Combined physical and chemical immobilization of glucose oxidase in alginate microspheres improves stability of encapsulation and activity

Chemical sensors utilizing immobilized enzymes and proteins are important for monitoring chemical processes and biological systems. In this study, calcium-cross-linked alginate hydrogel microspheres were fabricated as enzyme carriers by an emulsification technique. Glucose oxidase (GOx) was encapsulated in alginate microspheres using three different methods: physical entrapment (emulsion), chemical conjugation (conjugation), and a combination of physical entrapment and chemical conjugation (emulsion-conjugation). Nano-organized coatings were applied on alginate/GOx microspheres using the layer-by-layer self-assembly technique in order to stabilize the hydrogel/enzyme system under biological environment. The encapsulation of GOx and formation of nanofilm coating on alginate microspheres were verified with FTIR spectral analysis, zeta-potential analysis, and confocal laser scanning microscopy. To compare both the immobilization properties of enzyme encapsulation techniques and the influence of nanofilms with uncoated microspheres, the relationship between enzyme loading, release, and effective GOx activity (enzyme activity per unit protein loading) were studied over a period of four weeks. The results produced four key findings: (1) the emulsion-conjugation technique improved the stability of GOx in alginate microspheres compared to the emulsion technique, reducing the GOx leaching from microsphere from 50% to 17%; (2) the polyelectrolyte nanofilm coatings increased the GOx stability over time, but also reduced the effective GOx activity; (3) the effective GOx activity for the emulsion-conjugation technique (about 3.5 x 10(-)(5) AU microg(-)(1) s(-)(1)) was higher than that for other methods, and did not change significantly over four weeks; and (4) the GOx concentration, when compared after one week for microspheres with three bilayers of poly(allylamine hydrochloride)/sodium poly(styrene sulfonate) ({PAH/PSS}) coating, was highest for the emulsion-conjugation technique. As a result, the comparison of these three techniques showed the emulsion-conjugation technique to be a potentially effective and practical way to fabricate alginate/GOx microspheres for implantable glucose biosensor application.     

Activity studies of glucose oxidase immobilized onto poly(N-vinylimidazole) and metal ion-chelated poly(N-vinylimidazole) hydrogels

Poly(N-vinylimidazole), PVIm, gels were prepared by γ-irradiation polymerization of N-vinylimidazole in aqueous solutions. These affinity gels with a water swelling ratio of 1800% for plain polymeric gel and between 30 and 80% for Cu(II) and Co(II)-chelated gels at pH 6.0 in phosphate buffer were used in glucose oxidase (GOx) adsorption–desorption studies. Different amounts of Cu(II) and Co(II) ions (maximum 3.64 mmol/g dry gel for Cu(II) and 1.72 mmol/g dry gel for Co(II)) were loaded onto the gels by changing the initial concentration of Cu(II) and Co(II) ions, and pH. GOx adsorption on these gels from aqueous solutions containing different amount of GOx at different pH was investigated in batch reactors. Immobilized glucose oxidase activity onto the poly(N-vinylimidazole), and Cu(II) and Co(II)-chelated poly(N-vinylimidazole) were investigated with changing pH and the initial glucose oxidase concentration. Maximum activity of immobilized glucose oxidase onto the PVIm, Cu(II) and Co(II)-chelated PVIm gels was investigated and pH dependence was observed to be at pH 6.5 for free enzyme, pH 7.0 for PVIm, pH 7.5 for Cu(II) and Co(II)-chelated PVIm gels, respectively. The stability of the immobilized enzyme is very high for all gels and the residual activity was higher than 93% in the first 10 days.     

Immobilization of lipase on epoxy activated (1-->3)-alpha-D-glucan isolated from Penicillium chrysongenum

A water-insoluble linear (1-->3)-alpha-D-glucan was isolated from Penicillium mycelia. Three kinds of epoxy-activated microspheres of this glucan were prepared as supports for Candida sp. lipase (EC3.1.1.3) immobilization. The highest immobilization yield was 36.4%. The specific activity was 26.85 U/mg, and only 4.1% of activity was lost in comparison with the free enzyme used for immobilization. The higher thermal stability, storage stability, and reusability of the immobilized lipase make it a potential candidate for wide application.     

