Enzyme Immobilization on Maghemite Nanoparticles with Improved Catalytic Activity: An Electrochemical Study for Xanthine

Generally, enzyme immobilization on nanoparticles leads to nano-conjugates presenting partially preserved, or even absent, biological properties. Notwithstanding, recent research demonstrated that the coupling to nanomaterials can improve the activity of immobilized enzymes. Herein, xanthine oxidase (XO) was immobilized by self-assembly on peculiar naked iron oxide nanoparticles (surface active maghemite nanoparticles, SAMNs). The catalytic activity of the nanostructured conjugate (SAMN@XO) was assessed by optical spectroscopy and compared to the parent enzyme. SAMN@XO revealed improved catalytic features with respect to the parent enzyme and was applied for the electrochemical studies of xanthine. The present example supports the nascent knowledge concerning protein conjugation to nanoparticle as a means for the modulation of biological activity

Polymer brush modified electrode with switchable selectivity triggered by pH changes enhanced by gold nanoparticles

In this work, a sensor was built up with smart material based on polymer brush and gold nanoparticles. The modified electrode functionalized with polyacrylic acid (PAA) tethered to indium tin oxide (ITO) and covered with gold nanoparticle (ITO/PAA/Au) demonstrated switchable interfacial properties discriminating different pHs. The switchable electrochemical and plasmonic process was characterized by cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemistry impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR).Neste trabalho foi desenvolvido um sensor com propriedades inteligentes, baseado em polímeros escova (poli-ácido acrílico) modificado com nanopartículas de ouro. Este novo material demonstrou propriedades comutáveis que podem discriminar diferentes pHs. O eletrodo foi caracterizado por voltametria cíclica (CV), espectroscopia de impedância eletroquímica (EIS) e ressonância plasmônica de superfície localizada (LSPR)

Electroanalytical determination of 4-nitrophenol by square wave voltammetry on diamond electrodes

The anodic voltammetric behavior of 4-Nitrophenol on a Boron-doped diamond electrode in aqueous solution has been studied using square wave voltammetry. After optimization of the experimental conditions, that model molecule was analyzed in pure water solutions using a Britton-Robinson buffer with pH 6.0 as the supporting electrolyte. Oxidation occurs at 1.0 V vs. Ag/AgCl in an irreversible two-electron process controlled by adsorption of the species. The detection limit (DL) obtained was 2.8 mug L-1. This result was comparable to that obtained from reduction of the molecule at -0.8 V vs. Ag/AgCl under the same experimental conditions (DL = 4.2 mug L-1). Both DL values are within the limits required by the legislation for drinking water (30 mug L-1). The combination of square wave voltammetry and diamond electrodes has proved to be an interesting and desirable alternative for the analytical determination of organic molecules

Switchable biosensor controlled by biocatalytic process

The poly(dimethylamino methacrylate) (PDMAEMA) brush-modified indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode was used to test the switch properties of interfacial activity caused by bioelectrochemical signals. The swelling of the polymer brushes increased when the medium's pH changed from alkaline to acid after glucose was added to the system. A pH change generated in situ by means of biocatalytic reactions enabled bioelectrocatalytic interface's reversible activation. © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim

Determination of parathion and carbaryl pesticides in water and food samples using a self assembled monolayer/acetylcholinesterase electrochemical biosensor

An acetylcholinesterase (AchE) based amperometric biosensor was developed by immobilisation of the enzyme onto a self assembled modified gold electrode. Cyclic voltammetric experiments performed with the SAM-AchE biosensor in phosphate buffer solutions ( pH = 7.2) containing acetylthiocholine confirmed the formation of thiocholine and its electrochemical oxidation at E-p = 0.28 V vs Ag/AgCl. An indirect methodology involving the inhibition effect of parathion and carbaryl on the enzymatic reaction was developed and employed to measure both pesticides in spiked natural water and food samples without pre-treatment or pre-concentration steps. Values higher than 91-98.0% in recovery experiments indicated the feasibility of the proposed electroanalytical methodology to quantify both pesticides in water or food samples. HPLC measurements were also performed for comparison and confirmed the values measured amperometrically.FAPESP (Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo)CNPq (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico

Plasmonic Nanobiosensor with Chain Reaction Amplification Mechanism

Herein we demonstrate a plasmonic nanobiosensor that explores chain reaction amplification mechanisms to transduce chemical signals released in biocatalytic reactions, turning optical signals into a visual spectral range. The sensor has a very simple design: gold nanoparticles resting in the surface of a grafted P2VP film. Changes in the gold nanoparticles' position causes changes in the plasmon coupling mode. This is detected by means of a maximum absorbance shift.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq