Detection of Galactose and Lactose by a Poly(Amphiphilic Pyrrole)-Galactose Oxidase Electrode

Abstract

The entrapment of galactose oxidase (GAO) on an electrode surface by coadsorption with a cationic amphiphilic pyrrole and electropolymerization of this pyrrole monomer is described. This simple and rapid procedure for biosensor construction provides very fast responsive and sensitive GAO-based sensors to galactose and lactose. The electrode response is based on the electrochemical detection of enzymically generated hydrogen peroxide. The stability, optimum pH and selectivity of the bioelectrode as well as the characteristics of the immobilized galactose oxidase have been determined. Poly(amphiphilic pyrrole) films have been electrogenerated on the surface of the bioelectrode and the effect of such additional coatings on the biosensor selectivity have also been examined.     

The Electrochemical Investigation of Certain Bis-Pyridiniom Aldoximes

Abstract

Bis-pyridinium aldoximes reactivate inhibited cholinesterases poisoned by organophosphorous insecticides; 4-carbamoy 1–2′-hydroximinomethyl-bis (1-pyridinomethyl) ether dichloride is presently being investigated as an antidote for this type of phosphate ester poisoning. Current chromatographic detection methods for this compound and its metabolites, at levels present in biological samples, lack both sensitivity and selectivity. The electrochemical properties of these compounds were studied in both aqueous and non-aqueous media in order to establish a suitable electrochemical detection strategy for use after separation by high pressure liquid chromatography.     

Systematic HPLC Study of a New Series of 4-Methyl-1,4-dihydropyridines with Antitrombotic Activity

Abstract

A systematic study of a new series of 4-methyl-1,4-dihydropyridine derivatives by HPLC by both photodiode array and electrochemical detectors is reported.

The optimum mobile phase was acetonitrile 0.05 M phosphate buffer pH 3 (55/45, v/v) at a flow-rate of 1.5 mL/min.

Compounds I–VIII were determined with UV detection at 250 nm and by electrochemical detection at + 1200 mV.

Retention times varied between 3.0 and 14.0 minutes in the optimal experimental conditions.

Good linear relationships between the peak areas and concentration were found, with limits of quantification ranging between 1 x 10^?8 M and 1 x 10^?6 M. Repeatability studies showed average variation coefficients lower than 1% for a photodiode array detector. No significant differences between the detectors in sensitivity and selectivity were found.

Also, we used different degradation trials to test the selectivity of the methods. Results of these experiments revealed that the developed methods exhibited a good selectivity.     

G‐Quadruplex‐Based DNAzymes Aptasensor for the Amplified Electrochemical Detection of Thrombin

A novel G‐quadruplex‐based DNAzymes aptasensor for the amplified electrochemical detection of thrombin has been described. The aptasensor utilized a combination of hemin and guanine‐rich thrombin‐binding aptamer (TBA) to form horseradish peroxidase (HRP)‐mimicking DNAzymes with peroxidase catalytic activity. In the presence of thrombin, the enzyme activity could be extensively promoted, thereby providing the amplified electrochemical readout signals for detecting thrombin. This aptasensor exhibited high sensitivity and selectivity for thrombin determination, which enabled the analysis of thrombin with a detection limit of 6×10^–11 M. On the basis of results, this method could have broad applications in the detection of proteins and other biomolecules.     

Hybridized Polyoxometalate‐Based Metal–Organic Framework with Ketjenblack for the Nonenzymatic Detection of H2O2

The rational design and development of efficient and affordable enzyme‐free electrocatalysts for electrochemical detection are of great significance for the large‐scale applications of sensor materials, and have aroused increasing research interest. Herein, we report that a typical polyoxometalate (POM)‐based metal–organic framework (NENU5) that was hybridized with ketjenblack (KB) was a highly efficient electrochemical catalyst that could be used for the highly sensitive nonenzymatic detection of H₂O₂. The composite catalyst exhibited superb electrochemical detection performance towards H₂O₂, including a broad linear range from 10–50 mm , a low detection limit of 1.03 μm , and a high sensitivity of 33.77 μA mm ⁻¹, as well as excellent selectivity and stability. These excellent electrocatalytic properties should be attributed to the unique redox activity of the POM, the high specific surface area of the metal–organic framework (MOF), the strong conductivity of KB, and the synergistic effects of the multiple components in the composites during the electrolysis of H₂O₂. This work provides a new pathway for the exploration of nonenzymatic electrochemical sensors.     

