Hypoxanthine sensor based on an amorphous silicon field-effect transistor

The pH response of an a-ISFET with xanthine oxidase immobilized on a ca. 20-μm thick poly(vinyl butyral) membrane over the gate insulator, is used to detect the uric acid produced by enzyme-catalyzed oxidation of hypoxanthine. The pH sensitivity between pH 5.0 and 10.0 is ca 48 mV/pH at 32°C in 10 mM phosphate buffer. The change in the output gate voltage 1 min after sample injection, is linearly related to the logarithm of the hypoxanthine concentration in the range 0.02–0.1 mM. The optimum buffer pH is 7.5. The system can be used for 2 weeks with 30% loss of enzymatic activity.     

A microsensor for adenosine-5′-triphosphate pH-sensitive field effect transistors

The sensor for adenosine-5′-triphosphate (ATP) is based on H⁺-ATPase immobilized via a polyvinylbutyral resin on a pH-sensitive field effect transistor. A linear relationship was obtained between the initial rate of change of the differential gate output voltage and the logarithm of the ATP concentration over the range 0.2–1.0 mM ATP. The optimum pH was 9.0 at 40°C but pH 7.0 was preferred for routine measurements. Only slight responses were obtained for 1 mM glucose, creatinine or urea. The ATP-sensing system exhibited a response to 1 mM ATP for at least 18 days.     

Alcohol-FET sensor based on a complex cell membrane enzyme system

An alcohol -FET sensor was developed by use of a complex enzyme system in a cell membrane and an ion-sensitive field effect transistor (ISFET). The cell membrane of Gluconobacter suboxydans IFO 12528, which converts ethanol to acetic acid, was immobilized on the gate of an ISFET with calcium alginate gel coated with nitrocellulose. This ISFET (1), a reference ISFET without the cell membrane (ISFET 2) and an Ag/AgCl reference electrode were placed in 5 mM Trismalate buffer (pH 5.5, 25°C), and the differential output between ISFETS 1 and 2 was measured. The output of the sensor was stabilized by adding pyrroloquinoline quinone. The response time was ca. 10 min., and there was a linear relationship between the differential output voltage and the ethanol concentration up to 20 mg l^?1. The output of the sensor was stable for 40 h below 30°C. The sensor responded to ethanol, propan- 1-ol and butan- 1-ol, but not to methanol, propan-2-ol and butan-2-ol. The sensor was used to determine blood ethanol.     

Enzymatic Biosensor Based on the ISFET and Photopolymeric Membrane for the Determinaion of Urea

An ISFET based enzymatic biosensor was developed for the determination of urea. Immobilization of urease was accomplished by the use of liquid mixture which contained vinylpyrrolidone, oligouretane metacrylate and oligocarbonate metacrylate and which can form a polymer under the influence of ultraviolet. The biosensor has the following characteristics: the linear field of responses is in the range of 0.05–20 mM, curve slope – 38 mV/pC, and response time 5–10 min. The increase of the temperature from 28 to 41 °C leads to 15% increase in the intensity of the response of the biosensor. The maximum response is observed at pH 6.0–6.5. At the increase of the NaCl concentration in solution up to 300 mM the biosensor response drops off and achieves half of its initial level. NH₄Cl causes a stronger inhibition of enzyme activity comparing to NaCl. The results obtained with the developed biosensor correlate with the data of standard calorimetric methods. The intensity of the biosensor response decreases gradually during 40 days up to 80% of the initial level. The biosensors prepared with a fresh membrane or membrane preserved during 46 days at 2 °C gave similar responses in solution with an equal concentration of a substrate. It is concluded that the developed enzymatic biosensor is perspective for its clinical application for the determination of urea in blood and that the proposed method to prepare a selective biological membrane may be in a simple way included in integral technology of the semiconductor transducer manufacturing.     

