Aptamer based strategy for cytosensing and evaluation of HER-3 on the surface of MCF-7 cells by using the signal amplification of nucleic acid-functionalized nanocrystals

The electrochemical detection of cell lines of MCF-7 (human breast cancer) has been reported, using magnetic beads for the separation tool and high-affinity DNA aptamers for signal recognition. The high specificity was obtained by using the magnetic beads and aptamers, and the good sensitivity was realized with the signal amplification of DNA capped CdS or PbS nanocrystals. The ASV (anodic stripping voltammetry) technology was employed for the detection of cadmic cation and lead ions, for electrochemical assay of the amount of the target cells and biomarkers on the membrane of target cells, respectively. This electrochemical method could respond to as low as 100 cells mL⁻¹ of cancer cells with a linear calibration range from 1.0 × 10² to 1.0 × 10⁶ cells mL⁻¹, showing very high sensitivity. Moreover, the amounts of HER-3 which were overexpressed on MCF-7 cells were calculated correspond to be 3.56 × 10⁴ anti-HER-3 antibody molecules. In addition, the assay was able to differentiate between different types of target and control cells based on the aptamers and magnetic beads used in the assay, indicating the wide applicability of the assay for early and accurate diagnose of cancers.     

[Ru(bpy)2(dcbpy)NHS] Labeling/Aptamer‐Based Biosensor for the Detection of Lysozyme by Increasing Sensitivity with Gold Nanoparticle Amplification

A novel [Ru(bpy)₂(dcbpy)NHS] labeling/aptamer‐based biosensor combined with gold nanoparticle amplification for the determination of lysozyme with an electrochemiluminescence (ECL) method is presented. In this work, an aptamer, an ECL probe, gold nanoparticle amplification, and competition assay are the main protocols employed in ECL detection. With all the protocols used, an original biosensor coupled with an aptamer and [Ru(bpy)₂(dcbpy)NHS] has been prepared. Its high selectivity and sensitivity are the main advantages over other traditional [Ru(bpy)₃]²⁺ biosensors. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) characterization illustrate that this biosensor is fabricated successfully. Finally, the biosensor was applied to a displacement assay in different concentrations of lysozyme solution, and an ultrasensitive ECL signal was obtained. The ECL intensity decreased proportionally to the lysozyme concentration over the range 1.0×10^?13–1.0×10^?8 mol L^?1 with a detection limit of 1.0×10^?13 mol L^?1. This strategy for the aptasensor opens a rapid, selective, and sensitive route for the detection of lysozyme and potentially other proteins.     

An Electrochemical Aptasensor for Detection of Thrombin based on Target Protein‐induced Strand Displacement

A sensitive electrochemical aptasensor for detection of thrombin based on target protein‐induced strand displacement is presented. For this proposed aptasensor, dsDNA which was prepared by the hybridization reaction of the immobilized probe ssDNA (IP) containing thiol group and thrombin aptamer base sequence was initially immobilized on the Au electrode by self‐assembling via Au? S bind, and a single DNA labeled with CdS nanoparticles (DP‐CdS) was used as a detection probe. When the so prepared dsDNA modified Au electrode was immersed into a solution containing target protein and DP‐CdS, the aptamer in the dsDNA preferred to form G‐quarter structure with the present target protein resulting that the dsDNA sequence released one single strand and returned to IP strand which consequently hybridized with DP‐CdS. After dissolving the captured CdS particles from the electrode, a mercury‐film electrode was used for electrochemical detection of these Cd²⁺ ions which offered sensitive electrochemical signal transduction. The peak current of Cd²⁺ ions had a good linear relationship with the thrombin concentration in the range of 2.3×10^?9–2.3×10^?12 mol/L and the detection limit was 4.3×10^?13 mol/L of thrombin. The detection was also specific for thrombin without being affected by the coexistence of other proteins, such as BSA and lysozyme.     

