Immbolization of uricase enzyme in Langmuir and Langmuir-Blodgett films of fatty acids: possible use as a uric acid sensor

Preserving the enzyme structure in solid films is key for producing various bioelectronic devices, including biosensors, which has normally been performed with nanostructured films that allow for control of molecular architectures. In this paper, we investigate the adsorption of uricase onto Langmuir monolayers of stearic acid (SA), and their transfer to solid supports as Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films. Structuring of the enzyme in β-sheets was preserved in the form of 1-layer LB film, which was corroborated with a higher catalytic activity than for other uricase-containing LB film architectures where the β-sheets structuring was not preserved. The optimized architecture was also used to detect uric acid within a range covering typical concentrations in the human blood. The approach presented here not only allows for an optimized catalytic activity toward uric acid but also permits one to explain why some film architectures exhibit a superior performance.     

New CNT/poly(brilliant green) and CNT/poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) based electrochemical enzyme biosensors

A combination of the electroactive polymer poly(brilliant green) (PBG) or conducting polymer poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) with carbon nanotubes to obtain CNT/PBG and CNT/PEDOT modified carbon film electrodes (CFE) has been investigated as a new biosensor platform, incorporating the enzymes glucose oxidase (GOx) as test enzyme, alcohol oxidase (AlcOx) or alcohol dehydrogenase (AlcDH). The sensing parameters were optimized for all biosensors based on CNT/PBG/CFE, CNT/PEDOT/CFE platforms. Under optimized conditions, both GOx biosensors exhibited very similar sensitivities, while in the case of AlcOx and AlcDH biosensors, AlcOx/CNT/PBG/CFE was found to give a higher sensitivity and lower detection limit. The influence of dissolved O₂ on oxidase-biosensor performance was investigated and was shown to be different for each enzyme. Comparisons were made with similar reported biosensors, showing the advantages of the new biosensors, and excellent selectivity against potential interferents was successfully demonstrated. Finally, alcohol biosensors were successfully used for the determination of ethanol in alcoholic beverages.     

Role of carbon nanotubes in electroanalytical chemistry: a review

This review covers recent advances in the development of new designs of electrochemical sensors and biosensors that make use of electrode surfaces modification with carbon nanotubes. Applications based on carbon nanotubes-driven electrocatalytic effects, and the construction and analytical usefulness of new hybrid materials with polymers or other nanomaterials will be treated. Moreover, electrochemical detection using carbon nanotubes-modified electrodes as detecting systems in separation techniques such as high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) or capillary electrophoresis (CE) will be also considered. Finally, the preparation of electrochemical biosensors, including enzyme electrodes, immunosensors and DNA biosensors, in which carbon nanotubes play a significant role in their sensing performance will be separately considered.     

Ultrathin films of functionalised single-walled carbon nanotubes: a potential bio-sensing platform

ABSTRACT

The Langmuir monolayer is a special class of lyotropic liquid crystalline system wherein phase transition essentially depends on surface density, temperature and ion-content in the aqueous medium. The variety of surface phases can be transferred onto devices by the Langmuir–Blodgett (LB) technique. The Langmuir monolayer of pristine single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) exhibited gas and liquid-like phases. The LB film of SWCNTs shows target surface pressure dependent interesting morphologies. The methane gas sensing using parallel alignment of SWCNTs was found to be better than that of randomly oriented SWCNTs. The SWCNTs can be functionalised chemically to enhance the ease of film processability and affinity towards analytes. These are essential parameters for the development of a sensor. In this article, we present our work on Langmuir monolayer and LB films of octadecylamine functionalised SWCNTs (ODACNTs) and its sensing application towards bio-analytes, e.g. L-aspartic acid and bovine serum albumin. The sensing performance of LB film of ODACNTs was compared with that of spin-coated films of ODACNTs. The sensing performance of LB films of ODACNTs indicated a potential platform for bio-sensing application.     

