Probing the Functionalization of Gold Surfaces and Protein Adsorption by PM‐IRRAS

The control of morphology and coating of metal surfaces is essential for a number of organic electronic devices including photovoltaic cells and sensors. In this study, we monitor the functionalization of gold surfaces with 11‐mercaptoundecanoic acid (MUA, HS(CH₂)₁₀CO₂H) and cysteamine, aiming at passivating the surfaces for application in surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensors. Using polarization‐modulated infrared reflection–absorption spectroscopy (PM‐IRRAS), cyclic voltammetry, atomic force microscopy and quartz crystal microbalance, we observed a time‐dependent organization process of the adsorbed MUA monolayer with alkyl chains perpendicular to the gold surface. Such optimized condition for surface passivation was obtained with a systematic search for experimental parameters leading to the lowest electrochemical signal of the functionalized gold electrode. The ability to build supramolecular architectures was also confirmed by detecting with PM‐IRRAS the adsorption of streptavidin on the MUA‐functionalized gold. As the approaches used for surface functionalization and its verification with PM‐IRRAS are generic, one may now envisage monitoring the fabrication of tailored electrodes for a variety of applications.     

自组装膜上细胞色素c的电化学石英晶体微天平实时表征和定量检测

采用电化学石英晶体微天平(EQCM)实时表征和定量检测细胞色素c(Cytc).在压电石英晶振表面上自组装巯基十一酸(MUA)单层膜,以盐酸1-乙基-3-(3-二甲基氨基丙基)碳二亚胺(EDC)和N-羟基琥珀酰亚胺(NHS)活化羧基,将Cytc共价固化到电极表面.EQCM实时监测了MUA的自组装和Cytc的固化过程,测定了二者在电极表面的覆盖度和Cytc的固化量.结果表明,Cytc在0.03～3.00μmol/L浓度范围内呈线性变化,检测限可达到1.19×10^-9mol/L.     

Nanowire Transistor‐Based Ultrasensitive Virus Detection with Reversible Surface Functionalization

We have applied a reusable silicon nanowire field‐effect transistor (SiNW‐FET) as a biosensor to conduct ultrasensitive detection of H5N2 avian influenza virus (AIV) in very dilute solution. The reversible surface functionalization of SiNW‐FET was made possible using a disulfide linker. In the surface functionalization, 3‐mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane (MPTMS) was first modified on the SiNW‐FET (referred to as MPTMS/SiNW‐FET), with subsequent dithiothreitol washing to reduce any possible disulfide bonding between the thiol groups of MPTMS. Subsequently, receptor molecules could be immobilized on the MPTMS/SiNW‐FET by the formation of a disulfide bond. The success of the reversible surface functionalization was verified with fluorescence examination and electrical measurements. A surface topograph of the SiNW‐FET biosensor modified with a monoclonal antibody against H5N2 virus (referred to as mAb_H5/SiNW‐FET) after detecting approximately 10^?17 M H5N2 AIVs was scanned by atomic force microscopy to demonstrate that the SiNW‐FET is capable of detecting very few H5N2 AIV particles.     

Laser-scribed Graphene Electrodes as an Electrochemical Immunosensing Platform for Cancer Biomarker ‘eIF3d’

eIF3d is a protein biomarker which has a potential for the diagnosis of various cancers. Herein, a bio-platform was constructed for eIF3d sensing by using LSG and surface functionalization with anti eIF3d antibody via EDC/NHS chemistry. Following the surface modifications, XPS and several electrochemical methods were used. Difference in the signals were related to biomarker amounts between 75–500 ng/mL. LOD was calculated as 50.4 ng/mL. Selectivity of biosensor was tested by using of various interference molecules. EIF3d was also successfully detected in synthetic biological samples. Thus, to the best of our knowledge, this study is one of the rare studies on use of LSGs in immunosensor studies.     

