Sensor and biosensor based on Prussian Blue modified gold and platinum screen printed electrodes

Gold (Au) and platinum (Pt) screen-printed electrodes were modified with Prussian Blue (PB) for the development of amperometric sensors selective for hydrogen peroxide detection. The sensors exhibited sensitivities towards H(2)O(2) equal to 2 A M(-1) cm(-2) for Au and 1 A M(-1) cm(-2) for Pt electrodes. The sensors were also employed as the basis for construction of glucose biosensors through further modification with crystallised glucose oxidase immobilised in a Nafion membrane. In order to improve the operational stability of the modified electrodes a buffer solution containing tetrabutylammonium toluene-4-sulfonate was used. The long-term performance of the sensors and biosensors were evaluated by continuous monitoring of hydrogen peroxide and glucose solutions (50 microM and 1 mM, respectively) in the flow-injection mode for 10 h.     

Horseradish peroxidase functionalized gold nanorods as a label for sensitive electrochemical detection of alpha-fetoprotein antigen

In this study, a novel tracer, horseradish peroxidase (HRP) functionalized gold nanorods (Au NRs) nanocomposites (HRP–Au NRs), was designed to label the signal antibodies for sensitive electrochemical measurement of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). The preparation of HRP–Au NRs nanocomposites and the labeling of secondary antibody (Ab₂) were performed by one-pot assembly of HRP and Ab₂ on the surface of Au NRs. The immunosensor was fabricated by assembling carbon nanotubes (CNTs), Au NRs, and capture antibodies (Ab₁) on the glassy carbon electrode. In the presence of AFP antigen, the labels were captured on the surface of the Au NRs/CNTs via specific recognition of antigen–antibody, resulting in the signal intensity being clearly increased. Differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) was employed to record the response signal of the immunosensor in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) containing hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB). Under optimal conditions, the signal intensity was linearly related to the concentration of AFP in the range of 0.1–100 ng ml⁻¹, and the limit of detection was 30 pg ml⁻¹ (at signal/noise [S/N] = 3). Furthermore, the immunoassay method was evaluated using human serum samples, and the recovery obtained was within 99.0 and 102.7%, indicating that the immunosensor has potential clinical applications.     

Novel planar glucose biosensors for continuous monitoring use

Novel planar glucose biosensors to be used for continuous monitoring have been developed. The electrodes are produced with the "screen printing" technique, and present a high degree of reproducibility together with a low cost and the possibility of mass production. Prior to enzyme immobilisation, electrodes are chemically modified with ferric hexacyanoferrate (Prussian Blue). This allows the detection of the hydrogen peroxide produced by the enzymatic reaction catalysed by GOD, at low applied potential (ca. 0.0 V versus Ag/AgCl), highly limiting any electrochemical interferences. The layer of Prussian Blue (PB) showed a high stability at the working conditions (pH 7.4) and also after 1 year of storage dry at RT, no loss of activity was observed. The assembled glucose biosensors, showed high sensitivity towards glucose together with a long-term operational and storage stability. In a continuous flow system, with all the analytical parameters optimised, the glucose biosensors detected glucose concentration as low as 0.025 mM with a linear range up to 1.0mM. These probes were also tested over 50-60 h in a continuous flow mode to evaluate their operational stability. A 0.5 mM concentration of glucose was continuously fluxed into a biosensor wall-jet cell and the current due to the hydrogen peroxide reduction was continuously monitored. After 50-60 h, the drift of the signal observed was around 30%. Because of their high stability, these sensors suggest the possibility of using such biosensors, in conjunction with a microdialysis probe, for a continuous monitoring of glucose for clinical purposes.     

