Needle-type glucose microbiosensor based on glucose oxidase immobilised in an overoxidised polypyrrole film (an in-vitro study)

A fast response, needle-type glucose microbiosensor has been fabricated by a one-step electrochemical immobilisation of glucose oxidase in a polypyrrole film. The sensor shows a remarkable rejection of electroactive interferences, especially paracetamol. The maximum bias observed in the worst situation never exceeded the value of 6%. The fabrication procedure delivered very reproducible devices and the sensitivity of a newly prepared biosensor was typically 650 nAmM^–1cm^–2. The kinetic parameters, obtained from an existing model, permitted to understand the sensor behaviour.     

Fiber-optic glucose biosensor based on glucose oxidase immobilised in a silica gel matrix

A monolithic silica gel matrix with entrapped glucose oxidase was constructed as a bioactive element in an optical biosensor for glucose determination. Physicochemical and biochemical characterizations of the catalytic matrix were performed, and the intrinsic fluorescence of immobilised glucose oxidase (GOD) was investigated in the UV and visible range by performing steady state and time course measurements. In all cases, the silica gel matrix proved to be a suitable support for optical biosensing owing to its superior optical properties (e.g., high transmittance and reliable fluorescence and GOD absorption spectra after immobilisation). From steady state measurements, calibration curves were obtained as a function of glucose concentration. When time course measurements were performed, the silica gel support displayed a larger linear calibration range and higher sensitivity than other immobilisation systems. In addition, a glucose optical biosensor was developed and characterised using as catalytic element GOD immobilised on a gel disk bound to a bundle of optical fibres.     

Needle-type glucose microbiosensor based on glucose oxidase immobilised in an overoxidised polypyrrole film (an in-vitro study)

A fast response, needle-type glucose microbiosensor has been fabricated by a one-step electrochemical immobilisation of glucose oxidase in a polypyrrole film. The sensor shows a remarkable rejection of electroactive interferences, especially paracetamol. The maximum bias observed in the worst situation never exceeded the value of 6%. The fabrication procedure delivered very reproducible devices and the sensitivity of a newly prepared biosensor was typically 650 nA mM(-1) cm(-2). The kinetic parameters, obtained from an existing model, permitted to understand the sensor behaviour.     

Immobilisation of Clostridium spp. for production of solvents and organic acids

This review summarises the high potential of immobilised cells systems for the fermentative production of compounds, mainly produced by representatives of the Clostridium genus. Microorganisms of Clostridium species are recognised as good producers of a wide range of chemicals in almost every sector of industry. The combination of this microorganism with its immobilisation opens up new possibilities and renders the fermentation process more sophisticated than in a free-cell system. This review provides a comprehensive summary of techniques used in immobilisation of Clostridium species with regard to specific products and types of fermentation. In addition, comparisons of particular types of immobilisation techniques used in fermentation processes are summarised by specific products.     

Enzyme immobilisation on electroactive nanostructured membranes (ENM): optimised architectures for biosensing

Electroactive nanostructured membranes have been produced by the layer-by-layer (LbL) technique, and used to make electrochemical enzyme biosensors for glucose by modification with cobalt hexacyanoferrate redox mediator and immobilisation of glucose oxidase enzyme. Indium tin oxide (ITO) glass electrodes were modified with up to three bilayers of polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers containing gold nanoparticles and poly(vinylsulfonate) (PVS). The gold nanoparticles were covered with cobalt hexacyanoferrate that functioned as a redox mediator, allowing the modified electrode to be used to detect H₂O₂, the product of the oxidase enzymatic reaction, at 0.0 V vs. SCE. Enzyme was then immobilised by cross-linking with glutaraldehyde. Several parameters for optimisation of the glucose biosensor were investigated, including the number of deposited bilayers, the enzyme immobilisation protocol and the concentrations of immobilised enzyme and of the protein that was crosslinked with PAMAM. The latter was used to provide glucose oxidase with a friendly environment, in order to preserve its bioactivity. The optimised biosensor, with three bilayers, has high sensitivity and operational stability, with a detection limit of 6.1 μM and an apparent Michaelis–Menten constant of 0.20 mM. It showed good selectivity against interferents and is suitable for glucose measurements in natural samples.     

