Amperometric nitrate biosensors on the basis of Pseudomonas stutzeri nitrate reductase

Ion Selective Amperometric Biosensors for Environmental Analysis of Nitrate, Nitrite and Sulfate

Inorganic ions that can be redox-transformed by living cells can be sensed by biosensors, where the redox transformation gives rise to a current in a measuring circuit. Such biosensors may be based on enzymes, or they may be based on application of whole cells. In this review focus will be on biosensors for the environmentally important ions NO₃⁻, NO₂⁻, and SO₄²⁻, and for comparison alternative sensor-based detection will also be mentioned. The developed biosensors are generally characterized by a high degree of specificity, but unfortunately also by relatively short lifetimes. There are several investigations where biosensor measurement of NO₃⁻ and NO₂⁻ have given new insight into the functioning of nitrogen transformations in man-made and natural environments such as sediments and biofilms, but the biosensors have not become routine tools. Future modifications resulting in better long-term stability may enable such general use.

Effect of changing the nanoscale environment on activity and stability of nitrate reductase

Nitrate reductase (NR) is employed for fabrication of nitrate sensing devices in which the enzyme in immobilized form is used to catalyze the conversion of nitrate to nitrite in the presence of a suitable cofactor. So far, instability of immobilized NR due to the use of inappropriate immobilization matrices has limited the practical applications of these devices. Present study is an attempt to improve the kinetic properties and stability of NR using nanoscale iron oxide (nFe3O4) and zinc oxide (nZnO) particles. The desired nanoparticles were synthesized, surface functionalized, characterized and affixed onto the epoxy resin to yield two nanocomposite supports (epoxy/nFe3O4 and epoxy/nZnO) for immobilizing NR. Epoxy/nFe3O4 and epoxy/nZnO support could load as much as 35.8±0.01 and 33.20±0.01μg/cm(2) of NR with retention of about 93.72±0.50 and 84.81±0.80% of its initial activity respectively. Changes in surface morphology and chemical bonding structure of both the nanocomposite supports after addition of NR were confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Optimum working conditions of pH, temperature and substrate concentration were ascertained for free as well as immobilized NR preparations. Further, storage stability at 4°C and thermal stability between 25-50°C were determined for all the NR preparations. Analytical applications of immobilized NR for determination of soil and water nitrates along with reusability data has been included to make sure the usefulness of the procedure.

Amperometric nitrate biosensor based on Carbon nanotube/Polypyrrole/Nitrate reductase biofilm electrode

This study describes the construction and characterization of an amperometric nitrate biosensor based on the Polypyrrole (PPy)/Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) film. Nitrate reductase (NR) was both entrapped into the growing PPy film and chemically immobilized via the carboxyl groups of CNTs to the CNT/PPy film electrode. The optimum amperometric response for nitrate was obtained in 0.1 M phosphate buffer solution (PBS), pH 7.5 including 0.1 M lithium chloride and 7 mM potassium ferricyanide with an applied potential of 0.13 V (vs. Ag/AgCl, 3 M NaCl). Sensitivity was found to be 300 nA/mM in a linear range of 0.44-1.45 mM with a regression coefficient of 0.97. The biosensor response showed a higher linear range in comparison to standard nitrate analysis methods which were tested in this study and NADH based nitrate biosensors. A minimum detectable concentration of 0.17 mM (S/N=3) with a relative standard deviation (RSD) of 5.4% (n=7) was obtained for the biosensor. Phenol and glucose inhibit the electrochemical reaction strictly at a concentration of 1 μg/L and 20 mg/L, respectively. The biosensor response retained 70% of its initial response over 10 day usage period when used everyday.

