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Studies towards an amperometric phosphate ion biosensor for urine and water analysis

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Abstract

An amperometric biosensor for phosphate ion is described that is based on a cobalt phthalocyanine modified screen-printed carbon electrode (CoPC-SPCE). The biosensor operation is based on the enzyme pyruvate oxidase (PyOd) which catalyses the oxidative decarboxylation of pyruvate, in the presence of inorganic phosphate and O2, to acetyl phosphate, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and CO2. The transducer allows the electrocatalytic oxidation of H2O2 in order to generate the analytical signal. The enzyme was immobilised onto the CoPC-SPCE using a sandwich format. The inner membrane was formed in situ by depositing an acetone solution containing cellulose acetate first onto the transducer surface. The enzyme and cofactors were then deposited onto this layer and allowed to dry; finally a second aliquot of the cellulose acetate solution was deposited onto the enzyme layer and allowed to dry. The biosensor was characterised by amperometry in stirred solution to produce current-voltage curves and for calibration studies. From these it was deduced that a reliable electrocatalytic response was obtained for phosphate ion; an operating potential of +0.4 V was selected for the analysis of urine samples. The precision of the response for urine analysis and recovery data for potable water suggests that the biosensor could have applications in clinical and environmental monitoring.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Great Western Research (GWR), The Environment Agency and UWE, Bristol for funding. Gwent Electronic Materials (GEM) is thanked for the provision of the CoPC-SPCEs.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Research in Analytical, Materials and Sensor Science, University of the West of England, Bristol, BS16 1QY, UK

    Lucy Gilbert & John P. Hart

  2. Environment Agency, Rivers House, Lower Bristol Road, Bath, BA2 9ES, UK

    Simon Browning

  3. Chemistry Department, University of Bath, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK

    Andrew T. A. Jenkins

Authors
  1. Lucy Gilbert
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  2. Simon Browning
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  3. Andrew T. A. Jenkins
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  4. John P. Hart
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Correspondence to John P. Hart.

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Gilbert, L., Browning, S., Jenkins, A.T.A. et al. Studies towards an amperometric phosphate ion biosensor for urine and water analysis. Microchim Acta 170, 331–336 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-010-0316-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-010-0316-2

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