A mediator-free amperometric hydrogen peroxide biosensor based on HRP immobilized on a nano-Au/poly 2,6-pyridinediamine-coated electrode

A mediator-free amperometric hydrogen peroxide biosensor was prepared by immobilizing horseradish peroxidase (HRP) enzyme on colloidal Au modified platinum (Pt) wire electrode, which was modified by poly 2,6-pyridinediamine (pPA). The modified process was characterized by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and the electrochemical characteristics of the biosensor were studied by cyclic voltammetry, linear sweep voltammetry and chronoamperometry. The biosensor displayed an excellent electrocatalytical response to reduction of H₂O₂ without the aid of an electron mediator, the linear range was 4.2 × 10⁻⁷–1.5 × 10⁻³ mol/L (r = 0.9977), with a detection limit of 1.4 × 10⁻⁷ mol/L. Moreover, the performance and factors influencing the resulted biosensor were studied in detail. The studied biosensor exhibited permselectivity, good stability and good fabrication reproducibility.     

Amperometric hydrogen peroxide biosensor based on the immobilization of HRP on nano-Au/Thi/poly (p-aminobenzene sulfonic acid)-modified glassy carbon electrode

A novel hydrogen peroxide biosensor was fabricated for the determination of H(2)O(2). The precursor film was first electropolymerized on the glassy carbon electrode with p-aminobenzene sulfonic acid (p-ABSA) by cyclic voltammetry (CV). Then thionine (Thi) was adsorbed to the film to form a composite membrane, which yielded an interface containing amine groups to assemble gold nanoparticles (nano-Au) layer for immobilization of horseradish peroxidase (HRP). The electrochemical characteristics of the biosensor were studied by CV and chronoamperometry. The factors influencing the performance of the resulting biosensor were studied in detail. The biosensor responded to H(2)O(2) in the linear range from 2.6 x 10(-6) mol/L to 8.8 x 10(-3) mol/L with a detection limit of 6.4 x 10(-7) mol/L. Moreover, the studied biosensor exhibited good accuracy and high sensitivity. The proposed method was economical and efficient, making it potentially attractive for the application to real sample analysis.     

Amperometric hydrogen peroxide biosensor based on the immobilization of HRP on nano-Au/Thi/poly (p-aminobenzene sulfonic acid)-modified glassy carbon electrode

A novel hydrogen peroxide biosensor was fabricated for the determination of H₂O₂. The precursor film was first electropolymerized on the glassy carbon electrode with p-aminobenzene sulfonic acid (p-ABSA) by cyclic voltammetry (CV). Then thionine (Thi) was adsorbed to the film to form a composite membrane, which yielded an interface containing amine groups to assemble gold nanoparticles (nano-Au) layer for immobilization of horseradish peroxidase (HRP). The electrochemical characteristics of the biosensor were studied by CV and chronoamperometry. The factors influencing the performance of the resulting biosensor were studied in detail. The biosensor responded to H₂O₂ in the linear range from 2.6 × 10^− 6 mol/L to 8.8 × 10^− 3 mol/L with a detection limit of 6.4 × 10^− 7 mol/L. Moreover, the studied biosensor exhibited good accuracy and high sensitivity. The proposed method was economical and efficient, making it potentially attractive for the application to real sample analysis.     

Electrochemical properties of hydrogenase on glass carbon electrodes modified with carbon nanotubes

Hydrogenase (H₂ ase) purified from phototropic bacteriumThiocapsa roseopersicina was coassembled with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on glass carbon electrodes. Both oxidized CNTs and Nafion-CNT composites were used to modify the electrodes. The pure H₂ are formed dot-like domains, while the oxidized CNT-H₂ ase and Nafion-CNT-H₂ ase composites formed wire-like and large closely packed aggregates, respectively. The reductive potentials for the [4Fe-4S]^2+/1+ clusters of H₂ase were at about −500, −650, and −700 mV (vs Ag/AgCl) for the electrodes modified with pure H₂ase, Nafion-SWNT-H₂ase, and Nafion-MWNT-H₂ase composites, respectively. Potential step chronocoulometry measurements indicated a larger charge-transfer diffusion coefficient between the H₂ase and electrodes when the CNTs were co-assembled with H₂ase, suggesting that the CNTs can not only act as a supporting layer to immobilize enzymes, but also act as a highly conductive wire throughout the films.     