The immobilisation of chiral organocatalysts on magnetic nanoparticles: the support particle cannot always be considered inert

A systematic study concerning the immobilisation onto magnetic nanoparticles of three useful classes of chiral organocatalyst which rely on a confluence of weak, easily perturbed van der Waals and hydrogen bonding interactions to promote enantioselective reactions has been undertaken for the first time. The catalysts were evaluated in three different synthetically useful reaction classes: the kinetic resolution of sec-alcohols, the conjugate addition of dimethyl malonate to a nitroolefin and the desymmetrisation of meso anhydrides. A chiral bifunctional 4-N,N-dialkylaminopyridine derivative could be readily immobilised; the resulting heterogeneous catalyst is highly active and is capable of promoting the kinetic resolution of sec-alcohols with synthetically useful selectivity under process-scale friendly conditions and has been demonstrated to be reusable in a minimum of 32 consecutive cycles. The immobilisation of a cinchona alkaloid-derived urea-substituted catalyst proved considerably less successful in terms of both catalyst stability and product levels of enantiomeric excess. An immobilised cinchona alkaloid-derived sulfonamide catalyst was also prepared, with mixed results: the catalyst exhibits outstanding recyclability on a par with that associated with the successful N,N-dialkylaminopyridine analogue, however product enantiomeric excess is consistently lower than that obtained using the corresponding homogeneous catalyst. While no physical deterioration of the heterogeneous catalysts was detected on analysis after multiple recycles, in the cases of both the conjugate addition to nitroolefins and the desymmetrisation of meso anhydrides, significant levels of background catalysis by the nanoparticles in the absence of the organocatalyst was detected, which explains in part the poor performance of the immobilised organocatalysts in these reactions from a stereoselectivity standpoint. It seems clear that the immobilisation of sensitive chiral organocatalysts onto magnetite nanoparticles does not always result in heterogeneous catalysts with acceptable activity and selectivity profiles, and that consequently the applicability of the strategy must be ascertained (until more data is available) on a case-by-case basis.     

Influence of the Carbon Source on Gordonia alkanivorans Strain 1B Resistance to 2-Hydroxybiphenyl Toxicity

The viability of bacteria plays a critical role in the enhancement of fossil fuels biodesulfurization efficiency since cells are exposed to toxic compounds such as 2-hydroxybiphenyl (2-HBP), the end product of dibenzothiophene (DBT) biodesulfurization. The goal of this work was to study the influence of the carbon source on the resistance of Gordonia alkanivorans strain 1B to 2-HBP. The physiological response of this bacterium, pre-grown in glucose or fructose, to 2-HBP was evaluated using two approaches: a growth inhibition toxicity test and flow cytometry. The results obtained from the growth inhibition bioassays showed that the carbon source has an influence on the sensitivity of strain 1B growing cells to 2-HBP. The highest IC₅₀ value was obtained for the assay using fructose as carbon source in both inoculum growth and test medium (IC₅₀-48 h?=?0.464 mM). Relatively to the evaluation of 2-HBP effect on the physiological state of resting cells by flow cytometry, the results showed that concentrations of 2-HBP >1 mM generated significant loss of cell viability. The higher the 2-HBP concentration, the higher the toxicity effect on cells and the faster the loss of cell viability. In overall, the flow cytometry results highlighted that strain 1B resting cells grown in glucose-SO₄ or glucose-DBT are physiologically less resistant to 2-HBP than resting cells grown in fructose-SO₄ or fructose-DBT, respectively.     

