Homogeneous DNA Detection Based on Fluorescence Quenching by Nanoparticles in Single-step Format :Target-Induced Configuration Transform

A new strategy for homogeneous detection of DNA hybridization in single-step format was developed based on fluorescence quenching by gold nanoparticles. The gold nanoparticle is functionalized with 5’-thiolated 48-base oligonucleotide (probe sequence), whose 3’-terminus is labeled with fluorescein (FAM), a negatively charged fluorescence dye. The oligonucleotide adopts an extended configuration due to the electrostatic repulsion between negatively charged gold nanoparticle and the FAM-attached probe sequence. After addition of the complementary target sequence, specific DNA hybridization induces a conformation change of the probe from an extended structure to an arch-like configuration, which brings the fluorophore and the gold nanoparticle in close proximity. The fluorescence is efficiently quenched by gold nanoparticles. The fluorescence quenching efficiency is related to the target concentration, which allows the quantitative detection for target sequence in a sample. A linear detection range from 1.6 to 209.4 nmol/L was obtained under the optimized experimental conditions with a detection limit of 0.1 nmol/L. In the assay system, the gold nanoparticles act as both nanoscaffolds and nanoquenchers. Furthermore, the proposed strategy, in which only two DNA sequences are involved, is not only different from the traditional molecular beacons or reverse molecular beacons but also different from the commonly used sandwich hybridization methods. In addition, the DNA hybridization detection was achieved in homogenous solution in a single-step format, which allows real-time detection and quantification with other advantages such as easy operation and elimination of washing steps.     

Facile Fabrication of Multi‐targeted and Stable Biochemical SERS Sensors

The direct transfer of single‐crystalline Au nanowires (NWs) onto Au substrates was achieved by a simple attachment and detachment process. In the presence of a lubricant, Au NWs grown vertically on a sapphire substrate were efficiently moved to an Au substrate through van der Waals interactions. We demonstrate that the transferred Au NWs on the Au substrate can act as sensitive, reproducible, and long‐term‐stable surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) sensors by detecting human α‐thrombin as well as Pb²⁺ and Hg²⁺ ions. These three biochemically and/or environmentally important analytes were successfully detected with high sensitivity and selectivity by Au NW‐SERS sensors bound by a thrombin‐binding aptamer. Furthermore, the as‐prepared sensors remained in working order after being stored under ambient conditions at room temperature for 80 days. Because Au NWs can be routinely transferred onto Au substrates and because the resultant Au NW‐SERS sensors are highly stable and provide with high sensitivity and reproducibility of detection, these sensors hold potential for practical use in biochemical sensing.     

Impact of Hydrogen Bonding on the Fluorescence of N‐Amidinated Fluoroquinolones

The fluorescence properties of AIE‐active N‐amidinated fluoroquinolones, efficiently obtained by a perfluoroaryl azide–aldehyde–amine reaction, have been studied. The fluorophores were discovered to elicit a highly sensitive fluorescence quenching response towards guest molecules with hydrogen‐bond‐donating ability. This effect was evaluated in a range of protic/aprotic solvents with different H‐bonding capabilities, and also in aqueous media. The influence of acid/base was furthermore addressed. The hydrogen‐bonding interactions were studied by IR, NMR, UV/Vis and time‐resolved fluorescence decay, revealing their roles in quenching of the fluorescence emission. Due to the pronounced quenching property of water, the N‐amidinated fluoroquinolones could be utilized as fluorescent probes for quantifying trace amount of water in organic solvents.     

Application of Single—labelled Probe—primer in PCR Amplification to the Detection of Hepatitis B Virus DNA

A new method based on the incorporation of a single-lablled probe-primer into polymerase chain reaction(PCR) for the detection of PCR-amplified DNA in a closed system is reported.The probeprimerc consists of a specific probe sequence on the 5‘‘‘‘‘‘‘‘-end and a primer sequence on the 3‘‘‘‘‘‘‘‘-end.A flurophore is located at the 5‘‘‘‘‘‘‘‘end.The primeR-quencher is an oligonucleotide,which is complementary to the probe sequence of probe-primer and labelled with a quencher at the 3‘‘‘‘‘‘‘‘-end.In the duplex formed by probe-primer and primer-quencher.the fluorophore and quencher are kept in close proximity to each other.Therefore the fluorescence is quenched.During PCR amplificatio,the specific probe sequence of probeprimer binds to its complement within the same strand of DNA,and is cleaved by Taq DNA polymerase,resulting in the restoration of fluorescence.This system has the same energy transfer mechanism as molecular beacons,and a good quenching effciency can be ensured.Following optimization of PCR conditions,this method was used to detect hepatitis b virus(HBV) dna in patient sera.This technology eliminates the risk of carry-over contamination,simplifies the amplification assay and opens up new possibilities for the real-time detection of the amplified DNA.     