Ultrasensitive electrochemical analysis of two analytes by using an autonomous DNA machine that works in a two-cycle mode

We report a novel autonomous DNA machine for amplified electrochemical analysis of two DNAs. The DNA machine operates in a two‐cycle working mode to amplify DNA recognition events; the working mode is assisted by two different nicking endonucleases (NEases). Two bio‐barcode probes, a ZnS nanoparticle (NP)–DNA probe and a CdS NP–DNA probe, were used to trace two target DNAs. The detection system was based on a sensitive differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV) method for the simultaneous detection of Zn^II and Cd^II tracers, which were obtained by dissolving the two probes. Under the optimised conditions, detection limits as low as 5.6×10^?17 (3σ) and 4.1×10^?17 M (3σ) for the two target DNAs were achieved. It has been proven that the DNA machine system can simultaneously amplify two target DNAs by more than four orders of magnitude within 30 min at room temperature. In addition, in combination with an aptamer recognition strategy, the DNA machine was further used in the aptamer‐based amplification analysis of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and lysozyme. With the amplification of the DNA machine, detection limits as low as 5.6×10^?9 M (3σ) for ATP and 5.2×10^?13 M (3σ) for lysozyme were simultaneously obtained. The satisfactory determination of ATP and lysozyme in Ramos cells reveals the good selectivity and feasibility of this protocol. The DNA machine is a promising tool for ultrasensitive and simultaneous multianalysis because of its remarkable signal amplification and simple machine‐like operation.     

基于Ru(bpy)32+-SiO2纳米颗粒的核酸适配体传感器对凝血酶的电致化学发光检测

本文应用核酸适配体构建了一种新型的电致化学发光检测蛋白体系。两个核酸适配体结合凝血酶的两个不同位点,利用这两核酸适配体与凝血酶的高亲和力构建三明治传感体系检测凝血酶。一个核酸适配体固定在金电极上用来捕获凝血酶,另一个标记有包裹电致化学发光活性物Ru(bpy)₃²⁺的二氧化硅纳米颗粒,用来检测电致化学发光信号。此核酸适配体传感器对凝血酶具有特异识别性,电致化学发光信号与凝血酶的浓度直接相关,非特异性识别的牛血红蛋白、牛血清白蛋白不干扰测定。由于在检测的核酸适配体上标记的纳米颗粒包裹有多个发光活性物,因此大大提高了发光效率和灵敏度,此法对凝血酶的线性响应范围为2.0 fmol•L^-1～2.0 pmol•L^-1,检测限可达1.0 fmol•L^-1。     

Electrochemiluminescence biosensor for carcinoembryonic antigen detection based on Au-Ag/g-C3N4 nanocomposites

Herein, an electrochemiluminescence (ECL) aptasensor for carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) detection was developed based on Au-Ag/g-C₃N₄ nanocomposites (NCs), which were synthesized by decorating graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄) nanosheets with alloy-structured Au-Ag bimetallic nanoparticles (NPs) via one-step in situ chemical reduction. As ECL sensing platform, Au-Ag/g-C₃N₄ NCs could significantly improve the ECL intensity of luminol due to the good conductivity of Au-Ag NPs, electrocatalytic activity for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and the ability to adsorb luminol via π stacking interaction. In addition, it could load the thiol terminated aptamers of CEA via Au-S or Ag-S bonds. In the presence of CEA, the ECL response of the proposed biosensor decreased significantly due to the fact that the assembled protein layers hindered the electron transfer and the diffusion of ECL reactants toward the electrode surface. The proposed ECL sensor exhibited a good linear relationship with CEA in the range of 1.0–1.0 × 10^?6 ng/mL with a detection limit of 8.9 × 10^?7 ng/mL. The satisfactory results were obtained in the detection of CEA in human serum samples.     