基于有序生物膜的电容型层胶粘蛋白新型免疫传感器

免疫传感器以其高度特异性抗原抗体结合反应的特点 ,可直接、快速而灵敏地测定抗原或抗体分子而被广泛应用于临床医学以及环境污染物检测等领域 [1] .目前 ,检测抗原抗体结合的无标志方法主要有石英晶体微天平 [2 ] 、表面等离子共振 [3 ] 、界面电容 [4 ] 及原子力显微镜 [5]     

Direct Electrochemical Nano‐immunosensor for Microcystin‐LR in Seawater

Microcystins are potent hepatotoxins produced by cyanobacteria, which proliferate in wastewaters with high nutrient content. Due to their high toxicity and potential risk to human health, even at low concentrations, the development of a sensitive and rapid method for the monitoring of microcystin‐LR (MC‐LR) in water samples is of great importance. In this context, a new direct electrochemical nano‐immunosensor for MC‐LR detection using the liquid crystal (E)‐1‐decyl‐4‐[(4‐decyloxyphenyl)diazenyl]pyridinium bromide (Br‐Py) as a redox probe and gold nanoparticles stabilized in bovine serum albumin (AuNP‐BSA) is described herein. The microcystin‐LR antibody (anti‐MC‐LR) was covalently immobilized using N‐(3‐dimethylaminopropyl)‐N‐ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) and N‐hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) on an AuNP‐BSA/BrPy film. The proposed sensor response is based on the inhibition of the Br‐Py electrochemical signal after the specific interaction of MC‐LR with immobilized anti‐MC‐LR on the electrode surface. The electrochemical behavior of the immunosensor was studied by square‐wave voltammetry (SWV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Under optimized conditions, using SWV and an incubation time of 15 min, the immunosensor exhibits a linear response to MC‐LR concentrations of 0.05 to 500.0 ng mL⁻¹ with a detection limit of 0.05 ng mL⁻¹. The anti‐MC‐LR/AuNP‐BSA/Br‐Py/GCE was successfully applied in the determination of MC‐LR in spiked seawater samples.     

Surface IR applied to rapid and direct immunosensing of environmental pollutants

This paper describes the elaboration of a model immunosensor monitored by polarization modulation reflection absorption infrared spectroscopy (PM-RAIRS) and quartz crystal microbalance (QCM-D), as well as its reactivity using PM-RAIRS as transduction technique. To prove its relevance, this immunosensor was applied to the detection of benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), a carcinogenic polycylic aromatic hydrocarbon. Very few immunoassays, and even fewer immunosensors, have been described for the assay of BaP, making it an interesting target for analytical device development. The PM-RAIRS immunosensor was constructed on planar gold-coated sensors functionalized with cystamine then glutaraldehyde. Antibodies were immobilized through their affinity to protein G, covalently coupled to the aldehyde layer. In a first stage, a model mouse IgG was utilized to optimize the elaboration parameters; then, a monoclonal anti-PAH antibody was used and detection tests were performed, monitored by PM-RAIRS. The successive functionalization steps were monitored by PM-RAIRS and QCM-D. The binding of the proteins to gold surface, their saturation coverages and association constants, as well as their capture efficiencies were discussed. BaP capture by the antibody layer was evidenced by the appearance of a new ν(C-H) band at 3039 cm⁻¹ typical of aromatic C-H bonds. The integrated area of this band varied linearly with the BAP concentration within the range of tested concentrations, with a limit of detection close to 3 μM. This represents the first example of direct, label-free immunodetection of a low molecular weight molecule by PM-RAIRS transduction. The simplicity and the rapid response of this IR sensor make it already very worthwhile to preliminary on-site measurements.     

