DNA double-helix-mediated long-range electron transfer

A theoretical analysis based upon large-scale self-consistent Hartree-Fock calculations at a semiempirical quantum theory level (CNDO/S) is performed to investigate long-range electron transfer in a donor-DNA-acceptor molecule, where the donor and acceptor moieties are tethered to the DNA. The π-stacked base pairs are found to dominate the long-range electronic coupling. Despite the π-electron mediated coupling, the exponential distance decay constant of the electron transfer rate is ∼ 1.2–1.6 Å⁻¹, values typical of electron transfer proteins. The calculated long-range electron transfer rate of the order of 10⁶ s⁻¹ for a metal-to-metal distance of 21 Å is found to be in agreement with kinetic measurements by Meade and Kayyem. Based on the current analysis, the π-electrons dominate the long-range electronic coupling interactions in DNA, but they do not lead to one-dimensional molecular wire-like properties. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Analysis of the conversion of indigo into indigo carmine dye using SERRS

In a novel application SERRS has been used, by employing a silver sol, to monitor and analyse the conversion of indigo into the indigo carmine dye.     

Effects of diffusion on long-range electron transfer

The competition between diffusive hops and direct tunneling of solvated electrons to scavenger molecules in solid classes has been discussed in the literature. We have considered these two reaction paths in terms of stationary kinetic diffusion equations and multiphonon electron-transfer rate theory, and for coupling of the solvated electron to a broad continuum of nuclear modes. Diffusion can only be expected to be important for less polar glasses.     

Comparative adsorption studies of indigo carmine dye on chitin and chitosan

The adsorption of indigo carmine dye onto chitin and chitosan from aqueous solutions was followed in a batch system. The ability of these materials to adsorb indigo carmine dye from aqueous solution was followed through a series of adsorption isotherms adjusted to a modified Langmuir equation. The maximum number of moles adsorbed was 1.24 +/- 0.16 x 10(-5) and 1.54 +/- 0.03 x 10(-4) mol g(-1) for chitin and chitosan, respectively. The same interactions were calorimetrically followed and the thermodynamic data showed exothermic enthalpic values of -40.12 +/- 3.52 and -29.25 +/- 1.93 kJ mol(-1) for chitin and chitosan, respectively. Gibbs free energies for the two adsorption processes of indigo carmine dye presented a positive value for chitin and a negative one for chitosan, reflecting that dye/surface interactions are thermodynamic favorable for chitosan and nonspontaneous for chitin at 298.15 K. The interaction processes were accompanied by an increase of entropy value for chitosan (90 +/- 6 J mol(-1)K(-1)) and a decrease for chitin (-145 +/- 13 J mol(-1)K(-1)). Thus, dye/chitosan interaction showed favorable enthalpic and entropic processes, reflecting thermodynamic stability of the formed complex, while dye/chitin interaction showed an exothermic enthalpic value and a highly nonfavorable entropic effect, resulting in a nonspontaneous thermodynamic system.     

Highly selective and sensitive fluorescent turn-on chemosensor for Al3+ based on a novel photoinduced electron transfer approach

A photoinduced electron transfer (PET)-based chemosensor possessing dual PET processes by simultaneously introducing both nitrogen and sulfur donors was achieved. The fluorescence signal of the free chemosensor is in a normal-off state due to the sulfur donor being insensitive to environmental pH stimuli. As a result, the device can be used over a wide pH span of 3-11. Upon binding Al(3+), a significant fluorescence enhancement with a turn-on ratio over 110-fold was triggered by the inhibition of PET processes from both the sulfur and the nitrogen donors to the fluorophore.     

Highly sensitive and selective dopamine biosensor based on a phenylethynyl ferrocene/graphene nanocomposite modified electrode