Interaction between organophosphorous hydrolase and paraoxon studied by surface chemistry in situ at air-water interface

Subphase conditions have been optimized to obtain stable organophosphorous hydrolase (OPH-EC 3.1.8.1) as Langmuir films. The Langmuir film was characterized by surface pressure and surface potential-area isotherms and UV-Vis spectroscopy in situ. The interaction of an organophosphorous compound, namely Paraoxon, with the OPH film was investigated for various surface pressures. The stability of the monolayer and the evidence of the enzyme activity at air-water interface support the use of enzyme LB films as biosensor.     

Nanobioelectroanalysis Based on Carbon/Inorganic Hybrid Nanoarchitectures

The emergence of nanotechnology has opened new horizons for electrochemical biosensors. This review highlights new concepts for electrochemical biosensors based on different carbon/inorganic hybrid nanoarchitectures. Particular attention will be given to hybrid nanostructures involving 1‐ or 2‐dimensional carbon nanotubes or graphene along with inorganic nanoparticles (gold, platinum, quantum dot (QD), metal oxide). Latest advances (from 2007 onwards) in electrochemical biosensors based on such hybrids of carbon/inorganic‐nanomaterial heterostructures are discussed and illustrated in connection to enzyme electrodes for blood glucose or immunoassays of cancer markers. Several strategies for using carbon/inorganic nanohybrids in such bioaffinity and biocatalytic sensing are described, including the use of hybrid nanostructures for tagging or modifying electrode transducers, use of inorganic nanomaterials as surface modifiers along with carbon nanomaterial label carriers, and carbon nanostructure‐based electrode transducers along with inorganic amplification tags. The implications of these nanoscale bioconjugated hybrid materials on the development of modern electrochemical biosensors are discussed along with future prospects and challenges.     

Deposition and characterization of Langmuir‐Blodgett films of cadmium arachidate/SWCNTs composites

The incorporation of single‐wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) in cadmium arachidate film by means of the Langmuir‐Blodgett (LB) technique was investigated as a function of arachidic acid/SWCNT mass ratio at the air/water interface and in Langmuir‐Blodgett films. The behaviour at the air/water interface shows that SWCNTs act as an independent phase with respect to the cadmium arachidate. Deposition conditions are optimized when the weight ratio between the arachidic acid (AA) and SWCNTs is in the range 0.018:1 to 1:1. The general order of the LB multilayered structure was destroyed by the progressive density increase in SWCNT quantity as evidenced by X‐ray reflectivity (XRR) analysis. Scanning electron microscopy images indicated that when a multilayered structure was formed its layers consisted of SWCNT bundles stacked one over the other. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Study of Langmuir and Langmuir-Blodgett films of odorant-binding protein/amphiphile for odorant biosensors

To make ultrathin films for the fabrication of artificial olfactory systems, odorant biosensors, we have investigated mixed Langmuir and Langmuir-Blodgett films of odorant-binding protein/amphiphile. Under optimized experimental conditions (phosphate buffer solution, pH 7.5, OBP-1F concentration of 4 mg L(-1), target pressure 35 mN m(-1)), the mixed monolayer at the air/water interface is very stable and has been efficiently transferred onto gold supports, which were previously functionalized by self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) with 1-octadecanethiol (ODT). Atomic force microscopy and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were used to characterize mixed Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films before and after contact with a specific odorant molecule, isoamyl acetate. AFM phase images show a higher contrast after contact with the odorant molecule due to the new structure of the OBP-1F/ODA LB film. Non-Faradaic electrochemical spectroscopy (EIS) is used to quantify the effect of the odorant based on the electrical properties of the OBP-1F/ODA LB film, as its resistance strongly decreases from 1.18 MOmega (before contact) to 25 kOmega (after contact).     