Electrochemical determination of nitrate with nitrate reductase-immobilized electrodes under ambient air

Nitrate monitoring biosensors were prepared by immobilizing nitrate reductase derived from yeast on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE, d = 3 mm) or screen-printed carbon paste electrode (SPCE, d = 3 mm) using a polymer (poly(vinyl alcohol)) entrapment method. The sensor could directly determine the nitrate in an unpurged aqueous solution with the aid of an appropriate oxygen scavenger: the nitrate reduction reaction driven by the enzyme and an electron-transfer mediator, methyl viologen, at -0.85 V (GCE vs Ag/AgCl) or at -0.90 V (SPCE vs Ag/AgCl) exhibited no oxygen interference in a sulfite-added solution. The electroanalytical properties of optimized biosensors were measured: the sensitivity, linear response range, and detection limit of the sensors based on GCE were 7.3 nA/microM, 15-300 microM (r2 = 0.995), and 4.1 microM (S/N = 3), respectively, and those of SPCE were 5.5 nA/microM, 15-250 microM (r2 = 0.996), and 5.5 microM (S/N = 3), respectively. The disposable SPCE-based biosensor with a built-in well- or capillary-type sample cell provided high sensor-to-sensor reproducibility (RSD < 3.4% below 250 microM) and could be used more than one month in normal room-temperature storage condition. The utility of the proposed sensor system was demonstrated by determining nitrate in real samples.

Development of a bienzyme system for the electrochemical determination of nitrate in ambient air

This work reports the development of a bienzyme system consisting of salicylate hydroxylase (SHL) and nitrate reductase (NaR) for the electrochemical determination of nitrate. This method measures the concentration of nitrate directly under ambient air without suffering from oxygen interferences. The determination is based on the detection of NADH consumption, and the principle is as follows: NADH initiates the irreversible decarboxylation and hydroxylation of salicylate by SHL in the presence of oxygen to produce catechol, which results in a detectable signal due to its oxidation at the working electrode; the second enzyme, NaR, in the presence of nitrate, reduced the availability of NADH, and consequently, the current difference after the injection of nitrate is proportional to its concentration. This method shows high performance characteristics for nitrate determination with a broad detection range between 10 microM and 1,000 microM, a short measuring time of around 5 min, and a simple operation without sample pretreatment by inert gas purge or oxygen scavenger.

Denitrification activity of the bacterium Pseudomonas sp. ASM-2-3 isolated from the Ariake Sea tideland

A new denitrifying bacterium strain ASM-2-3 was isolated from the Ariake Sea tideland, Japan. The isolate had the capability to fully remove as high as 225.8 mg nitrate-nitrogen.l(-1) under stationary culture conditions without accumulation of nitrite as an intermediate. From biochemical tests and 16S rDNA sequencing analysis, the genus of the bacterium was identified as Pseudomonas and close to stutzeri species. The nitrate removal efficiency of the isolate was faster than that of the control strain Pseudomonas stutzeri NBRC 14165, using succinate as the sole carbon source. The isolate could grow in up to 10% (w/v) of NaCl containing medium. The enzymatic tests showed that the activity of enzymes responsible for the reduction of nitrate and nitrite in strain ASM-2-3 was 1.4 and 2.3 times higher than that of the control strain. The feasibility of application of the isolate strain ASM-2-3 in a packed bed bioreactor was investigated for 40 d.

Biosensors for marine applications. We all need the sea, but does the sea need biosensors?

The aim of the paper is to explain the rationale behind marine biosensor applications, give an overview of measurement strategies currently employed, summarise some of the relevant available biosensor technology as well as instrumentation requirements for marine sensors and attempt a forward look at what the future might hold in terms of needs and developments. Application areas considered are eutrophication, organism detection, food safety, pollutants, trace metals and ecotoxicology. The drivers for many of these studies are discussed and the policy environment for current and future measurements is outlined.

Sensing the sea

The development of the 'ecosystem approach' to the management of marine systems is leading to a requirement for data to be collected with greater frequency and spatial resolution than has been necessary in the past. This is being met both by the analysis of more samples (to better describe variability and temporal change) and by the deployment of instrumented platforms that gather data over long time periods. To meet these requirements in the hostile conditions at sea, a range of sensors based on physical, chemical and biological responses is being developed. These sensors have applications in laboratory analysis of collected samples, during field studies and directly in situ at remote sites for real-time observations of environmental trends. Here, we consider the role that biosensors could have in future marine monitoring programmes.

