title: Sol-gel silica platforms for microalgae-based optical biosensors.
abstract: An advanced hybrid biosensing platform with improved optical quality is developed based on the acidic encapsulation of microalgi in silica matrices synthesized by TAFR (tetraethoxysilane derived alcohol free route). The three microalgi (Chlorella vulgaris, Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata and Chlamydomonas reinhardtii) were previously immobilized in alginate following the two-step procedure. Tuning the alginate protecting function with the aid of Tris-HCl buffer, the sol-gel synthesis was conducted at pH 4.0 well below the tolerance limit imposed by the encapsulated microalgae. The acidic condensation of Si(IV) generates silica matrices with outstanding optical properties that suit the requirements of biosensors based on optical detection methods.
authors.affiliation: INQUIMAE-DQIAQF, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires. Ciudad Universitaria, Pab. II, C1428EHA Buenos Aires, Argentina. Electronic address: mercedesp@qi.fcen.uba.ar.
authors.forename: Mercedes
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Perullini
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire d'Ecologie des Hydrosystèmes Naturels et Anthropisés, UMR 5023 ENTPE, Université de Lyon, France.
authors.forename: Yannis
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ferro
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire d'Ecologie des Hydrosystèmes Naturels et Anthropisés, UMR 5023 ENTPE, Université de Lyon, France.
authors.forename: Claude
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Durrieu
authors.affiliation: INQUIMAE-DQIAQF, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires. Ciudad Universitaria, Pab. II, C1428EHA Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Matías
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jobbágy
authors.affiliation: INQUIMAE-DQIAQF, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires. Ciudad Universitaria, Pab. II, C1428EHA Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Sara A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Bilmes
mesh_terms: D000464:Alginates / Q000737:chemistry; D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D004950:Esterases / Q000378:metabolism; D020723:Glucuronic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D006603:Hexuronic Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D058086:Microalgae / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000201:enzymology; D053838:Scattering, Small Angle; D058428:Silica Gel / Q000737:chemistry*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D000464:Alginates; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D058428:Silica Gel; D020723:Glucuronic Acid; D004950:Esterases
keywords: Biosensor; Esterase activity; Microalgae; Optical quality; Sol–gel