A new ferrocene derivative (1-[(4-amino) phenylethynyl]ferrocene, Fc-NH(2)) was synthesized for the first time. The ferrocene derivative molecule contained the phenylethynyl skeleton, ferrocene and amino groups with excellent electrochemical properties. The graphene/Fc-NH(2) nanocomposite was prepared by mixing graphene solution and Fc-NH(2) solution in one pot and the nanocomposite was utilized to construct a Nafion/graphene/Fc-NH(2) modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The ferrocene derivative immobilized on the graphene can enhance the charge-transport ability of the nanocomposite, stabilize the graphene and prevent the leakage of ferrocene. The detection signal of dopamine (DA) was significantly amplified on the Nafion/graphene/Fc-NH(2)/GCE. It was experimentally demonstrated that the signal enhancement results from the synergy amplification effect of graphene and the Fc-NH(2). The oxidation peak currents of DA were linearly related to the concentrations in the range of 5 × 10(-8) to 2 × 10(-4) M with the detection limit of 20 nM in the absence of uric acid (UA) and ascorbic acid (AA). In the presence of 10(-3) M AA and 10(-4) M UA, the linear response range was 1 × 10(-7) to 4 × 10(-4) M, and the detection limit was 50 nM at S/N = 3. Using the proposed Nafion/Fc-NH(2)/graphene/GCE, DA was successfully determined in real samples with the standard addition method.     

A hydrogen peroxide biosensor based on the direct electron transfer of hemoglobin encapsulated in liquid-crystalline cubic phase on electrode

Liquid crystal cubic phase formed with monoolein has been used as immobilizing matrix to host redox protein hemoglobin on glassy carbon electrode surface. The promoted direct electron transfer between hemoglobin and electrode was observed and a large average kinetic electron transfer rate constant k(s) of 3.03(±0.02)s(-1) was estimated. The electrode modified with cubic phase containing hemoglobin retains the bioactivity of hemoglobin and shows excellent bioelectrocatalytic activity to the reduction of hydrogen peroxide with a small apparent Michaelis-Menten constant of 0.25(±0.03)mM. A novel reagentless hydrogen peroxide biosensor was constructed using the hemoglobin-containing cubic phase modified electrode and the proposed hydrogen peroxide biosensor shows a linear range of 7.0-239μM with a detection limit of 3.1(±0.2)μM and good stability and reproducibility.     

Effects of monolayer structures on long-range electron transfer in helical peptide monolayer

Self-assembled monolayers of alpha-helical peptides were prepared on gold, and the effects of the monolayer structures (kind of constituent amino acid, molecular orientation, and molecular packing) on long-range electron transfer through the helical peptides were studied. The helical peptides were 16mer peptides having a thiophenyl linker at the N-terminal for immobilization on gold and a redox active ferrocene moiety at the C-terminal as an electron-transfer probe. The peptides were immobilized on gold by a gold-sulfur linkage and the electron transfer from the ferrocene moiety to gold was studied by electrochemical methods. When two types of the peptides, one with the repeating unit of Leu-Aib (Aib represents 2-aminoisobutyric acid) and the other with that of Ala-Aib, were compared, the electron transfer was found one order slower in the Leu-Aib peptide monolayer than that in the Ala-Aib peptide monolayer. The self-assembled monolayers of the Ala-Aib peptide with mixing of three different lengths of the peptides, 8mer, 12mer, and 16mer without a ferrocene moiety, were also prepared. The monolayer regularity in terms of molecular orientation and packing was higher roughly in the order of the monolayers mixed with 16mer > 12mer > no additive > 8mer, but the electron transfer became faster in the opposite order. The logarithms of the standard rate constants showed a nearly linear relationship with the direct distances between the ferrocene moiety and gold (beta = 0.32 A (-1)). Some data deviated from this linear relationship, but the deviations could be explained from the difference in the molecular packing, which was evaluated from the monolayer capacitance. It is thus concluded that an electron is transferred along a few molecules along the surface normal so that the vertical orientation or the increase of the interchain backbone separation slows down the electron transfer. Further, it is demonstrated that a tightly packed monolayer, where vibrational mode is restricted, suppresses the electron transfer. Three models are proposed to account for the observed molecular dynamics effects on the basis of either electron-transfer mechanism of electron tunneling or sequential hopping.     

A selective dopamine biosensor based on AgCl@polyaniline core-shell nanocomposites

Silver chloride@polyaniline (PANI) core-shell (AgCl@PANI) nanocomposites were synthesized in the presence of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). The obtained AgCl@PANI nanocomposites could be easily dispersed in aqueous media, which overcame the processible issues of PANI. Moreover, the nanocomposites showed excellent electrochemical behavior at pH neutral environment, and had inhibitive effect on oxidation of ascorbic acid. Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometry (FTIR) confirmed the existence of PVP in the nanocomposites. The C=O group of PVP is easy to form hydrogen bonding with the hydroxyl group of ascorbic acid, which can prevent ascorbic acid from oxidization. A selective dopamine biosensor was constructed based on the particular characteristic of the AgCl@PANI nanocomposites by the simple drop-coating. The biosensor could detect dopamine at its very low concentration in the presence of 5000 time concentration of ascorbic acid at neutral environment.     

