Atomic force microscopy characterization of an electrochemical DNA-biosensor

Electrode surface characteristics represent an important aspect on the construction of sensitive DNA electrochemical biosensors for rapid detection of DNA interaction and damage. Two different immobilization procedures of double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) at the surface of a HOPG electrode were evaluated by MAC mode AFM performed in air. A thin dsDNA adsorbed film forming a network structure with holes exposing the electrode surface and a thick dsDNA film completely covering the electrode surface, presenting a much rougher structure, were investigated. The DNA surface characteristics and structure are discussed with respect to the degree of surface coverage.     

Characterisation of poly(neutral red) modified carbon film electrodes; application as a redox mediator for biosensors

The polymer redox mediator, poly(neutral red) (PNR), has been synthesised and characterised electrochemically to investigate the best electropolymerisation and mediation conditions for application in enzyme biosensors and to clarify the mechanism of action. Neutral red was electropolymerised by potential cycling on carbon film electrode substrates by allowing the monomer to be oxidised during the full 20 cycles of polymerisation or reducing the positive limit of the potential window after the first 2 cycles to impede monomer oxidation with a view to obtaining longer polymer chains and a lesser degree of branching. Comparison was made with glassy carbon substrates. The PNR films on carbon film electrodes were characterised using cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, as well as in glucose biosensors prepared with PNR. Glucose oxidase enzyme was immobilised by encapsulation in silica sol-gel and compared with that obtained by cross-linking with glutaraldehyde. The biosensors were evaluated by chronoamperometry in 0.1 M phosphate buffer saline solution, pH 7.0, and showed evidence of electron transfer between the enzyme cofactor flavin adenine dinucleotide and PNR dissolved in the enzyme layer competing with PNR-mediated electrochemical degradation of H₂O₂ formed during the enzymatic process. This paper is dedicated to Professor Dr. Algirdas Vaskelis on the occasion of his 70th birthday.     

Determination of silver in geological samples using high-resolution continuum source electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry and direct solid sampling

A DNA biosensor was constructed by immobilizing DNA on a glassy carbon (GC) electrode modified with multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) dispersed in Nafion (DNA/MWNTs/GCE). The DNA-modified electrode exhibited two well-defined oxidation peaks corresponding to the guanine and adenine residues of DNA, respectively. The effects of the adsorption potential, DNA concentration and quantity of MWNTs used for DNA immobilization were investigated, as were the effects of buffer, pH and scan rate on the voltammetric behavior of DNA. Phenol, m-cresol and catechol showed noticeable inhibition towards the response of the electrode due to their interactions with DNA. These findings were used to design biosensors with linear response to these phenolic pollutants.     

Electrochemical Study on the Interaction Between Neutral Red and DNA

IntroductionDeoxyribonucleic acid( DNA) is the most im-portant germ plasma of most organisms.It playsan importantrole in the process ofstoring,copyingand transmitting germ messages.There have beenmany papers studying on the interaction betweensmall molecules and DNA since the1 960′s.Nowthe researches have become a field of common in-terest[1] .Those researches have contributed to theunderstanding of the way of the interaction be-tween DNA and protein.What is more,those re-searches are he…     

Electrochemical Study on the Interaction Betwwen Neutral Red and DNA

A voltammetric study of the interaction of neutral Red(NR) with DNA at a gold electrode in a phosphate buffer solution is described. After adding DNA in an NR solution, the reduction peak current of NR decreases. The binding mechahisms of NR to DNA in different pH ranges are different. The reduction peak potential of NR in a pH 7.0 phosphate buffer solution in the presence of DNA shifts positively, indicating that the binding of NR to DNA is intercalation action, but at pH=6.0 the reduction peak potential of NR shifts negatively, indicating that the binding of NR to DNA is electrostatic action. The formed complexes are DNA-NR when [NR]/[DNA]<0.18 and DNA-3NR when [NR]/[DNA]>0.35, respectively.     

