Kinetics and mechanism of single-stranded DNA adsorption onto citrate-stabilized gold nanoparticles in colloidal solution

A variety of rapid biomolecular assays under development rely on the selective adsorption of single-stranded DNA onto unfunctionalized, negatively charged, citrate-stabilized gold nanoparticles. We investigate the adsorption mechanism with a study of the binding kinetics and find strong evidence for the dominance of hydrophobic effects including linear compensation between the activation energy and the natural log of the Arrhenius prefactor and the correlation of the adsorption rate in the presence of various salts with the Hofmeister series. These results explain the selectivity for single-stranded over double-stranded DNA adsorption and contradict previous work citing an electrostatic DLVO-like mechanism. Our understanding should facilitate improvements to the selective-adsorption-based assays and, more generally, contribute to the understanding of interactions between like-charged species in aqueous solution.     

A simple and sensitive method for visual detection of heparin using positively-charged gold nanoparticles as colorimetric probes

The electrostatic interaction between the negatively-charged heparin and the positively-charged gold nanoparticles leads to aggregation of gold nanoparticles and a color change from red to blue in solution, thus providing a simple and visual approach to colorimetric detection of heparin.     

Determination of acetamiprid by a colorimetric method based on the aggregation of gold nanoparticles

A method was developed for the detection of the insecticide acetamiprid based on the strong interaction of the cyano group of acetamiprid with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). The interaction results in the aggregation of gold nanoparticles and is accompanied by a color change from red to purple. The concentration of acetamiprid can be determined qualitatively and quantitatively by visually monitoring the color change or by using a spectrometer. Transmittance electron microscopy and UV-vis spectroscopy have been used to characterize the process. The experimental parameters were optimized with regard to the size of the AuNPs, pH, and incubation time. Under optimal experimental conditions, linear relationships between the logarithm of the concentration of acetamiprid and the absorbance were found over the range of 0.66 to 6.6???M for AuNPs with diameters of 22.0?±?1.0?nm and of 6.6?C66???M for AuNPs with diameters of 15.0?±?1.0?nm. This method was successfully applied to detect acetamiprid in vegetables.

A colorimetric method for the determination of xanthine based on the aggregation of gold nanoparticles

Microchimica Acta - We describe a highly sensitive method for the determination of traces of xanthine based on the aggregation of citrate-stabilized gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). It is found that,...     

A simple visual method for DNA detection based on the formation of gold nanoparticles

A simple visual method for DNA detection during the formation of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) was developed based on different electrostatic properties of single strand DNA (ssDNA) and double strand DNA (dsDNA). It could identify target DNA in 10 min.     

A simple visual method for DNA detection based on the formation of gold nanoparticles

A simple visual method for DNA detection during the formation of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) was developed based on different electrostatic properties of single strand DNA (ssDNA) and double strand DNA (dsDNA). Since the ssDNA is easy to bind to AuNPs due to its exposed bases which could prevent salt-induced aggregation of AuNPs. The dsDNA always present negative charge because its negatively charged phosphate backbone is exposed. In this case, the dsDNA could disturb the adsorption between dsDNA and AuNPs and result in non-aggregation of AuNPs. After hybridization, chloroauric acid and ascorbic acid were added to the mixture solution, and the solution changed to red immediately and turned to purple in 10 min in the present of target DNA. TEM results confirmed that the change of color stemed from aggregation of AuNPs. In order to obtain accurate results by naked eye, the DNA detection assay should be conducted under pH 7.0.     

A colorimetric method for the determination of lead(II) ions using gold nanoparticles and a guanine-rich oligonucleotide

We have developed a colorimetric method for the determination of Pb(II) ions. It is based on the use of gold nanoparticles and a guanine-rich synthetic oligonucleotide. On addition of Pb(II), the color of the solution turns from red to blue. The ratio of the UV-vis absorption at 630?nm and 525?nm is proportional to the concentration of Pb(II) ions in the range from 10 to 100?nM, and the detection limit is 20?nM. Other metal ions do not interfere if present in up to a 10-fold molar excess. The method was successfully applied to the detection of Pb(II) in lake water and urine. The recovery in case of spiked samples is 92%. The results show that this method is sensitive, simple and fast.