Glucose biosensor based on immobilization of glucose oxidase in poly(o-aminophenol) film on polypyrrole-Pt nanocomposite modified glassy carbon electrode

Novel Pt nanoclusters embedded polypyrrole nanowires (PPy-Pt) composite was electrosynthesized on a glassy carbon electrode, denoted as PPy-Pt/GCE. A glucose biosensor was further fabricated based on immobilization of glucose oxidase (GOD) in an electropolymerized non-conducting poly(o-aminophenol) (POAP) film that was deposited on the PPy-Pt/GCE. The morphologies of the PPy nanowires and PPy-Pt nanocomposite were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM). Effect of experimental conditions involving the cycle numbers for POAP deposition and Pt nanoclusters deposition, applied potential used in glucose determination, temperature and pH value of the detection solution were investigated for optimization. The biosensor exhibited an excellent current response to glucose over a wide linear range from 1.5 × 10⁻⁶ to 1.3 × 10⁻² M (r = 0.9982) with a detection limit of 4.5 × 10⁻⁷ M (s/n = 3). Based on the combination of permselectivity of the POAP and the PPy films, the sensor had good anti-interference ability to ascorbic acid (AA), uric acid (UA) and acetaminophen. The apparent Michaelis–Menten constant (K_m) and the maximum current density (I_m) were estimated to be 23.9 mM and 378 μA/cm², respectively. In addition, the biosensor had also good sensitivity, stability and reproducibility.     

Highly sensitive and selective hydrogen peroxide biosensor based on hemoglobin immobilized at multiwalled carbon nanotubes-zinc oxide composite electrode

A highly sensitive and selective amperometric hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) biosensor based on immobilization of hemoglobin (Hb) at multiwalled carbon nanotubes-zinc oxide (MWCNT/ZnO) composite modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) is reported. ZnO microsponges were electrochemically grown on MWCNT surface by the simple, cost-effective, green, electrochemical method at room temperature. The MWCNT/ZnO/Hb composite film showed a pair of well-defined, quasi-reversible redox peaks with a formal potential (E°') of -0.336V, characteristic features of heme redox couple of Hb. The electron transfer rate constant (k(s)) of immobilized Hb was 1.26s(-1). The developed biosensor showed a very fast response (>2s) toward H(2)O(2) with good sensitivity, wide linear range, and low detection limit of 0.02μM. The fabricated biosensor showed interesting features, including high selectivity, acceptable stability, good reproducibility, and repeatability along with excellent conductivity, facile electron mobility of MWCNT, and good biocompatibility of ZnO. The fabrication method of this biosensor is simple and effective for determination of H(2)O(2) in real samples with quick response, good sensitivity, high selectivity, and acceptable recovery.     

A hydroquinone biosensor using modified core-shell magnetic nanoparticles supported on carbon paste electrode

A hydroquinone biosensor was developed and used to determine hydroquinone concentration in compost extracts based on the immobilization of laccase on the surface of modified magnetic core-shell (Fe(3)O(4)-SiO2) nanoparticles. Laccase was covalently immobilized on the magnetic nanoparticles by glutaraldehyde, which was modified with amino groups on its surface. The obtained magnetic bio-nanoparticles were attached to the surface of carbon paste electrode with the aid of a permanent magnet to determine hydroquinone. A good microenvironment for retaining the bioactivity of laccase was provided by the immobilization matrix. The linear range for hydroquinone determination was 1 x 10(-7) to 1.375 x 10(-4)M, with a detection limit of 1.5 x 10(-8)M. The current reached 95% of the steady-state current within about 60s. Hydroquinone concentration in compost extracts was determined by laccase biosensor and HPLC, the results of the two methods were approximately the same.     

Electrochemical DNA biosensor based on silver nanoparticles/poly(3-(3-pyridyl) acrylic acid)/carbon nanotubes modified electrode

In this work, we present an electrochemical DNA sensor based on silver nanoparticles/poly(trans-3-(3-pyridyl) acrylic acid) (PPAA)/multiwalled carbon nanotubes with carboxyl groups (MWCNTs-COOH) modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The polymer film was electropolymerized onto MWCNTs-COOH modified electrode by cyclic voltammetry (CV), and then silver nanoparticles were electrodeposited on the surface of PPAA/MWCNTs-COOH composite film. Thiol group end single-stranded DNA (HS-ssDNA) probe was easily covalently linked onto the surface of silver nanoparticles through a 5′ thiol linker. The DNA hybridization events were monitored based on the signal of the intercalated adriamycin by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). Based on the response of adriamycin, only the complementary oligonucleotides gave an obvious current signal compared with the three-base mismatched and noncomplementary oligonucleotides. Under the optimal conditions, the increase of reduction peak current of adriamycin was linear with the logarithm of the concentration of the complementary oligonucleotides from 9.0 × 10⁻¹² to 9.0 × 10⁻⁹ M with a detection limit of 3.2 × 10⁻¹² M. In addition, this DNA sensor exhibited an excellent reproducibility and stability during DNA hybridization assay.     