基于滚环合成的聚分子信标用于 凝血酶的靶向检测

采用滚环扩增(RCA)合成得到的DNA长链打开带适配体的分子信标, 由于RCA长链上带有多个与分子信标(MB)互补的重复序列, 其打开分子信标的能力比单一互补短链提高了上百倍. 所形成的聚多价分子信标组装体, 在分子信标浓度相同的情况下, 打开后的荧光强度也大幅上升; 并且由于组装体上多价适配体的存在, 聚分子信标对凝血酶的靶向能力显著增强. 实验结果表明, 聚分子信标结合凝血酶后, 其荧光信号与凝血酶浓度呈线性关系, 检测灵敏度达到0.2 nmol/L, 该体系的构建有利于实现对凝血酶的高灵敏、 特异性检测.     

An excimer ‘ONOFF’ switch based on telomeric G-quadruplex and rGO for trace thrombin detection

In the recent decade, GO has emerged as an amazing 2D nanomaterial for developing DNA-based biosensors due to its fluorescence quenching properties, whereas similar research based on rGO was reported rarely. Herein, a novel multi-pyrene functionalized G-rich DNA probe based on the screened rGO showed much higher fluorescence quenching efficiency and excimer emission than that of universal GO. Different from the universal thrombin detection of the G4-forming aptamer-TBA(GGTTGGTGTGGTTGG), the original telomeric sequence is used in this study. The excimer emission “ON-OFF” switch amplified the response of thrombin detection is as low as 50 units. Furthermore, for four pyrene moieties that are sited in a crowded steric circumstance, the melting temperature (T_m) values and molecular dynamics simulations showed a positive effect on duplex G-quadruplex or _GDNA·_cDNA stability, without disturbing its helix structure.     

Twin probes as a novel tool for the detection of single-nucleotide polymorphisms

Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are the most common form of DNA sequence variation. There is a strong interest from both academy and industry to develop rapid, sensitive and cost effective methods for SNP detection. Here we report a novel structural concept for DNA detection based on fluorescence dequenching upon hybridization. The so-called "twin probe" consists of a central fluorene derivative as fluorophore to which two identical oligonucleotides are covalently attached. This probe architecture is applied in homogeneous hybridization assays with subsequent fluorescence spectroscopic analysis. The bioorganic hybrid structure is well suited for sequence specific DNA detection and even SNPs are identified with high efficiency. Additionally, the photophysical properties of the twin probe were investigated. The covalent attachment of two single stranded oligonucleotides leads to strong quenching of the central fluorescence dye induced by the nucleobases. The twin probe is characterized by supramolecular aggregate formation accompanied by red-shifted emission and broad fluorescence spectra.     

采用纳米金和荧光标记的适配体检测凝血酶

将荧光染料分子标记的含29个碱基的可识别凝血酶的DNA适配体非特异吸附到纳米金表面,荧光发生猝灭,加入凝血酶后,凝血酶与适配体特异性结合,使适配体空间结构发生改变,荧光染料分子远离纳米金表面,荧光恢复,因此可以实现对凝血酶的检测。实验结果表明,这种检测方法简便、快速、特异性强,检出限为0.54 nmol/L(对应样品体积为200μL)。     

分析化学中“检出限”的物理意义及测定方法探究

阐述了分析化学中各类分析方法的检出限的物理意义、测定方法及可能存在的问题,并论述了经典的检出限定义的局限性。在利用凝血酶适配体与凝血酶的特异性结合抑制Pt纳米颗粒对量子点荧光猝灭检测凝血酶和基于CuGeO_3纳米线和葡萄糖氧化酶(GOx)修饰的玻碳电极(GCE)生物传感器测定葡萄糖的分析方法中,由于测定信号与被检测物质浓度或浓度的对数成负相关关系,导致分析方法的检出限与经典的检出限测定产生一定的冲突,出现了测定精密度越高,检出限越差的异常情况。     

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.     

Ag Nanowire‐Ag Nanoparticle Hybrids for the Highly Enhanced Fluorescene Detection of Protoporphyrin IX Based on Surface Plasmon‐Enhanced Fluorescence

In this study, we developed an approach to fabricate novel 1D Ag NWs‐Ag NPs hybrid substrate for enhanced fluorescene detection of protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) based on surface plasmon‐enhanced fluorescence. The Ag NWs‐Ag NPs hybrid was synthesized by combining the hydrothermal method and self‐assembly method with the asisstance of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). When the Ag NWs‐Ag NPs hybrid was deposited on the glass substrate and employed as active substrate to detect PpIX, the fluorescence intensity of PpIX was enhanced greatly due to the coupling effect of localized surface plasmon‐localized surface plasmon (LSP‐LSP) and localized surface plasmon‐surface plasmon propagation (LSP‐SPP) which induced great enhancement of the electromagnetic field. Furthermore, the enhancement effect was approximately linear when the concentration of PpIX was ranged from 1×10^?7 mol/L to 2×10^?5 mol/L, and the photobleaching phenomenon of PpIX was reduced greatly, indicating that the fabricated Ag NWs‐Ag NPs hybrid substrate had well performance for PpIX imaging. This work provides an effective approach to prepare highly sensitive and stable fluorescence enhancement substrate, and has great potential application in fluorescence imaging.     