Effects of dipole moment, linkers, and chromophores at side chains on long-range electron transfer through helical peptides

Octadecapeptides carrying a ferrocene moiety at the molecular terminal were self-assembled on gold, and long-range electron transfer from the ferrocene moiety to gold was investigated by electrochemical methods. Effects on electron transfer of dipole moment of helical peptides, linkers connecting the peptide to gold, and chromophores introduced into the side chains were discussed. Cyclic voltammetry of the monolayers in an aqueous solution revealed that long-range electron transfer over 40 A occurred along the peptide molecule. Chronoamperometry showed that the long-range electron transfer should be ascribed to a hopping mechanism with use of amide groups as hopping sites. Electron transfer through the long peptide was not significantly accelerated by the dipole moment. However, the linker remarkably affected electron transfer depending on whether it was a methylene chain or a phenylene group, suggesting that local electron transfer between gold and the peptides should be the slowest step to determine the overall rate. Pyrenyl groups introduced into the side chains in the middle of the peptide molecule did not noticeably change electron transfer, probably because pyrenyl groups were too distant to allow direct electron transfer between them. Electrostatic potential profiles across the peptide monolayers were also calculated to explain reasonably the several interesting features in the present peptide systems.     

A label-free electrochemical DNA biosensor based on a Zr(IV)-coordinated DNA duplex immobilised on a carbon nanofibre|chitosan layer

A label-free electrochemical biosensor for detecting DNA hybridisation was developed by monitoring the change in the voltammetric activity of ferrocenecarboxylic acid at the biosensor–solution interface. The biosensor was constructed by initially immobilising on a glassy carbon electrode an anchoring layer consisting of chitosan, carboxyl group functionalised carbon nanofibres and glutaraldehye. Chitosan acted as an adhering agent and carbon nanofibres were strategically used to provide a large surface area with binding points for DNA immobilisation, while glutaraldehye was a linker for DNA probes on the electrode surface. Based on a two-factorial design, cyclic voltammetry of [Fe(CN)₆]^3−/4− was performed to optimise the composition of the anchoring layer. Next, a 17-base pair DNA probe was attached to the anchoring layer, followed by its complementary target. Zr(IV) ion, known to exhibit affinity for oxygen-containing electroactive markers, for example, ferrocenecarboxylic acid, was then coordinated in the DNA duplex. In this way, ferrocenecarboxylic acid was attracted towards the biosensor for oxidation. A change in the voltammetric oxidation current of ferrocenecarboxylic acid pre- and post-hybridisation was used to provide an indication of hybridisation. A linear dynamic range between 0.5 and 40 nM and a detection limit of 88 pM of DNA target were then achieved. In addition, the biosensor exhibited good selectivity, repeatability and stability for the determination of DNA sequences.     

A hydrogen peroxide biosensor based on Langmuir-Blodgett technique: Direct electron transfer of hemoglobin in octadecylamine layer

The present paper describes the modification of hemoglobin (Hb)-octadecylamine (ODA) Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) film on a gold electrode surface to develop a novel electrochemical biosensor for the detection of hydrogen peroxide. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) image of Hb-ODA LB film indicated Hb molecules existed in ODA layer in a well-ordered and compact form. The immobilized Hb displayed a couple of stable and well-defined redox peaks with an electron transfer rate constant of 4.58 ± 0.95 s⁻¹ and a formal potential of −185 mV (versus Ag/AgCl) in phosphate buffer (1.0 mM, pH 5.0) contain 0.1 M KCl at a scan rate of 200 mV s⁻¹, characteristic of Hb heme Fe(III)/Fe(II) redox couple. The formal potential of Hb heme Fe(III)/Fe(II) redox couple in ODA film shifted linearly between pH 5 and 8 with a slope of −23.8 mV pH⁻¹, suggesting that proton took part in electrochemical reaction. The ODA could accelerate the electron transfer between Hb and the electrode. This modified electrode showed an electrochemical activity to the reduction of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) without the aid of any electron mediator.     

