles Electrodeposited on Spectroscopic Graphite

Electrocatalysis of water oxidation by 1.54 nm IrO_x nanoparticles (NPs) immobilized on spectroscopic graphite electrodes was demonstrated to proceed with a higher efficiency than on all other, hitherto reported, electrode supports. IrO_x NPs were electrodeposited on the graphite surface, and their electrocatalytic activity for water oxidation was correlated with the surface concentrations of different redox states of IrO_x as a function of the deposition time and potential. Under optimal conditions, the overpotential of the reaction was reduced to 0.21 V and the electrocatalytic current density was 43 mA cm^?2 at 1 V versus Ag/AgCl (3 M KCl) and pH 7. These results beneficially compete with previously reported electrocatalytic oxidations of water by IrO_x NPs electrodeposited onto glassy carbon and indium tin oxide electrodes and provide the basis for the further development of efficient IrO_x NP‐based electrocatalysts immobilized on high‐surface‐area carbon electrode materials.     

Transition-metal ligands bound onto the micelle-templated silica surface

This paper reviews recent works on the design of immobilized transition-metal ligands on solid supports. After an overview of some results concerning ligand anchorage on polymeric supports and encapsulation of transition-metal complexes inside layered or zeolitic minerals, the grafting of ligands onto the silicic wall surface of micelle-templated silicas (MTS) is reported. MTS silicas featuring a regular mesoporous system of pore-monodispersed size and exhibiting larger pores than zeolites, provide a new opportunity to allow anchorage of organic moieties through the silanation procedure. Mn(III) Salpr and tSalpr complexes bound onto the MTS surface are active in epoxidation reaction using PhIO as oxygen donor. Anchorage of (1R,2S)-ephedrine has been also investigated with the aim to obtain benefit from the MTS structure effect. These new supported chiral catalysts are active in alkylation of benzaldehyde with diethylzinc although less enantioselective than the corresponding homogeneous catalyst. The effect of dispersion of active sites and of surface passivation has been investigated and discussed in terms of the nature of the support surface.     

Is the electrocatalytic epoxidation of stilbene isomers using manganese (III) tetradentate Schiff bases complexes stereoselective?

Three manganese (III) complexes were obtained with H₂Salen derivatives and used as catalysts in the epoxidation reactions of E- and Z-stilbene isomers. The preparative electrolyses were carried out at 25 °C in acetonitrile solution containing 0.1 M TBAP, 10⁻³ M complex, 10⁻² M 2-methylimidazole and 0.1 M benzoic anhydride plus stilbene as substrate. Our results showed clearly that E-stilbene was totally converted to Z-stilbene oxide whereas Z-stilbene leads to a mixture in which the benzaldehyde was the major by-product. In our experimental conditions, the turnovers recorded for different experiments were located in the 3.7–6.6 range.     

Bioinspired manganese complexes catalyzed epoxidation for the synthesis of the epoxyketone fragment of carfilzomib

We report herein an efficient catalytic epoxidation reaction for the synthesis of epoxyketone (tert-butyl ((S)-4-methyl-1-((R)-2-methyloxiran-2-yl)-1-oxopentan-2-yl)carbamate), which is an important synthetic intermediate of carfilzomib.     

Electrochemistry of bilirubin oxidase at carbon nanotubes

In this paper, we compared the direct electron transfer and electrocatalytic properties of bilirubin oxidase (BOD) immobilized at two kinds of carbon nanotubes (CNTs), bamboo-CNTs and uniform-CNTs. X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results indicated that the ratio of sp² band to sp³ band and the content of oxygen-containing groups at the surface of uniform-CNTs were higher than that of bamboo-CNTs. Moreover, uniform-CNTs can be well separated at the surface of the electrode. Better electrochemical and electrocatalytic properties of BOD immobilized at uniform-CNTs were shown.     

Styrene epoxidation over a SBA-15-supported Mn(III) Schiff-base complex

2,4-Di-tert-butyl-6-((E)-(propylimino)methyl)phenol as a Schiff-base ligand was immobilized onto an amino-functionalized SBA-15 through the reaction between di-tert-butyl-salicylaldahyde and the tethered amino group. The Mn(III) metal complex of the immobilized Schiff-base ligand was proven to be an active catalyst for the epoxidation of styrene withtert-butyl hydroperoxide as a terminal oxidant. The catalysts behaved as an oxidation catalyst in the epoxidation and could be used many times without structural degradation, leaching of active manganese species and significant activity loss. It has been concluded that the reversible redox cycles of the metal center play a key role during the epoxidation reaction, as well as in the reusability of the catalysts.     

The Electrochemical Behavior of Gold Nanoparticle‐Tantalum(V) Phthalocyanine Composites: Applications Towards the Electroanalysis of Bisphenol A

The formation of gold nanoparticle (AuNP) composites with tantalum phthalocyanines (TaPc) complexes { 1a and 1b (Figure 1 )} is reported. The TaPc‐AuNPs conjugates were characterised by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and transmission electron microscopy. The AFM analyses show that conjugates of TaPc with AuNPs are more aggregated when compared to AuNPs alone. The conjugates and TaPc complexes were immobilized on a gold electrode by drop and dry method and these were characterized by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The charge transfer behaviour of AuNPs was enhanced in the presence of TaPc complexes. All the modified electrodes showed electrocatalytic oxidation of bisphenol A. The limits of detection for complexes 1a and 1 b were 4.78×10^?10 and 2.76×10^?10 mol L^?1, respectively.     

