Reproducibility Of Biosensor Research Articles

Technical Advance: Surface plasmon resonance-based analysis of CXCL12 binding using immobilized lentiviral particles

Use of SPR-based biosensors is an established method for measuring molecular interactions. Their application to the study of GPCRs is nonetheless limited to detergent-solubilized receptors that can then be reconstituted into a lipid environment. Using the chemokine receptor CXCR4 and its specific ligand CXCL12, we outline here a highly reproducible biosensor method based on receptor presentation on the surface of lentiviral particles; the approach is simple and does not require the use of antibodies to achieve correct receptor orientation on the sensorchip surface. We measured the kinetic parameters of CXCR4/CXCL12 binding in a single step and in real time and evaluated the effect of GAG presentation of chemokines on this interaction. The data indicate that at low concentrations, soluble heparin modulates CXCR4/CXCL12 interaction and at high concentrations, abrogates binding. These observations suggest that in addition to their known role in modulating local chemokine availability, GAG affect the receptor/ligand interaction, although their influence on affinity parameters is very limited. The method will also be useful for quantifying these biomarkers in biological fluids and for the development of high-throughput screening for their antagonists.

Immobilization of Acetylcholinesterase on Screen-Printed Electrodes. Application to the Determination of Arsenic(III)

Enzymatic amperometric procedures for measuring arsenic, based on the inhibitive action of this metal on acetylcholinesterase enzyme activity, have been developed. Screen-printed carbon electrodes (SPCEs) were used with acetylcholinesterase covalently bonded directly to its surface. The amperometric response of acetylcholinesterase was affected by the presence of arsenic ions, which caused a decrease in the current intensity. The experimental optimum working conditions of pH, substrate concentration and potential applied, were established. Under these conditions, repeatability and reproducibility of biosensors were determined, reaching values below 4% in terms of relative standard deviation. The detection limit obtained for arsenic was 1.1 × 10−8 M for Ach/SPCE biosensor. Analysis of the possible effect of the presence of foreign ions in the solution was performed. The method was applied to determine levels of arsenic in spiked tap water samples.

Electrodeposition polymers as immobilization matrices in amperometric biosensors: improved polymer synthesis and biosensor fabrication

Electrodeposition polymers can be precipitated on electrode surfaces upon electrochemical-induced modulations of the pH value in the diffusion zone in front of the electrode. The formed polymer films can be used as immobilization matrices in amperometric biosensors. In order to rationally control the thus obtained biosensor properties, it is indispensable to develop strategies for the reproducible synthesis of electrodeposition polymers as well as methods for the non-manual and reproducible sensor fabrication. Based on instrumental developments such as a specifically designed parallel synthesizer with improved stirring and temperature control, an automatic pipetting robot for the preparation of the monomer mixtures and controlled removal of polymerization inhibitors, the reproducible synthesis of libraries of electrodeposition polymers was achieved. Moreover, the polymerization process could be monitored using in-line thermocouples, and it could be shown that the chosen strategies led to reproducible polymerization reactions. By adaptation of an electrochemical robotic system integrating a Au microtiter plate and automatic electrode cleaning by means of a polishing wheel reproducible biosensor fabrication using glucose oxidase as a model enzyme could be demonstrated. These results open the route for the rational development of biosensors and control of the sensor properties by choosing specifically designed electrodeposition polymers.

Amperometric Cholesterol Biosensors Based on the Electropolymerization of Pyrrole and Aniline in Sulphuric Acid for the Determination of Cholesterol in Serum

A new amperometric cholesterol biosensor was prepared by immobilizing cholesterol oxidase by a glutaraldehyde crosslinking procedure on polypyrrole-polyaniline (ppy-pani) composite film on the surface of a platinum electrode. In order to prepare a biosensor for the determination of cholesterol, electropolymerization of pyrrole and aniline on Pt surface was performed with an electrochemical cell containing pyrrole and aniline in sulphuric acid by cyclic voltammetry between 0.0 and 0,7 V (vs.Ag/AgCl) at a scan rate of 50 mV upon Pt electrode. The amperometric determination is based on the electrochemical detection of H(2)O(2), which is generated in enzymatic reaction of cholesterol. The cholesterol determined by the oxidation of enzymatically generated H(2)O(2) at 0.7 V vs. Ag/AgCl. The optimized cholesterol oxidase biosensor displayed linear working range and a response time of 300 s. The effects of pH and temperature were investigated and optimum parameters were found to be 7.0, 25 degrees C, respectively. In addition to this, the stability and reproducibility of biosensor were tried. Operational stability of the proposed cholesterol biosensor was obtained by periodical measurements of the biosensor response. Biosensor at optimum activity conditions was used in 30 activity assays in one day to determine the operational stability. The results show that 82% of the response current was retained after 30 activity assays. The electrode was stored in a refrigerator at 4 degrees C after the measurements. The storage stability of the biosensor was determined by performing activity assays within 23 days. The results demonstrate that 60% of the response current was retained after 23 days. Preparing biosensor is used for the analysis of cholesterol in serum.

New redox mediator-modified polysulfone composite films for the development of dehydrogenase-based biosensors

This work presents polysulfone membranes as new materials for the development of compact dehydrogenase-based biosensors. Composite films were prepared by mixing polysulfone with graphite and were deposited on epoxy-graphite composite electrodes. Redox mediators were successfully immobilized in the composite film leading to highly reproducible biosensors, without leakage of the immobilized species. This results in a more reliable analytical system as, at the same time, problems of electrode fouling related to the detection of the coenzyme nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) on which is based the amperometric detection of dehydrogenase-based biosensors are avoided. Scanning electron microscopy was used to study the morphological characteristics of the surface and the cross-section of the polysulfone-graphite composite films. Several procedures to immobilize enzymes in these membranes were demonstrated. Glutamate dehydrogenase (GlDH) was immobilized as an example of dehydrogenase enzyme, in this case for the development of an ammonium biosensor. High sensitivity, good selectivity, wide linear ranges and short response times were obtained for the optimized sensors and biosensors. Their good performance combined with the simplicity of the construction method, make the polysulfone-graphite composite films attractive matrices for the development of new enzyme-based biosensors, especially those based on dehydrogenase enzymes.

Enzyme immobilization procedures on screen-printed electrodes used for the detection of anticholinesterase pesticides: Comparative study

A comparison between several acetylcholinesterase (AChE) immobilization procedures on the 7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ)-modified graphite working electrodes is presented. The immobilization methods employed crosslinking with glutaraldehyde in presence of BSA protein and photopolymerization with poly(vinyl alcohol) bearing styrylpyridinium groups (PVA-SbQ). The main variations were related to the enzyme charge in each electrode and the enzyme conditioning and storage conditions after immobilization. Initially, the enzyme–substrate reaction was carried out and the following parameters were chrono-amperometrically and -coulometrically monitored: current intensities, time to stabilize the current response, and the mass transfer represented by the Coulomb charge. The screen-printed biosensors that presented best characteristics were then used to perform the inhibition assays and to verify the sensitivity against the following NMC insecticides: aldicarb, carbaryl, carbofuran, and methomyl. In general, diffusion of electrons into the sensitive layer, mass transfer, and time to stabilize the current were adequate in all cases. The Cottrell law was followed before the 1 min of enzyme–substrate reaction. Adequate reproducibility within electrochemical measurements was also observed, with relative standard deviations varying from 6.5 to 18.6%. AChE immobilization with glutaraldehyde allow to obtain robust and reproducible biosensors, but they need a much higher enzyme content (80 mUA per electrode) to achieve current values comparable to that constructed by immobilizing the AChE through photopolymerization with PVA-SbQ (0.7 to 1 mUA per electrode). The limits of detection were determined with a minimum 10% inhibition, and varied from 10 −9 to 8×10 −9 M (0.2 to 1.5 ppb) by employing the enzyme immobilization through photopolymerization with PVA-SbQ. In practice, this kind of immobilization procedure is much simpler and produces good results: fast response, adequate reproducibility, large pesticides working ranges, and excellent sensitivities to N-methylcarbamates (NMCs) which in general do not present enzyme inhibition power as elevated as for the organophosphate pesticides.

Nanoanalytical measurement of protein orientation on conductive sensor surfaces

The control of protein immobilisation and orientation at surfaces is of increasing relevance in biotechnological devices. These devices include reproducible biosensors, biofuel cells, and protein arrays, all of which require the immobilisation of protein/enzymatic sensing elements with retention of their activity. The control of protein orientation upon immobilisation is of importance in (1) facilitating equal access of analyte molecules to the protein that acts as a sensing element and (2) creating favourable interactions to stabilise the protein on the surface for long-term storage and usage of bio-devices. This review presents a comparison of a number of surface analysis techniques that have been widely used in the chemical analysis of surfaces that offer the potential to discriminate different orientations of the same protein on a conductive surface.

From Thick Films to Monolayer Recognition Layers in Amperometric Enzyme Electrodes

Theoretical models of the conventional thick-film enzyme electrode and monolayer electrodes are used to determine the important parameters in defining the response of both types of biosensors with regard to their reproducible fabrication. The response of the thick-film biosensors are very sensitive to the thickness of the enzyme layer and therefore highly precise methods of depositing the enzyme layer are required if reproducible biosensors are to be manufactured. Covalent attachment of an enzyme to a monolayer of alkanethiols self-assembled onto a gold electrode could potentially provide this more precise fabrication method. A model for monolayer enzyme electrodes gives an excellent fit to an experimental calibration plot for a monolayer of glucose oxidase attached to a self-assembled monolayer. The model showed the response was highly dependent on the amount of enzyme immobilized and therefore the reproducibility of monolayer enzyme electrodes will be limited by the reproducibility of the enzyme immobilization. The model predicts the response of the monolayer biosensor is limited by the turnover rate of the enzyme rather than the supply of substrate as is the case with thick-film biosensors.

Bioelectrochemical determination of citric acid in real samples using a fully automated flow injection manifold.

An enzymic method for the determination of citric acid in fruits, juices and sport drinks is proposed. The method is based on the action of the enzymes citrate lyase, oxaloacetate decarboxylase and pyruvate oxidase, which convert citric acid into H2O2 with the latter being monitored amperometrically with a H2O2 probe. The enzymes pyruvate oxidase and oxaloacetate decarboxylase were immobilized. A multi-membrane system, consisting of a cellulose acetate membrane for the elimination of interferants, an enzymic membrane and a protective polycarbonate membrane were placed on a Pt electrode and used with a fully automated flow injection manifold. Several parameters were optimized, resulting in a readily constructed and reproducible biosensor. Interference from various compounds present in real samples was minimized. Calibration graphs were linear over the range 0.01-0.9 mM pyruvate, 0.015-0.6 mM oxaloacetate and 0.015-0.5 mM citrate. The throughput was 30 samples h-1 with an RSD of 1.0% (n = 8); the mean relative error was 2.4% compared with a standard method. The recovery was 96-104%. A 8-10% loss of the initial activity of the sensor was observed after 100-120 injections.