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Biosensors as useful tools for environmental analysis and monitoring.

Recent advances in the development and application of biosensors for environmental analysis and monitoring are reviewed in this article. Several examples of biosensors developed for relevant environmental pollutants and parameters are briefly overviewed. Special attention is paid to the application of biosensors to real environmental samples, taking into consideration aspects such as sample pretreatment, matrix effects and validation of biosensor measurements. Current trends in biosensor development are also considered and commented on in this work. In this context, nanotechnology, miniaturisation, multi-sensor array development and, especially, biotechnology arise as fast-growing areas that will have a marked influence on the development of new biosensing strategies in the near future.

Animals↗

Applications of whole-cell bacterial sensors in biotechnology and environmental science.

Biosensors have major advantages over chemical or physical analyses with regard to specificity, sensitivity, and portability. Recently, many types of whole-cell bacterial biosensors have been developed using recombinant DNA technology. The bacteria are genetically engineered to respond to the presence of chemicals or physiological stresses by synthesizing a reporter protein, such as luciferase, beta-galactosidase, or green fluorescent protein. In addition to an overview of conventional biosensors, this minireview discusses a novel type of biosensor using a photosynthetic bacterium as the sensor strain and the crtA gene, which is responsible for carotenoid synthesis, as the reporter. Since bacteria possess a wide variety of stress-response mechanisms, including antioxidation, heat-shock responses, nutrient-starvation, and membrane-damage responses, DNA response elements for several stress-response proteins can be fused with various reporter genes to construct a versatile set of bacterial biosensors for a variety of analytes. Portable biosensors for on-site monitoring have been developed using a freeze-dried biosensing strain, and cell array biosensors have been designed for high-throughput analysis. Moreover, in the future, the use of single-cell biosensors will permit detailed analyses of samples. Signals from such sensors could be detected with digital imaging, epifluorescence microscopy, and/or flow cytometry.

Bacteria↗

Evaluation of neuron-based sensing with the neurotransmitter serotonin.

Results are presented on the development of a novel biosensor which will use neurons or neuronal components as both the recognition elements and primary transducers for analyte quantitation. This concept is demonstrated and evaluated by exposing identified neurons from the visceral ganglia of the pond snail Limnea stagnalis to the model analyte serotonin. Experiments reveal a reversible, concentration-dependent increase in the rate of spontaneous action potential generation, over a concentration range of four orders of magnitude. Studies with the antagonist methysergide verify that this response is mediated through serotonin-sensitive receptors. Exposure of the neurons to serotonin causes the firing frequency to rapidly increase to a maximum and then slowly diminish to a sub-optimal level. It was found that the maximum frequency provides an indication of chemical concentration that is repeatable. Data are also presented which further advance the field of neuronal biosensing by demonstrating both the effects of cell to cell variability on response reproducibility and the effects of the desensitizing response on the operation of a neuron-based sensor in both a continuous and discontinuous mode.

Action Potentials↗

Current developments in optical biochemical sensors.

By combining modern fibre optics and opto-electronic instrumentation with chemical and biochemical reagent systems, it has become possible to fabricate optical biosensors. The current state of the art in this development is reviewed in this paper. Many developments describe selective and sensitive methods for sensing bioanalytes and it is likely that such a development will continue to be a very active area of analytical research. However, these biosensing devices can be regarded as successful only if their practicality and reliability can be demonstrated.

Albumins↗

Comparison of colloidal gold electrode fabrication methods: the preparation of a horseradish peroxidase enzyme electrode.

