Novel CeO2–CuO-decorated enzymatic lactate biosensors operating in low oxygen environments

The detection of the lactate level in blood plays a key role in diagnosis of some pathological conditions including cardiogenic or endotoxic shocks, respiratory failure, liver disease, systemic disorders, renal failure, and tissue hypoxia. Here, we described for the first time the use of a novel mixed metal oxide solution system to address the oxygen dependence challenge of first generation amperometric lactate biosensors. The biosensors were constructed using ceria-copper oxide (CeO₂–CuO) mixed metal oxide nanoparticles for lactate oxidase immobilization and as electrode material. The oxygen storage capacity (OSC, 492 μmol-O₂/g) of these metal oxides has the potential to reduce the oxygen dependency, and thus eliminate false results originated from the fluctuations in the oxygen concentration. In an effort to compare the performance of our novel sensor design, ceria nanoparticle decorated lactate sensors were also constructed. The enzymatic activity of the sensors were tested in oxygen-rich and oxygen-lean solutions. Our results showed that the OSC of the electrode material has a big influence on the activity of the biosensors in oxygen-lean environments. While the CeO₂ containing biosensor showed an almost 21% decrease in the sensitivity in a O₂-depleted solution, the CeO₂–CuO containing electrode, with a higher OSC value, experienced no drop in sensitivity when moving from oxygen-rich to oxygen-lean conditions. The CeO₂–CuO decorated sensor showed a high sensitivity (89.3 ± 4 μA mM⁻¹ cm⁻²), a wide linear range up to 0.6 mM, and a low limit of detection of 3.3 μM. The analytical response of the CeO₂–CuO decorated sensors was studied by detecting lactate in human serum with good selectivity and reliability. The results revealed that CeO₂–CuO containing sensors are promising candidates for continuous lactate detection.     

Development of a Carbon Paste Electrode for Lactate Detection Based on Meldola’s Blue Adsorbed on Silica Gel Modified with Niobium Oxide and Lactate Oxidase

A reagentless amperometric biosensor sensitive to lactate was developed. The sensor employs a carbon paste electrode modified with lactate oxidase (LOx) and Meldola’s Blue (MB) adsorbed on silica gel coated with niobium oxide. The dependence on the biosensor response was investigated in terms of pH, supporting electrolyte, ionic strength, lactate oxidase (LOx) amounts and applied potential. The biosensor showed an excellent operational stability (96 % of the activity was maintained after 150 determinations) and storage stability (allowing measurements for more than 1.5 months, when stored in a refrigerator). The proposed biosensor also presented good sensitivity allowing lactate quantification at levels down to 6.5×10^?7 mol L^?1. Moreover, the biosensor showed a good linear response range (from 0.1 to 5.0 mmol L^?1 for lactate). Lactate analysis in biological samples such as blood was also performed. The precision of the data obtained by the proposed biosensor showed reliable results for real complex matrices.     

Amperometric Biosensor for Lactate Based on Meldola's Blue Adsorbed on Silica Gel Modified with Niobium Oxide

A reagentless amperometric biosensor sensitive to lactate was developed. This sensor comprises a carbon paste electrode modified with lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD⁺) cofactor and Meldola's blue (MB) adsorbed on silica gel coated with niobium oxide. The amperometric response was based on the electrocatalytic properties of MB to oxidize NADH, which was generated in the enzymatic reaction of lactate with NAD⁺ under catalysis of LDH. The dependence on the biosensor response was investigated in terms of pH, supporting electrolyte, ionic strength, LDH and NAD⁺ amounts and applied potential. The biosensor showed an excellent operational stability (95% of the activity was maintained after 250 determinations) and storage stability (allowing measurements for over than 2.5 months, when stored in a refrigerator). The proposed biosensor also presented good sensitivity allowing lactate quantification at levels down to 6.5×10^?6 mol L^?1. Moreover, the biosensor showed a wide linear response range (from 0.1 to 14 mmol L^?1 for lactate). These favorable characteristics allowed its application for direct measurements of lactate in biological samples such as blood. The precision of the data obtained by the proposed biosensor show reliable results for real complex matrices.     

Simultaneous Detection of L-Lactate and D-Glucose Using DNA Aptamers in Human Blood Serum**

L-lactate is a key metabolite indicative of physiological states, glycolysis pathways, and various diseases such as sepsis, heart attack, lactate acidosis, and cancer. Detection of lactate has been relying on a few enzymes that need additional oxidants. In this work, DNA aptamers for L-lactate were obtained using a library-immobilization selection method and the highest affinity aptamer reached a K_d of 0.43 mM as determined using isothermal titration calorimetry. The aptamers showed up to 50-fold selectivity for L-lactate over D-lactate and had little responses to other closely related analogs such as pyruvate or 3-hydroxybutyrate. A fluorescent biosensor based on the strand displacement method showed a limit of detection of 0.55 mM L-lactate, and the sensor worked in 90 % serum. Simultaneous detection of L-lactate and D-glucose in the same solution was achieved. This work has broadened the scope of aptamers to simple metabolites and provided a useful probe for continuous and multiplexed monitoring.     

Reagentless lactate electrodes based on electrocatalytic oxidation of flavocytochrome b2

Flavocytochrome b₂ (L-lactate :cytochrome c reductase, E.C. 1.1.2.3) from Hansenula anomala was entrapped on the surface of electrodes modified with various kinds of carbon black. The electrocatalytic oxidation of a reduced enzyme by the electroactive surface groups of carbon black enables this enzyme electrode to be used for the determination of lactate. The electrodes operate at ?0.2 to ?0.1 V vs. SCE (pH 7.0), which is low enough to avoid interference from ascorbic acid. Linear calibration graphs up to 0.5 mM lactate were obtained. Electrochemical measurements of lactate in human blood plasma and cell culture fluids showed good agreement with the results of spectrophotometric measurements.     

Electrochemical Determination of L‐Lactate Using Phenylboronic Acid Monolayer‐Modified Electrodes

The surface of a gold (Au) disk electrode was modified with a self‐assembled monomolecular layer of dithiobis(4‐butylamino‐m‐phenylboronic acid) (DTBA‐PBA) to prepare L ‐lactate‐sensitive electrodes. The DTBA‐PBA‐modified electrodes exhibited an attenuated cyclic voltammogram (CV) for the Fe(CN)₆^3? ion in the presence of L ‐lactate, as a result of the formation of phenylboronate ester of L ‐lactate accompanied with the addition of OH^? ion to the boron atom. In other words, the negatively charged DTBA‐PBA monolayer blocked the electrode surface from the access of the Fe(CN)₆^3?/4? ions. Thus, the DTBA‐PBA monolayer‐modified Au electrode can be used for determining L ‐lactate on the basis of the change in redox current of Fe(CN)₆^3?/4? ions. The calibration graph useful for determining 1–30 mM L ‐lactate was obtained.     

Redemitting BODIPY boronic acid fluorescent sensors for detection of lactate

Two redemitting BODIPY boronic acid pinacolate derivatives, sensors 1 and 2 were shown to act as excellent and highly selective lactate detectors at physiological pH (7.4), where the formed sensor-lactate complexes exhibited a significant emission and absorption increase. Since hyperlactataemia ([l-lac] > 6.5 mM) is a common complication in intensive care units, there is need for easy, on-line monitoring of lactate levels in patients. Semi-invasive monitoring via a lactate electrode or optic fiber would be attractive. This may beneficially replace existing lactate detection methods requiring a high degree of instrumentation. Sensors 1 and 2 can detect lactate without interference from biological important monosaccharides, such as d-glucose, d-fructose and d-mannose.     

Flow Injection Analysis of Lactate and Lactate Dehydrogenase Using an Enzyme Membrane in Conjunction with a Modified Electrode

Abstract

A modified electrode for H₂O₂ oxidation, consisting of Pd/Au sputtered on carbon was covered with a lactate oxidase membrane and used in a FIA manifold for selective determination of lactate. The linear range was 0.01-3 mM lactate and up to 200 samples per hour were measured with a relative standard deviation of 1%. Interferences from ascorbic acid and NADH were small because of the low potential of the modified electrode. The lactate oxidase membrane electrode was also used for measurement of lactate dehydrogenase activity using direct injection of the sample into a carrier stream containing pyruvate and NAD⁺.     