多肽在金纳米粒子表面偶联反应效率研究

通过1-(3-二甲氨基丙基)-3-乙基碳二亚胺(EDC)与N-羟基琥珀酰亚胺(NHS)活化反应将多肽偶联到金纳米粒子表面,采用荧光光谱研究其形成的酰胺键的反应偶联效率.考察了实验条件,包括缓冲液的种类(HEPES、Tris-HCl、硼酸、PBS缓冲液)、pH值(pH 6.5~9.0)、缓冲液浓度(10, 25, 40和50 mmol/L)、NHS和EDC的浓度(NHS 0.2~1.0 mol/L,EDC 0.01~0.5 mol/L)及二者比例(0,0.5,1.0,2.0和2.5)、偶联反应时间(4, 8, 12, 24和36 h)等对偶联效率的影响,筛选出最佳实验条件.实验结果表明, 25 mmol/L 4-羟乙基哌嗪乙磺酸(HEPES)缓冲液(pH 7.0), NHS/EDC浓度为0.4 mol/L/0.2 mol/L和24 h的反应时间为EDC-NHS活化反应将多肽偶联到金纳米粒子上的最佳实验条件.本研究结果可为相关研究提供技术参考.     

Fabrication of DNA-protein conjugate layer on gold-substrate and its application to immunosensor

The fabrication of antibody thin film using both protein G and oligonucleotide was carried out by self-assembly (SA) technique for immunosensor. A mixture of 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid (MUA) and oligonucleotide with thiol (SH) end group was self-assembled of gold (Au) surface for two-dimensional (2D) configuration. Protein G was chemically adsorbed on the 11-MUA surface, and then the antibody was immobilized on the protein G region. On the immobilized single-stranded DNA, the complementary DNA–antibody conjugate was hybridized for the oriented immobilization of antibody. The formation of self-assembled 11-MUA/oligonucleotide layer, protein G immobilization, antibody layer, and antigen binding was investigated using surface plasmon resonance (SPR). The topographies of the fabricated surfaces were observed by atomic force microscopy (AFM). When compared with the amount of antigen binding on the antibody thin film fabricated by protein G only, the proposed biosurface fabricated with both protein G and oligonucleotide showed better binding capacity, which implicates the improvement of the detection limit.     

Electrochemical Studies of Thiol Self‐Assembled Monolayers at a Heated Gold‐Wire Microelectrode

Mercaptoundecanoic acid (MUA) and glutathione (GSH) self‐assembled monolayers were prepared on gold‐ wire microelectrode. Cyclic voltammetry was used to investigate the influence of temperature on electrochemical behaviors of Fe(CN)₆^3?/4? and Ru(NH₃)₆^3+/2+ at these SAMs modified electrodes in aqueous solution. It is found that temperature shows great influence on electron transfer (ET) and mass transport (MT) for the two SAMs modified electrodes and the influence of temperature depends on the charge properties of the redox couples and terminal groups of SAMs and the structure of the monolayer on gold surface. The temperature can greatly increase MT rate of Fe(CN)₆^3?/4? at both MUA and GSH modified electrodes. However, the increased MT rate doesn't have any effect on the CV's for Fe(CN)₆^3?/4? /MUA system. For Ru(NH₃)₆^3+/2+ , temperature can greatly improve the electrochemical reaction in both MUA and GSH modified electrodes, which is ascribed to temperature‐induced diffusion and convection and the electrostatic interaction between Ru(NH₃)₆^3+/2+ and negatively charged carboxyl groups on the electrode surface.     

Surface‐Independent and Oriented Immobilization of Antibody via One‐Step Polydopamine/Protein G Coating: Application to Influenza Virus Immunoassay