Phase and Interface Engineering of Platinum–Nickel Nanowires for Efficient Electrochemical Hydrogen Evolution

The design of high‐performance electrocatalysts for the alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is highly desirable for the development of alkaline water electrolysis. Phase‐ and interface‐engineered platinum–nickel nanowires (Pt‐Ni NWs) are highly efficient electrocatalysts for alkaline HER. The phase and interface engineering is achieved by simply annealing the pristine Pt‐Ni NWs under a controlled atmosphere. Impressively, the newly generated nanomaterials exhibit superior activity for the alkaline HER, outperforming the pristine Pt‐Ni NWs and commercial Pt/C, and also represent the best alkaline HER catalysts to date. The enhanced HER activities are attributed to the superior phase and interface structures in the engineered Pt‐Ni NWs.     

Test‐Strip‐Based Fluorometric Detection of Fluoride in Aqueous Media with a BODIPY‐Linked Hydrogen‐Bonding Receptor

The measurement of biologically relevant anions, such as fluoride, is an important task in analytical chemistry, in particular, for dental health and osteoporosis. Although a large number of fluoride probes are known, the applicability under relevant conditions is limited to a few examples. To improve this situation, BODIPY‐amidothiourea dyes with varying hydrogen‐bond donating strengths were developed, the most H‐acidic of which ( 1 c ) could detect F^? from an inorganic source (NaF) in 50 % aqueous solution (DMSO/water 1:1, v/v) with 0.01 ppm sensitivity through selective fluorescence quenching by a photoinduced electron‐transfer (PET) process. Use of the probe and a reference dye with a test‐strip assay and a portable and rapidly recording lateral‐flow fluorescence reader made determination of F^? in neat aqueous solutions, such as spiked water samples and toothpaste extracts, possible in a self‐referenced manner, achieving a detection limit of 0.2 ppm.     

单分子荧光成像研究凝血酶核酸适体的折叠

通过对固定在表面的TMR标记凝血酶核酸适体进行单分子荧光成像, 在单分子水平上研究了凝血酶核酸适体的折叠. 在有K+存在的条件下, 核酸适体分子与K+结合后发生折叠, 形成G四分体结构, 使得TMR靠近富含鸟嘌呤的G四分体, 并与鸟嘌呤发生电子转移, 从而导致TMR荧光强度降低. 根据TMR的单分子荧光强度观察到不同K+浓度下核酸适体在折叠和无规卷曲两种状态下的分布. 结果表明, 可利用电子转移引起的荧光强度变化在单分子水平上研究核酸适体构象变化, 这一新方法的建立是对常用的单分子荧光共振能量转移(FRET)法的重要补充.     

Explosives Sensing by Using Electron‐Rich Supramolecular Polymers: Role of Intermolecular Hydrogen Bonding in Significant Enhancement of Sensitivity

We demonstrate here that supramolecular interactions enhance the sensitivity towards detection of electron‐deficient nitro‐aromatic compounds (NACs) over discrete analogues. NACs are the most commonly used explosive ingredients and are common constituents of many unexploded landmines used during World War II. In this study, we have synthesised a series of pyrene‐based polycarboxylic acids along with their corresponding discrete esters. Due to the electron richness and the fluorescent behaviour of the pyrene moiety, all the compounds act as sensors for electron‐deficient NACs through a fluorescence quenching mechanism. A Stern–Volmer quenching constant determination revealed that the carboxylic acids are more sensitive than the corresponding esters towards NACs in solution. The high sensitivity of the acids was attributed to supramolecular polymer formation through hydrogen bonding in the case of the acids, and the enhancement mechanism is based on an exciton energy migration upon excitation along the hydrogen‐bond backbone. The presence of intermolecular hydrogen bonding in the acids in solution was established by solvent‐dependent fluorescence studies and dynamic light scattering (DLS) experiments. In addition, the importance of intermolecular hydrogen bonds in solid‐state sensing was further explored by scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) experiments at the liquid–solid interface, in which structures of self‐assembled monolayer of the acids and the corresponding esters were compared. The sensitivity tests revealed that these supramolecular sensors can even detect picric acid and trinitrotoluene in solution at levels as low as parts per trillion (ppt), which is much below the recommended permissible level of these constituents in drinking water.     