Electrochemical biosensors for detection of point mutation based on surface ligation reaction and oligonucleotides modified gold nanoparticles

An electrochemical method for point mutation detection based on surface ligation reaction and oligonucleotides (ODNs) modified gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) was demonstrated. Point mutation identification was achieved using Escherichia coli DNA ligase. This system for point mutation detection relied on a sandwich assay comprising capture ODN immobilized on Au electrodes, target ODN and ligation ODN. Because of the sequence-specific surface reactions of E. coli DNA ligase, the ligation ODN covalently linked to the capture ODN only in the presence of a perfectly complementary target ODN. The presence of ligation products on Au electrode was detected using chronocoulometry through hybridization with reporter ODN modified AuNPs. The use of AuNPs improved the sensitivity of chronocoulometry in this approach, a detection limit of 0.9 pM complementary ODN was obtained. For single base mismatched ODN (smODN), a negligible signal was observed. Even if the concentration ratio of complementary ODN to smODN was decreased to 1:1000, a detectable signal was observed. This work may provide a specific, sensitive and cost-efficient approach for point mutant detection.     

A selective,sensitive and label-free visual assay of fructose using anti-aggregation of gold nanoparticles as a colorimetric probe

A new convenient colorimetric sensor for fructose based on anti-aggregation of citrate-capped gold nanoparticles(Au NPs) is presented. 4-Mercaptophenylboronic acid(MPBA) induces the aggregation of Au NPs, leading to a color change from red to blue. Fructose as a potent competitor has strong affinity for MPBA and a borate ester is formed between MPBA and fructose. There is an obvious color change from blue to red with increasing the concentration of fructose. The anti-aggregation effect of fructose on Au NPs was seen by the naked eye and monitored by UV–vis spectra. Our results showed that the absorbance ratio(A_(519)/A_(640)) was linear with fructose concentration in the range of 0.032–0.96 μmol/L(R~2= 0.996), with a low detection limit of 0.01 μmol/L(S/N = 3). Notably, a highly selective recognition of fructose was shown against other monosaccharide and disaccharide(glucose, mannose, galactose,lactose and saccharose). With anti-aggregation assays higher selectivity is achievable. The results of this work provide a rapid method for evaluating the quantitative analysis of fructose in human plasma at physiologically meaningful concentrations and at neutral pH. The proposed procedure can be used as an efficient method for the precise and accurate determination of fructose.     

A simple and sensitive method for visual detection of phosgene based on the aggregation of gold nanoparticles

A new method with high simplicity, rapidity and sensitivity has been developed for visual detection of phosgene based on the distinct color change of cysteine-modified gold nanoparticles.     

Chitosan-wrapped gold nanoparticles for hydrogen-bonding recognition and colorimetric determination of the antibiotic kanamycin

Microchimica Acta - The authors describe a colorimetric assay for the quantitation of antibiotic kanamycin. It is based on hydrogen-bonding recognition capability of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in a...     

The effect of hydrogen adsorption on the electronic structure of gold nanoparticles

It has been demonstrated that hydrogen adsorption has an effect on the electronic structure of gold nanoparticles. The physicochemical properties of separate gold nanoparticles have been studied under an ultrahigh vacuum scanning tunneling microscope. The structure and electronic structure of gold–hydrogen clusters were modeled by the quantum-chemical density functional theory method. Hydrogen adsorption onto gold nanoparticles 4–5 nm is size at room temperature was experimentally revealed, and the lower limit of 1.7 eV for the Au–H bond energy was determined. The interaction of hydrogen with gold leads to a considerable rearrangement of the electronic subsystem of nanoparticles. The experimentally observed effects were supported by quantum-chemical calculations. The rearrangement mechanism is related to strong correlations in the electronic subsystem.     

White-light emissive upconversion nanoparticles for visual and colorimetric determination of the pesticide thiram

Microchimica Acta - A chip-based array is described for magnetic solid-phase microextraction (MSPME) of the ions of Pt, Au and Bi. Magnetic porous organic polymers (MOPs) prepared from magnetite...     

The adsorption of silver nanoparticles on the proteins-immobilized glass slides and a visual investigation on proteins immobilization

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), owing to the property of plasmon resonance light scattering (PRLS), can be used as a light scattering spectral probe for visually tracing and detecting target molecules. In this study, we investigated the adsorption features of proteins immobilized on glass slides for AgNPs, and found that the scattering light of AgNPs adsorbed on the surface of glass slides could be seen by naked eyes under the irradiation of a common white light-emitting diode (LED) torch. Hereby, we established a method for visually determining the least complete quantity of immobilization of proteins on glass slides. Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 20425517)     

A colorimetric assay for d-Penicillamine in urine and plasma samples based on the aggregation of gold nanoparticles