Amperometric glucose biosensor based on boron-doped carbon nanotubes modified electrode

Doped carbon nanotubes are now extremely attractive and important nanomaterials in bioanalytical applications due to their unique physicochemical properties. In this paper, the boron-doped carbon nanotubes (BCNTs) were used in amperometric biosensors. It has been found that the electrocatalytic activity of the BCNTs modified glassy carbon (GC) electrode toward the oxidation of hydrogen peroxide is much higher than that of the un-doped CNTs modified electrode due to the large amount of edge sites and oxygen-rich groups located at the defective sites induced by boron doping. Glucose oxidase (GOD) was selected as the model enzyme and immobilized on the BCNTs modified glassy carbon electrode by entrapping GOD into poly(o-aminophenol) film. The performance of the sensor was investigated by electrochemical methods. At an optimum potential of +0.60 V and pH 7.0, the biosensor exhibits good characteristics, such as high sensitivity (171.2 nA mM(-1)), low detection limit (3.6 microM), short response time (within 6s), satisfactory anti-interference ability and good stability. The apparent Michaelis-Menten constant (K(m)(app)) is 15.19 mM. The applicability to the whole blood analysis of the enzyme electrode was also evaluated.     

碳纳米管在电化学和光化学纳米生物传感器中的应用

碳纳米管(CNTs)因具有独特的物理化学及电化学性质,如较大的比表面积、较强的电子转移能力和良好的吸附性能等而引起人们的广泛关注.碳纳米管可以通过物理吸附、静电或疏水作用等非共价结合方式或共价连接方式固定生物大分子(如蛋白质、DNA、抗体等),有效地促进生物大分子与电极间直接、快速的电子转移,可应用于多种电化学生物传感器中.碳纳米管本身在近红外光区具有独特的荧光和拉曼光谱,可以利用多种光谱手段对多种生物分子实现定量检测,因此近年来碳纳米管在光化学生物传感器中的应用也逐渐受到了研究者的重视.本文对碳纳米管在电化学和光化学生物传感器中的应用进行了简要综述和展望.     

Toward the optimization of an e-tongue system using information visualization: a case study with perylene tetracarboxylic derivative films in the sensing units

The wide variety of molecular architectures used in sensors and biosensors and the large amount of data generated with some principles of detection have motivated the use of computational methods, such as information visualization techniques, not only to handle the data but also to optimize sensing performance. In this study, we combine projection techniques with micro-Raman scattering and atomic force microscopy (AFM) to address critical issues related to practical applications of electronic tongues (e-tongues) based on impedance spectroscopy. Experimentally, we used sensing units made with thin films of a perylene derivative (AzoPTCD acronym), coating Pt interdigitated electrodes, to detect CuCl(2) (Cu(2+)), methylene blue (MB), and saccharose in aqueous solutions, which were selected due to their distinct molecular sizes and ionic character in solution. The AzoPTCD films were deposited from monolayers to 120 nm via Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) and physical vapor deposition (PVD) techniques. Because the main aspects investigated were how the interdigitated electrodes are coated by thin films (architecture on e-tongue) and the film thickness, we decided to employ the same material for all sensing units. The capacitance data were projected into a 2D plot using the force scheme method, from which we could infer that at low analyte concentrations the electrical response of the units was determined by the film thickness. Concentrations at 10 μM or higher could be distinguished with thinner films--tens of nanometers at most--which could withstand the impedance measurements, and without causing significant changes in the Raman signal for the AzoPTCD film-forming molecules. The sensitivity to the analytes appears to be related to adsorption on the film surface, as inferred from Raman spectroscopy data using MB as analyte and from the multidimensional projections. The analysis of the results presented may serve as a new route to select materials and molecular architectures for novel sensors and biosensors, in addition to suggesting ways to unravel the mechanisms behind the high sensitivity obtained in various sensors.     

Increasing protein stability through control of the nanoscale environment

We have discovered a novel property of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs)-their ability to stabilize proteins at elevated temperatures and in organic solvents to a greater extent than conventional flat supports. Experimental results and theoretical analysis reveal that the stabilization results from the curvature of SWNTs, which suppresses unfavorable protein-protein lateral interactions. Our results also indicate that the phenomenon is not unique to SWNTs but could be extended to other nanomaterials. The protein-nanotube conjugates represent a new generation of active and stable catalytic materials with potential use in biosensors, diagnostics, and bioactive films and other hybrid materials that integrate biotic and abiotic components.     