In order to prepare biosensing electrodes which respond to hydrogen peroxide, horseradish peroxidase has been adsorbed to colloidal gold sols and electrodes prepared by deposition of these enzyme-gold sols onto glassy carbon using three methods: evaporation, electrodeposition and electrolyte deposition. In the latter method the enzyme-gold sol is applied to the surface of a glassy carbon disk electrode followed by an equal volume of 2 mM CaCl2. The electrolyte causes the sol to precipitate on the electrode surface, producing an immobilized enzyme electrode. Satisfactory electrodes which gave an electrochemical response to hydrogen peroxide in the presence of the electron transfer mediator ferrocenecarboxylic acid were produced by all three methods. Evaporation of horseradish peroxidase-gold sols produced electrodes with the best reproducibility and the widest linear amperometric response range. These electrodes can also easily be stored in a dry state. Although not as good as evaporation, electrodeposition also produced satisfactory electrodes. Electro-deposition provides the added advantage that it lends itself to the preparation of multi-enzyme/multi-analyte electrodes by the adsorption of different enzymes to separate gold sols, followed by sequential electrodeposition onto discrete areas of a multichannel electrode.

Biosensing Techniques↗

Biosensors based on plant and animal tissues.

A biosensor is defined as a device that incorporates a biological component which is either intimately connected to or integrated within a transducer. Biocatalysts, such as specialized tissues from higher animals and plants, have been incorporated into various electrochemical transducers to construct biosensors for the detection of important analytes. The receptor-based biosensors utilize isolated receptors or whole intact receptor organisms as molecular recognition elements for the detection of various important analytes including drugs, hormones, toxicants, neurotransmitters and amino acids. The immobilization of isolated receptors on transducers such as ISFETs, electric capacitors and optical fibers for biosensing has been given significant consideration recently. Intact chemoreceptor-based biosensors, in particular, offer several advantages including extremely short response time, a high degree of sensitivity, a wide range of linear response and inherent selectivity. This review highlights some of the recent advances in plant and animal tissue-based biosensors, with emphasis on historical developments.

Animals↗

Engineering novel diagnostic modalities and implantable cytomimetic nanomaterials for next-generation medicine.

The advent of 21st century medicine will be based on a comprehensive approach to achieving the highly sensitive and specific detection of diseases, as well as the development of novel materials and devices based on biotic-abiotic interfacing as interventional modalities. Novel technologies that enable early identification of physiological changes will serve as a gateway tool for the proper treatment of these disorders. Toward the realization of these technologies, microfabrication and nanofabrication methods have been applied to biomedical systems that allow scientists to interact with cellular and molecular systems on their native size scales. Future enabling systems will build on the foundation composed of such devices. With respect to the envisioned fruition of biofunctional nanomaterials and systems, foundational studies of biological systems and molecules, as well as their interfacing with biocompatible materials, have produced a domain of components that can be integrated and engineered toward eventual cytomimetic materials for transplantation. In addition, the potential underscoring of their future applications in nanoscale medicine is based on the ability to engineer and design intelligent membrane/protein self-assembling and organization phenomena that are typically found in nature into these artificial composite systems. These devices will provide a powerful suite of solutions with broad applicabilities in nanomedicine, for example, (1) the use of concomitant protein functionality toward energy production and the powering of medical implants and (2) replacement of damaged cells (e.g., heart and neuron) with implantable biologically intelligent engineered materials. This work will examine key advances in the areas of diagnostics and synthetic biology that have led to visionary contributions to next-generation medicine. Furthermore, we present 2 devices that will contribute to the realization of compelling biosensing and biofunctional material technologies. These systems include advanced diagnostic platforms for whole-cell detection, as well as copolymeric materials that have been functionalized by the coupled activity of their embedded membrane proteins. They are envisioned to successfully bridge the gap between foundational scientific progress and the realization of rapid point-of-care disease assessment and biofunctional devices with higher-order behavior.

Biocompatible Materials↗

Bifunctional DNA-gold nanoparticle conjugates as building blocks for the self-assembly of cross-linked particle layers.

The DNA-directed self-assembly of surface-bound layers of gold nanoparticles offers a broad range of applications in biomedical analyses as well as in materials science. We here describe a new concept for the assembly of substrate-bound nanoparticle monolayers which employs bifunctional nanoparticles as building blocks, containing two independently addressable DNA oligomer sequences. One of the sequences was utilized for attaching the particle at the solid support, while the other sequence was used to establish cross-links between adjacently immobilized particles. AFM analyses proved the functionality of inter-particle cross-links leading to enhanced surface coverages and the formation of monolayered supramolecular aggregates attached to the substrate. We anticipate that further refinement of this approach will enable applications, for instance, the assembly of ordered layers useful as transducers in biosensing.

