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 μM and 1,000 μM, a short measuring time of around 5 min, and a simple operation without sample pretreatment by inert gas purge or oxygen scavenger.

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Galvanostatic Entrapment of Sulfite Oxidase into Ultrathin Polypyrrole Films for Improved Amperometric Biosensing of Sulfite

The entrapment of sulfite oxidase (SOx) into ultrathin polypyrrole (PPy) films of 27–135 nm thickness has been successfully used for amperometric biosensing of sulfite with considerably improved performance. Optimum galvanostatic entrapment was accomplished in an electrolyte‐free solution which contained 0.1 M pyrrole and 5 U/mL of SOx with a polymerization period of 120 seconds and an applied current density of 0.2 mA cm^?2. Evidence of the incorporation and retention of SOx in the ultrathin PPy film was obtained by scanning electron microscopy, cyclic voltammetry and amperometric measurements. Entrapment of the enzyme in a 54 nm thick PPy‐SOx film gave optimum amperometric response for sulfite and enabled the detection of as little as 0.9 μM of sulfite with a linear concentration range of 0.9 to 400 μM. The successful application of the biosensor to the determination of sulfite in beer and wine samples is reported. Comparison with a spectrophotometric method indicates that the biosensor was more superior for the determination of sulfite in red wine.     

Amperometric Detection and Quantification of Nitrate Ions Using a Highly Sensitive Nanostructured Membrane Electrocodeposited Biosensor Array

In the past few decades, there has been a steady rise in the release of nitrate (NO₃^?), a prominent water soluble contaminant associated with the increasing use of nitrate based fertilizers. In this study, we suggest the use of a highly sensitive, enzymatic biosensor capable of quantifying minute concentrations of nitrate. The disposable nitrate biosensor consists of a sensing element in the form of nitrate reductase which is immobilized within a conductive polymer matrix to generate a quantifiable amperometric response. In this work, nanoarrays of co‐immobilized nitrate reductase and poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT), were grown using a template assisted electropolymerization route. The performance of the biosensor is a strong function of electropolymerization conditions and the morphology of the PEDOT nanostructures. The electropolymerized biosensor displays excellent specificity w.r.t other interfering ions as evidenced from the initial rate kinetics. With a response time of a few seconds, limit of detection (LOD) as low as 0.16 ppm and sensitivity of about 92 µA/mM , the one‐step electropolymerized nanostructured nitrate biosensor developed in this study shows improved performance compared to similar electrochemical sensors reported in literature. The PEDOT/nitrate reductase nanowire sensor developed in this work shows superior attributes compared to a flat 2D nitrate reductase‐co‐immobilized PEDOT film grown using similar electropolymerization conditions. This combined with easy and fast fabrication technique opens up exciting opportunities for developing high accuracy PEDOT based nanobiosensors for field testing of nitrate contaminants in the future.     

Imaging the activity of nitrate reductase by means of a scanning electrochemical microscope

Scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) was used to characterize immobilized nitrate reductase (NaR) from Pseudonomonas stutzeri (E.C. 1.7.99.4). Nitrate reductase with membrane fragment was embedded in a polyurethane hydrogel in a capillary and solubilized NaR without membrane fragment was covalently coupled to a diaminoethyl-cellulose-carbamitate film on glass. After systematic studies of possible mediators, SECM feedback imaging of both forms of immobilized NaR was accomplished with methylviologen as redox mediator.     

Imaging the activity of nitrate reductase by means of a scanning electrochemical microscope

Scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) was used to characterize immobilized nitrate reductase (NaR) from Pseudomonas stutzeri (E.C. 1.7.99.4). Nitrate reductase with membrane fragment was embedded in a polyurethane hydrogel in a capillary and solubilized NaR without membrane fragment was covalently coupled to a diaminoethyl-cellulose-carbamitate film on glass. After systematic studies of possible mediators, SECM feedback imaging of both forms of immobilized NaR was accomplished with methylviologen as redox mediator.     

Fabrication and Use of Dual‐function Iridium Oxide Coated Gold SECM Tips. An Application to pH Monitoring above a Copper Electrode Surface during Nitrate Reduction.

The fabrication of a gold microelectrode modified with iridium oxide film (IrO_x) and its use as tip with a dual function in SECM experiments is reported. The defective structure of the coating onto the microelectrode surface was used as strategy to combine the advantages of both amperometric (for current‐distance determination) and potentiometric (for pH sensing) SECM operation modes. Approach curves, using oxygen and hexaammineruthenium(III) as redox mediators, were obtained without significant loss of the performance and reproducibility of the potentiometric pH response. This allowed the precise positioning of the proposed tip above a substrate in SECM experiments and, subsequently, to monitor pH at the substrate surface. The IrO_x modified microelectrode was applied successfully in SECM experiments involving the local proton consumption during the nitrate reduction at a copper cathode surface.     