Electrochemiluminescence of Dendritic Magnetic Quantum Dots Nanostructure and Its Quenching by Gold Nanoparticles for Cancer Cells Assay

A novel dendritic CdS‐ZnS‐Quantum Dots (QDs) nanocomposite with intense electrochemiluminescence (ECL) and excellent magnetism was prepared, which was applied to the cancer cells assay based on ECL quenching of QDs by gold nanoparticles (NPs). DNA conjugation, gold NPs linking and sensing target cells can be directly performed on the magnetic nanocomposites, which is more rapid, convenient, and has better reproducibility than the conventional methods. So far, this is the first report on magnetic electrochemiluminescent QDs nanocomposites for cell detection based on ECL quenching, which opens a new approach for developing multifunctional QDs nanocomposite for ECL assays of cancer cells.     

Multianalyte Electrochemical Biosensor Based on Aptamer‐ and Nanoparticle‐Integrated Bio‐Barcode Amplification

In the present work, a signal‐on electrochemical sensing strategy for the simultaneous detection of adenosine and thrombin is developed based on switching structures of aptamers. An Au electrode as the sensing surface is modified with two kinds of thiolated capture probes complementary to the linker DNA that contains either an adenosine aptamer or thrombin aptamer. The capture probes hybridize with their corresponding linker DNA, which has prehybridized with the reporter DNA loaded onto the gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). The AuNP contained two kinds of bio‐barcode DNA: one is complementary to the linker DNA (reporter), whereas the other is not (signal) and is tagged with different metal sulfide nanoparticles. Thus a “sandwich‐type” sensing interface is fabricated for adenosine and thrombin. With the introduction of adenosine and thrombin, the aptamer parts bind with their targets and fold to form the complex structures. As a result, the bio‐barcoded AuNPs are released into solution. The metal sulfide nanoparticles are measured by anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV), and the concentrations of adenosine and thrombin are proportional to the signal of either metal ion. With the dual amplification of the bio‐barcoded AuNP and the preconcentration of metal ions through ASV technology, detection limits as low as 6.6×10^?12 M for adenosine and 1.0×10^?12 M for thrombin are achieved. The sensor exhibits excellent selectivity and detectability in biological samples.     

Electrochemiluminescent determination of cancer cells based on aptamers, nanoparticles, and magnetic beads

Herein we report a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-free electrochemiluminescence (ECL) approach that uses ECL nanoprobes for the determination of cancer cells with high sensitivity. The ECL nanoprobe consists of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), linker DNA, and tris(2,2'-bipyridyl)ruthenium (TBR)-labeled signal DNA. The linker DNA and signal DNA were modified on the surface of the AuNPs through Au-S bonds. The linker DNA can partly hybridize with the aptamers of cancer cells loaded onto the magnetic beads (MB1) to construct the magnetic biocomplexes. In the presence of the cancer cells, the aptamers conjugated with the cancer cells with higher affinity. The ECL nanoprobe was released from the biocomplexes and subsequently hybridized with the capture DNA loaded onto another magnetic bead (MB2) to form the magnetic nanocomposite. The nanocomposites can be easily separated and firmly attached to an electrode on account of their excellent magnetic properties. The ECL intensity of the TBR loaded onto the nanocomposites directly reflected the amount of cancer cells. By using cell lines of Burkitt's lymphoma (Ramos cells) as a model, the ECL response was proportional to the cell concentration in the range from 5 to 100 cells ml(-1); a limit of detection as low as 5 cells ml(-1) of Ramos cells could be achieved. The proposed method described here is ideal for the diagnosis of cancers due to its high sensitivity, simplicity, and low cost.     

Highly Sensitive Electrogenerated Chemiluminescence Isoniazid with NiO Nanoparticles‐modified Graphite Electrode

Abstract

NiO nanoparticles (NiO NPs) were prepared with chemical precipitation method and modified on the surface of vaseline‐impregnated graphite electrode with chitosan. It was found that, based on the catalysis of the NiO NPs for the chemiluminescent reaction of the ECL process, the enhancing effect of isoniazid on the weak electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) signal of luminol at a NiO NPs‐chitosan modified electrode was stronger than that at a bare graphite electrode. Under the optimum experimental conditions, the relative ECL intensity was linear with isoniazid concentration over the range 3.0×10^?10～1.0×10^?6 g/ml at the NiO NPs‐chitosan modified electrode with a detection limit of 1.0×10^?10 g/ml.     