A regenerative ratiometric electrochemical biosensor for selective detecting Hg based on Y-shaped/hairpin DNA transformation

Inspired by dual-signaling ratiometric mechanism which could reduce the influence of the environmental change, a novel, convenient, and reliable method for the detection of mercury ions (Hg²⁺) based on Y-shaped DNA (Y-DNA) was developed. Firstly, the Y-DNA was formed via the simple annealing way of using two different redox probes simultaneously, omitting the multiple operation steps on the electrode. The Y-DNA was immobilized on the gold electrode surface and then an obvious ferrocene (Fc) signal and a weak methylene blue (MB) signal were observed. Upon addition of Hg²⁺, the Y-DNA structure was transformed to hairpin structure based on the formation of T-Hg²⁺-T complex. During the transformation, the redox MB gets close to and the redox Fc gets far away from the electrode surface, respectively. This special design allows a reliable Hg²⁺ detection with a detection range from 1 nM to 5 μM and a low detection limit down to 0.094 nM. Furthermore, this biosensor exhibits good selectivity and repeatability, and can be easily regenerated by using l-cysteine. This study offers a simple and effective method for designing ratiometric biosensors for detecting other ions and biomolecules.     

Effect of doping activated carbon based Ricinodendron Heudelotti shells with AgNPs on the adsorption of indigo carmine and its antibacterial properties

Two adsorbents samples namely ZnCl₂ Activated carbon (ACZ); and a composite from ACZ doped with silver nanoparticles (ACZ/AgNP) made by successful precipitation loading onto ACZ and silver nanoparticles of the Recinodendron heudelotti shells aqueouse extract (RHSNP) were prepared. The ACZ and ACZ/AgNP materials were characterised by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and particle size by Zeta sizer. The antibacterial activities of ACZ, ACZ/AgNP the RHSNP and the RHS extract was done by the broth microdilution test on Shigella flexneri, Salmonella typhi and Escherichia coli species. Futhermore, the adsorption capacities of the ACZ and the ACZ/AgNP was investigated using the hazardous Indigo Carmine (IC) dye. The SEM results shows spongy rock-like surface on both adsorbents (ACZ and ACZ/AgNP) with the presence of pores, EDX and XRD shows the presence of crystalline zincite on ACZ and Ag on the ACZ/AgNP. The FTIR spectral for both adsorbents preseumes a composite material while the zeta sizer shows that all the materials samples prepared were in the nano-range. The extract and ACZ showed no antimicrobial activities while the antimicrobial properties were proven to be very interesting for the nanoparticles and the ACZ/AgNP but higher for the ACZ/AgNP (7.812 ≤ MIC ≤ 31.25 µg/ml). The adsorption capacities of IC were found to decrease by 33.15% respectively using the maximum concentration at equilibrium. RHS is therefore a good and promising precursor for the preparation of activated carbon and nanoparticles for bacterial containing water purification and for the treatment of bacterial infections.     

Charge transfer through DNA triggered by site selective charge injection into adenine

A positive charge, which was injected site selectively into adenine (A) of a DNA double strand, migrates along (A:T)n sequences in a distance independent way.     

Electrochemical DNA biosensor based on MNAzyme-mediated signal amplification

The authors describe an electrochemical sensing strategy for highly sensitive and specific detection of target (analyte) DNA based on an amplification scheme mediated by a multicomponent nucleic acid enzyme (MNAzyme). MNAzymes were formed by multicomponent complexes which produce amplified “output” signals in response to specific “input” signal. In the presence of target nucleic acid, multiple partial enzymes (partzymes) oligonucleotides are assembled to form active MNAzymes. These can cleave H0 substrate into two pieces, thereby releasing the activated MNAzyme to undergo an additional cycle of amplification. Here, the two pieces contain a biotin-tagged sequence and a byproduct. The biotin-tagged sequences are specifically captured by the detection probes immobilized on the gold electrode. By employing streptavidinylated alkaline phosphatase as an enzyme label, an electrochemical signal is obtained. The electrode, if operated at a working potential of 0.25 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) in solution of pH 7.5, covers the 100 pM to 0.25 μM DNA concentration range, with a 79 pM detection limit. In our perception, the strategy introduced here has a wider potential in that it may be applied to molecular diagnostics and pathogen detection.

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Graphical abstract An electrochemical strategy for sequence-specific DNA detection based on multicomponent nucleic acid enzyme (MNAzyme) -mediated signal amplification.