We report herein the development of a highly sensitive colorimetric method for detection of d-Penicillamine using citrate-capped gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). This assay relies upon the distance-dependent of gold nanoparticles surface plasmon resonance band of gold nanoparticles. By replacing the thiol-containing chelator drug, d-Penicillamine, with citrate on the gold nanoparticles surface, a new peak appearing at a longer wavelength intensifies and shifts further to the red from the original peak position due to aggregation of gold nanoparticles which depends on ionic strength, gold nanoparticles and d-Penicillamine concentration. During this process, the plasmon band at 521 nm decreases gradually along with the formation of a new red-shifted band at 630 nm. The calibration curve which is derived from the ratio intensities of absorbance at longer wavelength (630 nm) to original wavelength (521 nm) displays a linear relation in the range of 5.0 × 10^?6–3.0 × 10^?4 M d-Penicillamine. Lower limit of detection for d-Penicillamine, at the signal-to-noise ratio of 3 (3σ), was 3.8 × 10^?6 M. The developed methodology was successfully applied for the determination of d-Penicillamine in human urine and plasma.     

A colorimetric sensor array for detection and discrimination of biothiols based on aggregation of gold nanoparticles

Developments of sensitive, rapid, and cheap systems for identification of a wide range of biomolecules have been recognized as a critical need in the biology field. Here, we introduce a simple colorimetric sensor array for detection of biological thiols, based on aggregation of three types of surface engineered gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). The low-molecular-weight biological thiols show high affinity to the surface of AuNPs; this causes replacement of AuNPs’ shells with thiol containing target molecules leading to the aggregation of the AuNPs through intermolecular electrostatic interaction or hydrogen-bonding. As a result of the predetermined aggregation, color and UV–vis spectra of AuNPs are changed. We employed the digital mapping approach to analyze the spectral variations with statistical and chemometric methods, including hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and principal component analysis (PCA). The proposed array could successfully differentiate biological molecules (e.g., cysteine, glutathione and glutathione disulfide) from other potential interferences such as amino acids in the concentration range of 10–800 μmol L⁻¹.     

An aptamer-based colorimetric Pt(II) assay based on the use of gold nanoparticles and a cationic polymer

A colorimetric method is described for the determination of Pt(II). It is based on the use of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) which are known to aggregate in the presence of a cationic polymer such as poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA). If, however, a mismatched aptamer (AA) electrostatically binds to PDDA, aggregation is prevented. Upon the addition of Pt(II), it will bind to the aptamer and induce the formation of a hairpin structure. Hence, interaction between aptamer and PDDA is suppressed and PDDA will induce the aggregation of the AuNPs. This is accompanied by a color change from red to blue. The effect can be observed with bare eyes and quantified by colorimetry via measurement of the ratio of absorbances at 610 nm and 520 nm. Response is linear in the 0.24–2 μM Pt(II) concentration range, and the detection limit is 58 nM. The assay is completed within 15 min and selective for Pt(II) even in the presence of other metal ions. It was successfully applied to the rapid determination of Pt(II) in spiked soil samples.

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Graphical abstract Schematic representation of the method for detection of Pt(II) based on the use of a cationic polymer and gold nanoparticles. In the presence of Pt(II), aptamer interacts with the Pt(II) and prevents the interaction between aptamer and cationic polymer. Hence, cationic polymer induce the aggregation of the AuNPs and lead to the color change from red to blue.

     

First principles computational study for understanding the interactions between ssdna and gold nanoparticles: adsorption of methylamine on gold nanoparticulate surfaces

We conducted a computational adsorption study of methylamine on various surface models of a gold nanoparticle which is facetted by multiple [111] and [100] planes. In addition to these flat surfaces, our models include the stepped surfaces (ridges) formed along the intersections of these planes. Binding on the flat surfaces was fairly weak, but substantially stronger on the ridges by an average of 4.4 kcal/mol. This finding supports the idea that ssDNA's interaction with gold nanoparticles occurs through the amines on the purine/pyrimidine rings. Also, this typically undesirable interaction between DNA and gold nanoparticles is expected to increase as the particle size decreases. Our analysis suggests that particle size is an important controlling parameter to reduce this interaction.     

Novel nanoarchitecture of arginine-glycine-aspartate conjugated gold nanoparticles: a sensitive and selective platform for detecting arachidonic acid

Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry - A novel electrochemical approach for determination of arachidonic acid (ARA) was developed based on the linear arginine-glycine-aspartic-Au (RGD-Au)...