Electrogenerated chemiluminescence aptamer-based biosensor for the determination of cocaine

A novel electrogenerated chemiluminescence aptamer-based (ECL-AB) biosensor for the determination of a small molecule drug is designed employing cocaine-binding aptamer as molecular recognition element for cocaine as a model analyte and ruthenium complex served as an ECL label. A 5′-terminal cocaine-binding aptamer with the ECL label at 3′-terminal of the aptamer was utilized as an ECL probe. The ECL-AB biosensors were fabricated by immobilizing the ECL probe onto a gold electrode surface via thiol-Au interactions. An enhanced ECL signal is generated upon recognition of the target cocaine, attributed to a change in the conformation of the ECL probe from random coil-like configuration on the probe-modified film to three-way junction structure, in close proximity to the sensor interface. The integrated ECL intensity versus the concentration of cocaine was linear in the range from 5.0 × 10⁻⁹ to 3.0 × 10⁻⁷ M. The detection limit was 1.0 × 10⁻⁹ M. This work demonstrates that the combination of a highly binding aptamer to analyte with a highly sensitive ECL technique to design ECL-AB biosensor is a great promising approach for the determination of small molecule drugs.     

Ultrasensitive aptamer-based bio bar code immunomagnetic separation and electrochemiluminescence method for the detection of protein

An ultrasensitive aptamer-based bio bar code immunomagnetic separation and electrochemiluminescence (IM-ECL) method for the detection of protein is developed. The target protein is captured by biotin-labeled aptamer (biotin probe) and [Ru(bpy)₃]²⁺ (TBR)-Au bio bar code-labeled aptamer (ECL nanoprobe), to form a double aptamer–protein sandwich complex. The complex is then immobilized on the streptavidin microbeads through biotin–streptavidin linkage and detected by ECL assay. The ECL signal of the target protein is amplified by the TBR-bio bar code DNAs. As an example, platelet-derived growth factor B-chain homodimer (PDGF-BB) was detected by the method. Experimental results show that the detection limit of the assay is 1 pM of PDGF-BB. A calibration curve with a linearity range from 1 pM to 10 nM is established, thus, make quantitative analysis possible. The method has been used to detect PDGF-BB in fetal calf serum with minimum background interference. Due to the wide availability of aptamer for numerous proteins, this aptamer-based bio bar code IM-ECL method holds great promise in protein detection.     

普鲁士蓝/CdS纳米复合物电致化学发光及其H2O2传感应用

通过一定体积比的CdS和普鲁士蓝(PB)胶体纳米溶液的简单混合,制备了PB/CdS纳米复合物。在共反应剂存在条件下,PB纳米粒子含量较低时,在ITO电极上CdS纳晶的电致化学发光(ECL)强度可以增强3倍左右。PB纳米粒子含量较高时,CdS纳晶的ECL强度则显著降低。详细讨论了PB纳米粒子对CdS纳晶ECL影响的机理。PB纳米粒子对CdS纳晶的ECL增强可用于H2O2传感。该传感器对H2O2响应的线性范围为3.3×10-8～6.5×10-3 mol.L-1(R=0.999 2),检测限为12 nmol.L-1(S/N=3),传感器具有良好的稳定性和重现性。     

Ultrasensitive electrochemiluminescent aptasensor for ochratoxin A detection with the loop-mediated isothermal amplification