A Biofuel Cell Based on Biocatalytic Reactions of Lactate on Both Anode and Cathode Electrodes – Extracting Electrical Power from Human Sweat

Electrodes composed of carbon fibers were modified with graphene nano‐sheets in order to increase their surface area and facilitate electrochemical reactions. Electrocatalytic species, such as Meldola's blue (MB) and hemin were immobilized on the graphene surface due to their π‐π stacking and then used for electrocatalytic oxidation of NADH and reduction of H₂O₂, respectively. Further modification of these electrodes with enzymes producing NADH and H₂O₂ in situ (lactate dehydrogenase, LDH, and lactate oxidase, LOx, respectively), allowed assembling of a biofuel cell operating in the presence of lactate, oxygen and NAD⁺. The cathode of the biofuel cell required lactate and O₂ for its operation, while the anode operated in the presence of lactate and NAD⁺. Notably, both bioelectrocatalytic electrodes operated in the presence of lactate, one producing H₂O₂ in the reaction catalyzed by LOx in the presence of O₂, second producing NADH in the reaction catalyzed by LDH in the presence of NAD⁺. Both reactions were performed in the biofuel cell without separation of the cathodic and anodic solutions and with no need of a membrane. The biofuel cell was tested in solutions mimicking human sweat and then in real human sweat samples, demonstrating substantial power release being able to activate electronic devices.     

Gamma-irradiation immobilization of lactate oxidase in poly(vinyl alcohol) on platinized graphite electrodes

A novel method for enzyme immobilization in a polymer matrix was examined with lactate oxidase (LOD) to make a sensor for lactate. Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVAL) and LOD were applied in layers on platinized graphite electrodes and cross-linked by exposure to a ⁶⁰Co gamma radiation source. When the sensor is dipped in lactate solution, the product of the enzymatic reaction, hydrogen peroxide, is detected at +300 mV vs. Ag/AgCl. The LOD-PVAL lactate sensor exhibits a fast response (10–50 s), a linear range between 26 μM and 1.7 mM, a detection limit of 13 μM and a sensitivity of 2.94 μA mmol^?1. The sensitivity and the linearity of the electrode were improved considerably by bubbling oxygen continuously through the lactate solution. Optimum response to lactate was obtained with a radiation dose of 3–10 Mrad. LOD was found to be active in the presence of the polymer under radiation doses as high as 40 Mrad. Repeated use of the sensors under various conditions showed a stable and reproducible response to lactate for over 80 days.     

Synthesis,Electrochemistry, and Hydrolysis of Anthraquinone Derivatives

Anthraquinone (AQ) derivatives, including members of the anthraquinone imide (AQI) family, have been synthesized to afford good candidates for electron-transfer studies in DNA. Electron-withdrawing groups on the AQ ring give a less negative reduction potential, as desired. As expected, the AQI derivatives have less negative reduction potentials than AQ derivatives. The AQI ring system has a half-life for hydrolysis of about 75 min in a 3:7 MeCN and 0.005 M K₂CO₃ in MeOH.     

Fibre optic fluorometric enzyme sensors for hydrogen peroxide and lactate,based on horseradish peroxidase and lactate oxidase

An optical biosensor for the determination of hydrogen peroxide based on immobilized horseradish peroxidase is described. The fluorescence of the dimeric product of the enzyme catalysed oxidation of homovanillic acid is utilized to determine the concentration of H₂O₂. The membrane-bound enzyme is attached to a bifurcated fibre bundle permitting excitation and detection of the fluorescence by a fluorometer. The response of the sensor is linear from 1 to 130 M hydrogen peroxide; the coefficient of variation is 3%. The sensor is stable for more than 10 weeks. The operating pH for maximal sensor response is 8.15. This allows the sensor to be used in combination with oxidase reactions producing hydrogen peroxide, as is demonstrated with a co-immobilized lactate oxidase-horseradish peroxidase optode for the determination of L-lactate. The fluorescence intensity of this sensor depends linearly on the concentration of lactate between 3 and 200 M and a throughput of 10 samples per hour is possible. The precision is in the same range as that of the monoenzyme optode. The lifetime of the bienzyme sensor for lactate is considerably shorter than that of the peroxidase sensor; it is limited by the stability of the immobilized lactate oxidase enzyme. The sensor has been applied to the determination of lactate in control serum.     