Evaluation of Meldola Blue‐Carbon Nanotube‐Sol‐Gel Composite for Electrochemical NADH Sensors and Their Application for Lactate Dehydrogenase‐Based Biosensors

A novel MB‐SWNT‐sol‐gel nanocomposite material was prepared by the sol‐gel process incorporating a redox mediator and carbon nanotubes. The electrocatalytic properties of the nanomaterial based sensor toward NADH oxidation were studied by electrochemical measurements. Significant enhancement of oxidation current is obtained at electrodes modified by MB‐SWNT‐sol‐gel in comparison with the analogous carbon black and/or graphite composite modified electrode. The usefulness of the nanocomposite material as a matrix for immobilizing enzymes is also demonstrated. Analytical parameters of D ‐lactate biosensors with and without SWNT in the hybrid film were compared demonstrating that performance of the biosensor was significantly improved when introducing SWNT.     

Layer-by-Layer Assembly of Monolayer Films Precisely Controlled by LB Technology to Realize Low-Energy Consumption and High-Stability Ternary Data-Storage Devices

Organic semiconductor devices with low energy consumption and excellent stability are highly desirable. Controlling the intermolecular alignment orientation by designing the molecular structure or optimization of the film preparation process is an alternative way to achieve this goal. In this paper, a new idea was proposed to realize the formation of an aligned monomolecular layer and multimolecular layer thin films on the electrode substrate by controlling the surface pressure of molecular layer on the liquid surface by LB technology. An amphiphilic π-conjugated D−A molecule was synthesized, and the influence of spin coating and LB technology on intermolecular ordered stacking in the film and the electrical memory performance were investigated. The results demonstrated that the film fabricated by LB technology has some advantages compared with that fabricated by spin-coating method, such as higher crystallinity, lower surface roughness and better-organized monomolecular and multimolecular layer, which significantly promoted the performance of the electrical memory device with lower power consumption and longer stability.     

Carbon‐Nanotube Based Electrochemical Biosensors: A Review

This review addresses recent advances in carbon‐nanotubes (CNT) based electrochemical biosensors. The unique chemical and physical properties of CNT have paved the way to new and improved sensing devices, in general, and electrochemical biosensors, in particular. CNT‐based electrochemical transducers offer substantial improvements in the performance of amperometric enzyme electrodes, immunosensors and nucleic‐acid sensing devices. The greatly enhanced electrochemical reactivity of hydrogen peroxide and NADH at CNT‐modified electrodes makes these nanomaterials extremely attractive for numerous oxidase‐ and dehydrogenase‐based amperometric biosensors. Aligned CNT “forests” can act as molecular wires to allow efficient electron transfer between the underlying electrode and the redox centers of enzymes. Bioaffinity devices utilizing enzyme tags can greatly benefit from the enhanced response of the biocatalytic‐reaction product at the CNT transducer and from CNT amplification platforms carrying multiple tags. Common designs of CNT‐based biosensors are discussed, along with practical examples of such devices. The successful realization of CNT‐based biosensors requires proper control of their chemical and physical properties, as well as their functionalization and surface immobilization.     

Incorporation of glucose oxidase into Langmuir-Blodgett films based on Prussian blue applied to amperometric glucose biosensor

Glucose oxidase (GOx) was immobilized in the organic-inorganic Langmuir-Bldogett (LB) films consisting of octadecyltrimethylammonium (ODTA) and nanosized Prussian blue (PB) clusters. The amperometric glucose biosensors based on the LB films were fabricated and tested. It was found that the sensors exhibited a clear response current under an applied voltage of 0.0 V (vs Ag/AgCl). The linearity of current density versus glucose concentration was confirmed below 15 mmol/L concentration. This is the first observation of biosensor function of the hybrid organic-inorganic LB films. The successful preparation of glucose sensors operating at the very low potential indicates that the adsorbed PB clusters in the LB films act as an electrocatalyst for the electrochemical reduction of hydrogen peroxide, which is the final product of the enzymatic reaction sequence. The observed low potential applicability is estimated to inhibit the responses of interferants such as ascorbic acid, uric acid, and acetominophen. It was also found that an electrostatic interaction between positively charged ODTA+ and the adsorbed species of both GOx and PB provided a stabilized adsorption state in the LB films. Such stable immobilization contributes to the steady amperometric response current observed in the present ODTA/PB/GOx LB films.     