Glucose biosensor based on immobilization of glucose oxidase in poly(o-aminophenol) film on polypyrrole-Pt nanocomposite modified glassy carbon electrode

Novel Pt nanoclusters embedded polypyrrole nanowires (PPy-Pt) composite was electrosynthesized on a glassy carbon electrode, denoted as PPy-Pt/GCE. A glucose biosensor was further fabricated based on immobilization of glucose oxidase (GOD) in an electropolymerized non-conducting poly(o-aminophenol) (POAP) film that was deposited on the PPy-Pt/GCE. The morphologies of the PPy nanowires and PPy-Pt nanocomposite were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM). Effect of experimental conditions involving the cycle numbers for POAP deposition and Pt nanoclusters deposition, applied potential used in glucose determination, temperature and pH value of the detection solution were investigated for optimization. The biosensor exhibited an excellent current response to glucose over a wide linear range from 1.5 × 10⁻⁶ to 1.3 × 10⁻² M (r = 0.9982) with a detection limit of 4.5 × 10⁻⁷ M (s/n = 3). Based on the combination of permselectivity of the POAP and the PPy films, the sensor had good anti-interference ability to ascorbic acid (AA), uric acid (UA) and acetaminophen. The apparent Michaelis–Menten constant (K_m) and the maximum current density (I_m) were estimated to be 23.9 mM and 378 μA/cm², respectively. In addition, the biosensor had also good sensitivity, stability and reproducibility.     

A coulometric biosensor to determine hydrogen peroxide using a monomolecular layer of horseradish peroxidase immobilized on a glass surface

A biosensor to detect hydrogen peroxide, by coulometry, down to submicromolar concentration using a monomolecular layer of horseradish peroxidase was developed. In this device 0.3 pmol of the enzyme were covalently immobilized on the glass surface of the biosensor and the enzyme layer was characterized by atomic force microscopy and activity measurements. The glass surface bearing the peroxidase was faced to a carbon electrode in a cell of 1 microl of active volume. The polarization of the working electrode at -100 mV versus Ag/AgCl, in the presence of 1,4-hydroquinone as mediator, allowed the fast reduction of the injected hydrogen peroxide via the hydroquinone-peroxidase system. This device permitted to measure the total number of H(2)O(2) molecules present in the cell in the concentration range of 0.3-100 microM H(2)O(2), with a sensitivity of 196 nC/microM H(2)O(2), which is close to the theoretical value (193 nC/microM).     

Bienzymatic glucose biosensor based on co-immobilization of peroxidase and glucose oxidase on a carbon nanotubes electrode

A bienzymatic glucose biosensor was proposed for selective and sensitive detection of glucose. This mediatorless biosensor was made by simultaneous immobilization of glucose oxidase (GOD) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) in an electropolymerized pyrrole (PPy) film on a single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNT) coated electrode. The amperometric detection of glucose was assayed by potentiostating the bienzymatic electrode at -0.1 versus Ag/AgCl to reduce the enzymatically produced H(2)O(2) with minimal interference from the coexisting electroactive compounds. The single-wall carbon nanotubes, sandwiched between the enzyme loading polypyrrole (PPy) layer and the conducting substrate (gold electrode), could efficiently promote the direct electron transfer of HRP. Operational characteristics of the bienzymatic sensor, in terms of linear range, detection limit, sensitivity, selectivity and stability, were presented in detail.     