Kinetic properties of aryldialkylphosphatase immobilised on chitosan myristic acid nanogel

Organophosphorus (OP) compounds are extensively used in agricultural practice for pest management. However, their residues have a long half-life in the ecosystem as well as in the agro-products, posing a serious threat to human and animal health. Aryldialkylphosphatase (EC 3.1.8.1) is widely used in detoxification procedures. In the present study, aryldialkylphosphatase was immobilised on synthesised cross-linked nano-sized gel particles, also known as nanogels, in order to enhance the enzyme’s physicochemical properties. Accordingly, a new nanogel consisting of chitosan and myristic acid (CMA nanogel) was synthesised and characterised by way of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The aryldialkylphosphatase-CMA nanogel conjugate was then assayed by FTIR, and its physicochemical characteristics were also investigated. The data obtained from SEM and TEM showed the nanogels to be homogenous spherical particles less than 50 nm in diameter. The proper formation of the nanogel and nanobioconjugate was also confirmed by FTIR spectra. In comparison with the free enzyme, the pH and thermal stability of the aryldialkylphosphatase were enhanced by the covalent immobilisation. Moreover, the immobilised enzyme could maintain approximately half of its activity over more than one month. The kinetic parameters of the aryldialkylphosphatase-CMA nanogel conjugate were also shown to undergo remarkable improvements, hence the synthesised CMA-nanogel could act as a promising support for aryldialkylphosphatase immobilisation. It is suggested that the aryldialkylphosphatase-CMA nanogel could be used for detoxifying paraoxon; a nerve agent. Further clinical experiments are underway.     

Amperometric monitoring of redox activity in intact,permeabilised and lyophilised cells of the yeast Hansenula polymorpha

An effect of permeabilisation and lyophilisation of the yeast cells Hansenula polymorpha on their electrochemical behaviour in the presence of mediators, substrates (formaldehyde, glucose, methanol, ethanol), and cofactors (NAD⁺, NADP⁺, NADH, NADPH, glutathione) has been studied. Two amperometric techniques differing in the cell immobilisation methods were applied. The cells of a wild strain (356) and mutant strains (C-105 and KCA 33) of the yeast, grown in the presence of glucose or methanol, were used in the experiments. The intact cells revealed the highest reduction rates of mediators, 2,6-dichlorphenolindophenol (DCIP) and 2,4-benzoquinone (BQ), as measured by amperometry. The addition of formaldehyde significantly enhanced the response, if the cells were grown in the presence of glucose. The permeabilised cells showed the lowest current level in the presence of DCIP and BQ and no response to the addition of formaldehyde and NAD⁺. However, the addition of NADH gave significant current surge. All these phenomena imply that the permeabilised cells lost cofactors and the activity of dehydrogenases producing NADH, but they remained the activity of NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase and of some components of the electron transport chain. The electrochemical behaviour of the lyophilised cells shows they are heterogeneous. The partial degradation of the outer membrane of the cells after their lyophilisation was electrochemically confirmed.     

Purine nucleoside synthesis from uridine using immobilised Enterobacter gergoviae CECT 875 whole cells

Biocatalysed purine nucleoside synthesis was carried out using immobilised Enterobacter gergoviae CECT 875. Similar yields (80-95%) in adenosine were obtained with both free and immobilised cells though in the last case a long reaction time was necessary. The immobilised cells can be reused at least for more than 30 times without significant loss of enzymatic activity. The immobilised biocatalyst in agarose is active in the synthesis of unnatural nucleosides.     

Capillary membrane reactors: Performance and applications

Purpose of the work is the characterization of capillary membranes with entrapped cells, from a mechanical and a kinetic point of view.Polysulphone capillary membranes have been prepared by the phase inversion technique, extruding in a specially designed apparatus the polymer solution containing lyophilized cells of thermophilic Sulfolobus solfataricus.The mechanical properties of such capillary membranes were tested and compared to those of cell-free fibres in terms of bubble formation point and outburst under pressure, and of their behaviour under a stress—strain analysis.Fibres permeability to water and to the acetate buffer (pH 5) used in kinetic experiments was determined in the range of temperatures from 25°C to 70°C.Regarding the entrapped cells kinetic behaviour, an enzyme in particular was selected in bacterial enzymatic heritage, i.e. β-galactosidase, for the conversion of lactose to glucose and galactose. Kinetic assays were performed on bundles of fibres assembled in tube and shell reactors at different substrate concentrations and transmembrane pressures.     

