Enzyme biosensor based on pH‐sensitive field‐effect transistors for assessment of total indole alkaloids content in tissue culture of Rauwolfia serpentina

Abstract

Abstract A laboratory prototype of enzyme biosensor based on pH‐sensitive field‐effect transistors has been created to determine the total content of indole alkaloids in Rauwolfia serpentina tissue culture. Enzyme acetylcholinesterase was immobilized on the surface of pH‐sensitive field‐effect transistors using glutaraldehyde for covalent crosslinking with bovine serum albumin. The biosensor was characterized by high sensitivity to the total content of indole alkaloids (minimum limit of determination 0.5 μg/ml in the juice obtained from Rauwolfia serpentina tissue culture). The linear range of biosensor determination was from 2 to 15 μg/ml of the total content of indole alkaloids. The analysis of indole alkaloids using a biosensor is easy and fast; unlike traditional methods, no expensive equipment and special sample preparation are required for analysis. The created biosensor could be further used to control the total content of indole alkaloids in modern biotechnological and pharmaceutical processes of the production of drugs and dietary supplements.

Keywords

• acetylcholinesterase
• biosensor
• indole alkaloids
• pH‐sensitive field‐effect transistor
• plant tissue culture
• Rauwolfia serpentina