Biosensors based on oxidative enzymes for detection of environmental pollutants

Abstract

In recent years, the continuous and accumulative discharge of toxic and contaminating compounds to the environment makes necessary to propose precise and quick methods for their detection and quantitation. Especially when one considers that the environmental impact of some of these emerging contaminants has not been clearly determined. Enzyme-based biosensors are an interesting alternative when inspecting different pollutants present in the environment in a quick, efficient, automatized, and economic way. Oxidative enzymes such as peroxidases and polyphenol oxidases (laccases and tyrosinases) are versatile and highly functional enzymes used for analyte recognition. Therefore, these enzymes are considered attractive and interesting biomolecules to act as recognition elements in biosensors. In this regard, detection of pollutants such as pesticides, phenols, heavy metals, and pharmaceutical compounds by using oxidative enzymes as recognition elements in biosensors is a versatile field, and it is the focus of the present review.

Enzyme-Based Electrochemical Biosensors for Microfluidic Platforms to Detect Pharmaceutical Residues in Wastewater

“…The most commonly found pharmaceutical residues are antibiotics, analgesics, anti-inflammatories, steroid hormones, antihypertensives, and antidepressants, which originate from both human and veterinary therapeutics [70,71]. Oxidase/Peroxidase biosensors have become increasingly popular for detecting pharmaceutical compounds due to the sensitivity of these enzymes to such molecules [72]. Analgesics such as paracetamol have been detected by the HPR-mediated oxidation of the compound, as reported by Narang et al [73] HPR immobilized on core-Shell ZrO@ Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles and embedded on a chitosan hybrid film were electrodeposited on Au electrodes for detection of paracetamol via cyclic voltammetry.…”

Biosensors for the Detection of Environmental and Urban Pollutions

“…As mentioned, enzyme inhibition (indirect) mode of biosensors is applied for monitoring of a wide range of environmental pollutants. In order to evaluate analyte concentration, percentage of inhibited enzymes after exposure to the inhibitor is measured [Rebollar‐Pérez et al, ]. The pitfall of indirect mode biosensors for the detection of environmental pollutants is that few enzymes are sensitive to heavy metals [Turdean, ]. DNA based biosensors: binding to a broad range of molecules with high affinity and specificity together with the catalytic activity of DNA molecules make DNA as a valuable option for designing biosensors [Palchetti and Mascini, ].…”

“…On the basis of the bio-recognition principles or signal transduction, biosensors are classified into various categories [Rebollar-P erez et al, 2015]. According to the transducing component, biosensors are designed as electrochemical (amperometric, chronoamperometric, potentiometric, conductometric, capacitative, field-effect transistors), optical (absorbance, reflectance, luminescence, chemiluminescence, bioluminescence, fluorescence, refractive index, light scattering), piezoelectric (mass sensitive quartz crystal microbalance), or thermal (thermistor, pyroelectric) [Ezeonu et al, 2012].…”

“…IUPAC definition form a biosensor is "as a self-contained integrated device that is capable of providing specific quantitative or semi-quantitative analytical information using a biological recognition element (biochemical receptor), which is retained in direct spatial contact with a transduction element" [Palchetti and Mascini, 2008;Vogrinc et al, 2015]. Indeed, biosensor is a device which converts a biological or biochemical signal into a measurable electrical signal [Ezeonu et al, 2012] and they are valuable tools for the detection of chemical and harmful substances in health-care products, foods, and the environmental [Rebollar-P erez et al, 2015]. Biosensors can be used for continuous monitoring of a contaminated area.…”

Fabrication of Novel Amperometric Sensor for the Detection of Zinc Metal as an Environment Pollutant

“…Environment contamination by the trace and toxic metals shows a major environmental pollution issue, which ended in an increasing demand for the sensitive and selective sensor 3 . Harmful metals that come out from the anthropogenic activities present in environment which is several times greater than the limits of necessary intake in the living beings 4 . The harmful metals get accumulated in the environment and enter in the food chain of living beings which create a health risk for the living beings.…”