The immunosensors for measurement of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid based on electrochemical impedance spectroscopy

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was evaluated for the direct determination of herbicide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). Specific antibody against 2,4-D was immobilised onto different gold electrodes. Several methods of antibody immobilisation by covalent linkage to modified surface were studied. Self-assembled monolayers formed using thiocompounds as cystamine, 4-aminothiophenol (ATPh), 3,3'-dithiopropionic acid di-(N-succinimidyl ester) (DTSP) and 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid (MUA) were chosen for the sensing surface activation. Three different sensor types were tested: screen-printed disc and finger-like structures and interdigitated array (IDA) electrodes produced by lithography. The measurements were carried out in a stationary arrangement, and the reaction between hapten and the immobilised antibody was observed online. Changes of impedance parameters were evaluated, and the best immobilisation technique (using 4-aminothiophenol) was chosen for further measurements. Impedance changes due to immunocomplex formation were evaluated, and the possibility of direct monitoring of 2,4-D binding to the antibody was demonstrated at a fixed frequency. For the strip sensor, the calibration curves were constructed in concentration range from 45 nmol l(-1) to 0.45 mmol l(-1) of 2,4-D.     

A kinetic study of soluble glucose oxidase using a rotating-disc electrode

In order to determine the kinetic parameters of glucose oxidation catalysed by the enzyme glucose oxidase (GO) the initial velocity of hydrogen peroxide formation was measured using a rotating disc electrode (RDE). The major advantage of this method is the possibility of continuous measurement of the increase in hydrogen peroxide concentration. This means that the real initial reaction rate V₀ can be determined, which is required for constructing a double-reciprocal plot. Several combinations of substrate concentrations (glucose and oxygen) were used. The method, in which a platinum black RDE was used, appeared to be very useful. Product inhibition experiments showed that the ping-pong mechanism is valid for GO. The three kinetic parameters of this mechanism were determined by initial velocity experiments.     

Immobilisation of lactate dehydrogenase on poly(aniline)-poly(acrylate) and poly(aniline)-poly(vinyl sulphonate) films for use in a lactate biosensor

The immobilisation of enzymes on an electrode surface, in such a manner that they retain both substrate specificity and high levels of catalytic activity, is of great importance in bioelectrochemistry. This includes areas such as the development of enzyme-catalysed fuel cell electrodes, biosensors and other biotechnological applications. We have investigated the catalytic activity of hexahistidine tagged variants of lactate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.27) from the thermophile Bacillus stearothermophilus both in solution and when immobilised on poly(aniline)-poly(acrylate) (PANi-PAA) or poly(aniline)-poly(vinyl sulphonate) (PANi-PVS) composite films. Both the C- and N-terminally tagged enzymes are readily immobilised on the modified electrode and catalyse the conversion of lactate and NAD⁺ to pyruvate and NADH. The NADH that is generated can be readily oxidised at the PANi-modified electrode surface.In solution, the activity of the C-tagged enzyme (LDH-CHis) was some 30% less that of the wild-type under comparable conditions, whereas the N-tagged enzyme was found to possess essentially the same activity as the wild-type. However, when the enzymes were immobilised on PANi-PAA and PANi-PVS the C-tagged enzyme films showed a higher NADH-dependent current than the wild-type LDH whilst the N-tagged enzyme had the highest of the three. In addition, the C-tagged enzyme film appeared more stable than the wild-type LDH-PANi film. A novel immobilisation chemistry of the enzyme is proposed to account for these observations.     

