title: Nitrate biosensors and biological methods for nitrate determination.
abstract: The inorganic nitrate (NO3‾) anion is present under a variety of both natural and artificial environmental conditions. Nitrate is ubiquitous within the environment, food, industrial and physiological systems and is mostly present as hydrated anion of a corresponding dissolved salt. Due to the significant environmental and toxicological effects of nitrate, its determination and monitoring in environmental and industrial waters are often necessary. A wide range of analytical techniques are available for nitrate determination in various sample matrices. This review discusses biosensors available for nitrate determination using the enzyme nitrate reductase (NaR). We conclude that nitrate determination using biosensors is an excellent non-toxic alternative to all other available analytical methods. Over the last fifteen years biosensing technology for nitrate analysis has progressed very well, however, there is a need to expedite the development of nitrate biosensors as a suitable alternative to non-enzymatic techniques through the use of different polymers, nanostructures, mediators and strategies to overcome oxygen interference.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia; Center of Research Excellence in Nanotechnology, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: manzarsohail@kfupm.edu.sa.
authors.forename: Manzar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sohail
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia.
authors.forename: Samuel B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Adeloju
mesh_terms: D015374:Biosensing Techniques; D006801:Humans; D050901:Nitrate Reductase; D009566:Nitrates; D009589:Nitrogen Oxides; D010100:Oxygen
chemical_list: D009566:Nitrates; D009589:Nitrogen Oxides; D050901:Nitrate Reductase; D010100:Oxygen
keywords: Nitrate; Nitrate biosensors; Nitrate in environment; Nitrate reductase