Reversible immobilization of glucoamylase onto magnetic chitosan nanocarriers

A simple preparation process for the monodispersed pH-sensitive core-shell magnetic microspheres was carried out consisting of chitosan self-assembled on magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles. Meanwhile, glucoamylase was immobilized as a model enzyme on this carrier of Fe₃O₄/CS microspheres by ionic adsorption. The morphology, inner structure, and high magnetic sensitivity of the resulting magnetic chitosan microspheres were studied, respectively, with a field emission scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), FT-IR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). Subsequently, the properties of glucoamylase immobilized on the regenerated supports were also investigated by determining storage stability, pH stability, reusability, magnetic response, and regeneration of supports. The results from characterization and determination remarkably indicated that the immobilized glucoamylase obtained presents excellent storage stability, pH stability, reusability, magnetic response, and regeneration of supports. Therefore, this kind of magnetic Fe₃O₄/CS microspheres with perfect monodispersity should be an ideal support for enzyme immobilization.     

Preserved enzymatic activity of glucose oxidase immobilized on unmodified electrodes for glucose detection

Glucose sensing electrodes have been realized by immobilizing glucose oxidase (GOx) on unmodified edge plane of highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (epHOPG) and the native oxide of heavily doped silicon (SiO2/Si). Both kinds of electrode show direct interfacial electron transfer due to the redox process of the immobilized GOx. The measured formal potential of the redox process agrees with that of the native enzyme, suggesting that the immobilized GOx has retained its enzymatic activity. The electron transfer rates of the GOx immobilized electrode are 2s(-1) for GOx/epHOPG electrode and 7.9s(-1) for GOx/SiO2/Si electrode, which are greater than those for which GOx is immobilized on modified electrodes, probably due to the fact that the enzyme makes direct contact to electrode surface. The preservation of the enzymatic activity of the immobilized GOx has been confirmed by observing the response of the GOx/epHOPG and GOx/SiO2/Si electrodes to glucose with a detection limit of 0.050 mM. The response signals the catalyzed oxidation of glucose and, therefore, confirms that the immobilized GOx retained its enzymatic activity. The properties of the electrode as a glucose sensor are presented.     

Glucose oxidase immobilization on a novel cellulose acetate-polymethylmethacrylate membrane

Glucose oxidase (GOD) was immobilized on cellulose acetate-polymethylmethacrylate (CA-PMMA) membrane. The immobilized GOD showed better performance as compared to the free enzyme in terms of thermal stability retaining 46% of the original activity at 70 degrees C where the original activity corresponded to that obtained at 20 degrees C. FT-IR and SEM were employed to study the membrane morphology and structure after treatment at 70 degrees C. The pH profile of the immobilized and the free enzyme was found to be similar. A 2.4-fold increase in Km value was observed after immobilization whereas Vmax value was lower for the immobilized GOD. Immobilized glucose oxidase showed improved operational stability by maintaining 33% of the initial activity after 35 cycles of repeated use and was found to retain 94% of activity after 1 month storage period. Improved resistance against urea denaturation was achieved and the immobilized glucose oxidase retained 50% of the activity without urea in the presence of 5M urea whereas free enzyme retained only 8% activity.     