DNA imaged on a HOPG electrode surface by AFM with controlled potential

Single-molecule AFM imaging of single-stranded and double-stranded DNA molecules self-assembled from solution onto a HOPG electrode surface is reported. The interaction of DNA with the hydrophobic surface induced DNA aggregation, overlapping, intra- and intermolecular interactions. Controlling the electrode potential and using the phase images as a control method, to confirm the correct topographical characterization, offers the possibility to enlarge the capability of AFM imaging of DNA immobilized onto conducting substrates, such as HOPG. The application of a potential of +300 mV (versus AgQRE) to the HOPG enhanced the robustness and stability of the adsorbed DNA molecules, increasing the electrostatic interaction between the positively charged electrode surface and the negatively charged DNA sugar-phosphate backbone.     

Direct Electrochemistry of Hemoglobin and its Electrocatalysis Based on a Carbon Nanotube Paste Electrode

A new hemoglobin (Hb) and carbon nanotube (CNT) modified carbon paste electrode was fabricated by simply mixing the Hb, CNT with carbon powder and liquid paraffin homogeneously. To prevent the leakage of Hb from the electrode surface, a Nafion film was further applied on the surface of the Hb‐CNT composite paste electrode. The modified electrode was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Direct electrochemistry of hemoglobin in this paste electrode was easily achieved and a pair of well‐defined quasi‐reversible redox peaks of a heme Fe(III)/Fe(II) couple appeared with a formal potential (E^0′) of ?0.441 V (vs. SCE) in pH 7.0 phosphate buffer solution (PBS). The electrochemical behaviors of Hb in the composite electrode were carefully studied. The fabricated modified bioelectrode showed good electrocatalytic ability for reduction of H₂O₂ and trichloroacetic acid (TCA), which shows potential applications in third generation biosensors.     

高序热解石墨与玻碳电极上DNA的氧化和吸附行为

在高序热解石墨（ＨＯＰＧ）电极上,采用微分脉冲伏安法（ＤＰＶ）和电化学原子显微镜法（ＥＣＡＦＭ）探究小牛胸腺ＤＮＡ（ＣＴ ＤＮＡ）在电极表面的吸附。实验发现,控制电位下预极化对双链ＤＮＡ和ＨＯＰＧ电极上的吸附有很大的影响。而对单链ＤＮＡ影响不大。实验表明,在ＨＯＰＧ电极上ＥＡＦＭ是ＤＮＡ研究领域十分有用的技术,根据ＡＦＭ图象,结合文献上的ＤＮＡ吸附模型提出了ＣＴ ＤＮＡ研究领域十分有用的技术,根据     

Alumina sol-gel/sonogel-carbon electrode based on acetylcholinesterase for detection of organophosphorus pesticides

Two new amperometric biosensors based on immobilization of acetylcholinesterase on a sonogel-carbon electrode for detection of organophosphorous compounds are proposed. The electrodes were prepared applying high-energy ultrasounds directly to the precursors. The first biosensor was obtained by simple entrapping acetylcholinesterase in Al₂O₃ sol-gel matrix on the sonogel-carbon. The second biosensor was produced in a sandwich configuration. Its preparation involved adsorption of the enzyme and modification via a polymeric membrane such as polyethylene glycol and the ion-exchanger Nafion. The optimal enzyme loading was found to be 0.7 mIU. Both biosensors showed optimal activity in 0.2 M phosphate buffer, pH 7.0, at an operating potential of 210 mV. The detection limit achieved for chlorpyriphos-ethyl-oxon was 2.5 × 10⁻¹⁰ M at a 10-min incubation time.     

Electroactive porous films of myoglobin within calcium alginate

In this work, a novel two-step construction strategy for protein assembly films was proposed. The first step was the preparation of porous calcium alginate (CA) films by spraying calcium chloride (CaCl₂) solution over the mixture surface of sodium alginate and polyethylene glycol on various solid substrates. The second step involved the cast of myoglobin (Mb) onto the porous CA films and then formed the electroactive porous Mb-CA films. The nitrogen adsorption desorption isotherm, scanning electron microscope, alternating current impendence and cyclic voltammetry were used to characterize the porous films. Fully hydrated porous CA films had nearly 90 wt% water contents and UV–vis showed that Mb in the porous films retained its near native conformation at medium pH. The stable films modified on glassy carbon electrode demonstrated good electroactivity in protein-free buffer, which was originated from protein heme Fe(III)/Fe(II) redox couples. The electrochemical parameters such as apparent heterogeneous electron transfer rate constant (k _s) and formal potential (E ^o′) were estimated by fitting the data of square-wave voltammetry with nonlinear regression analysis. It was observed that the formal potential of the Mb Fe(III)/Fe(II) couple in porous CA films shifted linearly between pH 4.0 and 11.0 with a slope of −52.7 mV/pH, suggesting that one proton transfer was coupled to each electron transfer in the electrochemical reaction. The porous Mb-CA films showed the electrocatalytic activity toward dioxygen, hydrogen peroxide, and nitrite with significant decreases in the electrode potential required, and exhibited good operational and storage stability, reproducibility and fast response time for H₂O₂ detection. It is showing the possible future application of the films for biosensors and biocatalysis.     