An amperometric nitrate reductase–phenosafranin electrode: kinetic aspects and analytical applications

The enzyme-catalysed reduction of nitrate was studied utilising Aspergillus niger nitrate reductase (NR) and phenosafranin in solution as the enzyme regenerator, working at lower potentials than that of the more common methyl viologen mediator. Cyclic voltammograms when enzyme, phenosafranin and substrate were together put in evidence the enzyme-catalysed reduction of nitrate, although with a relatively slow kinetics. From slope values not dependent on mediator concentration, the apparent Michaelis-Menten constant was evaluated. Analytical parameters for the enzyme-modified electrode in the presence of phenosafranin for the determination of nitrate content in water were assessed, including a recovery assay for nitrate added to a river water sample. The stability of the electrode was checked.

Voltammetric and spectroelectrochemical characterization of a water-soluble viologen polymer and its application to electron-transfer mediator for enzyme-free regeneration of NADH

A water-soluble polyxylylviologen (PXV(2+)) was characterized with a view to making use of it as a redox electron-transfer (ET) mediator. Cyclic voltammetric and spectropotentiometric studies showed (i) that PXV(2+) gives two redox waves centering at -0.40 and -0.83 V (vs. Ag/AgCl (3.3 mol dm(-3) KCl)) and (ii) that the lifetime of its monocation radical (PXV(+.)) is two orders of magnitude greater than that of the well-utilized dimethyl viologen monocation radical. Subsequently, the reaction of the PXV(2+/+.) couple with NAD(+) was evaluated in the similar manners as above. On the basis of this evaluation and the bioluminescence assay using bacterial NADH/FMN oxidoreductase and luciferase, it was shown (i) that the PXV(2+/+.) couple functions as a useful electron-transfer mediator and (ii) that PXV(+.) reacts with NAD(+), leading to generation of the enzymatically active NADH, in the absence of any reductases.

Amperometric dimethyl sulfoxide sensor using dimethyl sulfoxide reductase from Rhodobacter sphaeroides

An amperometric dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) sensor was constructed based on DMSO reductase (DMSO-R). DMSO-R from Rhodobacter sphaeroides f. sp. denitrificans was immobilized by BSA-glutaraldehyde cross-linking at the surface of a glassy carbon electrode. Mediators were added to the sample solution in a free form. Several mediators (methyl viologen (MV), benzyl viologen (BV), neutral red (NR), safranin T (ST), FMN, phenazine methosulfate (PMS)), which can donate electrons to DMSO-R, were examined with the DMSO-R immobilized electrode. Among them MV was selected as a model mediator because of its wide linear response range and fast response time. The response current was effected by the measurement temperature but hardly effected by the pH of the sample solution. The response current was increased with the measurement temperature up to 50 degrees C. A response current was observed at 1 microM DMSO and the response time was 20 s under the optimum conditions. The response was observed for approximately 2 weeks. By the reduction of Schiff base in the cross-linking layer the response range became narrower but most of the response current was retained at 300 microM of DMSO for more than 5 weeks.

Enzymatic microtiter plate-based nitrate detection in environmental and medical analysis

Our microtiter plate assay is based on the enzymatic reduction of nitrate by dissimilatory nitrate reductase from Pseudomonas stutzeri [EC 1.7.99.4]. Exogenous redox mediators like methyl viologen, methylene blue, and cibachron blue were applied to reduce nitrate reductase. Concentrations of 0.02-0.9 mM nitrate can be detected with +/-6% standard deviation, by using a photometric Griess reaction for the formed nitrite. Nitrate reductase is stable in the pH range 6.5-9.0 and works in the temperature range 4-76 degrees C. The assay shows no interferences with salt content up to 1 M chloride or 11 mM chlorate, and serum albumin content up to 50 mg/ml. The time demand of our two-step procedure is 20 min/100 samples. Nitrate reductase could be conserved on site of the wells of microtiter plates for at least 6 months at room temperature. The nitrate assay was applied in environmental and consumer goods analysis, and for medical diagnostics in human plasma samples.