In this study, we for the first time presented an efficient, accurate, rapid, simple and ultrasensitive detection system for small molecule ochratoxin A (OTA) by using the integration of loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) technique and subsequently direct readout of LAMP amplicons with a signal-on electrochemiluminescent (ECL) system. Firstly, the dsDNA composed by OTA aptamer and its capture DNA were immobilized on the electrode. After the target recognition, the OTA aptamer bond with target OTA and subsequently left off the electrode, which effectively decreased the immobilization amount of OTA aptamer on electrode. Then, the remaining OTA aptamers on the electrode served as inner primer to initiate the LAMP reaction. Interestingly, the LAMP amplification was detected by monitoring the intercalation of DNA-binding Ru(phen)₃²⁺ ECL indictors into newly formed amplicons with a set of integrated electrodes. The ECL indictor Ru(phen)₃²⁺ binding to amplicons caused the reduction of the ECL intensity due to the slow diffusion of Ru(phen)₃²⁺–amplicons complex to the electrode surface. Therefore, the presence of more OTA was expected to lead to the release of more OTA aptamer, which meant less OTA aptamer remained on electrode for producing LAMP amplicons, resulting in less Ru(phen)₃²⁺ interlaced into the formed amplicons within a fixed Ru(phen)₃²⁺ amount with an obviously increased ECL signal input. As a result, a detection limit as low as 10 fM for OTA was achieved. The aptasensor also has good reproducibility and stability.     

Enhanced Electrochemiluminescence of TiO2 Nanoparticles Modified Electrode by Nafion Film and Its Application in Selective Detection of Dopamine

In this work, a simple and effective approach to obtain stable, nontoxic and strong electrochemiluminescence (ECL) interfaces is provided by coating TiO₂ nanoparticles (NPs) modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) surfaces with Nafion. Unlike a decrease of the current resulting from the blocked diffusion usually displayed in electrochemical processes by Nafion coating, a Nafion/TiO₂ NPs modified electrode not only shows a highly stable ECL, but also shows an 8‐fold increase of ECL intensity and a reduction of the overpotential of ca. 300 mV in the presence of K₂S₂O₈ as co‐reactant, compared with those of bare TiO₂ NPs modified electrodes. The roles of Nafion coating on TiO₂ NPs in the ECL process are proposed to be twofold: to provide refuge for the free radicals and to enhance the electron‐hole recombination. Benefiting from its excellent ECL performance, the cationic exchange function of Nafion and the susceptible to being oxidized performance of dopamine (DA) by holes, the Nafion/TiO₂ composite electrode could be used to sensitively and selectively detect DA with a detection limit of 1.0×10^?11 M and a linear range of 1.0×10^?11–6.0×10^?7 M. The coexisting anionic species such as excess ascorbic acid show little interference on DA detection.     

An intriguing electrochemical impedance aptasensor based on a porous organic framework supported silver nanoparticles for ultrasensitively detecting theophylline

Porous organic frameworks (POFs) are excellently stable porous materials, which can be employed as host platforms to support metal nanoparticles as functional composites for various applications. Herein, a novel POF is successfully prepared via Friedel-Crafts reaction. Silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) are embedded in the prepared POF to generate an Ag@POF composite, which not only possesses high surface area, outstanding physicochemical stability and outstretched π-conjugation skeleton, but also exhibits preferable electrochemical stability and conductivity. This composite is able to immobilize a mass of aptamer strands to fabricate an intriguing electrochemical aptasensor. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) is a commonly used technology to analyze the electrochemical signal variation. The Ag@POF-based biosensor shows the excellent electrochemical detection behavior through analyzing EIS. For instance theophylline as a research mode, the Ag@POF based electrochemical aptasensor reveals ultra-sensitiveness, high selectivity, remarkable stability, good repeatability and simple operability even in various real samples. Notably, this aptasensor has the sensitive detection performance with the limit of detection of 0.191 pg/mL (1.06 pmol/L) in a wide concentration range of 5.0 × 10^-4 – 5.0 ng/mL (2.78 × 10^-3 – 27.8 nmol/L).     

