J.M. Pingarrón

Electrochemical detection of phenolic estrogenic compounds at carbon nanotube-modified electrodes

The use of a carbon nanotube-modified glassy carbon electrode (CNT-GCE) for the LC-EC detection of phenolic compounds with estrogenic activity is reported. Cyclic voltammograms for phenolic endocrine disruptors and estrogenic hormones showed, in general, an enhancement of their electrochemical oxidation responses at CNT-GCE attributable to the electrocatalytic effect caused by CNTs. Hydrodynamic voltammograms obtained under flow injection conditions lead to the selection of +700mV as the potential value to be applied for the amperometric detection of the phenolic estrogenic compounds, this value being remarkably less positive than those reported in the literature using other electrode materials. Successive injections of these compounds demonstrated that no electrode surface fouling occurred. A mobile phase consisting of a 50:50 (v/v) acetonitrile:0.05moll(-1) phosphate buffer of pH 7.0 was selected for the chromatographic separation of mixtures of these compounds, with detection limits ranging between 98 and 340nmoll(-1). Good recoveries were obtained in the analysis of underground well water and tap water samples spiked with some phenolic estrogenic compounds at a 14nmoll(-1) concentration level.

Graphite-Teflon composite bienzyme electrodes for the determination of L-lactate : Application to food samples

A bienzyme amperometric graphite-Teflon composite biosensor, in which lactate oxidase (LOD) and peroxidase, together with the mediator ferrocene, are incorporated into the electrode matrix, was developed for the determination of L-lactate in food samples such as wine and yogurt by using both batch- and flow-injection modes. This bienzyme electrode was fabricated by simple physical inclusion of the enzymes and the mediator in the bulk of the graphite-Teflon matrix. A Teflon content of 70%, an applied potential of 0.00 V, and a pH of 7.4 were employed as working conditions. The composite bioelectrode exhibited long-term operation because of the renewability of its surface by polishing. Reproducible amperometric responses were achieved with different electrodes fabricated from different composite matrices, and no significant loss of the enzyme activity occurred after 6 months of storage at 4 degrees C. Detection limits for L-lactate of 1.4 and 0.9 microM were obtained by batch amperometry in stirred solutions and flow-injection with amperometric detection, respectively. An interferences study with different substances which may be present in wine and yogurt together with L-lactic acid demonstrated very good selectivity for the determination of this analyte. The bienzyme composite electrode was applied to the determination of L-lactic acid in red wine and shaken yogurt, and the methods were validated by comparing these results with those obtained by applying a recommended reference method.

Composite electrochemical biosensors: a comparison of three different electrode matrices for the construction of amperometric tyrosinase biosensors

A comparison of the behaviour of three different rigid composite matrices for the construction of amperometric tyrosinase biosensors, which are widely used for the detection of phenolic compounds, is reported. The composite electrode matrices were, graphite-Teflon; reticulated vitreous carbon (RVC)-epoxy resin; and graphite-ethylene/propylene/diene (EPD) terpolymer. After optimization of the experimental conditions, different aspects regarding the stability of the three composite tyrosinase electrode designs were considered and compared. A better reproducibility of the amperometric responses was found with the graphite-EPD electrodes, whereas a longer useful lifetime was observed for the graphite-Teflon electrodes. The kinetic parameters of the tyrosinase reaction were calculated for eight different phenolic compounds, as well as their corresponding calibration plots. The general trend in sensitivity was graphite-EPD>graphite-Teflon>>RVC-epoxy resin. A correlation between sensitivity and the catalytic efficiency of the enzyme reaction for each phenolic substrate was found. Furthermore, differences in the sensitivity order for the phenolic compounds were observed among the three biocomposite electrodes, which suggests that the nature of the electrode matrix influences the interactions in the tyrosinase catalytic cycle.

Electrochemical determination of homocysteine at a gold nanoparticle-modified electrode.