Glucose Sensor Based On an Amorphous Silicon Isfet

Abstract

An amorphous silicon ion sensitive field effect transistor (a-ISFET) was first applied to glucose sensors. When glucose oxidase was immobilized on the membrane, the sensor gave a linear relationship between the initial rate of the gate output voltage change and the logarithmic value of glucose concentration between 0.1 and 1 mg/ml at pH 7.0, 37°C. Determination of glucose was possible within 1 min. the system can be used for three weeks with only slight loss of enzymatic activity.     

A Ninhydrin‐Type Urea Sorbent for the Development of a Wearable Artificial Kidney

The aim of this study is to develop polymeric chemisorbents with a high density of ninhydrin groups, able to covalently bind urea under physiological conditions and thus potentially suitable for use in a wearable artificial kidney. Macroporous beads are prepared by suspension polymerization of 5‐vinyl‐1‐indanone (vinylindanone) using a 90:10 (v/v) mixture of toluene and nitrobenzene as a porogen. The indanone groups are subsequently oxidized in a one‐step procedure into ninhydrin groups. Their urea absorption kinetics are evaluated under both static and dynamic conditions at 37 °C in simulated dialysate (urea in phosphate buffered saline). Under static conditions and at a 1:1 molar ratio of ninhydrin: urea the sorbent beads remove ≈0.6–0.7 mmol g^?1 and under dynamic conditions and at a 2:1 molar excess of ninhydrin ≈0.6 mmol urea g^?1 sorbent in 8 h at 37 °C, which is a step toward a wearable artificial kidney.     

A New Solid-State pH Sensor and Its Application in the Construction of all Solid-State Urea Biosensor

A new solid-state pH sensor is developed using neutral poly(3-cyclohexyl thiophene) assembled over a Pt disk electrode. The new sensor is developed following two different approaches; 1) the neutral poly(3-cyclohexyl thiophene) dissolved in chloroform and subsequent coating on to a Pt disk electrode; 2) the neutral polymer is incorporated into plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) matrix membrane. In both cases the polymer modified electrode is sensitive to pH and a reversible super Nernstian behavior is observed. The typical response of the pH sensor and its reversibility are reported. The polymer coated electrode is subsequently used to construct an all solid-state urea sensor. The construction of this new urea sensor involves the following two major steps; a) 20 µL of urease solution (40 mg /mL) is allowed to assemble overnight at 4 °C over neutral poly (3-cyclohexyl thiophene) modified electrode; b) an organically modified sol-gel layer is allowed to form over the urease adsorbed polymer modified electrode. The new solid-state urea sensor provides excellent reproducibility of the measurements and is stable for 3 months when stored at 4 °C under dry condition. The typical response of the solid-state urea sensor and the calibration plot of urea analysis are reported.     

Micro Ammonia Sensor

Abstract

A micro ammonia sensor, consisting of an ISFET covered with a dry membrane which is made from nonactin and substituted poly-γ-methyl-L-glutamate (PMG) is described. The gate output voltage of the micro ammonia sensor increased with NH₄OH addition. The response time of the sensor was 2 min at 30°C, and the sensor exhibited superior selectivity for NH₄ ⁺ compared to a pH sensitive ISFET.     

Kinetics of acrylamide/glutathione binding by fast atom bombardment and thermospray mass spectrometry

The kinetics of the binding of the neurotoxin acrylamide to the cysteine residue of glutathione has been studied. At 37 °C and pH 7.3 the second order rate constant has been determined to be 0.72 ± 0.06 mol^?1 dm³ min^?1 by thermospray mass spectrometry. The critical energy at pH 11.5 measured over the temperature range 10–37°C by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry was measured as 24.6 kJ mol^?1.     