Fabrication of a Single Layer and Bilayer Potentiometric Biosensors for Penicillin by Galvanostatic Entrapment of Penicillinase into Polypyrrole Films

A single layer and bilayer potentiometric biosensors for the detection of penicillin have been developed. The favourable conditions that were established for the polypyrrole‐penicillinase ((PPy‐P’nase) single layer biosensor were 0.03 M pyrrole, 50 U/mL P’nase, 0.01 M penicillin, applied current density of 0.9 mA/cm² and a polymerisation time of 40 s. The optimum conditions for the formation of the outer layer of the bilayer were: (a) 0.1 M Py, 19 U/mL P’nase, 0.01 M pen, current density of 0.9 mA/cm² and a polymerisation time of 40 s. The minimum detectable penicillin concentration with the bilayer potentiometric biosensor was 0.3 µM and the linear concentration range was 7.5–146 µM. The average percentage recovery of penicillin that was found in amoxycillin 500 mg was 113±24 %. The determination of penicillin in milk was fraught with problems of non‐specific binding of penicillin to the milk.     

Reagentless enzyme electrode based on phenothiazine mediation of horseradish peroxidase for subnanomolar hydrogen peroxide determination

The development and characterization of a highly sensitive enzyme immobilized carbon based electrode for the determination of subnanomolar concentrations of hydrogen peroxide in aqueous samples is described. The biosensor consists of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) immobilized in solid carbon paste along with a suitable redox mediator. The latter allows the acceleration of the electroreduction of HRP in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. Several phenothiazines as mediators are investigated in a comparative manner and with respect to dimethylferrocene using cyclic voltammetry and amperometry. Insolubilization of the HRP in the solid carbon paste is achieved by cross-linking the enzyme with glutaraldehyde and bovine serum albumin. Several experimental parameters such as pH, mediator and enzyme content are considered. The hydrogen peroxide determination is better carried out in 0.1 M acetate buffer, pH 4.5, by amperometry at an applied potential of 0.0 V versus Ag/AgCl, 3 M NaCl concentration and by using the phenothiazine base as redox mediator. The biosensor response is linear over the concentration range 2 nM-10 microM with a detection limit of 1 nM. The linear range of the hydrogen peroxide response without a mediator in the biosensor is found between 2 and 40 microM. The biosensor can be used for more than 180 measurements. Additional modification of the electrode by incorporation of Nafion SAC-13 microparticles in the solid carbon paste allows detection of concentrations of hydrogen peroxide as low as 0.1 nM.     

Electrochemical biosensors based on redox carbon nanotubes prepared by noncovalent functionalization with 1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dione

To improve the electrocatalytic activities of carbon nanotubes (CNT) towards the oxidation of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH), we derive them with a redox mediator, 1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dione (PD), by the noncovalent functionalization method. The redox carbon nanotubes (PD/CNT/GC) show excellent electrocatalytic activities towards the oxidation of NADH (catalytic reaction rate constant, k(h) = 7.26 × 10(3) M(-1) s(-1)), so the determination of NADH can be achieved with a high sensitivity of 8.77 μA mM(-1) under the potential of 0.0 V with minimal interference. We also develop an amperometric ethanol biosensor by integration of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) within the redox carbon nanotubes (PD/CNT/GC). The ethanol biosensor exhibits a wide linear range up to 7 mM with a lower detection limit of 0.30 mM as well as a high sensitivity of 10.85 nA mM(-1).     

Low Potential Detection of NADH at Titanium‐Containing MCM‐41 Modified Glassy Carbon Electrode

Titanium‐containing MCM‐41 (Ti‐MCM‐41) modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) can exhibit an excellent electrocatalytic activity towards the oxidation of β‐Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH). A dramatic decrease in the over‐voltage of NADH oxidation reaction is observed at 0.28 V (vs. SCE). The modified electrode is found to be stable and reproducible. The electrode shows a linear response for a wide range of 10–1200 μM NADH and the detection limit is 8.0 μM. Ti‐MCM‐41 mesoporous molecular sieves provide an efficient matrix for development of NADH biosensors and the prepared electrode not only can be used to detect the concentration of NADH in biochemical reaction, but also as the potential matrix of the construction of dehydrogenases biosensor.     