Enzymatic glucose biosensor based on CeO2 nanorods synthesized by non-isothermal precipitation

Cerium oxide nanorods (CeO(2) NRs) were synthesized without templates through a low cost and simple non-isothermal precipitation method. The structure and morphology of CeO(2) NRs were characterized by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. The CeO(2) NRs films, deposited on indium tin oxide (ITO)-coated glass substrates through electrophoretic deposition, were used for the immobilization of glucose oxidase (GOx). Field emission scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were used to characterize the CeO(2) NRs/ITO and GOx/CeO(2) NRs/ITO electrodes. The GOx/CeO(2) NRs/ITO electrode exhibits a linear range for the detection of glucose from 2 to 26 mM (correlation coefficient: 0.99) at 1-2s response time. Biosensor sensitivity is 0.165 μA mM(-1) cm(-2) with 100 μM detection limit. The anti-interference ability of the biosensor was also examined. The mediator-less application of CeO(2) NRs for glucose sensing was demonstrated.     

Direct electrochemistry and electrocatalysis of hemoglobin in composite film based on ionic liquid and NiO microspheres with different morphologies

Flowerlike, spherical, and walnutlike NiO microspheres were respectively mixed with ionic liquid (IL) to form three stable composite films, which were used to immobilize hemoglobin (Hb) on carbon paste electrodes. Spectroscopic and electrochemical examinations revealed that the three NiO/IL composites were biocompatible matrix for immobilizing Hb, which showed good stability and bioactivity. However, electrochemical studies demonstrated that flowerlike NiO microspheres were far more effective than the other two in adsorbing Hb and facilitating the electron transfer between Hb and underlying electrode, which resulted from its unique flower architecture and large surface area. With advantages of flowerlike NiO and ionic liquid, a pair of stable and well-defined quasi-reversible redox peaks of Hb were obtained with a formal potential of -0.275 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) in pH 7.0 buffer. Meantime, flowerlike NiO modified electrode showed better electrocatalytic activity toward hydrogen peroxide reduction with a high sensitivity (15.7μAmM(-1)), low detection limit (0.68 μM) and small apparent Michaelis-Menten constant K(M) (0.18 mM). Flowerlike NiO could be a promising matrix for the fabrication of direct electrochemical biosensors in biomedical analysis.     

Assembly of myoglobin layer-by-layer films with poly(propyleneimine) dendrimer-stabilized gold nanoparticles and its application in electrochemical biosensing

The small-sized Au nanoparticles (3 nm) were prepared by reduction of HAuCl(4) in the presence of poly(propyleneimine) (PPI) dendrimers, forming the stable PPI-Au nanoclusters in aqueous medium. The PPI-Au nanoclusters might take a kind of "core-shell" structure, in which several PPI molecules were attached on the surface of one gold nanoparticle. The PPI-Au nanoclusters in aqueous dispersions and myoglobin (Mb) in its buffers at pH 5.0 were then alternately adsorbed on the surface of pyrolytic graphite (PG) electrodes and other solid substrates, forming {PPI-Au/Mb}(n) layer-by-layer films, which was confirmed by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and quartz crystal microbalance (QCM). {PPI-Au/Mb}(n) films on PG electrodes demonstrated a pair of well-defined and quasi-reversible CV reduction-oxidation peaks for Mb heme Fe(III)/Fe(II) couple and good electrocatalytic properties toward reduction of oxygen and hydrogen peroxide. Compared with {Au/Mb}(n) multilayer films containing no dendrimers and {PAMAM/Mb}(n) films assembled by polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers and Mb but in the absence of Au nanoparticles, {PPI-Au/Mb}(n) films showed better electrochemical behaviors and catalytic performances, which may be attributed to the unique structure of PPI-Au nanoclusters and good conductivity of gold nanoparticles. This novel kind of protein multilayer films assembled with dendrimer-stabilized gold nanoparticles may provide a new and general approach to fabricate the biosensors and bioreactors based on the direct electrochemistry of proteins or enzymes.     

Characterization and electrocatalytic properties of Prussian blue electrochemically deposited on nano-Au/PAMAM dendrimer-modified gold electrode

Gold electrode was modified with 3-mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) and further reacted with poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimer (generation 4.0) then attached the nano-Au to obtain films on which Prussian blue (PB) was electrochemically deposited to afford much wider pH adaptive range, much better electrochemical stability and excellent electrochemical response. The microstructure and electrochemical behavior of Au/MPA/PAMAM/nano-Au/PB electrode were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and cyclic voltammetry. The electrochemical response of the Au/MPA/PAMAM/nano-Au/PB-modified electrode for the electrocatalytic reduction of hydrogen peroxide was investigated, and it was found that the sensitivity as well as the corresponding detection limits were improved as compared to the voltammetric response of a Au/PB-modified electrode and Au/MPA/PAMAM/PB electrode. Based on this, a new electrochemical sensor for determination of hydrogen peroxide has been developed.     