Miniaturized glucose biosensor modified with a nitric oxide-releasing xerogel microarray

An enzyme-based glucose biosensor modified to release nitric oxide (NO) via a xerogel microarray is reported. The biosensor design is as follows: (1) glucose oxidase (GOx) is immobilized in a methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMOS) xerogel layer; (2) a blended polyurethane/hydrophilic polyurethane coating prevents enzyme leaching and imparts selectivity for glucose; and (3) micropatterned xerogel lines (5 microm wide) separated by distances of 5 or 20 microm provide NO-release capability. This configuration allows for increased glucose sensitivity relative to sensors modified with NO-releasing xerogel films since significant portions of the sensor surface remain unmodified. Glucose diffusion to the GOx layer is thus less inhibited. The micropatterned NO-releasing biosensors generate sufficient NO levels to reduce both Pseudomonas aeruginosa and platelet adhesion without significantly compromising the enzymatic activity of GOx. The glucose response, linearity and stability of the NO-releasing micropatterned sensors are reported.     

Sol-gel based glucose biosensors employing optical oxygen transducers, and a method for compensating for variable oxygen background

Various types of thin-film glucose biosensors based on the use of the enzyme glucose oxidase (GOx) have been developed. The luminescent oxygen probe Ru(dpp)--whose emission is quenched by oxygen--is used to measure the consumption of oxygen. Three different combinations of oxygen transducer and sol-gel immobilized GOx were tested. In the first, GOx was sandwiched between a sol-gel layer doped with Ru(dpp) and a second sol-gel layer composed of pure sol-gel (the 'sandwich' configuration). In the second, a sol-gel layer doped with Ru(dpp) was covered with sol-gel entrapped GOx (the 'two-layer configuration'). In the third, both GOx and a sol-gel powder containing GOx were incorporated into a single sol-gel phase (the 'powder configuration'). In all cases, it was found to be essential to add sorbitol which results in a more porous sol-gel in which diffusion is not impaired. The sandwich configuration provides the highest enzyme activity and the largest dynamic range (0.1-15 mM), but suffers from a distinct decrease in sensitivity upon prolonged use. The two-layer configuration has the fastest response time (t90 = 50 s), while the 'powder configuration' provides the best operational lifetime. The storage stability of all configurations exceeds 4 months if stored at 4 degrees C. In an Appendix, equations are derived which describe the response of such sensors, how the effect of varying oxygen supply can be compensated for by making use of two sensors, one sensitive to oxygen only, the other to both oxygen and glucose, and how such sensors can be calibrated using two calibrators only.     

Immobilization of flavoproteins on silicon: effect of cross-linker chain length on enzyme activity.

The effect of cross-linker chain length on the activities of choline oxidase (ChO) and glucose oxidase (GOx) immobilized on oxidized silicon wafers has been investigated for the cross-linkers N-succinimidyl 4-maleimido-butyrate (GMBS) and N-succinimidyl 6-maleimidocaproate (EMCS). Enzyme activities were determined with an indirect fluorometric assay based on the production of hydrogen peroxide. Immobilization of ChO or GOx onto oxidized silicon with either cross-linker resulted in an 86-99% loss in enzymatic activity relative to the soluble form of the flavoprotein. However, the different cross-linkers had distinctly different effects on enzyme activity: EMCS-immobilized GOx was four times more active than GMBS-immobilized GOx; EMCS-immobilized ChO had a sevenfold higher activity than GMBS-immobilized ChO.     

Improved properties of bilirubin oxidase by entrapment in alginate-silicate sol-gel matrix

Bilirubin oxidase from Myrothecium verrucaria was immobilized by immersing enzyme-containing calcium alginate beads in a hexane solution of tetramethoxy-ortho-silicate (TMOS). Products from TMOS hydrolysis permeated and co-polymerized with the alginate gel and formed a colloid within the beads that entraps the enzyme. Bilirubin oxidase in the composite alginate-silicate-protein gel showed twice the activity compared to that of the free enzyme and improved thermal stability and excellent reusability. © Rapid Science Ltd. 1998     

Immobilization of glucose oxidase on electrodeposited nickel oxide nanoparticles: direct electron transfer and electrocatalytic activity