For the construction of high‐performance biosensor, it is important to interface bioreceptors with the sensor surface densely and in the optimal orientation. Herein, a simple surface modification method that can optimally immobilize antibodies onto various kinds of surfaces is reported. For the surface modification, a mixture of polydopamine (PDA) and protein G was employed. PDA is a representative mussel‐inspired polymer, and protein G is an immunoglobulin‐binding protein that enables an antibody to have an optimal orientation. The surface characteristics of PDA/Protein G mixture‐coated substrates are analyzed and the PDA/protein G ratio is optimized to maximize the antibody binding efficiency. Moreover, the antibody‐immobilized substrates are applied to the detection of influenza viruses with the naked eye, providing a detection limit of 2.9 × 10³ pfu mL^‐1. Importantly, the several substrates (glass, SiO₂, Si, Al₂O₃, polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene, polypropylene, and paper) can be modified by simple incubation with the mixture of PDA/protein G, and then the anti‐influenza A H1N1 antibodies can be immobilized on the substrates successfully. Regardless of the substrate, the influenza viruses are detectable after the sandwich immunoreaction and silver enhancement procedure. It is anticipated that the developed PDA/protein G coating method will extend the range of applicable materials for biosensing.     

Multilayer film of thiourea and gold nanoparticles as an effective platform for immobilization of activated non-labeled-DNA and construction of an ultrasensitive electrochemical DNA biosensor

In this work, self assembly of thiourea and gold nano-particle multilayer built up on a thiourea modified gold nanoparticles Au electrode, has been used as a platform for immobilization of activated ss-DNA. Two NH₂ group of thiourea on a multilayer surface can interact with an activated phosphate group of non-labeled ss-DNA. Activated non-labeled ss-DNA was prepared using N-(3 dimethylaminopropyl)-N-ethyl-carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) and N-hydroxy-succinimide (NHS). The whole DNA biosensor fabrication process was characterized by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) methods with the use of ferricyanide as an electrochemical redox indicator. Methylene Blue (MB) was used as the electrochemical indicator for monitoring the hybridization reaction after hybridized with the target ssDNA and the reduction current of MB intercalation decreased with increasing the concentration of target DNA, ranging from 7.9 × 10^–13 to 1.2 × 10^–8 M with a very low detection limit of 3.8 × 10^–13 M (S/N = 3).     

Surface plasmon resonance-based immunoassay for procalcitonin

A surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensor has been developed for rapid immunoassay of procalcitonin (PCT) with high detection sensitivity and reproducibility. The 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC)-activated protein A (PrA), diluted in 1% (v/v) 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) was dispensed on a KOH-treated Au-coated SPR chip, resulting in the covalent binding of PrA in 30 min. This “single-step” PrA immobilization strategy led to the oriented binding of the anti-PCT antibody (Ab) on a PrA-functionalized gold (Au) chip. The leach-proof immobilization procedure is five-fold faster than conventional counterparts, enabling high detection specificity and reproducibility. The IA detects 4–324 ng mL⁻¹ of PCT with a limit of detection (LOD) and a limit of quantification (LOQ) of 4.2 ng mL⁻¹ and 9.2 ng mL⁻¹, respectively. It was capable of detecting PCT in real sample matrices and patient samples with high precision. The Ab-bound SPR chips were stable for more than five weeks.     

Synthesis and characterization of novel carboxymethyl chitosan grafted polylactide hydrogels for controlled drug delivery

Novel carboxymethyl chitosan‐polylactide (CMCS‐g‐PLA) hydrogels were prepared by using 1‐(3‐dimethylaminopropyl)‐3‐ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride/N‐hydroxysuccinimide (EDC/NHS) as crosslinking agent and catalyst at room temperature. Solid‐state ¹³C‐NMR, SEM, and FT‐IR measurements showed that PLA blocks are successfully grafted onto the CMCS main chains. DSC measurements confirmed the effective crosslinking of carboxymethyl chitosan. With increasing the amount of EDC/NHS, the crosslink destiny of CMCS‐g‐PLA copolymers is improved. The swelling ratio of CMCS‐g‐PLA hydrogels is pH dependent, showing a minimum in the pH range of 3 to 5. Rheological studies confirmed the formation of hydrogels. The higher the crosslinking density, the higher the storage modulus of hydrogels. CMCS‐g‐PLA hydrogels only slightly degrade in PBS for 10 days. In the presence of lysozyme, however, hydrogels with low crosslink density are totally degraded in 10 days. Drug release studies show that after 96 h, 95% of thymopentin is released under in vitro conditions. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

