Vapor-Phase Substrate Nitroreductase Reaction and Its Application as TNT Electrochemical Gas Sensor

Nitroreductase (NTR) is an enzyme that specifically reduces nitroaromatic activity. Some explosives are exploited by terrorists. Among these highly explosive materials, 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) often used, which makes the detection of TNT important research topic in fight against terrorism. vapor gas sensor approach has been under active investigation for several years. Despite this effort, presently, there limited practical success, part, due to ultralow volatility nature TNT. In work, we propose application NTR reaction a hydrogel detect vapor. First, activity was confirmed adding and 2,4-dinitrotoluene (DNT) solutions NTR-hydrogel conducting cyclic voltammetry (CV) experiments. Then, further CV experiments were carried out with phase samples. The graphs NTR-hydrogels detecting vapors containing substrates negative controls compared. Results showed signal from nitroaromatics increased exposure time, where highest all tested compounds. sensitive enough presented ambient air at room temperature.