A novel enzymatic hydrogen peroxide biosensor based on Ag/C nanocables

A novel enzymatic hydrogen peroxide sensor was successfully fabricated based on the nanocomposites containing of Ag/C nanocables and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). Ag/C nanocables have been synthesized by a hydrothermal method and then AuNPs were assembled on the surface of Ag/C nanocables. The nanocomposites were confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS). The above nanocomposites have satisfactory chemical stability and excellent biocompatibility. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) was used to evaluate the electrochemical performance of the Ag/C/Au nanocomposites at glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The results indicated that the Ag/C/Au nanocomposites exhibited excellent electrocatalytic activity to the reduction of H(2)O(2). It offered a linear range of 6.7×10(-9) to 8.0×10(-6) M, with a detection limit of 2.2×10(-9) M. The apparent Michaelis-Menten constant of the biosensor was 51.7×10(-6) M. These results indicated that Ag/C/Au nanocomposites have potential for constructing of a variety of electrochemical biosensors.     

Direct electrochemistry of hemoglobin in the hyaluronic acid films

Hemoglobin (Hb) in the hyaluronic acid (HA) was cast at pyrolytic graphite (PG) electrodes for researching its electrochemical and electrocatalytic properties. The formal potential and electron transfer rate constant of Hb on HA films were determined, and the stability of the films, the pH effect, and the influence of supporting electrolyte concentrations upon Hb electrochemistry on the films were investigated by cyclic voltammetry and square wave voltammetry. UV-Vis absorption and reflectance absorption infrared (RAIR) spectra showed that the protein on HA film retained near-native secondary structure. The stable Hb-HA/PG gave analytically useful electrochemical catalytic responses to hydrogen peroxide. Thus, the property of the HA film for sorption and retention of water maybe utilized to develop some new biosensors.     

Direct electrochemistry of hemoglobin in the hyaluronic acid films

Hemoglobin (Hb) in the hyaluronic acid (HA) was cast at pyrolytic graphite (PG) electrodes for researching its electrochemical and electrocatalytic properties. The formal potential and electron transfer rate constant of Hb on HA films were determined, and the stability of the films, the pH effect, and the influence of supporting electrolyte concentrations upon Hb electrochemistry on the films were investigated by cyclic voltammetry and square wave voltammetry. UV–Vis absorption and reflectance absorption infrared (RAIR) spectra showed that the protein on HA film retained near-native secondary structure. The stable Hb–HA/PG gave analytically useful electrochemical catalytic responses to hydrogen peroxide. Thus, the property of the HA film for sorption and retention of water maybe utilized to develop some new biosensors.     

Application of ionic liquids in electrochemical sensing systems

Since 1992, when the room temperature ionic liquids (ILs) based on the 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium cation were reported to provide an attractive combination of an electrochemical solvent and electrolyte, ILs have been widely used in electrodeposition, electrosynthesis, electrocatalysis, electrochemical capacitor, and lithium batteries. However, it has only been in the last few years that electrochemical biosensors based on carbon ionic liquid electrodes (CILEs) and IL-modified macrodisk electrodes have been reported. However, there are still a lot of challenges in achieving IL-based sensitive, selective, and reproducible biosensors for high speed analysis of biological and environmental compounds of interest. This review discusses the principles of operation of electrochemical biosensors based on CILEs and IL/composite-modified macrodisk electrodes. Subsequently, recent developments and major strategies for enhancing sensing performance are discussed. Key challenges and opportunities of IL-based biosensors to further development and use are considered. Emphasis is given to direct electron-transfer reaction and electrocatalysis of hemeproteins and enzyme-modified composite electrodes.     