High effective electrocatalytic oxidation of cyclohexanol on stable Fe-Mn/Mn<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> membrane electrode

A new composite electrode material with iron-manganic oxide coating (Fe-Mn/Mn₂O₃) was prepared, and its catalytic performance for oxidizing cyclohexanol was investigated in this work. The new electrode material, based on iron substrate covered with electrolytic manganese, was obtained by further coating the manganese surface with 50 % manganese nitrate solution and then conducting program thermal decomposition treatment. X-ray diffraction (XRD) was used to determine the surface crystal phase compositions, which were Mn and Mn₂O₃. The catalytic results showed an excellent electrocatalytic performance on the oxidation of cyclohexanol, and the main products were cyclohexanone and hexanedioic acid. According to our experiment results and the literature reports, the existence of mixed valent Mn^III and Mn^IV played a key role in the electrocatalytic oxidation process. A probable process was proposed: the Mn^IV seized the hydrogen from cyclohexanol, the resulting cyclohexaneoxy radical was oxidized into cyclohexanone, and then the absorbed cyclohexanone was further oxidized into hexanedioic acid.     

Amperometric Biosensor Based on Immobilization Acetylcholinesterase on Manganese Porphyrin Nanoparticles for Detection of Trichlorfon with Flow‐Injection Analysis System

A highly sensitive amperometric biosensor for the detection of organophosphate pesticides (OPs) is developed. The biosensor was fabricated by immobilized acetylcholinesterase (AChE) on manganese (III) meso‐tetraphenylporphyrin (MnTPP) nanoparticles (NPs)‐modified glassy carbon (GC) electrode. The MnTPP NPs used in this article were synthesized by mixing solvent techniques. AChE enzyme was immobilized on the MnTPP NPs surface by conjugated with chitosan (CHIT). The electrocatalytic activity of MnTPP NPs led to a greatly improved performance for thiocholine (TCh) product detection. The developed AChE‐CHIT/MnTPPNP/GC biosensor integrated with a flow‐injection analysis (FIA) system was used to monitor trichlorfon (typical OP). A wide linear inhibition response for trichlorfon is observed in the range of 1.0 nM–1.0 mM, corresponding to 10–83% inhibition for AChE with a detection limit of 0.5 nM.     

Attachment of Nanoparticles to Pyrolytic Graphite Electrode and Its Application for the Direct Electrochemistry and Electrocatalytic Behavior of Catalase

Abstract

A highly hydrophilic, nontoxic, and conductive effect of colloidal gold nanoparticles (GNP) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) on pyrolytic graphite electrode has been demonstrated. The direct electron transfer of catalase (CAT) was achieved based on the immobilization of MWCNT/CAT-GNP on a pyrolytic graphite electrode by a Nafion film. The immobilized catalase displayed a pair of well-defined and nearly reversible redox peaks in 0.1 M phosphate buffer solution (PBS) (pH 6.98). The dependence of E°′on solution pH indicated that the direct electron transfer reaction of catalase was a single-electron-transfer coupled with single-proton-transfer reaction process. The immobilized catalase maintained its biological activity, showing a surface controlled electrode process with an apparent heterogeneous electron transfer rate constant (k _s) of 1.387±0.1 s^?1 and charge-transfer coefficient (α) of 0.49, and displayed electrocatalytic activity in the electrocatalytic reduction of hydrogen peroxide. Therefore, the resulting modified electrode can be used as a biosensor for detecting hydrogen peroxide.     

High-performance hydrogen production and oxidation electrodes with hydrogenase supported on metallic single-wall carbon nanotube networks

We studied the electrocatalytic activity of an [FeFe]-hydrogenase from Clostridium acetobutylicum (CaH2ase) immobilized on single-wall carbon nanotube (SWNT) networks. SWNT networks were prepared on carbon cloth by ultrasonic spraying of suspensions with predetermined ratios of metallic and semiconducting nanotubes. Current densities for both proton reduction and hydrogen oxidation electrocatalytic activities were at least 1 order of magnitude higher when hydrogenase was immobilized onto SWNT networks with high metallic tube (m-SWNT) content in comparison to hydrogenase supported on networks with low metallic tube content or when SWNTs were absent. We conclude that the increase in electrocatalytic activities in the presence of SWNTs was mainly due to the m-SWNT fraction and can be attributed to (i) substantial increases in the active electrode surface area, and (ii) improved electronic coupling between CaH2ase redox-active sites and the electrode surface.     

Photoelectrochemical reaction of chlorophyll immobilized with liquid crystal on metal surface

Chlorophyll was immobilized with liquid crystal on a platinum surface to prepare a photoexcitable electrode. Liquid crystals such as N-(p-methoxybenzylidene)-p-butylanil-ine were found to be effective on the photoexcitation of the immobilized chlorophyll. Such a chlorophyll-liquid crystal electrode produced photocurrent when it was coupled with a solution of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide and exposed to light. The electron transfer accompanied by the photoelectrochemical reaction is discussed.     

The synthesis and use in asymmetric epoxidation of metal salen complexes derived from enantiopure trans-cyclopentane- and cyclobutane-1,2-diamine

A complete synthesis of enantiopure trans-cyclopentane-1,2-diamine and trans-cyclobutane-1,2-diamine is described. These diamines have been used as components of novel chiral salen ligands whose chromium and manganese complexes were then evaluated as oxygen transfer agents in the asymmetric epoxidation of alkenes.