title: Biomaterials based on photosynthetic membranes as potential sensors for herbicides.
abstract: In this study, ultrathin film multilayers of Photosystem II-enriched photosynthetic membranes (BBY) were prepared and immobilized on quartz substrates by means of a Layer by Layer procedure exploiting electrostatic interactions with poly(ethylenimine) as polyelectrolyte. The biomaterials thus obtained were characterized by means of optical techniques and Atomic Force Microscopy, highlighting the fact that the Layer by Layer approach allowed the BBYs to be immobilized with satisfactory results. The activity of these hybrid materials was evaluated by means of optical assays based on the Hill Reaction, indicating that the biosamples, which preserved about 65% of their original activity even ten weeks after preparation, were both stable and active. Furthermore, an investigation of the biochips' sensitivity to the herbicide terbutryn, as a model analyte, gave interesting results: inhibition of photosynthetic activity was observed at terbutryn concentrations higher than 10(-7)M, thus evidencing the potential of such biomaterials in the environmental biosensor field.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Chimica, Università degli Studi di Bari Aldo Moro, Via Orabona 4, 70126 Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ventrella
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Catucci
authors.forename: Tiziana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Placido
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Longobardi
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Agostiano
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D004800:Enzymes, Immobilized / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D006540:Herbicides / Q000032:analysis*; D045332:Photosystem II Protein Complex / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D011094:Polyethyleneimine / Q000737:chemistry; D011791:Quartz / Q000737:chemistry; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018724:Spinacia oleracea / Q000737:chemistry; D014227:Triazines / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D004800:Enzymes, Immobilized; D006540:Herbicides; D045332:Photosystem II Protein Complex; D014227:Triazines; D011791:Quartz; D011094:Polyethyleneimine; C010347:terbutryne