High throughput systems for screening biomembrane interactions on fabricated mercury film electrodes

Abstract

A sensing system for the rapid on-line screening of lipids and biomembrane active compounds in water samples has been successfully developed. The sensor consists of a flow cell and incorporated wafer-based device with on-chip mercury on platinum (Pt/Hg) working electrode and platinum (Pt) auxiliary and pseudo-reference electrodes. To optimise system performance, the following experiments were carried out: (i) Deposition and removal of phospholipid layers on and from Pt/Hg electrodes respectively, (ii) Effect of electrode size on signal, (iii) Monitoring of different phospholipids deposited in flow cell and, (iv) Detection of phospholipid monolayer interaction with representative compounds. The results showed that: (i) Miniaturisation and ruggedisation of the mercury (Hg)/phospholipid system has been successfully achieved, (ii) Rapid cyclic voltammetry facilitates repetitive dioleoyl phosphatidylcholine (DOPC) monolayer formation on Hg from aqueous DOPC dispersion and, (iii) The device responds selectively to organic compounds injected into electrolyte flow.

Tuning stable noble metal nanoparticles dispersions to moderate their interaction with model membranes

“…The PBS was of analytical grade and purchased from Sigma-Aldrich. The microfabricated platinum electrodes (MPE) [43] were supplied by the Tyndall National Institute, Ireland. Hg was electrodeposited from AgNO3 solution on a Pt disc of radius 0.480 mm to give a Pt/Hg electrode as described previously [44].…”

In-situ electrochemical method for detecting freely dissolved polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water

“…[23] As described in our earlier work, [24] the Pt/Hg film electrodes are part of a silicon wafer-based microdevice that contains eight working electrodes, each with a radius of 500 mm, of which only one is addressed during measurement, and a platinum counter electrode. Hg film microelectrodes were made by chronocoulometric electrodeposition of Hg on to Pt discs on the wafer, using an open top standard three electrode cell with an external Ag/AgCl reference electrode (3 mol L À1 KCl inner filling, 0.1 mol L À1 perchloric acid outer filling) and a platinum bar counter electrode.…”

“…[20][21][22] With the development of Pt-Hg film microelectrodes [23] the Hg-phospholipid system was transferred to a more robust platform rendering it more applicable for screening interactions with membrane active substances, [24] as well as for studying interactions with polymers and nanoparticles. [25,26] Besides being a desirable substrate for studying lipid layers, Hg film electrodes, like the iridium-based Hg film electrode and Hg-coated gold, carbon and silver electrodes, have been investigated for purposes of anodic stripping voltammetry and trace metal detection in seawater.…”

Hybrid bilayer membranes on metallurgical polished aluminum

“…Artificial lipid membranes provide a suitable platform for investigations of biological membrane related processes such as membrane-protein interactions 1 , 2 , ion permeability 3 – 5 , redox reactions 6 , 7 , etc. Medical diagnostics 8 – 10 , drug screening 11 , 12 , and environmental controls 13 – 15 are often based on artificial lipid membranes by the combination of biological recognition with a physicochemical transducer. The obvious advantages of membrane-based biosensors are the nature-like environment and the relatively simple preparation through a self-assembly process.…”