The construction of a colloidal gold-cysteamine-carbon paste electrode, Au(coll)-Cyst-CPE, for the electrochemical determination of homocysteine is reported. The improved voltammetric behaviour of homocysteine at Au(coll)-Cyst-CPE with respect to that observed at a gold disk electrode is attributed to an enhanced electron transfer kinetics as a consequence of the array distribution of gold nanoparticles immobilized onto the Cyst SAM. Cyclic voltammetry of homocysteine showed an adsorption-controlled current for scan rates between 500 and 5000 mV s(-1). The hydrodynamic voltammogram constructed for homocysteine allowed the selection of a potential value of +600 mV, where the background current is negligible, for the amperometric detection of the analyte at the Au(coll)-Cyst-CPE. Using a flow rate of 0.8 ml min(-1), the R.S.D. value for i(p) after 25 repetitive injections of homocysteine was of 4.3%, and one single electrode could be used for more than 15 days without any treatment or regeneration procedure of the modified electrode surface. An HPLC method for the separation and quantification of homocysteine and related thiols, using amperometric detection at the modified electrode has been developed. A mobile phase consisting of 2:98% (v/v) acetonitrile:0.05 mol l(-1) buffer solution of pH 2.0, and a detection potential of +0.80 V were selected. Separation with baseline resolution and retention times of 3.00, 3.60, 4.52, 5.71 and 7.79 min were obtained for cysteine, homocysteine, glutathione, penicillamine and N-acetyl-cysteine, respectively. Calibration graphs were constructed for all the separated compounds. Detection limits ranged between 20 nM for cysteine and 120 nM for penicillamine, with a value for homocysteine of 30 nM. These values compare advantageously with those achieved with previously reported HPLC methods using electrochemical, UV, fluorescence and MS detection modes. The developed method was applied to the determination of cysteine and homocysteine serum samples with good results.

Microorganisms recognition and quantification by lectin adsorptive affinity impedance.

Lectin-based screen-printed gold electrodes are reported for the impedimetric label-free detection of bacteria. The selective interaction of lectins with carbohydrate components from microorganisms surface was used as the recognition principle for their detection and identification. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was employed for the direct label-free transduction of the bacteria-lectin binding. Biotinylated Concanavalin A (Con A) and Escherichia coli were used for the evaluation of the lectin-bacteria complex formation. This complex was formed in solution, and then adsorbed onto the gold SPE surface. No bacteria immobilization was observed on the sensor prepared in the absence of ConA, demonstrating the absence of non-specific bacteria adsorption onto the gold SPE. On the contrary, the changes in electron transfer resistance allowed monitoring of E. coli-biotinylated Con A complex formation without any amplification step. Experimental variables such as the biotinylated-Con A concentration and the bacteria-lectin incubation time were optimized. The electron transfer resistance varied linearly with the logarithmic value of E. coli concentration over four orders of magnitude, 5.0 x 10(3) and 5.0 x 10(7) cfu mL(-1). The selectivity of the approach was evaluated by checking the impedimetric responses of gold SPE modified with the complexes formed between nine lectins and three different bacteria (E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Mycobacterium phlei). Different response profiles were found when the different lectins were used as recognition elements. principal component analysis (PCA) allowed classification and distinction among bacteria. Finally, electrochemical monitoring of beta-galactosidase activity for the surface attached bacteria was demonstrated to be useful to distinguish between E. coli and S. aureus, which exhibit a similar affinity towards biotinylated-Con A.

Screen-printed amperometric biosensors for glucose and alcohols based on ruthenium-dispersed carbon inks

A ruthenium-dispersed carbon ink is used for the fabrication of screen-printed enzyme electrodes. The dispersed ruthenium particles offer an efficient electrocatalytic action towards the detection of enzymatically-liberated peroxide and dihydronicotin-amide adenine dinucleotide (NADH). Highly selective biosensing of glucose is accomplished at a potential region (0.0 to + 0.2 V) where interfering reactions are minimized. Similarly, the metallized strip surface (with co-immobilized alcohol dehydrogenase and NAD+) facilitates the low-potential biosensing of ethanol without the assistance of redox mediators.