A novel electrochemical biosensor based on horseradish peroxidase immobilized on Ag-nanoparticles/poly(l-arginine) modified carbon paste electrode toward the determination of pyrogallol/hydroquinone

A novel electrochemical biosensor for the determination of pyrogallol (PG) and hydroquinone (HQ) has been constructed based on the poly l-arginine (poly(l-Arg))/carbon paste electrode (CPE) immobilized with horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) through the silica sol–gel (SiSG) entrapment. The electrochemical properties of the biosensor were characterized by employing the electrochemical techniques. The proposed biosensor showed a high sensitivity and fast response toward the determination of PG and HQ around 0.18 V. Under the optimized conditions, the anodic peak current of PG and HQ was linear with the concentration range of 8 μM to 30 × 10^?5 M and 1–150 μM. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) were found to be 6.2 μM, 20 μM for PG and 0.57 μM, 1.92 μM for HQ respectively. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) studies have confirmed that the occurrence of electron transfer at HRP-SiSG/AgNPs/poly(l-Arg)/CPE was faster. Moreover the stability, reproducibility and repeatability of the biosensor were also studied. The proposed biosensor was successfully applied for the determination of PG and HQ in real samples and the results were found to be satisfactory.     

Competitive cellular uptake of nanoparticles made from polystyrene, poly(methyl methacrylate), and polylactide

The uptake behavior of negatively charged fluorescent nanoparticles made from different polymers (PS, PMMA, and PLLA) is studied on HeLa cells. All particles are obtained by the miniemulsion process using sodium dodecylsulfate as anionic surfactant. The size of the particles is in the range 105-125 nm. Cell uptake is analyzed by flow cytometry and reveals a higher uptake of PLLA particles compared to PMMA and PS particles. In competitive uptake studies two different types of particles are co-incubated with the HeLa cells; the results indicate a mutual influence of the particles on their uptake behavior. A reduced internalization of PLLA particles in the presence of PS particles is observed, although neither the co-incubation of PMMA and PLLA nor of PMMA and PS shows similar effect.     

Structural transitions in poly(A), poly(C), poly(U), and poly(G) and their possible biological roles

The homopolynucleotide (homo-oligonucleotide) tracts function as regulatory elements at various stages of mRNAs life cycle. Numerous cellular proteins specifically bind to these tracts. Among them are the different poly(A)-binding proteins, poly(C)-binding proteins, multifunctional fragile X mental retardation protein which binds specifically both to poly(G) and poly(U) and others. Molecular mechanisms of regulation of gene expression mediated by homopolynucleotide tracts in RNAs are not fully understood and the structural diversity of these tracts can contribute substantially to this regulation.

This review summarizes current knowledge on different forms of homoribopolynucleotides, in particular, neutral and acidic forms of poly(A) and poly(C), and also biological relevance of homoribopolynucleotide (homoribo-oligonucleotide) tracts is discussed. Under physiological conditions, the acidic forms of poly(A) and poly(C) can be induced by proton transfer from acidic amino acids of proteins to adenine and cytosine bases. Finally, we present potential mechanisms for the regulation of some biological processes through the formation of intramolecular poly(A) duplexes.     

An amperometric glucose biosensor based on poly(o-aminophenol) and Prussian blue films at platinum electrode

Prussian blue (PB), as a good catalyst for the reduction of hydrogen peroxide, has been combined with nonconducting poly(o-aminophenol) (POAP) film to assemble glucose biosensor. Compared with PB-modified enzymatic biosensor, the biosensor based on glucose oxidase immobilized in POAP film at PB-modified electrode shows much improved stability (78% remains after 30 days) in neutral medium. Additionally, the biosensor, at an applied potential of 0.0 V, exhibits other good characteristics, such as relative low detection limit (0.01 mM), short response time (within 5s), large current density (0.28 mA/cm2), high sensitivity (24 mAM(-1)cm(-2)), and good antiinterferent ability. The apparent activation energy of enzyme-catalyzed reaction and apparent Michaelis-Menten constant are 34.2 KJmol(-1) and 10.5 mM, respectively. In addition, effects of temperature, applied potential used in the determination, pH value of the detection solution, and electroactive interferents on the amperometric response of the sensor were investigated and are discussed.     

On the measurement of carbon dioxide uptake with a glass electrode

1. It has been shown that the glass electrode method as previously described by the author for measurements of transient rates in photosynthesis is free of systematic errors. 2. Justification has been given for the use of the steady state-gas flow method for measuring rates of assimilation under conditions in which the solution is known not to be seriously depleted of CO₂. 3. The decline of photosynthetic rates under light saturation at CO₂ pressures less than several tenths per cent of an atmosphere has been shown to be a real phenomenon. It has been suggested that there may be a real discrepancy between this finding and those of some other investigators due to a difference in the previous history of the algal suspensions.     