For the first time glucose oxidase (GOx) was successfully co-deposited on nickel-oxide (NiO) nanoparticles at a glassy carbon electrode. In this paper we present a simple fabrication method of biosensor which can be easily operated without using any specific reagents. Cyclic voltammetry was used for electrodeposition of NiO nanoparticle and GOx immobilization. The direct electron transfer of immobilized GOx displays a pair of well defined and nearly reversible redox peaks with a formal potential (E(0')) of -0.420 V in pH 7 phosphate buffer solution and the response shows a surface controlled electrode process. The surface coverage and heterogeneous electron transfer rate constant (k(s)) of GOx immobilized on NiO film glassy carbon electrode are 9.45 x 10(-13)mol cm(-2) and 25.2+/-0.5s(-1), indicating the high enzyme loading ability of the NiO nanoparticles and great facilitation of the electron transfer between GOx and NiO nanoparticles. The biosensor shows excellent electrocatalytical response to the oxidation of glucose when ferrocenmethanol was used as an artificial redox mediator. Furthermore, the apparent Michaelis-Menten constant 2.7 mM, of GOx on the nickel oxide nanoparticles exhibits excellent bioelectrocatalytic activity of immobilized enzyme toward glucose oxidation. In addition, this glucose biosensor shows fast amperometric response (3s) with the sensitivity of 446.2nA/mM, detection limit of 24 microM and wide concentration range of 30 microM to 5mM. This biosensor also exhibits good stability, reproducibility and long life time.     

Immobilization of alkaline protease on nylon

The parameters involved in immobilization of alkaline protease on nylon using glutaraldehyde as coupling agent and the characteristics of the immobilized enzyme were investigated. Optimum temperature and pH of both free and immobilized enzyme for the degradation of protein was found. Immobilized enzyme showed better thermal stability than the free enzyme. The reusability and storage stability of the immobilized enzyme was also studied.     

Real-time assessment of spatial and temporal coupled catalysis within polyelectrolyte microcapsules containing coimmobilized glucose oxidase and peroxidase

The encapsulation of biological enzymes within polyelectrolyte microcapsules is an important step toward microscale devices for processing and analytical applications, one which could be applied to the realization of minimally invasive sensing technology. In this work, the encapsulation and functional characterization of a bienzymatic coupled catalytic system within polyelectrolyte microcapsules is described. The two components, glucose oxidase (GOx) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP), were coprecipitated with calcium carbonate microspheres, followed by layer-by-layer assembly to form ultrathin polymer film coatings that act as capsule walls after removal of the sacrificial carbonate cores. Encapsulated concentrations of GOx and HRP were determined to be 19.7 +/- 1.0 and 29.4 +/- 3.6 mg/mL, respectively. An 85% decrease in the rate of glucose consumption relative to GOx and HRP in free solution was observed, which is attributed to substrate diffusion limitations. To further understand the temporal and spatial dynamics of the two-step reaction, a technique for monitoring microscale glucose consumption was developed using confocal imaging techniques. Time-based acquisition of capsule/Amplex Red suspensions was performed, from which it was observed that the high concentration of enzyme immobilized within the capsule walls resulted in a greater rate and quantity of glucose consumption at the capsule periphery when compared to glucose consumption within the capsule interior. These findings demonstrate the function of a bienzymatic catalytic system within the controlled environment of polyelectrolyte microspheres and a novel approach to analysis of the internal reactions using confocal imaging that will allow direct comparison with reaction-diffusion modeling and further explorations to optimize the distribution and activity of the encapsulated species.     

Fabrication of polymeric electron-transfer mediator/enzyme hydrogel multilayer on an Au electrode in a layer-by-layer process

