Immobilization and direct electrochemistry of cytochrome c at a single-walled carbon nanotube-modified electrode

Detection Technologies for Reactive Oxygen Species: Fluorescence and Electrochemical Methods and Their Applications

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been found in plants, mammals, and natural environmental processes. The presence of ROS in mammals has been linked to the development of severe diseases, such as diabetes, cancer, tumors, and several neurodegenerative conditions. The most common ROS involved in human health are superoxide (O2•-), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and hydroxyl radicals (•OH). Organic and inorganic molecules have been integrated with various methods to detect and monitor ROS for understanding the effect of their presence and concentration on diseases caused by oxidative stress. Among several techniques, fluorescence and electrochemical methods have been recently developed and employed for the detection of ROS. This literature review intends to critically discuss the development of these techniques to date, as well as their application for in vitro and in vivo ROS detection regarding free-radical-related diseases. Moreover, important insights into and further steps for using fluorescence and electrochemical methods in the detection of ROS are presented.

Mechanisms for the direct electron transfer of cytochrome c induced by multi-walled carbon nanotubes

Multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)-modified electrodes can promote the direct electron transfer (DET) of cytochrome c (Cyt c). There are several possible mechanisms that explain the DET of Cyt c. In this study, several experimental methods, including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, circular dichroism, ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy, and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy were utilized to investigate the conformational changes of Cyt c induced by MWCNTs. The DET mechanism was demonstrated at various nano-levels: secondary structure, spatial orientation, and spin state. In the presence of MWCNTs, the secondary structure of Cyt c changes, which exposes the active site, then, the orientation of the heme is optimized, revolving the exposed active center to the optimum spatial orientation for DET; and finally, a transition of spin states is induced, providing relatively high energy and a more open microenvironment for electron transfer. These changes at different nano-levels are closely connected and form a complex process that promotes the electron transfer of Cyt c.

Electrochemical synthesis of polyaniline nano-networks on p-aminobenzene sulfonic acid functionalized glassy carbon electrode Its use for the simultaneous determination of ascorbic acid and uric acid

A composite film of polyaniline (PAN) nano-networks/p-aminobenzene sulfonic acid (ABSA) modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) has been fabricated via an electrochemical oxidation procedure and applied to the electro-catalytic oxidation of uric acid (UA) and ascorbic acid (AA). The ABSA monolayer at GCE surface has been characterized by X-ray photo-electron spectroscopy (XPS) and electrochemical techniques. Atomic force microscopy (AFM), field emission scanning electron microscope (SEM), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), UV-visible absorption spectra (UV-vis) and cyclic voltammetry (CV) have been used to investigate the PAN-ABSA composite film, which demonstrates the formation of the composite film and the maintenance of the electroactivity of PAN in neutral and even in alkaline media. Due to its different catalytic effects towards the electro-oxidation of UA and AA, the modified GCE can resolve the overlapped voltammetric response of UA and AA into two well-defined voltammetric peaks with both CV and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), which can be used for the selective and simultaneous determination of these species in a mixture. The catalytic peak currents are linearly dependent on the concentrations of UA and AA in the range of 50-250 and 35-175mumoll(-1) with correlation coefficients of 0.997 and 0.998, respectively. The detection limits for UA and AA are 12 and 7.5mumoll(-1), respectively. Besides the good stability and reproducibility of PAN-ABSA/GCE due to the covalent attachment of ABSA at GCE surface, the modified electrode also exhibits good sensitivity and selectivity.

Protein engineering and electrochemical biosensors

Protein engineered biosensors provide the next best step in the advancement of protein-based sensors that can specifically identify chemical substrates. The use of native proteins for this purpose cannot adequately embrace the limits of detection and level of stability required for a usable sensor, due to globular structure restraints. This review chapter attempts to give an accurate representation of the three main strategies employed in the engineering of more suitable biological components for use in biosensor construction. The three main strategies in protein engineering for electrochemical biosensor implementation are: rational protein design, directed evolution and de novo protein design. Each design strategy has limitations to its use in a biosensor format and has advantages and disadvantages with respect to each. The three design techniques are used to modify aspects of stability, sensitivity, selectivity, surface tethering, and signal transduction within the biological environment. Furthermore with the advent of new nanomaterials the implementation of these design strategies, with the attomolar promise of nanostructures, imparts important generational leaps in research for biosensor construction, based on highly specific, very robust, and electrically wired protein engineered biosensors.