Electrochemical Luminescent DNA Sensor Based on Polymerase-assisted Signal Amplification

A novel polymerase-based electrochemical luminescence (ECL) DNA sensor was constructed for messenger RNA (mRNA) detection by cyclic chain displacement polymerization, assisted by target mRNA cycle and quantum dots signal amplification. Firstly, the mercapto-modified capture-type probe DNA (CP) was immobilized on the surface of a magneto-controlled glassy carbon electrode via Au-S bond. After the addition of target mRNA, CP was opened and hybridized with mRNA to form double-stranded DNA (dsDNA). Then polymerase, primer chain (DNA1) and bases were added, which made the primer chain extend to replace the target mRNA. After one amplification cycle, the mRNA chain could open another hairpin in order to carry out next cycle of amplification. Finally, the ECL detection was carried out by adding DNA2 labeled thioglycolic acid-CdTe quantum dots. The amplification of the target mRNA by the addition of polymerase and the signal combined with the quantum dots label greatly improved the sensitivity of the sensor. The results showed that corresponding ECL signal had a good linear relationship with logarithm of target mRNA concentration in the range of 1 × 10^?15 to 1 × 10^?11 M, with a detection limit of 3.4 × 10^?16 M (S/N = 3). Under the optimal conditions, the recoveries of mRNA spiked in human serum sample were from 97.2 % to 102.3 %. This sensor exhibited good selectivity, stability and reproducibility.     

Ultrasensitive Electrochemiluminescence Biosensor for mRNA Based on Polymerase Assisted Signal Amplification

A novel biosensor for ultra‐trace mRNA sensing was constructed based on isothermal circular strand‐replacement polymerization (CSRP) to amplify the electrochmeiluminescence (ECL) signal by combining quantum dots (CdTe) as luminophore. After the hairpin‐like capture DNA was opened by hybridization with target mRNA, the additive primer (DNA1) was able to get access to its complementary sequence which is partially belong to the stem part and triggered a polymerization of DNA strand, leading to the release of target mRNA and another polymerization cycle. The remaining sequence of the stem part continued to hybridize with QDs labeled DNA, accomplishing ECL signal amplification. Target mRNA could be specifically assayed with a linear relationship between the signal intensity and the logarithm of concentrations of target DNA in the range of 1.0×10⁻¹⁴∼5.0×10⁻¹⁰ M, with a low detection limit of 1.4×10⁻¹⁵ M. The signal could discriminate perfect matched target mRNA from 1‐base mismatch sequence. This proposed ECL biosensor exhibited an efficient performance in serum sample, opening new opportunities for genetic target analysis in diagnostic and clinic biomedical fields.     

Amplified quenching of electrochemiluminescence from CdS sensitized TiO2 nanotubes by CdTe-carbon nanotube composite for detection of prostate protein antigen in serum

This work reports an ECL immunoassay method for ultrasensitive detection of prostate protein antigen (PSA), by remarkably efficient energy-transfer induced electrochemiluminescence (ECL) quenching from the CdS nanoparticles (NPs) sensitized TiO(2) nanotube array (CdS-TiO(2) NTs) to the activated CdTe NPs functionalized multi-wall carbon nanotubes (CdTe-MWNTs) composite. The coupling of TiO(2) and CdS NPs results in a cathodic ECL intensity 14.7 times stronger than that of the pure TiO(2) NTs electrode, which could be efficiently quenched by the CdTe-MWNTs. The enhanced mechanism of TiO(2) NTs ECL by CdS NPs was studied in detail by cyclic voltammetry and ECL spectroscopy. The strong absorption of the CdTe-MWNTs in the wavelength range of 400-800 nm renders them highly efficient for ECL quenching labeled on anti-PSA antibody. Based on a sandwich structure, we developed an ECL immunoassay method for the sensitive and selective detection of PSA. The ECL intensity decrement was logarithmically related to the concentration of the PSA in the range of 1.0 fg mL(-1) to 10 pg mL(-1) with a detection limit of 1 fg mL(-1). Human serum samples were then tested using the proposed immunoassay with excellent correlations, suggesting that the proposed immunoassay method is of great promise in clinical screening of cancer biomarkers.