Preparation and characterisation of gelatine hydrogels predisposed to use as matrices for effective immobilisation of biocatalysts

Physical, enzymatic and chemical methods were used to develop an efficient procedure for preparing gelatine hydrogels of appropriate strength and elastic properties for applications as enzyme carriers. The concentrations of the crosslinking enzyme (transglutaminase), the initial amount of gelatine, the production time and the effect of additional crosslinking with glutaraldehyde were examined. As a result, the following conditions were selected: 0.1 g cm^?3 solution of gelatine, 0.01 g cm^?3 of transglutaminase (mTGase), a minimum of 2 h incubation at 4°C and an additional step of crosslinking with 1.0 vol. % of glutaraldehyde. Next, the absorption properties and storage stability of hydrogels so obtained were determined. From these results, it was observed that, with the exception of the physical gel, the remaining materials presented a relatively high resistance to hydrolytic degradation and retained their original spatial structure without any visible damages. The immobilisation experiments indicated gelatine-based hydrogels crosslinked with transglutaminase as suitable for use as matrices for the entrapment of enzymes, which catalyse the conversion of low-molecular mass compounds. In addition to the potential for effective re-use in subsequent batch processes, the essential advantage of the immobilised β-galactosidase obtained in the current study is a marked reduction in its volume under storage conditions of long duration, without any significant decline in catalytic activity.     

Enzyme inhibition-based biosensor for the electrochemical detection of microcystins in natural blooms of cyanobacteria

An electrochemical biosensor for the detection of microcystin has been developed based on the inhibition of the protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) by this cyanobacterial toxin. The enzyme has been immobilised by entrapment using a poly(vinyl alcohol) azide-unit pendant water-soluble photopolymer (PVA-AWP). Electrode supports and immobilisation conditions have been optimised by colorimetric assays, the highest immobilisation yields being obtained with screen-printed graphite electrodes and the 1:2 PP2A:PVA ratio. Catechyl monophosphate (CMP), α-naphthyl phosphate (α-NP) and 4-methylumbelliferyl phosphate (4-MUP) have been used as phosphorylated substrates to monitor the protein phosphatase activity by electrochemical methods, the former providing the highest chronoamperometric currents at appropriate working potentials (+450 mV versus Ag/AgCl). Incubation with standard microcystin solutions has demonstrated the inhibition of the immobilised enzyme, proportional to the toxin concentration. The standard inhibition curve has provided a 50% inhibition coefficient (IC₅₀) of 83 μg L⁻¹, a limit of detection (LOD; 35% inhibition) of 37 μg L⁻¹, and 100% inhibition at about 1000 μg L⁻¹. Real samples of cyanobacterial blooms from the Tarn River (Midi-Pyrénées, France) have been analysed using the developed amperometric biosensor and the toxin contents have been compared to those obtained by a conventional colorimetric protein phosphatase inhibition (PPI) assay and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The results clearly justify the use of the developed amperometric biosensor as screening method for microcystin detection.     

Composite magnetic particles as carriers for laccase from Trametes versicolor

In this paper we report a study of laccase immobilisation on different kinds of carrier particles. The immobilisation of enzyme on the particle surface with respect to the immobilisation efficiency and the properties of the immobilised enzymes is discussed. The immobilisation of laccase on polystyrene particles bearing reactive beta-diketone groups is characterised by high efficiency, but grafting of the enzyme increases the stability of the colloidal system, which makes the separation/purification procedure difficult. Additionally, the extreme colloidal stability of the immobilisates hinders the application of such particles with immobilised enzymes in some applications where the recycling of the enzyme should be performed. It has been found that hybrid PS-AAEM particles equipped with maghemite show similar immobilisation efficiency to that of their analogues without maghemite and can additionally be manipulated in magnetic fields. The activity of the immobilised laccase is much higher in the pH region 5-7 and the temperature range 50-70 degrees C as compared with that of the free enzyme. Immobilised enzymes also exhibit much better storage stability.     

