A new embedded biosensor platform based on micro-electrodes array (MEA) technology

This paper illustrates the application of a multi-response biosensor platform to the simultaneous analysis of several water and food components and contaminants, and demonstrates how this platform can represent a valid support to agrifood industry. This biosensor was based on micro-electrodes array (MEA) technology and employed an array of biological recognition elements intimately integrated to an electrochemical–optical transduction system. The modification of gold micro-electrodes transducer surface allowed the simultaneous determination of selected target analytes by means of amperometric and fluorescence signal variation of immobilized enzymes and micro-organisms able to recognize various food components, like sugars and phenols, and contaminants, like pesticides. The performance of the biosensor platform was evaluated against the traditional electrochemical and optical methods with laboratory set-up instrumentations showing good linearity, sensitivity and repeatability in the detection of glucose, lactose, catechol, atrazine, prometryn and diuron in standard and real samples, with linearity in the micromolar range and with high sensitive limits of detection. In particular, atrazine, prometryn and diuron were detected with a limit of detection of 0.5 nM, 0.31 nM and 0.48 nM, respectively; glucose and lactose were revealed with a limit of detection of 8.5 μM and 90 μM, respectively; catechol was identified with a limit of detection of 1 μM. Based on the comparative performance of laboratory set-up techniques and MEA biosensor, the multi-biosensor platform emerged as a suitable tool for large classes of compounds in fast, simple screening in agrifood quality.