Improvement of the proton exchange membrane fuel cell performances by optimization of the hot pressing process for membrane electrode assembly

The present study deals with PEM fuel cells, namely with the optimization of the hot pressing process for membrane electrode assembly (MEA) fabrication. Designs of experiments (DoE) have been used for evaluating the effect of hot pressing parameters (pressure, temperature, and time) on the MEA electrical performances. Full factorial 2³ DoE showed that the most important parameter is the pressing temperature. Surface response methodology indicated a non-monotonous behavior of the MEA electrical performances with respect to the pressing temperature. The MEA electrical performances increased with the pressing temperature in the temperature range from 100 to 115 °C, and decreased significantly in the temperature range from 115 to 130 °C. This behavior was attributed to drastic changes of the Nafion® 112 membrane properties and membrane/electrode interface over this temperature range. Observations of the MEA cross-section structure by scanning electron microscopy confirmed such hypotheses. Thermo-mechanical properties of Nafion® as determined by dynamic scanning calorimetry allowed estimating the glass transition temperature at ca. T _g?≈?117 °C in the conditions of the present study. The higher H₂/air fuel cell performance of ca. 0.8 W cm^?2 was obtained with the optimized pressing temperature for MEA fabrication of ca. 115 °C close to the T _g temperature of Nafion® 112, whereas for higher temperature the structure of the Nafion® membrane and of the membrane–electrode interface is damaged.     

Denaturation of Adenosine Deaminase with Urea and Guanidine Hydrochloride

The denaturation effect of urea and guanidine hydrochloride on (lie adenosine deaminase has been investigated spectrophotometrically at the two temperatures of 27 °C and 37 °C at pH = 7.50, phosphate buffer (55 mM). A simple, reversible two stale transition, N ?? D, was used to analyze the denaturation process from which conformational stability was estimated using three different methods, namely, the linear extrapolation method (LEM), Tanford's model (TM), and the denaturant binding method (DBM). A good agreement was observed among these methods. The results from free energy of denaturation at zero concentration of denaturant, ΔG°_H2O, show the fragile conformation for adenosine deaminase molecule.     

Thermodynamics of Binding 2,2′-Bipyridineglycinato Palladium (II) Chloride on Human Serum Albumin

The interaction of human serum albumin (HSA) with 2,2′-bipyridineglycinato palladium (II) chloride was studied by isothermal titration microcalorimetry at 27°C and equilibrium dialysis and UV-Vis. spectrophotometry techniques at temperatures of 27 & 37°C in 2.5 mM phosphate buffer solution at pH = 7.0. The enthalpy of binding was calculated from binding data, which were obtained from equilibrium dialysis in terms of the Wyman binding potential theory related to the van't Hoff relation. The enthalpy of HSA unfolding was determined by subtraction of the microcalorimetric enthalpy (binding and unfolding enthalpies) and the enthalpy of binding. The enthalpy of HSA unfolding, due to the binding of that ligand, was 491.43 kJ mol^?1.     

Thermochemical and thermal analysis on N-(p-methylphenyl)-N'-(2-pyridyl)urea

Low temperature heat capacities of N-(p-methylphenyl)-N'-(2-pyridyl)urea were determined by adiabatic calorimetry method in the temperature range from 80 to 370 K. It was found that there was not any heat anomaly in this temperature region. Based on the experimental data, some thermodynamic function results were obtained. Thermal stability and decomposition characteristics analysis of N-(p-methylphenyl)-N'-(2-pyridyl)urea were carried out by DSC and TG. The results indicated that N-(p-methylphenyl)-N'-(2-pyridyl)urea started to melt at ca. 426 K (153°C) and the melting peak located at 447.01 K (173.86°C). The melting enthalpy was 204.445 kJ mol^-1 (899.6 J g^-1). The decomposition peak of N-(p-methylphenyl)-N'-(2-pyridyl)urea was found at 499.26 K (226.11°C) from DSC curve. This result was similar with that from TG and DTG experiment, in which the mass loss peak was determined as 500.4 K (227.2°C). This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Glucose Oxidase Electrode Based on Graphite and Methylthio Tetrathiafulvalene as Mediator

Abstract

A glucose sensor based on glucose oxidase and a new mediator - 4,5-dimethyl-4′-methylthio-Δ 2,2′-bi-1,3-dithiole (MTTTF) is described. The background for sensor action is the effective MTTTF cation interaction (apparent bimolecular constant (2.0+/-0.5)?10⁶ M^?1 s^?1 at 25°C and pH 7.0) with reduced glucose oxidase and the high electrochemical rate of mediator transformation.