A glucose biosensor based on electrodeposition of palladium nanoparticles and glucose oxidase onto Nafion-solubilized carbon nanotube electrode

Electrodeposition was used for the co-deposition of glucose oxidase (GOx) enzymes and palladium nanoparticles onto a Nafion-solubilized carbon nanotube (CNT) film. The co-deposited Pd-GOx-Nafion CNT bioelectrode retains its biocatalytic activity and offers an efficient oxidation and reduction of the enzymatically liberated H2O2, allowing for fast and sensitive glucose quantification. The combination of Pd-GOx electrodeposition with Nafion-solubilized CNTs enhances the storage time and performance of the sensor. An extra Nafion coating was used to eliminate common interferents such as uric and ascorbic acids. The fabricated Pd-GOx-Nafion CNT glucose biosensor exhibits a linear response up to 12 mM glucose and a detection limit of 0.15 mM (S/N = 3).     

Synthesis and coding properties of poly(c 1 A), poly(c 3 A), poly(c 7 A) and poly(h 6 A)

The homopolynucleotides poly(c¹A), poly(c³A), poly(c⁷A) and poly(h⁶A)⁺⁺ were synthesized from their corresponding nucleoside diphosphates using polynucleotide phosphorylase. With the exception of poly(h⁶A), which displayed no hypochromicity, the homopolynucleotides showed melting profiles similar to poly(A). All these polynucleotides, poly(h⁶A), poly(c⁷A), poly(c³A) and poly(c¹A) stimulated the binding of Lys-tRNA to ribosomes; the coding activity of poly(c¹A), however, was very low. Poly(h⁶A) was found to be less specific for Lys-tRNA than poly(A). The data supports the exclusive formation of Watson-Crick type base pairs and contradicts Hoogsteen base pairing in codon-anticodon recognition. Since, however, poly(h⁶A), which can form only one hydrogen bridge per base pair, stimulated the binding of Lys-tRNA comparably to poly(A), the coding activity of the homopolynucleotides tested is discussed in respect to their secondary structure as well as to the pK-values of their 6-amino groups.     

Amperometric and impedimetric characterization of a glutamate biosensor based on Nafion and a methyl viologen modified glassy carbon electrode

An electrochemical biosensor based on a glassy carbon (GC) electrode chemically modified with the perfluorinated cation-exchange polymer Nafion and methyl viologen (MV) is described. The enzyme was immobilized by cross-linking with glutaraldehyde in the presence of bovine serum albumin (BSA), methyl viologen and Nafion. Operating variables such as the enzyme/BSA ratio, cross-linking time in glutaraldehyde vapor, methyl viologen and Nafion percentages were investigated with regard to their influence on the biosensor sensitivity by using glucose oxidase as the enzyme model due to its high stability and low cost. The glutamate biosensor was elaborated by using optimized parameters and its electrochemical properties were investigated by cyclic voltammetry, amperometry and by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The glutamate biosensor shows a detection limit of 20 microM and a linear range extended to 0.75 mM. Its selectivity was tested with 15 different amino acids, each with a concentration of 20 microM, 25 microM acetaminophen, 20 microM uric acid and 200 microM ascorbic acid. No amperometric response was observed for the interfering species. This good selectivity allows glutamate detection in biological media without previous separation of the analyte.     

Amperometric ethanol biosensor based on poly(vinyl alcohol)-multiwalled carbon nanotube-alcohol dehydrogenase biocomposite

A novel amperometric ethanol biosensor was constructed using alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) physically immobilized within poly(vinyl alcohol)–multiwalled carbon nanotube (PVA–MWCNT) composite obtained by a freezing–thawing process. It comprises a MWCNT conduit, a PVA binder, and an ADH function. The measurement of ethanol is based on the signal produced by β-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH), the product of the enzymatic reaction. The homogeneity of the resulting biocomposite film was characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The performance of the PVA–MWCNT–ADH biocomposite modified glassy carbon electrode was evaluated using cyclic voltammetry and amperometry in the presence of NADH and in the presence of ethanol. The ethanol content in standard solutions was determined and a sensitivity of 196 nA mM⁻¹, a linear range up to 1.5 mM, and a response time of about 8 s were obtained. These characteristics allowed its application for direct detection of ethanol in alcoholic beverages: beer, red wine, and spirit.