Bimetallic AuPt nanochains: Synthesis and their application in electrochemical immunosensor for the detection of carcinoembryonic antigen

The recent development in the nanotechnology has paved the way for a large number of alloyed nanomaterials and devices of desirable properties which have useful functions for electrochemical sensor and biosensor applications. In this paper, bimetallic AuPt nanochains were synthesized through a mild chemical method, with which anti-horseradish peroxidase-conjugated anti-carcinoembryonic antigen (HRP-anti-CEA-NCAuPt) was developed for electrochemical detection of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in a sandwich-type immunoassay format. The alloyed nanocrystals exhibit not only sound signal amplification effect of Au nanoparticles, but also further new combination of interfacial, electrical and structural properties arising from the disparate AuPt components. As a result, the electrochemical signal was significantly amplified by using the HRP-anti-CEA-NCAuPt as tracer and hydrogen peroxide as enzyme substrate. The linear range of the developed immunosensor is 0.01-200ng/mL and the detection limit is 0.11pg/mL of CEA, which makes the biometallic nanochains promising candidates for the next-generation sandwich-type electrochemical immunoassays.     

Gold-coated silica-fiber hybrid materials for application in a novel hydrogen peroxide biosensor

We describe the preparation and characterization of a novel type of core-shell hybrid material for application in a novel hydrogen peroxide biosensor, where the structure consists of a continuous gold shell that encapsulates the silica fiber. The SiO(2)@Au nanofibers had been synthesized by electrospinning silica sol, and then golden seeds were in situ grown on the fiber, lastly the gold-seeded silica fibers were further coated by continuous gold shells. The above nanocomposites had satisfactory chemical stability, excellent biocompatibility and efficient electron transfer property, which may have potential application for the highly sensitive chemical or biological sensors. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) was used to evaluate the electrochemical performance of the SiO(2)@Au nanocomposites at indium tin oxide (ITO). The biosensor showed high sensitivity and fast response upon the addition of H(2)O(2) and the linear range to H(2)O(2) was from 5×10(-6) to 1.0×10(-3)M with a detection limit of 2 μM (S/N=3). The apparent Michaelis-Menten constant of the biosensor was 1.11 mmol L(-1). These results indicated that SiO(2)@Au nanocomposites have potential for constructing of a variety of electrochemical biosensors.     

Multienzymatic amperometric biosensor based on gold and nanocomposite planar electrodes for glycerol determination in wine

Amperometric biosensors based on gold planar or nanocomposite electrode containing multiwalled carbon nanotubes for determination of glycerol were developed. The biosensors were constructed by immobilization of a novel multienzyme cascade consisting of glycerol kinase/creatine kinase/creatinase/sarcosine oxidase/peroxidase between a chitosan "sandwich." A measuring buffer contained adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP), creatine phosphate, and an artificial electrochemical mediator ferrocyanide. The currents proportional to glycerol concentration were measured at working potential of -50 mV against Ag/AgCl reference electrode. The biosensors showed linearity over the ranges of 5-640 μM and 5-566 μM with detection limits of 1.96 and 2.24 μM and sensitivities of 0.80 and 0.81 nA μM(-1), respectively. Both types of biosensors had a response time of 70s. The biosensors demonstrated satisfactory operational stability (no loss of sensitivity after 90 consecutive measurements) and excellent storage stability (90% of the initial sensitivity after 15 months of storage at room temperature). The results obtained from measurements of wines correlated well with those obtained with an enzymatic-spectrophotometric assay. The presented multienzyme cascade can be used also for determination of triglycerides or various kinase substrates when glycerol kinase is replaced by other kinases.     