Adsorption↗

Profiling the allosteric response of an engineered beta-galactosidase to its effector, anti-HIV antibody.

Escherichia coli beta-galactosidase responds enzymatically to antiviral antibodies when a viral antigenic peptide, acting as receptor, is conveniently displayed in the vicinity of the active site. The allosteric response of a beta-galactosidase molecular sensor containing a B-cell epitope from HIV has been finely dissected upon binding of an effector monoclonal antibody, within a wide range of standard concentrations of both enzyme and substrate. The topography of the enzymatic activation reveals a wide set of conditions in which the enzymatic response renders a signal over threefold the background, that is suitable for analytical biosensing. Moreover, at discrete enzyme-substrate coordinates, the effector antibody promotes an enhanced activation factor up to fivefold. The insertion of the 37-mer viral peptide between beta-galactosidase residues 795 and 796 is observed as inducer of the structural flexibility required for molecular sensing, whose dynamics and efficiency are intimately associated with the concentrations of enzyme and substrate, the two partners in the signal transduction event.

Allosteric Regulation↗

Femtosecond dynamics of proteoheparan sulfate (HS-PG) after UV excitation--a readout for arteriosclerotic nanoplaque formation?

Ultrashort UV laser pulses were used to excite tryptophan residues of heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HS-PG) in blood substitute Krebs solution. Tryptophan fluorescence is sensitive to the environment, so its shift and decay indicate the conformation and solvation state of the protein. We monitored stimulated emission and excited-state absorption by probing with delayed white-light femtosecond pulses. Comparison with bare tryptophan revealed transient absorption features which are characteristic for HS-PG. Furthermore, the effect of adding calcium salt was investigated. Differences in the spectra from solutions with and without calcium developed during several minutes, which points to changes in protein conformation, but could only be measured in the sub-ps regime. These results provide a first step to a better understanding of the molecular formation of nanoplaques in blood vessels. The goal of this work is to open a way towards biosensing of the initial stages in atherogenesis allowing for a risk assessment in cardiovascular disease.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Covalent attachment of glucose oxidase to an Au electrode modified with gold nanoparticles for use as glucose biosensor.

A feasible method to fabricate glucose biosensor was developed by covalent attachment of glucose oxidase (GOx) to a gold nanoparticle monolayer modified Au electrode. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) of ferrocyanide followed and confirmed the assemble process of biosensor, and indicated that the gold nanoparticles in the biosensing interface efficiently improved the electron transfer between analyte and electrode surface. CV performed in the presence of excess glucose and artificial redox mediator, ferrocenemethanol, allowed to quantify the surface concentration of electrically wired enzyme (Gamma(E)(0)) on the basis of kinetic models reported in literature. The Gamma(E)(0) on proposed electrode was high to 4.1 x 10(-12) mol.cm(-2), which was more than four times of that on electrode direct immobilization of enzyme by cystamine without intermediate layer of gold nanoparticles and 2.4 times of a saturated monolayer of GOx on electrode surface. The analytical performance of this biosensor was investigated by amperometry. The sensor provided a linear response to glucose over the concentration range of 2.0 x 10(-5)-5.7 x 10(-3) M with a sensitivity of 8.8 microA.mM(-1).cm(-2) and a detection limit of 8.2 microM. The apparent Michaelis-Menten constant (K(m)(app)) for the sensor was found to be 4.3 mM. In addition, the sensor has good reproducibility, and can remain stable over 30 days.

Biosensing Techniques↗

In situ observation of biomolecules patterned on a PEG-modified Si surface by scanning probe lithography.