Ultra-sensitive electrochemical DNA biosensor based on signal amplification using gold nanoparticles modified with molybdenum disulfide,graphene and horseradish peroxidase

We have developed an ultra-sensitive electrochemical DNA biosensor by assembling probe ssDNA on a glassy carbon electrode modified with a composite made from molybdenum disulfide, graphene, chitosan and gold nanoparticles. A thiol-tagged DNA strand coupled to horseradish peroxidase conjugated to AuNP served as a tracer. The nanocomposite on the surface acts as relatively good electrical conductor for accelerating the electron transfer, while the enzyme tagged gold nanoparticles provide signal amplification. Hybridization with the target DNA was studied by measuring the electrochemical signal response of horseradish peroxidase using differential pulse voltammetry. The calibration plot is linear in the 5.0?×?10^?14 and 5.0?×?10^?9 M concentration range, and the limit of detection is 2.2?×?10^?15 M. The biosensor displays high selectivity and can differentiate between single-base mismatched and three-base mismatched sequences of DNA. The approach is deemed to provide a sensitive and reliable tool for highly specific detection of DNA.

Biosensors based on polymer networks formed by gamma irradiation crosslinking

Water-soluble polymers immobilized by gamma radiation have been investigated as a means of developing electrochemical sensors. Enzyme-based sensors for glucose and lactate have been made by immobilizing glucose oxidase and lactate oxidase, respectively, on platinized graphite electrodes. The enzyme is entrapped in a polymeric network of poly(vinyl alcohol) that is formed by gamma radiation crosslinking. Electrodes coated with poly (N-vinylpyrrolidone) and its corresponding monomer and then crosslinked with gamma radiation show an extraction of catecholamines into the polymer film that enhances the analytical signal for their detection by electrochemical oxidation. Poly(dimethyldiallylammonium chloride) spin-coated on a screen-printed electrochemical cell provides sufficient ionic conductivity for the cell to function as a gas sensor for oxygen, which is detected by reduction at a platinum working electrode.     

Determination of Estradiol by Biotin‐Avidin‐Amplified Electrochemical Enzyme Immunoassay

Abstract

A simple, sensitive biotin‐avidin‐amplified electrochemical enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the determination of estradiol (E₂) was proposed in this paper. The complex of biotinylated anti‐E₂ antibody and horseradish peroxidase‐labeled avidin (HRP‐avidin) were regarded as a probe in this system. The activity of labeled enzyme was measured with electrochemical methods using o‐phenylenediamine as substrate. Coupled with the plate‐coated antigen, indirect ELISA format using E₂‐ovalbumin, the electrochemical detection was performed for E₂ with the detection limit of 21.0 pg/ml, and the linear range of determination of 50.0–500.0 pg/ml. The proposed method has been used for the determination of E₂ in river water with satisfactory results. Compared with the traditionally spectrophotometric ELISA detection, this method shows greatly heightened sensitivity. The limit of detection improved by about two orders of magnitude, which is very suitable for the conditions with extremely low concentration of analyte or very small volumes of sample present.     

Derivatization of Drugs and Bioorganics for Improved Detection by Gas Chromatography and Photoionization Detection (GC-PID)

Abstract

Pentafluorophenyldimethylsilylchloride (flophemesyl chloride, FICI) has recently been used for derivatizations of alcohols, leading to significant improvements in detectability by gas chromatography (GC)-photoionization detection (PID) and electron capture detection (ECD). This off-line reaction has now been applied to a number of related alcohol derivatives, naturally occurring bioorganics such as cholesterol, androsterone, and similar sterols and steroids. Standard GC-ECD-PID analytical parameters have been determined, such as detection limits, calibration plots, ECD and PID relative response factors (RRF), ECD/PID relative response factor ratios, etc. for underivatized and derivatized substrates. Packed and capillary column GC conditions have been used with a 10.2 eV PID lamp. Application of the optimized derivatization-GC-ECD-PID method is reported for bioorganics in biological media. The overall results demonstrate the immediate applicability of such an approach for a number of alcohol derivatives, especially those having biological properties.     

DNAzyme based electrochemical sensors for trace uranium

We have developed a uranyl-specific DNAzyme that was immobilized on the surface of a gold electrode to give a highly sensitive and selective biosensor for uranyl ion. The typical DNAzyme system consisted of the RNA (rA) as the substrate (ADNA), and the other strand is the enzyme (TDNA) with a ferrocene (Fc). The presence of uranyl ion induces the cleavage of the DNA substrate strand at the rA position to form two fragments. The Fc unit thereby is released from the surface of the electrode, and this results in a decreased peak current. This electrochemical biosensor has a dynamic range from 2 nM to 14 nM of uranyl ion, with a detection limit at 1 nM. It exhibits high sensitivity and excellent selectivity over other metal ions, and thus represents a promising technique for simple, fast, on-site, and real-time electrochemical sensing of UO₂(II) ion. It also serves as a guide in choosing different methods for designing electrochemical sensors for other metal ions.

Enhanced Electrochemical Detection of DNA Hybridization Based on Au/MWCNTs Nanocomposites

Abstract

The nanocomposites of gold nanoparticles and multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) have been applied in the enhanced electrochemical detection of DNA hybridization. Gold nanoparticles coated on MWCNTs uniformly were synthesized by simply one step reaction. Target DNA was detected by the peak current difference of differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) signals of the electroactive indicator methylene blue (MB) before and after hybridization on the Au/MWCNTs modified glass carbon electrode (GCE). Due to the excellent electrical conductivity of the novel matrix, the biosensor revealed high sensitivity with the detection level down to 1.0 pM. Excellently selectivity and reproducibility were also discussed.     

Determination of Fatty Acids by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with Electrochemical Detection Using A Ferrocene Derivatization Reagent

Abstract

New derivatization method using ferrocene reagents has been developed for the determination of fatty acids by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. Condensation of fatty acids with 3-bromoacetyl-1, 1'-dimethyl-ferrocene was effected in the presence of 18-crown-6 and potassium fluoride. The resulting esters showed the satisfactory sensitivity at +0.60 V vs. an Ag/AgCl reference electrode with a detection limit of 0.5 pmole. Also the high selectivity was obtained by using a twin electrode electrochemical detector. The proposed derivatization method was found applicable to the determination of fatty acids in human serum.     

Bienzyme Electrode Compatible Behavior for Water-Soluble and-Insoluble Substrates

Abstract

A bienzymatic sensing layer containing two enzymes able to work sequentially, choline oxidase (ChOD) and phospholipase D (PLaseD), was used to design an electrochemical biosensor for the detection of either a water-soluble (choline) or insoluble (phosphatidylcholine) substrate. A photocrosslinkable polymer, poly(vinyl alcohol) bearing styrylpyridinium groups (PVA-SbQ), was used as host-matrix for enzyme immobilization. Controlled amounts of PVA-SbQ and of the two enzymes were directly coated on a platinum disk, then photopolymerized. The compatibility of working conditions for choline and phosphatidylcholine detection in the presence of Triton X-100 and CaCl₂ was investigated. The effect of the activity ratio PLaseD / ChOD on the sensor performance was determined. The sensitivities to choline and to phosphatidylcholine were 18 mA.1mol^?1 and 0.66 mA.1.mol^?1 respectively, the detection limit being 1.5.10^?8 M for choline and 1.5.10^?6 M for phosphatidylcholine. The linear range extended up to ca. 10^?4 M for choline and ca. 2.10^?5 M for phosphatidylcholine and the response time was close to 30 seconds for choline and ca. 2 min for phosphatidylcholine.     

Sarcosine oxidase composite screen-printed electrode for sarcosine determination in biological samples

As the prostate cancer (PCa) progresses, sarcosine levels increase both in tumor cells and urine samples, suggesting that this metabolite measurements can help in the creation of non-invasive diagnostic methods for this disease. In this work, a biosensor device was developed for the quantification of sarcosine via electrochemical detection of H₂O₂ (at 0.6 V) generated from the catalyzed oxidation of sarcosine. The detection was carried out after the modification of carbon screen printed electrodes (SPEs) by immobilization of sarcosine oxidase (SOX) on the electrode surface. The strategies used herein included the activation of the carbon films by an electrochemical step and the formation of an NHS/EDAC layer to bond the enzyme to the electrode, the use of metallic or semiconductor nanoparticles layer previously or during the enzyme immobilization. In order to improve the sensor stability and selectivity a polymeric layer with extra enzyme content was further added. The proposed methodology for the detection of sarcosine allowed obtaining a limit of detection (LOD) of 16 nM, using a linear concentration range between 10 and 100 nM. The biosensor was successfully applied to the analysis of sarcosine in urine samples.     

