Synthesis, characterization and use of enzyme cashew gum nanoparticles for biosensing applications

This research reports, for the first time, the immobilization of an enzyme - Rhus vernificera laccase - on cashew gum (CG) nanoparticles (NPs) and its application as a biological layer in the design and development of an electrochemical biosensor. Laccase-CG nanoparticles (LacCG-NPs) were prepared by the nanoprecipitation method and characterized by UV-Vis spectrophotometry, atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, attenuated total reflectance-Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, circular dichroism, cyclic voltammetry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The average size and stability of the NPs were predicted by DLS and zeta potential. The ATR-FTIR results clearly demonstrated an interaction between -NH and -OH groups to form LacCG-NPs. The average size found for LacCG-NPs was 280 +/- 53 nm and a polydispersity index of 0.309 +/- 0.08 indicated a good particle size distribution. The zeta potential shows a good colloidal stability. The use of a natural product to prepare the enzymatic nanoparticles, its easy synthesis and the immobilization efficiency should be highlighted. LacCG-NPs were successfully applied as a biolayer in the development of an amperometric biosensor for catechol detection. The resulting device showed a low response time (6 s), good sensitivity (7.86 mu A mu M-1 cm(-2)), wide linear range of 2.5 x 10(-7)-2.0 x 10(-4) M, and low detection limit (50 nM).

Automated summary

This study demonstrated the immobilization of an enzyme on cashew gum nanoparticles for the development of an electrochemical biosensor. The enzyme-CG nanoparticles showed good particle size distribution and colloidal stability. The resulting amperometric biosensor exhibited fast response time, high sensitivity, wide linear range, and low detection limit.