A glucose sensor was prepared by adsorbing mediator (MTTTF) and glucose oxidase on graphite rods. The sensor responds to glucose at electrode potentials higher than 50 mV vs SCE, but the maximal activity is obtained at a potential of 250 mV. In air saturated solution the electrode shows a non-linear calibration curve with a half-saturation concentration 10.4 mM and Hill coefficient 2.08 at 250 mV. Sensor response changes little at pH 6.5–8.0. The energy of activation of the sensor response calculated from the Arrhenius equation was 64.5 kJ/mol, and the temperature coefficient at 25°C was 9.2%.     

Cloning and Characterization of Cold-Adapted α-Amylase from Antarctic <Emphasis Type="Italic">Arthrobacter agilis</Emphasis>

In this study, the gene encoding an α-amylase from a psychrophilic Arthrobacter agilis PAMC 27388 strain was cloned into a pET-28a(+) vector and heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3). The recombinant α-amylase with a molecular mass of about 80 kDa was purified by using Ni²⁺-NTA affinity chromatography. This recombinant α-amylase exhibited optimal activity at pH 3.0 and 30 °C and was highly stable at varying temperatures (30–60 °C) and within the pH range of 4.0–8.0. Furthermore, α-amylase activity was enhanced in the presence of FeCl₃ (1 mM) and β-mercaptoethanol (5 mM), while CoCl₂ (1 mM), ammonium persulfate (5 mM), SDS (10 %), Triton X-100 (10 %), and urea (1 %) inhibited the enzymatic activity. Importantly, the presence of Ca²⁺ ions and phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF) did not affect enzymatic activity. Thin layer chromatography (TLC) analysis showed that recombinant A. agilis α-amylase hydrolyzed starch, maltotetraose, and maltotriose, producing maltose as the major end product. These results make recombinant A. agilis α-amylase an attractive potential candidate for industrial applications in the textile, paper, detergent, and pharmaceutical industries.     

Layer-layer assembly for extremely stable glucose sensors

A novel fabrication of an amperometric glucose sensor by layer after layer approach is described. The sensor electrode is fabricated by arranging a layer of Pt black, a layer of glucose oxidase (GOD) and a layer of stabilizer gelatin on a shapable electro-conductive (SEC) film surface. Finally, the dried layered-assembly is cross-linked by exposing to a diluted glutaraldehyde solution. The performance of the developed sensor is evaluated by a FIA system at 37°C and under a continuous polarization at 0.4 V (vs. Ag/AgCl). The sensitivity of the sensor was dependent on the amount of GOD loaded. The highest sensitivity (3.6 μA/mM cm⁻²) of the sensor was obtained at a GOD loading of 160 μg/cm², and the linear dynamic range was extended to 80 mM level when the sensor was covered with a polycarbonate membrane. The sensor shows an extremely stable response for several weeks and a storage stability of over 2 years.     

Electroimmobilization of MAO into a Polypyrrole Film and Its Utilization for Amperometric Flow Detection of Antidepressant Drugs