Studies on the electrochemical behavior of cytochrome c and its interaction with DNA at a Co/GC ion implantation modified electrode

The electrochemical behavior of cytochrome c (cyt c) and its interaction with DNA at a Co/glassy carbon (GC) ion implantation modified electrode were studied by linear sweep and cyclic voltammetry. In 0.005 mol dm(-3) Tris-0.05 mol dm(-3) NaCl buffer solution (pH = 7.10), a sensitive reduction derivative peak of cyt c was obtained by linear sweep voltammetry. The peak potential was 0.032 V (SCE). The peak current was proportional to the concentration of cyt c. The electrode process was quasi-reversible with adsorption. The electrode reaction rate constant k and the electron transfer coefficient a of cyt c were 4.42 s(-1) and 0.47, respectively. AES and XPS experiments showed that Co was implanted into the surface of the GC electrode (GCE). The implanted Co formed Co-C, which catalyzed the reduction of cyt c. The reaction of DNA with cyt c led to an electrochemically active complex, which resulted in an increase in the reduction current of cyt c. After adding DNA into the solution containing cyt c, the electrode process was still quasi-reversible with adsorption.     

Direct Electrochemistry of Hemoglobin in Layer‐by‐Layer Films Assembled with DNA and Room Temperature Ionic Liquid

Based on electrostatic interaction and electrodeposition, poly‐anionic deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), room temperature ionic liquid 1‐butyl‐3‐methyl‐imidazolium tetrafluoroborate (BMIMBF₄), hemoglobin (Hb) and Poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA) were successfully assembled into Hb/IL/DNA/PDDA layer‐by‐layer complex films on the surface of ITO electrode. FTIR spectroscopy, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and cyclic voltammetry (CV) were used to characterize the composite film. The obtained results demonstrated that the Hb molecule in the film kept its native structure and showed its good electrochemical behavior. A pair of well‐defined redox peaks of Hb with the formal potentials (E°′) of ?0.180 V (vs. SCE) was appeared in phosphate buffer solution (PBS, pH 7.0). The Hb/IL/DNA/PDDA/ITO modified electrode also showed an excellent electrocatalytic behavior to the reduction of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). Therefore, the IL/DNA/PDDA complex film as a novel matrix open up a possibility for further study on the direct electrochemistry of other proteins and the fabrication of the third‐generation electrochemical biosensors.     

Electrochemical study on oxidation of ofloxacin at nano-ZnS/poly (Styrene sulfonic acid sodium salt) modified electrode and its interaction with calf thymus DNA

A PSS/nano-ZnS thin film modified electrode has been fabricated on the surface of glassy carbon electrode (GCE). In pH 5.0 phosphate buffer solution (PBS), Ofloxacin (OFX) appeared as an anodic peak with the peak potential of 1.28 V at PSS/nano-ZnS film modified electrode. In comparison with a bare GCE or a nano-ZnS modified electrode, the PSS/nano-ZnS film modified electrode exhibited an enhanced effectiveness for the oxidation of OFX. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) coupled with fluorescence and UV-vis absorbance spectra techniques were used to study the interaction of OFX with Calf thymus DNA (ctDNA). The interaction of OFX and ctDNA could result in a considerable decrease in the peak currents and positively shift in the peak potential, as well as changes of fluorescence, UV-Vis adsorption spectra. All acquired data showed that the new adduct between OFX and ctDNA was formed. Published in Russian in Elektrokhimiya, 2009, Vol. 45, No. 3, pp. 289–295. The article is published in the original.     