Cellulose Derivatives Membranes as Supports for Immobilisation of Enzymes

Cellulosic derivatives (cellulose acetate, cellulose propionate and cellulose acetate-butyrate) as membranes, were prepared in different ways. These were then characterised by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and contact angle evaluation. Subsequently, catalase (H2O2:H2O2 oxireductase; EC 1.11.1.6), alcohol oxidase (Alcohol:oxygen oxireductase; EC 1.1.3.13) and glucose oxidase (-D- Glucose:oxygen 1-oxireductase; EC 1.1.3.4) were covalently linked to these membranes. The catalytic activity and stability of these enzymes, when immobilised, were examined. The results obtained showed that the immobilisation efficiency and the stability of the coupled enzymes could be correlated with the studied properties of the supports. The cellulose acetate membrane which was prepared by evaporation gave the more active conjugate support-enzyme. Membranes prepared by the immersion technique were more crystalline and therefore less suitable for enzyme immobilisation. The highly hydrophobic membranes, obtained from the propionate and the butyrate esters of cellulose reduced the activities but gave better storage stability.     

Whole cell immobilised biosensors for toxicity assessment of a wastewater treatment plant treating phenolics-containing waste

Wastewater treatment plants dealing with industrial wastes are often susceptible to overload of toxic influent that can partially or completely destroy treatment for extended periods. An obvious candidate for monitoring toxicity in such wastewater systems is bioluminescent bacteria. However, the natural bioluminescent bacteria can be particularly sensitive to some industrial wastes and therefore their response to normal operational conditions does not reflect the status of the microbial community responsible for treatment. Moreover, the salt dependence of the marine bioluminescent bacteria, and the temperature sensitivity of some strains, further complicate their use. Here we describe the construction of whole cell genetically modified bioluminescent biosensors and their immobilisation for use in monitoring the toxicity of a complex industrial wastewater containing phenolic materials. A hand-held luminometer was designed for laboratory or field use, and the immobilisation system designed with several things in mind: the geometry of the instrument; the need for containment of GM bacteria; the maximisation of the bioavailability of the wastewater to the biosensor. The performance of a candidate GM sensor was compared with Vibrio fischeri in liquid culture and after immobilisation in thin films of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) cryogels. The biosensors were tested against pure phenol and 3-chlorophenol as a reference toxic chemical known to be much more toxic to bacteria than phenol. The biosensors were then tested with the phenolics-containing industrial wastewater. The immobilisation system proved to operate predictably with pure toxicants, and was able to discriminate toxicity of various zones within the wastewater treatment plant.     

Novel extraction supports based on immobilised aptamers: evaluation for the selective extraction of cocaine

A new kind of selective sorbent based on the use of aptamers and dedicated to the selective solid phase extraction was developed. Cocaine aptamer was chosen as model aptamer to demonstrate the feasibility of this material and to provide a complete evaluation of the synthesized sorbent. The effect of different parameters such as the nature of the immobilisation support (silica, agarose), the type of immobilisation (covalent or non-covalent) and the length of the spacer arm (C₆ or C₁₂) were studied. Therefore, various oligosorbents based on different immobilisation strategies were synthesized and characterised by estimating the extraction recovery and the capacity of cocaine and the binding efficiency of aptamers. Control supports without immobilised aptamers were simultaneously studied in parallel to assess the selectivity brought by the oligosorbents. The oligosorbent based on CNBr-activated sepharose showed the best performances with an extraction recovery for cocaine of 90% while 6% was obtained on the control sorbent. The high selectivity brought by the oligosorbent was then illustrated by applying the oligoextraction followed by LC/MS analysis to a post-mortem blood (cocaine overdose). Results were compared to those resulting from a conventional protein precipitation procedure. The presence of co-extracted interfering compounds was strongly reduced with the treatment by oligoextraction. A limit of quantification of 0.5 ng/mL was obtained that is largely lower than the concentration found after a single intake of cocaine.