化学修饰方法对聚乙二醇功能化碳纳米管的影响

通过酰氯化法与碳二亚胺缩合法(EDC/NHS)制备氨基化聚乙二醇(PEG1500N)修饰的多壁碳纳米管(MWNTs)并采用FTIR、Raman、TEM、原子力显微镜(AFM)、TGA-DTA-DSC、UV-Vis进行表征与分析。实验结果发现：两种方法PEG1500N都能很好地修饰MWNTs,但EDC/NHS缩合法采用更短的反应时间(反应1 d),达到了更好的接枝效果。EDC/NHS缩合法提高了碳管上羧基的利用率,接枝率大大提高。TGA-DTA分析表明缩合法接枝率为30%,而酰氯化法(反应4 d)为15%。UV-Vis分析表明EDC/NHS缩合法得到的产物溶解性也更好,溶解度由1.19 mg·mL^-1(酰氯化法得到的产物的溶解度)提高到2 mg·mL^-1以上。     

Direct Detection of DNA and DNA‐Ligand Interaction by Impedance Spectroscopy

In this work we present an impedimetric detection system for DNA‐ligand interactions. The sensor system consists of thiol‐modified single‐stranded DNA chemisorbed to gold. Impedance measurements in the presence of the redox system ferri‐/ferrocyanide show an increase in charge transfer resistance (R_ct) after hybridisation of a complementary target. Different amounts of capture strands, used for gold electrode modification, result in surface coverages between 3 and 15 pmol/cm² ssDNA. The relative change in R_ct upon hybridisation increases with increasing amount of capture probe on the electrode from 1.5‐ to 4.5‐fold. Impedimetric detection of binding events of a metal‐intercalator ([Ru(phen)₃]²⁺) and a groove binder (spermine) to double‐stranded DNA is demonstrated. Binding of [Ru(phen)₃]²⁺ and spermine exhibits a decrease in charge transfer resistance. Here, the ligand’s interaction leads to electrostatic shielding of the negatively charged DNA backbone. The impedance changes have been evaluated in dependence on the concentration of both DNA binders. Furthermore, the association of a single‐stranded binding protein (SSBP) is found to cause an increase in charge transfer resistance only when incubated with single‐stranded DNA. The specific binding of an anti‐dsDNA antibody to the dsDNA‐modified electrode surface decreases in contrast the interfacial impedance.     

Comparative study of random and oriented antibody immobilization as measured by dual polarization interferometry and surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy

Dual polarization interferometry (DPI) is used for a detailed study of antibody immobilization with and without orientation control, using prostate specific antigen (PSA) and its antibody as model. Thiol modified DPI chips were activated by a heterobifunctional cross-linker (sulfo-GMBS). PSA antibody was either directly immobilized via covalent binding or coupled via the Fc-fragment to protein G covalently attached to the activated chip. The direct covalent binding leads to a random antibody orientation and the coupling through protein G leads to an end-on orientation. Ethanolamine (ETH) was used to block remaining active sites following the direct antibody immobilization and protein G immobilization. A homobifunctional cross-linker (BS3) was used to stabilize the antibody layer coupled on protein G. DPI provides a real-time measurement of the stepwise molecular binding processes and gives detailed geometrical and structural values of each layer, i.e., thickness, mass, and density. These values evidence the end-on orientation of closely packed antibody on protein G layer and reveal structural effects of ETH blocking/deactivation and BS3 stabilization. With the end-on immobilized antibody, PSA at 10 pg/mL can be detected by DPI through a sandwich complex that satisfies the clinical requirement (assuming <30 pg/mL as clinically safe). However, the randomly immobilized antibody failed to detect PSA at 1 ng/mL. In a parallel study using surface plasmon resonance (SPR) spectroscopy, random and end-on antibody immobilization on streptavidin-modified gold surface was evaluated to further validate the importance of antibody orientation control. With the closely packed antibody layer on protein G surface, SPR can also detect PSA at 10 pg/mL.     

