Biosensors
Petr Skládal
[ skladal@chemi.muni.cz ]Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University
611 37 Brno, Kotlářská 2 (Czech Republic)
Tel. +420-5-41129497 +420-602-829492 Fax +420-5-41211214
The research of biosensors in Brno continues for 20 years. In the past, attention was focused particularly to biocatalytic sensors using enzyme-based sensors. Tyrosinase, diamine oxidase, and glucose oxidase were coupled to oxygen electrodes, urease was linked to conductometric sensors, and cholinesterase was immobilized on modified graphite electrodes.
At present, applications for protection of the environment are addressed (organophosphorus and carbamate pesticides in water, soil and food) and especially the research on immunochemical sensors is in progress. The direct piezoelectric immunosensors are studied and used for characterization of affinity interactions between antibodies and antigens / haptens. For construction of indirect immunosensors, screen printed electrochemical systems are employed. The multichannel amperometric transducer has been developed and successfully coupled to the immunoassays employing peroxidase and cholinesterase as enzyme labels.
Fruitful contacts exist with local Czech organizations (Institute for Veterinary Medicine - production of antibodies; Water Research Institut
e - analysis of real samples; Krejčí Engineering - production of screen printed sensors, development of electronics). The working group of biosensors consists of 3 scientists, several postgraduate and undergraduate students.
is provided to graduate and undergraduate students of biochemistry, chemistry and biophysics.
Selected publications
Cholinesterase-based sensors for organophosphates and carbamates
Construction and application of enzyme electrodes
Electrochemical immunosensors for pesticides
Piezoelectric biosensors and characterization of affinity interactions
Research Projects
Cholinesterase
Biosensors for Detection of Nerve Agents and PesticidesMonitoring of
Bioaffinity Interactions in Water and in Organic Solvents using Piezelectric Crystals (Czech Grant Agency no. 203/96/0070)MEBFOOD
- Multichannel Electrochemical Biosensor for Rapid Food Safety Monitoring (European Union - INCO Copernicus)Flow through
Electrochemical Immunosensors for Toxic Compounds in the Environment (Triazines, Phenoxyalkanoic Acids, and Polychlorinated Biphenyls)Electrochemical
Immunosensor for Albuminuria
Database specialized on biosensors
The information on publications related to biosensors (articles, books, patents, etc.) is maintained for the whole historical period of biosensing. It contains over 8000 records (40% with abstracts) covering all field of biosensors as well as closely related bioanalytical techniques. The program Reprints™ is used to view, search and update the database as well as to export selected records in suitable formats for publications. Demo version is available on request.
LabTools
The program LabTools™ is used for experiments and development of biosensors. Experimental data are stored as datasets consisting of numerical (Y, optional X and Z) and textnote fields, either single dataset or a group of related datasets can be saved. The
manager module enables convenient viewing and graphic editing of data (read value, difference, slope, mean, copy / cut datapoints) and basic mathematic operations. Several measuring modules are based on the common general-purpose component TExperiment (all software is developed in Delphi); examples include frequency measurement for piezoelectric systems, electrochemical systems (single / multichannel amperometry, pulsed techniques, voltammetry), input from RS 232 compatible devices, and multipurpose digital / analog input / output devices. The flow module is used to automate operation of pumps and valves for flow injection analysis.
visits since 1.3.1998