A screen-printed disposable biosensor for selective determination of putrescine

We have developed screen-printed carbon electrodes for the determination of putrescine (Put) via the enzyme monoamine oxidase that was immobilized on the surface of the electrode by cross-linking it with bovine serum albumin using glutaraldehyde. A mixture of 5 % of tetrathiofulvalene (TTF) and carbon ink was used for the fabrication of the screen-printed working electrode. Put was amperometrically detected by measurement of the current due to the oxidation of the mediator TTF. The use of TTF lowers the working potential to +250 mV (vs. a screen-printed Ag/AgCl reference electrode). Response is linear in the range from 16 to 101 mu M, and the detection limit is 17.2 +/- 4.6 mu M, with a reproducibility of 9.6 % (n = 4) in terms of relative standard deviation. The effects of potentially interfering biogenic amines such as cadaverine, histamine, spermine, spermidine and tryptamine were also evaluated. The biosensor was successfully applied to the determination of Put in zucchini and anchovies.