Surfactant-free water-processable photoconductive all-carbon composite

Heterojunctions between different graphitic nanostructures, including fullerenes, carbon nanotubes and graphene-based sheets, have attracted significant interest for light to electrical energy conversion. Because of their poor solubility, fabrication of such all-carbon nanocomposites typically involves covalently linking the individual constituents or the extensive surface functionalization to improve their solvent processability for mixing. However, such strategies often deteriorate or contaminate the functional carbon surfaces. Here we report that fullerenes, pristine single walled carbon nanotubes, and graphene oxide sheets can be conveniently coassembled in water to yield a stable colloidal dispersion for thin film processing. After thermal reduction of graphene oxide, a solvent-resistant photoconductive hybrid of fullerene-nanotube-graphene was obtained with on-off ratio of nearly 6 orders of magnitude. Photovoltaic devices made with the all-carbon hybrid as the active layer and an additional fullerene block layer showed unprecedented photovoltaic responses among all known all-carbon-based materials with an open circuit voltage of 0.59 V and a power conversion efficiency of 0.21%. The ease of making such surfactant-free, water-processed, carbon thin films could lead to their wide applications in organic optoelectronic devices.     

聚酰亚胺LB膜热解制备SiC薄膜的XPS研究

用XPS对沉积在硅基片上的聚酰亚胺LB膜以及由它真空热解制备的SiC薄膜进行了研究 ,并对其形成过程进行了跟踪分析 .XPS结果显示聚酰亚胺LB膜结构均匀 ,质量良好 ;真空热解时 ,约在 6 70℃时LB膜中的C与衬底Si反应形成SiC ;Ar离子溅射深度俄歇谱表明所制备的SiC膜中Si和C浓度成梯度分布 ,说明SiC是由Si和C相互扩散反应形成的     

Amperometric choline biosensor fabricated through electrostatic assembly of bienzyme/polyelectrolyte hybrid layers on carbon nanotubes

We report a flow injection amperometric choline biosensor based on the electrostatic assembly of the choline oxidase (ChO) enzyme and a bienzyme of ChO and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) onto multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) modified glassy carbon (GC) electrodes. These choline biosensors were fabricated by immobilization of enzymes on the negatively charged MWCNT surface through alternately assembling a cationic poly(diallydimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA) layer and an enzyme layer. Using this layer-by-layer assembling approach, a bioactive nanocomposite film of PDDA/ChO/PDDA/HRP/PDDA/CNT (ChO/HRP/CNT) and PDDA/ChO/PDDA/CNT (ChO/CNT) was fabricated on the GC surface. Owing to the electrocatalytic effect of carbon nanotubes, the measurement of faradic responses resulting from enzymatic reactions has been realized at low potential with acceptable sensitivity. The ChO/HRP/CNT biosensor is more sensitive than the ChO/CNT one. Experimental parameters affecting the sensitivity of biosensors, e.g., applied potential, flow rate, etc., were optimized and potential interference was examined. The response time for this choline biosensor is fast (few seconds). The linear range of detection for the choline biosensor is from 5.0 x 10(-5) to 5.0 x 10(-3) M and the detection limit is about 1.0 x 10(-5) M.     

Langmuir-Blodgett film of hydrophobin protein from Pleurotus ostreatus at the air-water interface

We present results concerning the formation of Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films of a class I hydrophobin from Pleurotus ostreatus at the air-water interface, and their structure as Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films when deposited on silicon substrates. LB films of the hydrophobin were investigated by atomic force microscopy (AFM). We observed that the compressed film at the air-water interface exhibits a molecular depletion even at low surface pressure. In order to estimate the surface molecular concentration, we fit the experimental isotherm with Volmer's equation describing the equation of state for molecular monolayers. We found that about (1)/ 10 of the molecules contribute to the surface film formation. When transferred on silicon substrates, compact and uniform monomolecular layers about 2.5 nm thick, comparable to a typical molecular size, were observed. The monolayers coexist with protein aggregates, under the typical rodlet form with a uniform thickness of about 5.0 nm. The observed rodlets appear to be a hydrophilic bilayer and can then be responsible for the surface molecular depletion.