A self-assembled monolayers based conductometric algal whole cell biosensor for water monitoring

This work describes the design of a conductometric biosensor intended to monitor aquatic environments. The biosensor is based on the measurement of Alkaline Phosphatase Activity (APA) of the microalgae Chlorella vulgaris. This activity is inhibited in the presence of heavy metals. The purpose of this article is to obtain a tool for detection of heavy metals through inhibition of APA. The biosensor is composed of two parts: two platinum interdigitated electrodes which form the transducer, and the microalgae, the bioreceptor. The microalgae were immobilized on self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of alkanethiolate. The change in the local conductivity of the electrodes following the addition of the substrate allowed us to measure alkaline phosphatase activity of Chlorella vulgaris. Good repeatability (RSD < 5%) and reproducibility between different biosensors (RSD < 10%) were obtained. Lifetime is estimated to be 17 days. The originality of this work consists in the immobilization of algal cells on self-assembled monolayers. The advantage of the SAMs is that they do not form a physical barrier between the algae and the constituents of the reaction medium (whether the reaction substrate, or the toxic components are to be detected). In addition, these sensors permit to obtain good measurement repeatability. Detection limit of cadmium reaches ppb levels.

[1]  Nicole Jaffrezic-Renault,et al.  Early-warning electrochemical biosensor system for environmental monitoring based on enzyme inhibition , 2005 .

[2]  Claude Durrieu,et al.  Optical whole-cell biosensor using Chlorella vulgaris designed for monitoring herbicides. , 2003, Biosensors & bioelectronics.

[3]  S. Cosnier,et al.  Amperometric Algal Chlorella vulgaris Cell Biosensors Based on Alginate and Polypyrrole‐Alginate Gels , 2006 .

[4]  Claude Durrieu,et al.  A bi-enzymatic whole cell conductometric biosensor for heavy metal ions and pesticides detection in water samples. , 2005, Biosensors & bioelectronics.

[5]  N. Jaffrezic‐Renault,et al.  A novel proteinase K biosensor based on interdigitated conductometric electrodes for proteins determination in rivers and sewers water , 2005 .

[6]  Claude Durrieu,et al.  Optical algal biosensor using alkaline phosphatase for determination of heavy metals. , 2002, Ecotoxicology and environmental safety.

[7]  C. Tran-Minh,et al.  Sol–gel process for vegetal cell encapsulation , 2007 .

[8]  Noël Burais,et al.  Atrazine analysis using an impedimetric immunosensor based on mixed biotinylated self-assembled monolayer , 2006 .

[9]  S. Cosnier,et al.  Functionalized polypyrroles : a sophisticated glue for the immobilization and electrical wiring of enzymes , 1999 .

[10]  J. Chovelon,et al.  Development of a conductometric nitrate biosensor based on Methyl viologen/Nafion® composite film , 2006 .

[11]  T. Satyanarayana,et al.  Optimization of culture variables for improving glucoamylase production by alginate-entrapped Thermomucor indicae-seudaticae using statistical methods. , 2007, Bioresource technology.

[12]  P. Vasseur,et al.  Comparison of two types of sensors using eukaryotic algae to monitor pollution of aquatic systems , 1993 .

[13]  G. Mclendon,et al.  Effect of Gold Topography and Surface Pretreatment on the Self-Assembly of Alkanethiol Monolayers , 1994 .

[14]  Z. Aksu,et al.  A comparative study of copper(II) biosorption on Ca-alginate, agarose and immobilized C. vulgaris in a packed-bed column , 1998 .

[15]  N. Jaffrezic‐Renault,et al.  Development of enzyme biosensor based on pH-sensitive field-effect transistors for detection of phenolic compounds. , 2002, Bioelectrochemistry.

[16]  T. C. Nelson,et al.  EXTRACTIVE AND ENZYMATIC ANALYSES FOR LIMITING OR SURPLUS PHOSPHORUS IN ALGAE , 1966, Journal of phycology.

[17]  Arben Merkoçi,et al.  Configurations used in the design of screen-printed enzymatic biosensors. A review , 2000 .

[18]  P. Çalık,et al.  Growth and κ-carrageenan immobilization of Pseudomonas dacunhae cells for l-alanine production , 1999 .

[19]  B. Dunn,et al.  A MEMS based amperometric detector for E. coli bacteria using self-assembled monolayers. , 2001, Biosensors & bioelectronics.

[20]  Tit Meng Lim,et al.  Detection of Saccharomyces cerevisiae immobilized on self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of alkanethiolate using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy , 2005 .

[21]  J. Peter,et al.  Detection of chlorinated and brominated hydrocarbons by an ion sensitive whole cell biosensor , 1996 .

[22]  D. Pang,et al.  DNA-modified electrodes; part 4: optimization of covalent immobilization of DNA on self-assembled monolayers. , 1999, Talanta.

[23]  K. Kern,et al.  Thermal healing of self-assembled organic monolayers : hexane- and octadecanethiol on Au(111) and Ag(111) , 1994 .

[24]  Sang Jun Sim,et al.  Enhanced performance of a surface plasmon resonance immunosensor for detecting Ab-GAD antibody based on the modified self-assembled monolayers. , 2005, Biosensors & bioelectronics.

[25]  Claude Durrieu,et al.  Development of novel conductometric biosensors based on immobilised whole cell Chlorella vulgaris microalgae. , 2004, Biosensors & bioelectronics.