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Biomedical subjects

P R Coulet

Publications and source records attributed to P R Coulet.

17 recordsLinked to original sources

Rapid and sensitive discriminating determination of acetylcholinesterase activity in amniotic fluid with a choline sensor.

A simple method for the separate determination of acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase activities in amniotic fluid is reported. This determination is performed with an enzyme electrode involving an immobilized choline oxidase membrane associated with the amperometric detection of hydrogen peroxide. Acetylcholine or butyrylcholine, in the presence of samples containing acetylcholinesterase or butyrylcholinesterase are specifically hydrolyzed, the formation of choline being detected vs time by the sensor with no need for a selective inhibitor. The dynamic linear ranges for acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase are respectively 100 microU to 10 mU and 30 microU to 3 mU per ml sample.

Acetylcholine

What is a biosensor?

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Biosensing Techniques

Mimicked translocation of glucose and glucose 6-phosphate with artificial enzyme membranes.

An approach to the mechanism which may govern the behaviour of biological compartmentalized systems is presented. Artificial enzyme membranes with immobilized glucose oxidase, invertase or hexokinase were used to separate two compartments of a specially designed diffusion cell. Asymmetry in volume, hydrodynamic conditions and enzyme location was purposely chosen in order to create situations which could not be obtained with an enzyme free in solution, and was then used to tentatively mimic situations existing in vivo. Experiments were conducted and a translocation effect of H2O2, glucose and glucose 6-phosphate was obtained. A theoretical analysis taking into account the different identified parameters of the system was elaborated.

Enzymes, Immobilized

Design of luminescence photobiosensors.

The potential of immobilized enzyme membranes in biosensors has been explored in our group for several years. Although part of our work has been mainly devoted to electrochemical transducers and oxidases for the design of enzyme electrodes, the demand for ultrasensitive and highly selective sensors led us to consider the use of luminescent enzyme systems associated to optical transduction. When considering the need for operational and reliable biosensors in biotechnology, immobilization and stability of the sensing element still remain, in most cases, an unavoidable problem. We recently proposed a very fast and reliable procedure for preparing enzymatic membranes from Pall (Biodyne Immunoaffinity membranes) supplied in a pre-activated form. Both the firefly and bacterial systems as well as peroxidase for the chemiluminescent determination of various analytes, could be bound to such a support. Based on this approach, a fibre-optic sensor with immobilized enzymes has been designed which permits bio- or chemiluminescent analysis of ATP, NADH or H2O2 respectively. With the NADH-based system, other analytes could be detected using coupled dehydrogenases. This device appears very promising and includes the convenience of both the luminescence sensitivity as well as the handling of the biosensor design.

Adenosine Triphosphate

Fibre-optic sensor with co-immobilised bacterial bioluminescence enzymes.

A fibre-optic bioluminescent sensor for the microdetermination of NADH is described. Measurements can be performed in the linear range 1 x 10(-9) M-3 x 10(-6) M with a detection limit of 3 x 10(-10) M using the bacterial luciferase and NAD(P)H:FMN oxidoreductase co-immobilised on a preactivated polyamide membrane. The relative standard deviation was 4.8-5.5% at 4 x 10(-8) M NADH and the steady-state response time was 2 min. When stored at -20 degrees C with 20% glycerol, the activity of the bioactive membranes was higher than that measured prior to freezing and then remained stable for more than four months.

Bacterial Proteins

Optically-based chemical and biochemical sensors for the detection of some drugs and biological compounds.

The development of new methods for determining at a very low level a large spectrum of substances affecting the behaviour of living organisms is still a challenging goal. For such a purpose, chemical sensors which can be defined as the intimate combination of a sensitive and specific layer with a transducer, are undoubtedly among the more promising devices. In this field, optical sensors are expanding rapidly, mainly based on absorption, fluorescence, chemi- and bioluminescence. Beside pH and gases, drugs (anticonvulsant, antitumour, anaesthetic...) and other compounds of biological interest can be determined with specifically designed optical sensors, for instance immunosensors. Special attention will be given to optical biosensors with emphasis on chemi- and bioluminescence-based devices which are highly selective and ultrasensitive. When co-immobilizing various auxiliary enzymes in the sensing layer, the potentialities of such devices can be greatly extended as demonstrated by promising results recently obtained in our group.

Biosensing Techniques

Comparison of intrinsic stabilities of free and bound enzymes by graphical removal of diffusional effects.

The enhanced stability usually exhibited by enzymes after immobilization may be attributed either to a stabilization effect of the solid matrix on the bound enzyme molecule or to the influences of diffusional limitations on the observed activity. To allow the comparison of the intrinsic statilities of free and bound enzymes a simple graphical procedure for the removal of external diffusional effects of stability curves is described. It is based on the determination of substrate concentration differences between the enzyme micro- and macroenvironment. Application of the method to aspartate aminotransferase bound to collagen membranes indicates that diffusional limitations for oxaloacetate are partly responsible for the observed stability enhancement. Comparison of the graphically obtained intrinsic profile with the stability curve of the soluble enzyme further demonstrate that the binding itself greatly increases the stability of aspartate aminotransferase.

Aspartate Aminotransferases

Chemically activated collagen for amyloglucosidase attachment. Use in a helicoidal reactor.

