A polyphenol biosensor realized by laser printing technology

An amperometric biosensor sensitive towards phenolic compounds, using the enzyme laccase as biorecognition element, was developed. The enzyme was successfully immobilized in active form onto nonfunctionalized screen printed electrodes by using the laser printing technology. This type of immobilization established efficient electrochemical contact between the enzyme and the electrodes surface. The immobilized laccase was characterized towards catechol in solution, a typical phenolic compound. The biosensor sensitivity was found to be 0.43nA ± 0.04 nA/μM for catechol. This biosensor permits the detection of catechol in aqueous solutions at concentrations in the nanomolar range.