Targeted Formation of Biofilms on the Surface of Graphite Electrodes as an Effective Approach to the Development of Biosensors for Early Warning Systems

Abstract

Biofilms based on bacteria Pseudomonas veronii (Ps. veronii) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) and yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae (S. cerevisiae) were used for novel biosensor creation for rapid biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) monitoring. Based on the electrochemical measurement results, it was shown that the endogenous mediator in the matrix of E. coli and Ps. veronii biofilms and ferrocene form a two-mediator system that improves electron transport in the system. Biofilms based on Ps. veronii and E. coli had a high biotechnological potential for BOD assessment; bioreceptors based on such biofilms had high sensitivity (the lower limits of detectable BOD5 concentrations were 0.61 (Ps. veronii) and 0.87 (E. coli) mg/dm3) and high efficiency of analysis (a measurement time 5–10 min). The maximum biosensor response based on bacterial biofilms has been observed in the pH range of 6.6–7.2. The greatest protective effect was found for biofilms based on E. coli, which has high long-term stability (151 days for Ps. veronii and 163 days for E. coli). The results of the BOD5 analysis of water samples obtained using the developed biosensors had a high correlation with the results of the standard 5-day method (R2 = 0.9820, number of tested samples is 10 for Ps. veronii, and R2 = 0.9862, number of tested samples is 10 for E. coli). Thus, biosensors based on Ps. veronii biofilms and E. coli biofilms could be a novel analytical system to give early warnings of pollution.

Microbial Biofilms: Features of Formation and Potential for Use in Bioelectrochemical Devices

“…Since dissolved oxygen in the sample can distort the readings of the oxygen sensor during the measurement of BOD, mediator biosensors based on the use of special redox compounds capable of transferring electrons from the bioreceptor to the electrode as a result of oxidation–reduction have become more widespread [ 123 , 124 ]. As described in article [ 125 ], the typical response generation process in an amperometric sensor using a ferrocene mediator is presented ( Figure 13 ). The basis of such electrodes is most often made up of various variants of carbon matrices [ 126 , 127 ].…”