Structural characterization by confocal laser scanning microscopy and electrochemical study of multi-walled carbon nanotube tyrosinase matrix for phenol detection

摘要

A novel visualization methodology based on the use of immunofluorescence and Confocal LasernScanning Microscopy (CLSM) was used to quantify and visualize tyrosinase enzyme withinna MWCNTs matrix immobilized onto carbon based screen-printed electrodes. CLSM was shown to benan extremely powerful technique which allowed a clear visualization of the distribution of the enzymenwithin both the MWCNTs and carbon based layers and provided additional and useful morphologicalndata for a better understanding of the interaction between biomolecules and electrode materials.nTransmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) were alsonemployed to fully characterize the system components. The proposed MWCNT/Tyrosinase matrix wasnapplied to the detection of phenol, as an alternative biosensor material. Electrochemical analyticalnperformances of the biosensor were investigated in order to determine the optimal fabrication designnalong with the enzyme stability. The biosensor based on the developed biomaterial matrix provednpromising results in terms of cost, simplicity and analytical performance. A detection limit of 1.35 mMnand a sensitivity of 47.4 mAmMu00021 within a linear response range of 2.5 to 75 mMphenol were obtained.nThe biosensor performed well as a disposable device and could be stored in a refrigerator (u000218 u0003C)nwithout loss of activity for up to 2 months.