The preparation of a biosensor based on the enzymatic immobilization in polypyrrole polymer for the detection of antidepressant drugs is described. The enzyme monoamine oxidase (MAO) was immobilized by electropolymerization of pyrrole around a platinum electrode, at a constant potential of +0.75 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) in such a way to obtain a membrane thickness, which was constant and equal to 100 mC/cm². The biosensor was obtained from a 0.1 M KCl saline solution containing pyrrole at a concentration equal to 0.4 M and 2.5 mU/mL of MAO. The biosensor was adapted to a continuous flow injection analysis system (FIA) with the amperometric detection of hydrogen peroxide produced by enzymatic reaction carried out at a potential of +0.7 V (vs. Ag/AgCl), pH 7.4 and temperature of 37 °C. In optimized flow conditions, the biosensor presented an analytical response for fluoxetine in the interval between 0.67 and 4.33 mM, with a detection limit of 0.10 mM. The analytical use of the biosensor developed was evaluated through analysis of commercial pharmaceutical products containing fluoxetine, available on the Portuguese market. The amperometric flow results obtained do not differ significantly from the values resulting from analysis of the same products by the method proposed by the US Pharmacopeia, with sampling rates of 20–25 samples/hour.     

Preparation,properties, andin vitro thrombogenic characterization of urokinase-collagen membrane

Urokinase (EC 3.4.4.a) was immobilized on collagen membrane. The urokinase-collagen membrane gave a flat pH profile from 7.5 to 9.5. It was more stable against heat than native urokinase. Furthermore, the stability of urokinase in the pH range of 7.0-8.8 was increased with immobilization. The collagen fibril network might stabilize urokinase. The diffusion coefficients of urea, uric acid, and creatinine through the urokinase-collagen membrane were in the range of 2.5-4.5 x 10^-7 cm³/sec. The diffusion coefficients decreased to the range of 6.9-8.2 x 10^-8 cm²/sec when fibrin clot was formed on the membranein vitro. Immobilized urokinase activates plasmin which lyzes fibrin clot. Therefore, fibrin clot formed on the membrane could be lyzed during prolonged incubation at 37°C and the diffusion coefficients restored to the initial values. The fibrin clot formedin vivo may be lyzed with immobilized urokinase.     

Determination of Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride in Some Pharmaceutical Drugs by Potentiometric Membrane Sensor Based on Pseudoephedrine–Phosphotungstate Ion Pair

Abstract

An ion-selective electrode (ISE) was developed for the rapid determination of pseudoephedrine hydrochloride (PSEHCl) in pharmaceutical preparations. The electrode incorporates a PVC membrane with a pseudoephedrine–phosphotungstate ion pair complex. The influences of membrane composition, temperature, pH of the test solution, and the interfering ions on the electrode performance were investigated. The sensor exhibits a Nernstian response for pseudoephedrine hydrochloride ions over a relatively wide concentration range (1.0 × 10^?1 to 1.0 × 10^?5 mol L^?1) with a slope of 56.2 ± 0.5 mV per decade at 25°C. It can be used in the pH range 4.0–10.5. The isothermal temperature coefficient of this electrode amounted to 0.0009 V/°C. The membrane sensor was successfully applied to determination of PSEHCl in its tablets and syrup.     

Urea and CaCl2 as inhibitors of coal low-temperature oxidation

Thermal analysis was used to study the influence of CaCl₂ and urea as possible chemical additives inhibiting coal oxidation process at temperatures 100?C300?°C. Weight increase due to oxygen chemisorption and corresponding amount of evolved heat were evaluated as main indicative parameters. TA experiments with different heating rates enabled determination of effective activation energy E _a as a dependence of conversion. In the studied range of temperatures, the interaction of oxygen with (untreated) coal was confirmed rather as a complex process giving effective activation energies changing continuously from 70?kJ?mol^?1 (at about 100?°C) to ca. 180?kJ?mol^?1 at temperatures about 250?°C. The similar trend in E _a was found when chemical agents were added to the coal. However, while the presence of CaCl₂ leads to higher values of the effective activation energies during the whole temperature range, urea causes increase in E _a only at temperatures below 200?°C. Exceeding the temperature 200?°C, the presence of urea in the coal induces decrease in activation energy of the oxidation process indicating rather catalysing than inhibiting action on coal oxidation. Thus, CaCl₂ can only be recommended as a ??real?? inhibitor affecting interaction of coal with oxygen at temperatures up to 300?°C.