Amyloglucosidase was covalently bound to collagen sheets by a previously described method. The time of acidic methylation (first step of the collagen activation process) was important to obtain a good enzymatic surfacic activity. Homogeneity of the coupling procedure on the surface of collagen films was shown. Some properties of free enzyme were not affected after grafting; optimum pH and temperature, activation energy, and Km for maltose. Heat stability of the bound enzyme was slightly better; Km for soluble starch increased fivefold. In contrast, the maximal velocity in the presence of soluble starch remained four times that of maltose hydrolysis. Amyloglucosidase collagen membranes were used in a helicoidal reactor to produce glucose from maltose or soluble starch solutions. Tracer studies have shown that the helicoidal reactor behaved as a CSTR. The influence of maltose concentration and flow rate on conversion was studied and confirmed the absence of diffusional limitations for maltose. Recycling of concentrated solutions of maltose and soluble starch indicated strong diffusional restrictions for soluble starch. The catalytic support kept all its activity for 18 days continuous operation at 40 degrees C and 80% after 17 months storage at 4 degrees C.

Collagen

Grafting of enzymes on collagen films using Woodward's reagent "K" and a water-soluble carbodiimide derivative.

Two new methods of activation were developed to graft enzymes on collegen films. They involved chemical modifications of surface groups of collagen either by Woodward's reagent "K" or by EDC, a water-soluble derivative of carbodiimide. EDC was a better coupling agent and a detailed study was conducted with this agent. It could be used either in a global method of activation and coupling, or in a two-step procedure of activation of collagen, followed by spontaneous coupling of enzyme. All enzymes tested were successfully bound: malate dehydrogenase, lactate dehydrogenase, aspartate aminotransferase, urease, creatine kinase, hexokinase. The influence on the yield of grafted enzyme, of pretreatment of films, time and temperature of EDC activation, concentration of EDC and enzyme, protecting agents was studied. Stability of enzyme activity on storage was greatly increased after grafting. A co-grafted dual system creatine kinase/heoxkinase, was achieved which exhibited a good efficiency. A striking renaturing process at 0-4degreesC after thermal denaturation, was observed with hexokinase.

Aspartate Aminotransferases

Surface-bound aspartate aminotransferase on collagen films. Compared properties with native enzyme.

Aspartate aminotransferase (L-aspartate : 2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase, EC 2.6.1.1) has been covalently bound to chemically activated collagen films. This enzyme had never previously been coupled to any other solid support. The coupling method, including acyl azide formation on the carrier, allowed coupling of many other enzymes. A systematic study of coupling conditions has been performed; influence of time of coupling and of concentration of coupling solution on the enzymatic activity retained on the film. Coupling solutions could be used for several successive couplings. To determine the yield of binding, N-[14C] ethylmaleimide-labelled enzyme was prepared fully active and bound to collagen films. After lyophilisation the film retained most of its activity when stored in buffer and the half-life of the enzymatic film was about ten months. pH Dependence and activation energy were about the same for soluble and coupled enzyme. Coupling protects against thermal denaturation and increases the stability of the enzyme; the enzymatic film could be used repeatedly. Kinetics were somewhat modified in the coupled enzyme as compared to the enzyme in solution. Glutamate appeared more available while oxaloacetate seemed to be limiting. These modifications might be due to the proteic support itself. The enzymatic films also revealed themselves as a good tool for industrial or clinical purposes as well as for studying the mechanism of enzyme action.

Aspartate Aminotransferases

Fibre-optic biosensor based on luminescence and immobilized enzymes: microdetermination of sorbitol, ethanol and oxaloacetate.

We have investigated highly selective and ultrasensitive biosensors based on luminescent enzyme systems linked to optical transducers. A fibre-optic sensor with immobilized enzymes was designed; the solid-phase bioreagent was maintained in close contact contact with the tip of a glass fibre bundle connected to the photomultiplier tube of a luminometer. A bacterial luminescence fibre-optic sensor was used for the microdetermination of NADH. Various NAD(P)-dependent enzymes, sorbitol dehydrogenase, alcohol dehydrogenase and malate dehydrogenase, were co-immobilized on preactivated polyamide membranes with the bacterial system and used for the microdetermination of sorbitol, ethanol and oxaloacetate at the nanomolar level with a good precision.

Biosensing Techniques

Glucoamylase immobilization on a magnetic microparticle for the continuous hydrolysis of maltodextrin in a fluidized bed reactor.

Glucoamylase (GA) has been successfully immobilized through its carbohydrates previously oxidized with periodate onto a low-cost magnetic microparticle made of polyethyleneimine-coated magnetite crosslinked with glutaraldehyde (M-GAD) and derivatized with adipic dihydrazide (ADH). A stabilization posttreatment consisting of crosslinking its carbohydrates with ADH, increased the remaining activity from 54 to 71%, calculated on the Vm values and measured at 50 degrees C and pH 4.5 with maltodextrin (DE 11-14) as substrate. This treatment also improved the enzyme stability and lowered the deactivation rate constant kd to a third of its value. A 30% maltodextrin solution has been continuously hydrolyzed at 50 degrees C and pH 4.5 in a recycled, fluidized bed reactor (FBR) containing GA immobilized on these magnetic microparticles. They easily settled in this highly viscous medium because of their high density (5 g/mL), and washout of ultrafines was prevented by surrounding the top of the bed with an electromagnet. The small particle size (20 microns) allowed a high enzyme loading in the reactor and also a high bed voidage, which is recommended to avoid extensive pressure drop and consequent channeling problems. The kinetic of hydrolysis fitted with the plug-flow model; this is explained by the insignificant backmixing effects observed. After 2 wk of hydrolysis under process conditions leading to a conversion of 70%, which corresponds to a high-conversion syrup, the immobilized GA only lost 4% of its initial activity.

Biosensing Techniques