The layer-by-layer (LBL) construction of an enzyme electrode covered with a multilayer structure alternately composed of a polymeric electron transfer mediator and a polymer-modified enzyme was examined. Poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine-co-p-vinylphenylboronic acid-co-vinylferrocene) (PMVF) was synthesized and used as a polymeric electron transfer mediator. Glucose oxidase (GOx) was selected as a model enzyme and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) chains were bound to the GOx (GOx-PVA) under mild conditions. The PMVF and PVA formed a gel spontaneously through a selective reaction between phenylboronic acid units and hydroxyl groups in both polymers. Using the spin coating technique, a repeating PMVF/GOx-PVA multilayer was fabricated on the surface of an Au electrode. The thickness of each PMVF/GOx-PVA layer was around 5.8 nm, corresponding to the dimensions of GOx. The electrochemical performance of the electrode was evaluated in glucose concentration measurement. The oxidation current of glucose by GOx was measured at 0.38 V (vs. Ag/AgCl), verifying that ferrocene units in the PMVF of the hydrogel electrically wired the immobilized GOx. Moreover, the current increased with the number of PMVF/GOx-PVA layers. That is, both intermolecular electron transfer between each individual layer and the presence of a freely diffusing substrate in the hydrogel were achieved. We conclude that a LBL structure constructed from PMVF and a PVA-modified enzyme is effective for use in developing bioelectronic devices that employ enzyme molecules.     

Effects of immobilization on the kinetics of enzyme-catalyzed reactions. I. Glucose oxidase in a recirculation reactor system.

Glucose oxidase from Aspergillus niger was immobilized on nonporous glass beads by covalent bonding and its kinetics were studied in a packed-column recycle reactor. The optimum pH of the immobilized enzyme was the same as that of soluble enzyme; however, immobilized glucose oxidase showed a sharper pH-activity profile than that of the soluble enzyme. The kinetic behavior of immobilized glucose oxidase at optimum pH and 25 degrees C was similar to that of the soluble enzyme, but the immobilized material showed increased temperature sensitivity. Immobilized glucose oxidase showed no loss in activity on storage at 4 degrees C for nearly ten weeks. On continuous use for 60 hr, the immobilized enzyme showed about a 40% loss in activity but no change in the kinetic constant.     

Stability evaluation of 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase immobilized on amino-functionalized magnetic nanoparticles

Abstract

In this study, 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase was covalently immobilized onto the N-2-aminoethyl-3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) modified core-shell Fe₃O₄@SiO₂ magnetic nanoparticles (ASMNPs) using glutaraldehyde (GA). Immobilization of 6PGDH on ASMNPs was confirmed using fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. The NADP⁺ conversion ratio, the reusability, thermal, and storage stability of the immobilized 6PGDH were determined and compared with those of the free enzyme. The maximum retention of enzyme activity reached to 96% when the enzyme was immobilized on ASMNPs activated with monomer form of GA. Although the thermal stability of free and immobilized enzymes was similar, at 30?°C, the immobilized 6PGDH showed the improved thermal stability at 40?°C and 50?°C compared with free 6PGDH. While the free 6PGDH only converted 33% of NADP⁺ in reaction medium upon 480?s, the immobilized 6PGDH performed 56% conversion of NADP⁺ at same time. The immobilized 6PGDH retained 62% of its initial activity up to the fifth cycle and 35% of its initial activity after 22?days of storage at 4?°C.     

Multilayer membranes for glucose biosensing via layer-by-layer assembly of multiwall carbon nanotubes and glucose oxidase

A bilayer of the polyelectrolytes poly(dimethyldiallylammonium chloride) (PDDA) and poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS) was formed on a 3-mercapto-1-propanesulfonic-acid-modified Au electrode. Subsequently, multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) wrapped by positively charged PDDA were assembled layer-by-layer with negatively charged glucose oxidase (GOx) onto the PSS-terminated bilayer. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy were adopted to monitor the regular growth of the PDDA-MWCNTs/GOx bilayers. Using GOx as a model enzyme, the assembled multilayer membranes showed some striking features such as the adsorbed form of GOx on individual MWCNT, uniformity, good stability, and electrocatalytic activity toward oxygen reduction. Based on the consumption of dissolved oxygen during the oxidation process of glucose catalyzed by the immobilized GOx, a sensitive amperometric biosensor was developed for the detection of glucose up to 5.0 mM with a detection limit of 58 microM. The sensitivity increased with increasing sensing layers up to five bilayers. Ascorbic acid and uric acid did not cause any interference due to the use of a low operating potential. The present method showed high reproducibility for the fabrication of carbon-nanotubes-based amperometric biosensors.     