A Third‐Generation Hydrogen Peroxide Biosensor Based on Horseradish Peroxidase Covalently Immobilized on Electrografted Organic Film on Screen‐Printed Carbon Electrode

A new convenient strategy to fabricate a third‐generation hydrogen peroxide biosensor was described. The screen‐printed carbon electrode (SPCE) was first modified with a layer of 4‐nitrophenyl assembled from the 4‐nitroaniline diazonium salt synthesized in situ in acidic aqueous solution. Next, the nitro groups were converted to amines followed by crosslinking to the horseradish peroxidase (HRP) by glutaraldehyde. The redox chemistry of the active center of the HRP was observed and the HRP‐modified electrode displayed electrocatalytic activity towards the reduction of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) without any mediators. H₂O₂ was determined in a linear range from 5.0 μM to 50.0 μM, with a detection limit of 1.0 μM. Furthermore, the biosensor exhibited fast amperometric response, good reproducibility and long‐term stability.     

Nitrate ion-selective sensor based on electrochemically prepared conducting polypyrrole films

Nitrate-doped polypyrrole (PPy) films on a glassy carbon substrate have been prepared electrochemically in aqueous, acetonitrile, and propylene carbonate solutions for use as nitrate sensors. Lithium nitrate, sodium nitrate, nitric acid, tetraethylammonium p-toluene sulfonate (TS), and tetradodecylammonium nitrate (TDN) were employed as electrolytes. The effect of dibutylphthalate (DBP) as a plasticizer on the sensitivity and lifetime of PPy film sensors was also investigated. A Nernstian behavior with a slope of 56.9 m V/decade over 0.1–7.4 × 10⁻⁵ M NO and a detection limit of 4.7 × 10⁻⁵ M were observed for the polymer sensor prepared in acetonitrile solution containing lithium nitrate and 15% plasticizer (DBP). A lifetime of more than 6 months for this PPy film electrode was obtained.     

Electrochemical Sensing of NADH and Glutamate Based on Meldola Blue in 1,2‐Diaminobenzene and 3,4‐Ethylenedioxythiophene Polymer Films

The redox mediator Meldola blue (MB) was entrapped into two polymers, poly‐1,2‐diaminobenzene (p‐DAB) and poly‐3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene (p‐EDOT) by potential cycling and films were applied to NADH oxidation with subsequent glutamate detection using immobilized glutamate dehydrogenase. Both polymer films were tested for electrocatalysis of NADH using amperometry at E_app=0.1 V vs. Ag/AgCl and similar response characteristics were obtained with sensitivity values of 6.1 nA μM^?1, linear range up to 0.5 mM (R²=0.9972) and LOD of 50 μM. Subsequent amperometric determination of glutamate resulted in sensitivity 0.7 nA μM^?1, linearity 0–100 μM and detection limit of 2 μM glutamate.     

Controlled Electrodeposition of Au‐Copper Oxide Nanocomposite on a Renewable Carbon Ceramic Electrode for Sensitive Determination of NADH in Serum Samples

In this study, a sensitive nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) biosensor based on Au‐Copper oxide nanocomposite modified carbon ceramic electrode (Au?CuO/CCE) was introduced. The developed NADH biosensor was prepared by controlled electrodeposition of copper and Au nanoparticles on the surface of a renewable CCE and was turned to Au?CuO/CCE by cycling the potential in alkaline media. The prepared electrode was carefully characterized with scanning electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy and cyclic voltammetry techniques. According to scan rate study, surface coverage (Γ) of the fabricated Au?CuO/CCE was calculated to be 1.54×10^?8 mol cm^?2 which was 3 time more than CuO/CCE. The fabricated electrode is well stable which could be reliably utilized for the determination of NADH with amperometry technique over the concentration range of 1–29 μM with sensitivity and detection limit (S/N=3) of 0.1025 μA μM^?1 and 0.09 μM respectively. The prepared biosensor was used for NADH determination in serum samples with fast response time and satisfactory analytical results.     

Amperometric Biosensor for Hydrogen Peroxide,Using Supramolecularly Immobilized Horseradish Peroxidase on the β‐Cyclodextrin‐Coated Gold Electrode

Horseradish peroxidase, previously modified with 1‐adamantane moieties, was supramolecularly immobilized on gold electrodes coated with perthiolated β‐cyclodextrin. The functionalized electrode was employed for the construction of an amperometric biosensor device for hydrogen peroxide using 1 mM hydroquinone as electrochemical mediator. The biosensor exhibited a fast amperometric response (6 s) and a good linear response toward H₂O₂ concentration between 12 μM and 450 μM. The biosensor showed a sensitivity of 1.02 mA/M cm², and a very low detection limit of 5 μM. The electrode retained 97% of its initial electrocatalytic activity after 30 days of storage at 4 ⁰C in 50 mM sodium phosphate buffer, pH 7.0.     

