Dual laccase-tyrosinase based sonogel-carbon biosensor for monitoring polyphenols in beers

A biosensor based on the bi-immobilization of laccase and tyrosinase phenoloxidase enzymes has been successfully developed. This biosensor employs as the electrochemical transducer the Sonogel-Carbon, a novel type of electrode developed by our group. The immobilization step was accomplished by doping the electrode surface with a mixture of the enzymes, glutaricclialdehyde, and Nafion-ion exchanger, as protective additive. The response of this biosensor, denoted the dual Trametes versicolor laccase (La) and Mushroom tyrosinase (Ty) based Sonogel-Carbon, was optimized directly in beer real samples and its analytical performance with respect to five individual polyphenols was evaluated. The Lac-Ty/Sonogel-Carbon electrode responds to nanomolar concentrations of flavan-3-ols, hydroxycinnamic acids, and hydroxybenzoic acids. The limit of detection, sensitivity, and linear range for caffeic acid, taken as an example, were 26 nM, 167.53 nA M-1, and 0.01-2 mu M, respectively. In addition, the stability and reproducibility of the biosensor were also evaluated in beer samples. The Lac-Ty/sonogel-carbon electrode was verified as very stable in this matrix, maintaining 80% of its stable response for at least three weeks, with a RSD of 3.6% (n = 10). The biosensor was applied to estimate the total polyphenol index in ten beer samples, and a correlation of 0.99 was obtained when the results were compared with those obtained using the Folin-Ciocalteau reagent.