Effect of yeast pretreatment on the characteristics of yeast-modified electrodes as mediated amperometric biosensors for lactic acid

Carbon paste electrode modified with bakerʹ and wine yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae (a source of flavocytochrome b2) were investigated as amperometric biosensors for l-lactic acid. Before immobilization on the electrode surface, yeast cells were pretreated with various electrolytes, alcohols and weak organic acids. Electrode responses to l-lactic acid were tested in the presence of various mediators (potassium ferricyanide, phenazine methosulfate, 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol sodium salt hydrate, 1,2-naphthoquinone-4-sulfonic acid sodium salt). The highest (144 ± 7 nA per 0.2 mM l-lactic acid) and the most stable responses were obtained after yeast pretreatment with 30% ethanol using potassium ferricyanide as a mediator. Different electrode sensitivities with mediator phenazine methosulphate probably reflected diverse changes in yeast membrane (and/or cell wall).