Different PES nanofibrous membrane parameters effect on the efficacy of immunoassay performance

The contribution of electrospun nanofibrous membranes (e.NFMs) in the biosensing platforms opens up a new prospect for the invention of faster and more sensitive analytical devices. In this paper, we utilized e.NFM of polyethersulfone (PES) as a solid substrate for the protein immobilization through two different approaches: physical and covalent. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier‐transform‐infrared (FTIR) tests were performed to study the effect of plasma treatment on protein immobilization efficacy. Moreover, taking advantage of ELISA technique, the influence of different parameters, namely, nanofibers diameter, membrane thickness, plasma treatment time, an incubation time of ethyl‐3‐(3‐dimethylaminopropyl)‐carbodiimide/N‐hydroxysuccinimide (EDC/NHS), and their ratio on antibody immobilization efficacy through two mentioned approaches, was also assessed.     

Modulation of direct electron transfer of cytochrome c by use of a molecularly imprinted thin film

We describe the preparation of a molecularly imprinted polymer film (MIP) on top of a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of mercaptoundecanoic acid (MUA) on gold, where the template cytochrome c (cyt c) participates in direct electron transfer (DET) with the underlying electrode. To enable DET, a non-conductive polymer film is electrodeposited from an aqueous solution of scopoletin and cyt c on to the surface of a gold electrode previously modified with MUA. The electroactive surface concentration of cyt c was 0.5 pmol cm^?2. In the absence of the MUA layer, no cyt c DET was observed and the pseudo-peroxidatic activity of the scopoletin-entrapped protein, assessed via oxidation of Ampliflu red in the presence of hydrogen peroxide, was only 30 % of that for the MIP on MUA. This result indicates that electrostatic adsorption of cyt c by the MUA–SAM substantially increases the surface concentration of cyt c during the electrodeposition step, and is a prerequisite for the productive orientation required for DET. After template removal by treatment with sulfuric acid, rebinding of cyt c to the MUA–MIP-modified electrode occurred with an affinity constant of 100,000 mol^?1 L, a value three times higher than that determined by use of fluorescence titration for the interaction between scopoletin and cyt c in solution. The DET of cyt c in the presence of myoglobin, lysozyme, and bovine serum albumin (BSA) reveals that the MIP layer suppresses the effect of competing proteins.     

An Amperometric Glucose Biosensor Based on Poly (Pyrrole‐2‐Carboxylic Acid)/Glucose Oxidase Biocomposite

A newly developed amperometric glucose biosensor based on graphite rod (GR) working electrode modified with biocomposite consisting of poly (pyrrole‐2‐carboxylic acid) (PCPy) particles and enzyme glucose oxidase (GOx) was investigated. The PCPy particles were synthesized by chemical oxidative polymerization technique using H₂O₂ as initiator of polymerization reaction and modified covalently with the GOx (PCPy‐GOx) after activation of carboxyl groups located on the particles surface with a mixture of N‐(3‐dimethylaminopropyl)‐N′‐ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) and N‐hydroxysuccinimide (NHS). Then the PCPy‐GOx biocomposite was dispersed in a buffer solution containing a certain amount of bovine serum albumin (BSA). The resulting biocomposite suspension was adsorbed the on GR electrode surface with subsequent solvent airing and chemical cross‐linking of the proteins with glutaraldehyde vapour (GR/PCPy‐GOx). It was determined that the current response of the GR/PCPy‐GOx electrodes to glucose measured at +300 mV vs Cl reference electrode was influenced by the duration of the PCPy particles synthesis, pH of the GOx solution used for the PCPy particles modification and the amount of immobilized PCPy‐GOx biocomposite. An optimal pH of buffer solution for operation of the biosensor was found to be 8.0. Detection limit was determined as 0.039 mmol L⁻¹ according signal to noise ratio (S/N: 3). The proposed glucose biosensor was tested in human serum samples.