Polymeric FAD used as enzyme-friendly mediator in lactate detection

We present the fabrication and properties of lactate biosensors. The novel feature is the use of polymerized flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) as mediator for electron transfer. The biosensors were prepared using lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), lactate oxidase (LOX), or baker's yeast (BY) immobilized at the surface of the electrode. The sensors using purified enzymes showed good sensitivity, linearity, and stability. The sensitivity of the BY electrodes was slightly lower. The advantages of this type of sensors are discussed in connection with potential applications.     

A microband lactate biosensor fabricated using a water-based screen-printed carbon ink

The present study demonstrated for the first time that screen-printed carbon microband electrodes fabricated from water-based ink can readily detect H₂O₂ and that the same ink, with the addition of lactate oxidase, can be used to construct microband biosensors to measure lactate. These microband devices were fabricated by a simple cutting procedure using conventional sized screen-printed carbon electrodes (SPCEs) containing the electrocatalyst cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPC). These devices were characterised with H₂O₂ using several electrochemical techniques. Cyclic voltammograms were found to be sigmoidal; a current density value of 4.2 mA cm⁻² was obtained. A scan rate study revealed that the mass transport mechanism was a mixture of radial and planar diffusion. However, a further amperometric study under quiescent and hydrodynamic conditions indicated that radial diffusion predominated. A chronoamperometric study indicated that steady-state currents were obtained with these devices for a variety of H₂O₂ concentrations and that the currents were proportional to the analyte concentration. Lactate microband biosensors were then fabricated by incorporating lactate oxidase into the water-based formulation prior to printing and then cutting as described. Voltammograms demonstrated that lactate oxidase did not compromise the integrity of the electrode for H₂O₂ detection. A potential of +400 mV was selected for a calibration study, which showed that lactate could be measured over a dynamic range of 1-10 mM which was linear up to 6 mM; a calculated lower limit of detection of 289 μM was ascertained. This study provides a platform for monitoring cell metabolism in-vitro by measuring lactate electrochemically via a microband biosensor.     

Electrode modified with toluidine blue-doped silica nanoparticles, and its use for enhanced amperometric sensing of hemoglobin

Three-dimensionally structured, silica based, organic–inorganic hybrid nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared by a simple and feasible water-in-oil (W/O) microemulsion method and a promising platform for bioelectrochemical analysis was obtained. The commonly used phenathiazine organic compound, toluidine blue (TB) was readily captured in the three-dimensional cage of the inorganic SiO₂ network, which was considered to serve as a protective “shell” toward the embedded TB. A TEM image indicated the size of the thus prepared TB-doped SiO₂ (TB@SiO₂) NPs was 21 ± 3 nm. UV–visible and IR spectroscopy confirmed successful formation of the organic–inorganic composite and possible interaction between TB and SiO₂, which favored enhanced stability of the hybrid. A sensitive amperometric sensor for hemoglobin (Hb) biomolecules based on TB@SiO₂ NPs conjugated with a biopolymer chitosan (CHIT) membrane was then developed. The surface of the silica NPs was highly biocompatible and the TB captured inside maintained its high electron-transfer efficiency. Dye leakage of TB from the TB@SiO₂ hybrid was proved to be minimal, owing to the inorganic SiO₂ network and the force of interaction between TB and SiO₂. The amperometric sensor had a detection limit of 2.5 × 10⁻⁹ mol L⁻¹ (S/N = 3) with a linear range from 5.0 × 10⁻⁹ to 3.0 × 10⁻⁶ mol L⁻¹ for Hb. When it was applied to determine the concentration of a clinical blood sample, satisfactory results were obtained which were in good agreement with those obtained by the standard method.     

Amperometric tetrathiafulvalene-mediated lactate electrode using lactate oxidase absorbed on carbon foil

The features of a new sensor for determining l-lactate are reported. The enzyme lactate oxidase and the mediator, tetrathiafulvalene (TTF), are absorbed on carbon foil disks previously bonded onto the ends of glass tubes. Linear calibration graphs were obtained in the range 10^?4?10^?3 M with physiological phosphate buffer (pH 7.35) and at 30°C with a response time of a few seconds. Calibration graphs in the range 10^?3?10^?2 M were also obtained and the difference in response times between these two ranges were investigated. The results are promising for assembling disposable lactate sensors for in vitro or for in or ex vivo measurements.     