Graphite-Teflon-Peroxidase Composite Electrochemical Biosensors. A Tool for the Wide Detection of Phenolic Compounds

Graphite-Teflon-peroxidase composite electrodes, constructed by simple physical inclusion of the enzyme into the bulk of the electrode matrix, have been used for the amperometric detection of 18 phenolic compounds. Monitoring of the enzyme reaction was carried out by the electrode reduction of the generated phenoxy radicals, in the presence of a constant concentration of 5.0×10−4 mol L−1 H2O2, at an applied potential of 0.00 V. Different aspects regarding the stability of the composite bioelectrode showed the robustness of the biosensor design. The kinetic constants of the enzyme reactions for the phenolic compounds tested were calculated. The limits of detection obtained were better than those found in the literature for peroxidase biosensors using other composite matrices, and the differences in sensitivity observed for the different phenolic substrates are discussed in terms of their pKa values and substituents. The analytical signals obtained with the graphite-Teflon-HRP electrodes have been compared with those yielded by a graphite-Teflon-tyrosinase composite electrode constructed in a similar way. With the aim of monitoring the largest possible number of phenolic compounds with the highest possible sensitivity, coimmobilization of peroxidase and tyrosinase into the composite electrode matrix was carried out.

Amperometric selective biosensing of dimethyl- and diethyldithiocarbamates based on inhibition processes in a medium of reversed micelles

An amperometric tyrosinase electrode has been used for biosensing of dimethyl- and diethyldithiocarbamates based on the inhibition effects of these substances on the catalytic activity of the enzyme. A working medium consisting of reversed micelles, and phenol as the substrate has been used. The tyrosinase electrode was constructed by direct adsorption of the enzyme on the surface of a graphite-disk electrode. Reversible inhibition processes are shown to be involved for ziram, diram and zinc diethyldithiocarbamate. Following a simple regeneration of the enzyme electrode, an acceptable reproducibility for the measurements of the inhibition response was obtained. Experimental variables, such as temperature, phenol concentration and the presence of chloroform, affecting the inhibition processes, were optimized. The type of enzyme inactivation for each inhibitor tested was studied, and the inhibition constants were calculated. Detection limits of 0.074, 1.3 and 1.7 μmol l−1 were achieved for ziram, diram and zinc diethyldithiocarbamate, respectively. Other carbamates belonging to families different from dimethyl- and diethyldithiocarbamates showed no amperometric response at the tyrosinase electrode, except for pyrimidine-derivative carbamates. The developed analytical methodology was applied to determine ziram in spiked apple samples.

Electrochemical immunosensor for rapid and sensitive determination of estradiol

This work describes the preparation of an electrochemical immunosensor for estradiol based on the surface modification of a screen printed carbon electrode with grafted p-aminobenzoic acid followed by covalent binding of streptavidin (Strept) and immobilization of biotinylated anti-estradiol (anti-estradiol-Biotin). The hormone determination was performed by applying a competitive immunoassay with peroxidase-labelled estradiol (HRP-estradiol) and measurement of the amperometric response at -200 mV using hydroquinone (HQ) as redox mediator. The calibration curve for estradiol exhibited a linear range between 1 and 250 pg mL(-1) (r=0.990) and a detection limit of 0.77 pg mL(-1) was achieved. Cross-reactivity studies with other hormones related with estradiol at physiological concentration levels revealed the practical specificity of the developed method for estradiol. A good reproducibility, with RSD=5.9% (n=8) was also observed. The operating stability of a single bioelectrode modified with anti-estradiol-Biotin-Strept was nine days when it was stored at 8°C under humid conditions between measurements. The developed immunosensor was applied to the analysis of certified serum and spiked urine samples with good results.

Development of graphite-poly(tetrafluoroethylene) composite electrodes Voltammetric determination of the herbicides thiram and disulfiram

Abstract The oxidative voltammetric behaviour of the herbicides thiram and disulfiram at graphite-poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) composite electrodes has been studied. Graphite-PTFE pellets were prepared by mixing graphite with powdered PTFE and compression molding the mixture. Based on the signal-to-noise characteristics and on the mechanical strength of the resulting pellet, a mixture containing 40% PTFE was selected. Both thiram and disulfiram are adsorbed onto the composite electrode, this process being used as a preconcentration step. The accumulation potential and accumulation time chosen were 0.0 V and 300 s, respectively. The characteristics of the electrode processes were established. Linear calibration graphs were obtained within the ranges 2.0 × 10 −7 −1.0 × 10 −5 and 2.0 × 10 −7 −8.0 × 10 −6 mol l −1 for thiram and disulfiram, respectively. The effect of the presence of ziram, phenol and Zn(II) on the oxidation signals for thiram and disulfiram was evaluated. As an application, the determination of thiram in spiked strawberries was carried out with good results.