Electrochemical Studies of Pirarubicin and Its Interaction with DNA at a Co／GC Ion Implantation Modified Electrode

IntroductionIon implantation is a new material surfacemodification technique.It has been also applied tostudying the electrochemical behaviors of organicdrugs and biological materials as well as their de-terminations. This method offers good stability,reproductivity and catalytic activity[1] .Pirarubicin( THP) is an active highly effective and new antitu-moral anthracycline antibiotic,which has gainedwidespread clinical use in the chemotherapeutictreatment of a variety of human cancers.The d…     

Phase transition behavior of two-component viologen adsorption layers on a HOPG electrode surface

Phase transition behavior of two-component viologen adsorption layers at a HOPG electrode was described using the results of voltammetric measurements. In the coexistence of heptyl viologen (HV) and its bis-carboxylated derivative in the solution phase, a well-mixed condensed monolayer of the radical cations was formed at any molar fraction. In sharp contrast, the binary system of HV and butyl viologen (BV) exhibited phase separation in the molar fraction range where BV is saturated in the predominantly formed condensed phase of HV. It was, however, found that this separation, being opposed to the prediction based on the adsorption free energy, occurs only when the time period enough for full condensation of HV is not given. The significant features of phase transition of two-component viologen adsorption layers on a HOPG electrode surface were highlighted in comparison with the formation and reductive desorption of the self-assembled monolayers of alkanethiols.     

Electrochemical SPM investigation of the solid electrolyte interphase film formed on HOPG electrodes

Solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) film formation on graphite electrodes was studied on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) in nonaqueous electrolyte by in situ electrochemical atomic force microscopy (AFM). For potentials negative to 0.7 V versus Li|Li⁺ a SEI film is formed on the HOPG electrode surface. After the first cycle the film is rough and covers the surface of the HOPG electrode only partially. After the second cycle the HOPG surface is fully covered by a compact film. The thickness of the SEI film was measured by increasing the pressure of the AFM tip and thus scraping a part of the electrode surface. In this way a thickness of about 25 nm was found for the SEI film formed after two scan cycles between 3 and 0.01 V versus Li|Li⁺.     

Myoglobin on multi-walled carbon nanotubes modified electrode: direct electrochemistry and electrocatalysis

Electrochemical behavior of myoglobin (Myb) incorporated on multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) modified GC electrode is investigated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and cyclic voltammetry (CV). The results indicate that Myb can be strongly adsorbed on the surface of the MWNT-modified electrode to form an approximate monolayer film. MWNTs can greatly promote the redox of horse heart Myb, on which a pair of well-defined and nearly reversible CV peaks for Myb Fe(III)/Fe(II) redox couple were obtained in pH 7.0 buffers. The formal potential of Myb on MWNT modified electrode shifts linearly with pH with a slope of −56.4 mV/pH, showing that the electron transfer is accompanied by single proton transportation. The high efficiency of the Myb/MWNT modified electrode towards the catalytic electro-reduction of nitric oxide has been observed. Potential application of Myb/MWNT modified electrode as biosensors to monitor NO is proposed.     

Ruthenized screen-printed choline oxidase-based biosensors for measurement of anticholinesterase activity

Plastic disposable choline biosensors based on ruthenized-carbon screen-printed electrodes were prepared and their use for monitoring organophosphorus pesticides and carbamates is described. The presence of 0.5% ruthenium on activated carbon mixed to form a simple graphite-based ink for the working electrode surface increased the sensitivity towards hydrogen peroxide. The choline biosensor is based on such an electrode coupled with choline oxidase immobilized by adsorption and was used to detect the inhibition effect of carbamates and organophosphorus pesticides on acetylcholinesterase. With the optimized procedure described (pH, buffer composition, incubation time, substrate concentration), concentrations of pesticides (Carbofuran) as low as 1 nM could be detected.     

钴(II)与色氨酸极谱催化前波的研究

对钴(II)离子与色氨酸在H~3BO~3-NaOH(pH=9)缓冲底液中的极谱催化前波进行了形成条件、吸附性能和电极还原过程的研究。     

吡咯在HOPG上电聚合机理的ECSTM现场观测

电聚吡咯过程机理的研究,多年来由于仪器的限制仅限于从间接的方式获得证据,为了得到溶液中真实的电聚吡咯过程信息,我们用自制的ECSTM仪器首次对电聚吡咯成膜的全过程跟踪观测,得到了有意义的结果。 1 实验条件 ECSTM仪器是本实验室在中科院北京电子显微镜实验室制造的STM基础上