Simple and Efficient Method for the Synthesis of Benzimidazole Derivatives using Monoammonium Salt of 12‐Tungstophosphoric Acid

Benzimidazoles have been synthesized in very good yield from o‐phenylenediamine and aromatic aldehydes in the presence of monoammonium salt of 12‐tungstophosphoric acid [(NH₄)H₂PW₁₂O₄₀], an efficient heterogeneous catalyst. This catalyst has the advantages of simple workup procedure, water insolubility, and good activity with high yield for the synthesis of benzimidazole derivatives.     

Development of an Optical Fiber Lactate Sensor

Lactate analysis is important in clinical diagnostics and the food industry. An ultrasensitive optical fiber lactate sensor with rapid response time and 50?μm size has been developed. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) has been directly immobilized onto an optical fiber probe surface through covalent binding mechanisms. The optical fiber surface is initially activated by silanization, which adds amine groups (–NH₂) to the surface. Aldehyde functional groups (–CHO) are then affixed to the optical fiber surface by employing a bifunctional cross-linking agent, glutaraldehyde. The amino acids of LDH enzyme molecules readily attach to these free -CHO groups on the fiber surface. Optimal immobilization of LDH occurs between 19 and 23 hours of exposure in the enzyme solution. The immobilized LDH enzyme molecules on the fiber surface show high enzymatic activity. The lactate sensor is able to detect lactate with a concentration detection limit of 0.5?μM and the absolute mass detection limit is 8.75 attomoles. Moreover, the sensor rapidly responds to lactate changes and exhibits good reproducibility. The lactate sensor is extremely selective. This immobilized enzyme sensor has been applied to accurately determine the lactate content in food samples.     

Drug discovery studies on quinoline-based derivatives as potential antimalarial agents

Molecular modelling studies were performed to identify the essential structural requirements of quinoline-based derivatives for improving their antimalarial activity. The developed CoMFA, CoMSIA and HQSAR models for a training set comprising 37 derivatives showed good statistical significance in terms of internal cross validation (q²) 0.70, 0.69 and 0.80 and non-cross validation (r²) 0.80, 0.79 and 0.80. Also, the predicted r² values (r²_pred) of 0.63, 0.61 and 0.72 for a test set consisting of 12 compounds suggested significant predicting ability of the models. Structural features were correlated in terms of steric, electrostatic, hydrophobic, hydrogen bond donor and hydrogen bond acceptor interactions. Furthermore, the bioactive conformation was explored and explained by docking compounds #28, 32 and 40 into the active binding site of lactate dehydrogenase of Plasmodium falciparum. The QSAR models, contour map and docking binding affinity obtained could be successfully utilized as a guiding tool for the design and discovery of novel quinoline-based derivatives with potent antimalarial activity.     

Synthesis of Ferrocene Based Naphthoquinones and its Application as Novel Non‐enzymatic Hydrogen Peroxide

At present, a highly sensitive hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) sensor is fabricated by ferrocene based naphthaquinone derivatives as 2,3‐Diferrocenyl‐1,4‐naphthoquinone and 2‐bromo‐3‐ferrocenyl‐1,4‐naphthoquinone. These ferrocene based naphthaquinone derivatives are characterized by H‐NMR and C‐NMR. The electrochemical properties of these ferrocene based naphthaquinone are investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV), differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) on modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The modified electrode with ferrocene based naphthaquinone derivatives exhibits an improved voltammetric response to the H₂O₂ redox reaction. 2‐bromo‐3‐ferrocenyl‐1,4‐naphthoquinone show excellent non‐enzymatic sensing ability towards H₂O₂ response with a detection limitation of 2.7 μmol/L a wide detection range from 10 μM to 400 μM in H₂O₂ detection. The sensor also exhibits short response time (1 s) and good sensitivity of 71.4 μA mM^?1 cm^?2 and stability. Furthermore, the DPV method exhibited very high sensitivity (18999 μA mM^?1 cm^?2) and low detection limit (0.66 μM) compared to the CA method. Ferrocene based naphthaquinone derivative based sensors have a lower cost and high stability. Thus, this novel non‐enzyme sensor has potential application in H₂O₂ detection.