Monitoring bioelectrochemical reactions and novel media for bioelectrochemical reactions
First Claim
1. A method for determining a gaseous or vapor analyte comprising(1) providing a substantially liquid-free electrochemical cell comprising microvoltammetric electrodes including a microvoltammetric sensing electrode;
- solid or semi-solid support consisting essentially of an electrolyte in electrical contact with the microvoltammetric sensing electrode; and
an enzyme or synzyme;
whereto the enzyme or synzyme is immobilized within the support in electrical contact with the microvoltammetric sensing electrode and wherein the enzyme or synzyme is contactable with a gaseous or vapor phase, and(2) exposing the electrochemical cell to a gaseous or vapor phase suspected of containing the gaseous or vapor analyte which is a substrate for the enzyme or synzyme, whereby the gaseous or vapor analyte contacts the enzyme or synzyme and reacts thereby generating a detectable electrical response relatable to presence of the analyte; and
(3) determining the electrical response by the microvoltammetric sensing electrode to determine the presence or amount of the analyte.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of determining an analyte in the gaseous or vapour phase and in which a bioreceptor or biomimic is retained at an electrode. The bioreceptor or biomimic is preferably retained at a support at the electrode which comprises a solid or gel matrix of an electrolyte, especially organic salt electrolytes. Electrochemical detection of analytes in this way has several advantages over existing methods which rely on solution monitoring. For example gas sensors can be prepared for monitoring an analyte by the occurrence of a reaction with a bioreceptor or biomimic, in addition to monitoring the presence of toxins due to inhibition of the bioreceptor or biomimic reaction. Furthermore, the invention enables gas or vapour analyte monitoring with increased sensitivity and speed and greater stability of the sensors can be achieved. The invention also relates to novel media for carrying out bioelectrochemical reactions.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method for determining a gaseous or vapor analyte comprising
(1) providing a substantially liquid-free electrochemical cell comprising microvoltammetric electrodes including a microvoltammetric sensing electrode; -
solid or semi-solid support consisting essentially of an electrolyte in electrical contact with the microvoltammetric sensing electrode; and an enzyme or synzyme; whereto the enzyme or synzyme is immobilized within the support in electrical contact with the microvoltammetric sensing electrode and wherein the enzyme or synzyme is contactable with a gaseous or vapor phase, and (2) exposing the electrochemical cell to a gaseous or vapor phase suspected of containing the gaseous or vapor analyte which is a substrate for the enzyme or synzyme, whereby the gaseous or vapor analyte contacts the enzyme or synzyme and reacts thereby generating a detectable electrical response relatable to presence of the analyte; and (3) determining the electrical response by the microvoltammetric sensing electrode to determine the presence or amount of the analyte. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for determining a gaseous or vapor analyte comprising
(1) providing a substantially liquid-free electrochemical cell comprising microvoltammetric electrodes including a microvoltammetric sensing electrode; -
a solid or semi-solid support in electrical contact with the microvoltammetric sensing electrode; and an enzyme or synzyme; whereto the support consists essentially of a solid or gel matrix formed from an electrolyte, wherein the enzyme or synzyme is retained by the support as an underlayer or overlayer for the support, and the support is in electrical contact with the microvoltammetric sensing electrode and whereto the enzyme or synzyme is contactable with a gaseous or vapor phase, and (2) exposing the electrochemical cell to a gaseous or vapor phase suspected of containing the gaseous or vapor analyte which is a substrate for the enzyme or synzyme, whereby the gaseous or vapor analyte contacts the enzyme or synzyme and reacts thereby generating a detectable electrical response relatable to presence of the analyte; and (3) detecting the electrical response by the microvoltammetric sensing electrode to determine the presence or amount of the analyte. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. A substantially liquid-free support for a bioelectrochemical reaction comprising a solid or gel matrix comprising a tetra butyl ammonium salt or a tetra ethyl ammonium salt and an enzyme or synzyme, said matrix being permeable to a gaseous reactant, the reactant being a substrate for the enzyme or synzyme, wherein the enzyme or synzyme is retained by the support and wherein the enzyme or synzyme is contactable by the gaseous reactant.
- 14. A microvoltammetric sensing electrode comprising a conductor, a solid or semi-solid support m electrical contact with the conductor and an enzyme or synzyme retained by the support, the support consisting essentially of a solid or gel matrix of all electrolyte, wherein the enzyme or synzyme is immobilized within the support and the support is permeable to a gaseous reactant which is a substrate for the enzyme or synzyme and whereto the electrolyte is an organic salt.
Specification