A novel nanobiocomposite based glucose biosensor using neutral red functionalized carbon nanotubes

The performance of a new glucose biosensor based on the combination of biocatalytic activity of glucose oxidase (GOx) with the electrocatalytic properties of CNTs and neutral red (NR) for the determination of glucose is described. This sensor is comprised of a multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) conduit functionalized with NR and Nafion (Nf) as a binder and glucose oxidase as a biocatalyst. Neutral red was covalently immobilized on carboxylic acid groups of the CNTs via carbodiimide reaction. The functionalized MWNTs were characterized by microscopic, spectroscopic and thermal methods. The MWNT-NR-GOx-Nf nanobiocomposite was prepared by mixing the GOx solution with NR functionalized CNTs followed by mixing homogeneously with Nafion. The performance of the MWNT-NR-GOx-Nf nanobiocomposite modified electrode was examined by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. The catalytic reduction of hydrogen peroxide liberated from the enzymatic reaction of glucose oxidase upon glucose with NR functionalized CNTs leads to the selective detection of glucose. The excellent electrocatalytic activity and the influence of nanobiocomposite film result in good characteristics such as low potential detection of glucose with a large determination range from 1 x 10(-8) to 1 x 10(-3)M with a detection limit of 3 x 10(-9)M glucose, a short response time (with 4s), good stability and anti-interferent ability. The improved electrocatalytic activity and stability made the MWNT-NR-GOx-Nf nanobiocomposite biosensor system a potential platform to immobilize different enzymes for other bioelectrochemical applications.     

Immobilization of adenosine deaminase onto agarose and casein

In the present study adenosine deaminase (ADA) was immobilized onto two different polymeric materials, agarose and casein. The factors affecting the amount of enzyme attachment onto the polymeric supports such as incubation time were investigated. The maximum amount of enzyme immobilized onto different polymeric supports occurred at incubation pH value 7.5 and ADA concentration 42 units/g and the incubation time needed for the maximum amount of enzyme attachment to the polymeric supports was found to be 8 h. Some phsicochemical properties of the free and immobilized ADA such as operational stability, optimum temperature and thermal stability, pH optimum and stability, storage stability, and the effect of gamma-radiation were studied. The operational stability of the free and immobilized enzyme showed that the enzyme immobilized by a cross-linking technique using gultaric dialdehyde showed poor durability and the relative activity decreased sharply due to the leakage after repeated washing, while the enzymes immobilized by covalent bonds to the carriers showed a slight decrease in most cases in the relative activity (around 20%) after being used 10 times. Storage for 4-6 months, showed that the free enzyme lost its activity, while the immobilized enzyme showed the opposite behavior. Subjecting the immobilized enzyme to a dose of gamma radiation of 0.5-10 Mrad showed complete loss in the activity of the free enzyme at a dose of 5 Mrad, while the immobilized enzymes showed relatively high resistance to gamma radiation up to a dose of 5 Mrad.     

Development and characterization of a novel bioactive polymer with antibacterial and lysozyme‐like activity

The development and characterization of a novel bioactive polymer based on the immobilization of glucose oxidase enzyme (GOx) in a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) film showing antibacterial activity is presented. The PVA‐GOx composite material was extensively characterized by UV‐vis, X‐ray Photoelectron (XPS) spectroscopy and by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy to verify the preservation of enzyme structural integrity and activity. The antimicrobial activity of this composite material against Escherichia coli and Vibrio alginolyticus was assessed. Furthermore the lysozyme‐like activity of PVA‐GOx was highlighted by a standard assay on Petri dishes employing Micrococcus lysodeikticus cell walls. The findings from this study have implications for future investigations related to the employment of PVA‐GOx system as a composite material of pharmaceutical and technological interest. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 101: 461–470, 2014.