Direct Electrochemical Determination of Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and its Application to Honey Samples

Abstract

In this work an electrochemical method is evaluated for direct hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) content determination in untreated honey samples. The HMF presented a single, well‐defined reduction signal at ?1100 mV vs. Ag/AgCl. Borate was confirmed as being the most suitable supporting electrolyte for determining HMF content in honey because it allowed better definition and selectivity of the HMF reduction signal. The detection limit for the differential pulse polarography method was 48 ppb and it was successfully applied to three samples of Mexican honey, using the standard addition method.     

Direct Electron Transfer at a Glucose Oxidase–Chitosan-Modified Vulcan Carbon Paste Electrode for Electrochemical Biosensing of Glucose

This article describes the investigation of direct electron transfer (DET) between glucose oxidase (GOD) and the electrode materials in an enzyme-catalyzed reaction for the development of improved bioelectrocatalytic system. The GOD pedestal electrochemical reaction takes place by means of DET in a tailored Vulcan carbon paste electrode surfaces with GOD and chitosan (CS), allowing efficient electron transfer between the electrode and enzyme. The key understanding of the stability, biocatalytic activity, selectivity, and redox properties of these enzyme-based glucose biosensors is studied without using any reagents, and the properties are characterized using electrochemical techniques like cyclic voltammogram, amperometry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Furthermore, the interaction between the enzyme and the electrode surface is studied using ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The present glucose biosensor exhibited better linearity, limit of detection (LOD?=?0.37?±?0.02 mol/L) and a Michaelis–Menten constant of 0.40?±?0.01 mol/L. The proposed enzyme electrode exhibited excellent sensitivity, selectivity, reproducibility, and stability. This provides a simple “reagent-less” approach and efficient platform for the direct electrochemistry of GOD and developing novel bioelectrocatalytic systems.     

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.     

A Nitric Oxide Biosensor Based on Myoglobin Adsorbed on Multi‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes

Myoglobin (Myb) of horse heart is incorporated on multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) and immobilized at a glassy carbon (GC) electrode surface. Its electrochemical behavior and enzyme activity are characterized by employing electrochemical methods. The results indicate that MWNTs can obviously promote the direct electron transfer between Myb and electrode, and that the Myb on MWNTs behaves as an enzyme‐like activity towards the electrochemical reduction of nitric oxide (NO). Accordingly, an unmediated NO biosensor is constructed. Experimental results reveal that the peak current related to NO is linearly proportional to its concentration in the range of 2.0×10^?7–4.0×10^?5 mol/L. The detection limit is estimated to be 8.0×10^?8 mol/L. Considering a relative standard deviation of 2.1% in seven independent determinations of 1.0×10^?5 mol/L NO, this biosensor shows a good reproducibility. The biosensor based on Myb/MWNTs modified electrode can be used for the rapid determination of trace NO in aqueous solution with a good stability, nice selectivity and easy construction.     

Gradient Elution of Biogenic Amines and Derivatives in Reversed Phase Ion-Pair Partition Chromatography with Electrochemical and Fluorometric Detection

Abstract

The compatibility of gradient elution and reversed phase ion-pair partition systems combined with electrochemical and fluorometric detection has been investigated. The phase system consisting of buffers with perchlorate counter-ions as mobile phases and tri-n-butylphosphate as stationary phase allows the use of pH and counter-ion gradients. It appeared that (i) use of gradients is time saving and favourable with respect to detection limits and (ii) dual electrode detection may offer a solution to the problem of gradient-induced baseline shifting in electrochemical Electrochemical detectors are rather sensitive towards changes in the mobile phase. Applying the differential coulometric detection principle the gradient induced baseline shift is reduced and consequently the quantification of a number of compounds is facilitated, although noise levels are slightly increased.

Future research will be devoted to noise investigations in order to minimize detection limits.     

Detectors for Liquid Chromatographic Analysis for Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons

Abstract

A number of liquid chromatographic detectors of various types have been evaluated for both selectivity and sensitivity for the detection of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). Detection limits for fixed and variable wavelength UV photometers, filter fluorimeters, and spectrofluorimeters have been determined. The utility of each of these types of detectors for use in the reversed-phase HPLC analysis of environmental extracts containing trace levels of PAH's is discussed.