Modification of Gold Electrodes with Bacterial Reaction Centres Immobilized by Laser Induced Forward Transfer (LIFT) Technique for Amperometric Herbicide Detection

The functionalization of screen-printed electrodes (SPEs) with a thin film of reaction centre (RC) proteins from the phototrophic bacterium Rhodobacter (R.) sphaeroides , by means of laser induced forward transfer (LIFT) technique, allowed the fabrication of robust and sensitive bio-hybrid devices for terbutryn detection and analysis. The optimal wiring between RCs and the gold electrode surface, achieved by LIFT, led to the generation of cathodic photocurrents sustained by a direct electron transfer (DET) mechanism, which were attenuated by addition of the herbicide inhibitor.