A Novel Bioelectrochemical Sensor Based on Immobilized Urease on the Surface of Nickel Oxide Nanoparticle and Polypyrrole Composite Modified Pt Electrode

Nickel oxide nanoparticle (NiO?NP) and polypyrrole (PPy) composite were deposited on a Pt electrode for fabrication of a urea biosensor. To develop the sensor, a thin film of PPy?NiO composite was deposited on a Pt substrate that serves as a matrix for the immobilization of enzyme. Urease was immobilized on the surface of Pt/PPy?NiO by a physical adsorption. The response of the fabricated electrode (Pt/PPy?NiO/Urs) towards urea was analyzed by chronoamperometry and cyclic voltammetry (CV) techniques. Electrochemical response of the bio‐electrode was significantly enhanced. This is due to electron transfer between Ni²⁺ and Ni³⁺ as the electro‐catalytic group and the reaction between polypyrrole and the urease‐liberated ammonium. The fabricated electrode showed reliable and demonstrated perfectly linear response (0.7–26.7 mM of urea concentration, R²= 0.993), with high sensitivity (0.153 mA mM^?1 cm^?2), low detection of limit (1.6 μM), long stability (10 weeks), and low response time (～5 s). The developed biosensor was highly selective and obtained data were repeatable and reproduced using PPy‐NiO composite loaded with immobilized urease as urea biosensors.     

Evaluation of Some Redox Mediators in the Design of Reagentless Amperometric Glucose Biosensor

The influence of redox mediators (tetrathiafulvalene (TTF), tetrathiafulvalene‐tetracyanoquinodimethane complex (TTF‐TCNQ), phenazine methosulfate (PMS), 5,6‐diamino‐1,10‐phenonthroline (5,6‐DAP), potassium ferrocyanide (K4[Fe(CN)6]), methylene blue (MB) and toluidine blue (TB)) on the response of amperometric glucose biosensor was investigated in this research. Graphite rod electrode (GRE) modified by adsorbed mediator and glucose oxidase (GOx) cross‐linked with glutaraldehyde was served as working electrode. The highest amperometric signals were observed by using TTF and TTF‐TCNQ as mediators. The impact of amount of immobilized GOx, an optimal pH region for operation, stability and reproducibility of the analytic signal of designed biosensor using these mediators were investigated and discussed.     

Development of Novel Glucose and Pyruvate Biosensors at Poly(Neutral Red) Modified Carbon Film Electrodes. Application to Natural Samples

Amperometric biosensors based on the corresponding oxidase enzyme with poly(neutral red) redox mediator have been developed for the determination of glucose and pyruvate. The enzymes have been immobilized on top of poly(neutral red) modified carbon film electrodes with glutaraldehyde as the cross‐linking agent. The biosensors were characterized by cyclic voltammetry and by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The glucose biosensor exhibited a linear response in the range 90 μM to 1.8 mM with a detection limit of 22 μM and the pyruvate biosensor in the range 90 to 600 μM with a detection limit of 34 μM. The relative standard deviations were found to be 2.1% (n=3) and 2.8% (n=4) respectively. The interference effects of various compounds were also studied. The glucose content of several types of wine and the amount of pyruvate in onion and garlic were determined and the results were compared with those obtained by standard spectrophotometric methods.     

Chemical Cross-Linking of a Redox Mediator Thionin for Electrocatalytic Oxidation of Reduced β-Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide

Abstract

Thionin, a redox mediator that has been used to study the electrochemical behavior of reduced β-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH), was chemically cross-linked on the surface of a spectroscopic graphite electrode by using a triisocyanate cross-linking agent. The electrodes modified in this manner had a purple film with an additional reversible redox couple a t E° of +73 mV vs. Ag/AgCl compared to uncross-linked thionin. The thionin modified electrode mediated oxidation of NADH with response to NADH between 7.0 × 10–7 to 1.8 × 10–3 M, a sensitivity of 113 pAJcmWmM, and a detection limit of 0.5 μM.     

A Selective Immunosensor for D‐dimer Based on Antibody Immobilized on a Graphene Electrode with Incorporated Lipid Films

The present article describes a miniaturized potentiometric D‐dimer biosensor on graphene nanosheets with incorporated lipid films. The graphene electrode was used for the development of a very selective and sensitive immunosensor for the detection of D‐dimer by immobilizing the mouse anti human D‐dimer antibody on stabilized lipid films. The immunosensor responded for the wide range of D‐dimer concentrations with fast response time of ca. 15 s. The presented potentiometric D‐dimer biosensor is easy to construct and exhibits good reproducibility, reusability, selectivity, rapid response times, long shelf life and high sensitivity of ca. 59 mV/decade over the D‐dimer logarithmic concentration range from 10^?6 μg/L to 10^?3 μg/L.