Cantilever Nanobiosensor Functionalized with Tyrosinase for Detection of Estrone and ß-estradiol in Water.

This work aimed to develop cantilever nanobiosensor functionalized with tyrosinase enzyme to detect 17ß-estradiol and estrone hormones. In this system, the tyrosinase enzyme was covalently immobilized by self-assembled monolayer onto the cantilever sensor surface. It was possible to verify that the high hormone concentration investigated resulted in high voltage response. The nanobiosensor presented a distinction between the concentrations evaluated and was verified sensitivities of 0.497 and 0.101 V/µg, limit of detection of 0.1 and 0.4 ng/L for the hormones 17ß-estradiol and estrone, respectively. The device showed good reversibility and during 30 days of storage maintained about 99% of the original signal. The cantilever nanobiosensor applied in different water samples (ultrapure, river, tap, and mineral) showed good performance, so could be readily extended toward the on-site monitoring of the other trace small molecular pollutants in environmental water matrices.

Heavy metals detection in river water with cantilever nanobiosensor.

Heavy metals can be highly toxic depending on the dose and the chemical form. In this context, sensing devices such as nanobiosensors have been presented as a promising tool to monitor contaminants at micro and nanoscale. In this work, cantilever nanobiosensors with phosphatase alkaline were developed and applied to detect heavy metals (Pb, Ni, Cd, Zn, Co, and Al) in river water. The nanobiosensor surface was functionalized by the self-assembled monolayers (SAM) technique using 16-mercaptohexadecanoic acid, N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-N'-ethylcarbodiimide (EDC) and N- hydroxysuccinimide (NHS), and phosphatase alkaline enzyme. The sensing layer deposited on the cantilever surface presented a uniform morphology, at nanoscale, with 80 nm of thickness. The nanobiosensor showed a detection limit in the ppb range and high sensitivity, with a stability of fifteen days. The developed cantilever nanobiosensor is a simple tool, suitable for the direct detection of contaminants in river water.

Cantilever Functionalization Using Peroxidase Extract of Low Cost for Glyphosate Detection.

A cantilever nanobiosensor functionalized with vegetable source of peroxidase was developed as an innovative way for glyphosate herbicide detection over a wide concentration range (0.01 to 10 mg L-1) using atomic force microscopy (AFM) technique. The extract obtained from zucchini (Cucurbita pepo source of peroxidase), with high enzymatic activity and stability has been used as bio-recognition element to develop a nanobiosensor. The polarization-modulated reflection absorption infrared spectroscopy (PM-RAIRS) demonstrated the deposition of enzyme on cantilever surface using self-assembled monolayers (SAM) by the presence of the amide I and II bands. The detection mechanism of glyphosate was based on the changes in surface tension caused by the analyte adsorption, resulting in a conformational change in the enzyme structure. In this way, the results of nanobiosensor demonstrate the potential of the sensing device for detecting glyphosate with a detection limit of 0.028 mg L-1.

Tools for detecting insect semiochemicals: a review.

Semiochemicals are chemical compounds that are released by many species as a means of intra- and interspecific communication. Insects have extremely advanced olfactory systems; indeed, they rely on smell when performing many of their main behaviors, such as oviposition, breeding, prey location, and defense. This characteristic of insects implies that semiochemicals could be used for various applications, including in agriculture, where they could be employed along with other tools to control pest insects. The aim of this review is to present the main techniques used and the state of the art in the detection of semiochemicals, focusing on pheromones. In addition to the traditional methods of identifying semiochemicals, such as gas chromatography coupled to a high-resolution detection mode (e.g., flame ionization (FID), electron capture (ECD), photoionization (PID), or mass spectrometry (MS)), other tools are addressed in this review, including sensors and biosensors. While these new technologies may be used under laboratory conditions to improve or complement technologies that are already being used, they are mainly intended for use as new agricultural tools for detecting and controlling pest insects in the field.

Elaboração e avaliação da qualidade de macarrão isento de glúten / Elaboration and quality evaluation of the gluten-free pasta

Com a intenção de minimizar a carência de produtos isentos de glúten e tendo em vista o crescente aumento de celíacos, a elaboração de produtos diferenciais a base de farinha de arroz e milho torna-se uma alternativa de consumo e comercialização. Assim, este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar os efeitos da adição de farinha de arroz e milho, e emulsificante nas características de qualidade (teste de cozimento, textura instrumental - firmeza e aceitabilidade) e físico-químicas (proteínas, lipídios, carboidratos, minerais e fibra alimentar) de formulações de macarrão, mediante o emprego de metodologia de planejamento de experimentos, fixando a concentração de ovos in natura (12%, m/m) e água (20%, v/m). A formulação com 40g de farinha de milho, 60g de farinha de arroz e 0,4g de SSL por 100g de farinha mista foi a que apresentou melhor resistência ao cozimento, menores perdas de sólidos na água de cocção (2,12% m/m), textura (30,40g seg-1) e aceitabilidade superior a 85 %. Além disso, o uso de farinha de arroz, associado à farinha de milho, proporciona fonte de minerais (152mg de K, 1,55mg de Fe, 46mg de Mg, 20mg de Ca por 100g), proteínas (~7%), carboidratos (52%) e fibras (~1%), importante suprimento nutricional para celíacos, por estes apresentarem perdas significativas destes nutrientes, devido à diarreia e à absorção restrita, característica da doença.

In order to minimize the deficiency of products with gluten-free and the growing number of celiac the elaboration of differential products using rice and maize flour becomes an alternative of consuming and marketing. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of rice and maize flour, and emulsifier addition in the quality characteristics (cooking test, instrumental texture - firmness and acceptability) and physic-chemical (proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, minerals and dietary fiber) of pasta formulation, by the use of experimental design methodology, fixing the concentration of in nature eggs (12%, w/w) and water (20%, v/w). The formulation with 40g of maize flour, 60g of rice flour and 0.4g per 100g of SSL mixed flour showed the better cooking resistance, reduced loss of solids in the cooking water (2.12% m/m), texture (30.40g sec-1) and acceptability higher than 85%. Furthermore, the use of rice flour associated with maize flour provide a source of minerals (152mg of K, 1.55mg of Fe, 46mg of Mg, 20mg Ca per 100g), proteins (~ 7%), carbohydrates (52%), fibers (~1%) important nutritional supplement for celiac, because they present significant losses of these nutrients due to restricted absortion and diarrhea, characteristic of the disease.