A Si(100) wafer was modified with methoxy-poly(ethylene glycol) (M-PEG silane) via a self-assembly technique and nano-/micro-sized patterns were then fabricated by scanning probe lithography. The protrusive silicon dioxide pattern was more reactive compared to the non-patterned area, i.e. the PEG deposited area. To demonstrate the feasibility of the submicron patterning of protein based on the anodic oxidation of the Si surface by atomic force microscopy (AFM), streptavidin labelled with Au-colloidal particle and non-labelled streptavidin were site-selectively immobilized on the patterned areas. The streptavidin-patterned surface produced by these procedures can be utilized for the detection of biotinylated materials, such as an antibody and an antigen. A patterned silicon surface is the basis of biosensing devices, in which the patterned areas serve as sensing elements that directly interact with bioanalytes, while the background of the substrate remains passive to the deposition of analytes, thus resulting in a high signal-to-noise ratio.

Biosensing Techniques↗

A biosensor for the determination of amylase activity.

A new biosensing flow injection method for the determination of alpha-amylase activity has been introduced. The method is based on the analysis of maltose produced during the hydrolysis of starch in the presence of alpha-amylase. Maltose determination in the flow system was allowed by the application of peroxide electrode equipped with an enzyme membrane. The membrane was obtained by immobilisation of glucose oxidase, alpha-glucosidase and optionally mutarotase on a cellophane, co-crosslinked by gelatin-glutaraldehyde together with bovine serum albumine. alpha-Glucosidase hydrolyses maltose to alpha-D-glucose, which is converted to beta-D-glucose by mutarotase. beta-D-Glucose is then determined via glucose oxidase. The new biosensor has the limit of detection of 50 nmol l(-1) maltose, which means 2 nkat ml(-1) in alpha-amylase activity units, when the reaction time of amylase was 5 min (determined with respect to a signal-to-noise ratio 3:1). When the reaction time of alpha-amylase was 30 min, the limit of detection was 0.5 nkat ml(-1). A linear range of current response was 0.1-3 mmol l(-1) maltose, with a response time of 35s. The biosensor was stable at least two months and retained 70% of its original activity (with mutarotase the stability is decreased to 3 weeks). When the enzyme membrane was stored in a dry state at 4 degrees C in a refrigerator, the lifetime was approximately 6 months (with mutarotase only 3 months).

Biosensing Techniques↗

Study on the mechanism of Bioelectric Recognition Assay: evidence for immobilized cell membrane interactions with viral fragments.

The Bioelectric Recognition Assay (BERA) is a whole-cell based biosensing system that detects the electric response of cultured cells, suspended in a gel matrix, to various ligands, which bind to the cell and/or affect its physiology. Previous studies have demonstrated the potential application of this method for rapid, inexpensive detection of viruses in a crude sample. However, the understanding, so far, of the fundamental processes that take place during cell-virus interactions within the probe has been rather limited. In the present study, we combined electrophysiological and fluorescence microscopical assays, so that we can prove that animal and plant cells immobilized in BERA sensors respond to different viruses primarily by changing their membrane potential. The response of immobilized cells against different viruses did not depend on the virus ability to penetrate the cell, but was modified after binding each virus to a virus-specific antibody or removal of its coat protein after treatment with a protease. Consequently, we were able to assay the presence of a virus in its complete form or fragments thereof. Combination of immunological recognition with the electrophysiological response of immobilized cells allows for a considerable increase of the specificity of the BERA biosensory assay. In addition, rather than simply detect the presence of a protein or genomic sequence, the method can help gain information on the bioactivity of a virus.

Animals↗

A multi-biosensor based on immobilized Photosystem II on screen-printed electrodes for the detection of herbicides in river water.