Ultra-fine Pt nanoparticles supported on ionic liquid polymer-functionalized ordered mesoporous carbons for nonenzymatic hydrogen peroxide detection

Poly(ionic liquid) (PIL) coated ordered mesoporous carbons (OMCs) were prepared by in situ polymerization of 3-ethyl-1-vinylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([VEIM]BF(4)) monomer on OMCs matrix. PIL on the surface of OMCs can provide sufficient binding sites to anchor the precursors of metal ion. PIL/OMCs were employed as support material for the deposition and formation of ultra-fine Pt nanoparticles, via the self-assembly between the negative Pt precursor and positively charged functional groups of PIL-functionalized OMCs. The combination of the unique properties of each component endows Pt/PIL/OMCs as a good electrode material. Compared with the Pt/OMCs nanocomposite, the Pt/PIL/OMCs modified electrode displays high electrocatalytic activity towards hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) and gives linear range from 1.0 × 10(-7) to 3.2 × 10(-3) M (R=0.999). The Pt/PIL/OMCs responds very rapidly to the changes in the level of H(2)O(2), producing steady-state signals within 4-5s. A high sensitivity of 24.43 μA mM(-1) and low detection limit of 0.08 μM was obtained at Pt/PIL/OMCs modified electrode towards the reduction of H(2)O(2). The improved activity makes Pt/PIL/OMCs nanocomposite promising for being developed as an attractive robust and new electrode material for electrochemical sensors and biosensors design.     

Polyazetidine-based immobilization of redox proteins for electron-transfer-based biosensors

A highly stable functional composite film was prepared using polyazetidine prepolymer (PAP) with peroxidase from horseradish (HRP) and/or glucose oxidase (GOx). The good permeability of the PAP layer to classical electrochemical mediators, as evaluated by the determination of the diffusion coefficient of different redox molecules, is of great importance in view of the use of PAP as an immobilizing agent in second-generation biosensor development. Cyclic voltammetry of the HRP-PAP layer on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) showed a pair of stable and quasi-reversible peaks for the HRP-Fe((III))/Fe((II)) redox couple at about -370 mV vs. Ag/AgCl electrode in pH 6.5 phosphate buffer. The electrochemical reaction of HRP entrapped in the PAP film exhibited a surface-controlled electrode process. This film and the successive modifications (HRP-PAP self-assembled monolayer (SAM) modified Au electrode) were used as a biological catalyst (hydrogen peroxide transducers) for glucose biosensors, after coupling to GOx. Both HRP/GOx-PAP and HRP/GOx-PAP SAM third generation biosensors were prepared and characterized. The use of PAP as immobilizing agent offers a biocompatible micro-environment for confining the enzyme and foreshadows the great potentiality of this immobilizing agent not only in theoretical studies on protein direct electron transfer but also from an applications point of view in the development of second- and third-generation biosensors.     

Can peroxygenase and microperoxidase substitute cytochrome P450 in biosensors

Aromatic peroxygenase (APO) from the basidiomycetous mushroom Agrocybe aegerita (AaeAPO) and microperoxidases (MPs) obtained from cytochrome c exhibit a broad substrate spectrum including hydroxylation of selected aromatic substrates, demethylation and epoxidation by means of hydrogen peroxide. It overlaps with that of cytochrome P450 (P450), making MPs and APOs to alternate recognition elements in biosensors for the detection of typical P450 substrates. Here, we discuss recently developed approaches using microperoxidases and peroxygenases in view of their potential to supplement P450 enzymes as recognition elements in biosensors for aromatic compounds. Starting as early as the 1970s, the direct electron transfer between electrodes and the heme group of heme peptides called microperoxidases has been used as a model of oxidoreductases. These MP-modified electrodes are used as hydrogen peroxide detectors based on the catalytic current generated by electrically contacted microperoxidase molecules. A similar catalytic reaction has been obtained for the electrode-immobilised heme protein AaeAPO. However, up to now, no MP-based sensors for substrates have been described. In this review, we present biosensors which indicate 4-nitrophenol, aniline, naphthalene and p-aminophenol based on the peroxide-dependent substrate conversion by electrode-immobilised MP and AaeAPO. In these enzyme electrodes, the signal is generated by the conversion of all substrates, thus representing in complex media an overall parameter. The performance of these sensors and their further development are discussed in comparison with P450-based electrodes.     

An electrochemical sensor based on cellulose nanocrystal for the enantioselective discrimination of chiral amino acids

A novel electrochemical sensor based on 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (TEMPO)-oxidized cellulose nanocrystals (TOCNCs) and l-cystines (l-Cys) modified Au electrode (TOCNC/l-Cys/Au) has been fabricated for detection and discrimination of the enantiomers of phenylalanine (Phe), leucine (Leu), and valine (Val). The three amino acids are in connection with metabolism diseases. The TOCNC/l-Cys/Au electrode exhibited obvious peak current difference for the amino acid enantiomers by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). The TOCNCs on the electrode surface expressed different interactions with d- and l-amino acids, so the electrochemical recognitions of the three amino acid enantiomers were achieved. TOCNCs were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The modified electrodes were characterized by SEM and electrochemical techniques. According to DPV, peak currents of the two enantiomers decreased linearly with their concentrations. Furthermore, satisfactory results were obtained when this electrode was applied to measure the d- and l-Phe mixture. The experimental results show that TOCNCs are suitable material for chiral sensor. The contrast of serum sample of healthy people and patients with type 2 diabetes also was proposed, and significant difference was exhibited on the modified electrode. This work is significant for the screening, diagnosis, and treatment of multiple metabolic diseases.     

Comparisons of platinum, gold, palladium and glassy carbon as electrode materials in the design of biosensors for glutamate

Four electrode materials: Pt, Au, Pd and glassy carbon (GC), were studied to investigate their suitability as substrates in the development of two different classes of glutamate biosensor. Glutamate oxidase cross-linked onto poly(o-phenylenediamine) was chosen as the type 1 biosensor (PPD/GluOx), incorporating PPD as the permselective element to detect H(2)O(2) directly on the electrode surface at relatively high applied potentials. GluOx and horseradish peroxidase/redox polymer modified electrodes (Os(2+)PVP/HRP/GluOx) that relied on enzyme-catalysed H(2)O(2) detection at lower applied potentials were used as type 2 biosensors. The voltammetric and amperometric responses to the enzyme signal transduction molecule, H(2)O(2), and the archetypal interference species in biological applications, ascorbic acid, were determined on the bare and PPD/GluOx-modified surfaces. The amperometric responses of these electrodes were stable over several days of continuous recording in phosphate buffered saline (pH 7.4). The sensitivity of the type 1 biosensors to H(2)O(2) and glutamate showed parallel trends with low limits of detection and good linearity at low concentrations: Pt>Au approximately Pd>GC. Type 2 biosensors out-performed the type 1 design for all electrode substrates, except Pt. However, the presence of the permselective PPD membrane in the type 1 biosensors, not feasible in the type 2 design, suggests that Pt/PPD/GluOx might have the best all-round characteristics for glutamate detection in biological media containing interference species such as ascorbic acid. Other points affecting a final choice of substrate should include factors such as mass production issues.     

Library of electrocatalytic sites in nano-structured domains: electrocatalysis of hydrogen peroxide

Electrochemical detection of hydrogen peroxide at eight types of ormosil-modified electrodes, referred as hexacyanoferrate-system; Prussian blue systems (PB-1, PB-2, and PB-3), palladium (Pd-) system, graphite (Gr-) system, gold nanoparticle (AuNPs) system and palladium-gold nanoparticle (Pd-AuNPs) system were studied. The results on electrochemical detection suggested that hydrogen peroxide does not undergo homogeneous electrochemical mediation; however, the presence of redox mediator within nano-structured domains facilitates the electro-analysis of the same via redox electrocatalysis. Four approaches causing manipulation in nano-structured domains are described: (a) increase in the molecular size of the components generating nano-structured domains; (b) modulation via chemical reactivity; (c) modulation by non-reactive moieties and known nanoparticles; and (d) modulation by mixed approaches (a-c), all leading to decrease in a nano-structured domains. The results demonstrated that an increase in the size of nano-structured domains or decrease in micro-porous geometry increases the efficiency of electrocatalysis. The basic reaction protocol adopted in generating nano-structured domains, followed by manipulation protocols, supported the introduction of a library for creating electrocatalytic sites with varying electrocatalytic efficiency within the same basic nano-structured platform.