A multi-biosensor for detection of herbicides and pollutants was constructed using various photosynthetic preparations as biosensing elements. The photosynthetic thylakoid from Spinacia oleracea L., Senecio vulgaris and its mutant resistant to atrazine were immobilized with (BSA-GA) on the surface of screen-printed sensors composed of a graphite-working electrode and Ag/AgCl reference electrode deposited on a polymeric substrate. The biosensor was composed of four flow cells with independent illumination of 650 nm to activate electron transfer in Photosystem II. The principle of the detection was based on the fact that herbicides selectively block electron transport activity in a concentration-dependent manner and that the four PSII biomediators show differential recognition activity toward herbicides. Changes of the activity were registered amperometrically as rate of photoreduction of the artificial electron acceptor DQ. The setup resulted in a reusable herbicide multibiosensor with a good stability (half-life of 16.7 h for spinach thylakoids) and limit of detection of about 10(-8) M for herbicides recovered in spring in river.

Adsorption↗

A new surface plasmon resonance sensor for high-throughput screening applications.

We report a new high-throughput surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor based on combination of SPR imaging with polarization contrast and a spatially patterned multilayer SPR structure. We demonstrate that this approach offers numerous advantageous features including high-contrast SPR images suitable for automated computer analysis, minimum crosstalk between neighboring sensing channels and inherent compensation for light level fluctuations. Applications of a laboratory prototype of the high-throughput SPR sensor with 108 sensing channels for refractometry and biosensing are described. In refractometric experiments, the noise-limited refractive index resolution of the system has been established to be 3 x 10(-6) refractive index unit (RIU). Experimental data on detection of human choriogonadotropin (hCG) suggest that in conjunction with monoclonal antibodies against hCG, the reported SPR imaging sensor is capable of detecting hCG at concentrations lower than 500 ng/ml.

Biosensing Techniques↗

Sensor and biosensor preparation, optimisation and applications of Prussian Blue modified electrodes.

Being one of the most commonly used electrochemical mediators for analytical applications, Prussian Blue has found a wide use in the biosensor field during the last years. Its particular characteristic of catalysing hydrogen peroxide reduction has been applied in the construction of a large number of oxidase enzyme-based biosensors for clinical, environmental and food analysis. By modifying an electrode surface with Prussian Blue, it is in fact possible to easily detect hydrogen peroxide at an applied potential around 0.0 V versus Ag/AgCl, thus making possible coupling with oxidase enzymes while also avoiding or reducing electrochemical interferences. Papers dealing with glucose, lactate, cholesterol and galactose biosensors that are based on the use of Prussian Blue have recently appeared in the most important analytical chemistry journals. Another recent trend is the use of a choline probe based on choline oxidase for pesticide determination to exploit the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase by these compounds. In addition, the use of Prussian Blue in the development of biosensors for food analysis has captured the interest of many research groups and led to improved methods for the detection of glutamate, galactose, alcohol, fructosyl amine, formate, lysine and oxalate. This review will focus on the biosensing aspects of Prussian Blue-based sensors giving a general overview of the advantages provided by such mediator as well as its drawbacks. A comprehensive bibliographic reference list is presented together with the most up to date research findings in this field and possible future applications. The commercial potential of sensors based on this mediator will also be discussed.

Biosensing Techniques↗

Development of an enzyme-modified carbon paste electrode for determining inhibitors of lipoxygenase.

In this study, a 15-lipoxygenase-modified carbon paste electrode (15-LOX-MCPE) was developed in connection with the help of voltammetry, which can be used as an assay system for screening drugs with inhibiting lipoxygenase (LOX) activity. The influence of different experimental conditions (LOX loading of carbon paste, pH, type of buffer system etc.) was investigated in order to optimise the biosensing device. The best composition of the biosensor is 30% paraffin oil, 68% graphite powder and 2% LOX. The optimised voltammetric measurement medium is Sörensen/NaOH (0.1M, pH 9.0) using linoleic acid as a substrate. Under these conditions the hydroperoxy linoleic acid is formed, which can be oxidised at a potential of +0.9 V versus Ag/AgCl/3M KCl. The applicability of the LOX biosensor as assay of lipoxygenase inhibitors was successfully tested with nordihydroguaiaretic acid, zileuton and fenleuton, which are well known inhibitors of LOX.

Arachidonate 15-Lipoxygenase↗