Tetrahydrofuran Activates Fluorescence Resonant Energy Transfer from a Cationic Conjugated Polyelectrolyte to Fluorescein‐Labeled DNA in Aqueous Media

A cationic water‐soluble conjugated polyelectrolyte, poly[9,9‐bis(6′′‐(N,N,N‐trimethylammonium)hexyl)fluorene‐co‐alt‐2,5‐bis(6′‐(N,N,N‐trimethylammonium)hexyloxyphenylene) tetrabromide], was synthesized. Fluorescence resonant energy transfer (FRET) experiments between the polymer and fluorescein‐labeled single‐stranded DNA (ssDNA‐Fl) were conducted in aqueous buffer and THF/buffer mixtures. Weak fluorescence emission in aqueous buffer was observed upon excitation of the polymer, whereas addition of THF turned on the fluorescence. Fluorescence self‐quenching of ssDNA‐Fl in the ssDNA‐Fl/polymer complexes as well as electron transfer from the polymer to fluorescein may account for the low fluorescence emission in buffer. The improved sensitization of fluorescence by the polymer observed in THF/buffer could be attributed to the weaker binding between the polymer and ssDNA‐Fl and a decrease in dielectric constant of the solvent mixture, which disfavors electron transfer. THF‐assisted signal sensitization was also observed for the polymer and fluorescein‐labeled double‐stranded DNA (dsDNA‐Fl). These results indicate that the use of cosolvent provides a strategy to improve the detection sensitivity for biosensors based on the optical amplification provided by conjugated polymers.     

Selective functionalization of In2O3 nanowire mat devices for biosensing applications

A strategy to covalently attach biological molecules to the electrochemically active surface of indium oxide nanowire (In2O3 NW) mat devices is presented. A self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of 4-(1,4-dihydroxybenzene)butyl phosphonic acid (HQ-PA) was generated on an indium tin oxide (ITO)-coated glass and In2O3 NWs surface. The chemical steps required for surface derivatization were optimized on an ITO surface prior to modifying the In2O3 NWs. The hydroquinone group contained in the HQ-PA SAM was electrochemically oxidized to quinone (Q-PA) at +330 mV. The monolayer of Q-PA was allowed to react with a thiol-terminated DNA. The DNA was paired to its complementary strand tagged with a fluorescence dye. Attachment of DNA was verified using fluorescence microscopy. A device was subsequently prepared on a SiO2-supported mat of In2O3 NWs by depositing gold electrodes on the mat surface. The reaction strategy optimized on ITO was applied to this In2O3 NW-based device. Arrays of In2O3 NWs on a single substrate were electrochemically activated in a selective manner to Q-PA. Activated In2O3 NWs underwent reaction with HS-DNA and gave a positive fluorescence response after pairing with the dye-DNA. The unactivated In2O3 NWs gave no response, thus demonstrating selective functionalization of an In2O3 NW array. This can be considered a key step for the future fabrication of large-scale, inexpensive, nanoscale biosensors.     

Turn‐On Fluorescence Sensor Based on Single‐Walled‐Carbon‐Nanohorn–Peptide Complex for the Detection of Thrombin

Proteases play a central role in several widespread diseases. Thus, there is a great need for the fast and sensitive detection of various proteolytic enzymes. Herein, we have developed a carbon nanotube (CNT)‐based protease biosensing platform that uses peptides as a fluorescence probe for the first time. Single‐walled carbon nanohorns (SWCNHs) and thrombin were used to demonstrate this detection strategy. SWCNHs can adsorb a fluorescein‐based dye (FAM)‐labeled peptide (FAM‐pep) and quench the fluorescence of FAM. In contrast, thrombin can cleave FAM‐pep on SWCNHs and recover the fluorescence of FAM, which allows the sensitive detection of thrombin. This biosensor has a high sensitivity and selectivity toward thrombin, with a detection limit of 100 pM .     

Vertical copper oxide nanowire arrays attached three-dimensional macroporous framework as a self-supported sensor for sensitive hydrogen peroxide detection

A hierarchical nanostructure consisting of uniform copper oxide nanowires vertically grown on three-dimensional copper framework (CuO NWs/3D-Cu foam) was prepared by a two-step synthetic process. The uniform CuO NWs anchored onto the 3D foam exhibited outstanding electrocatalytic activity towards hydrogen peroxide reduction due to the unique one‐dimensional direction with its excellent catalytic activity and large surface area of 3D substrate, which enhanced electroactive sites and charge conductivity. As a result, a wide linear detection range of 1 µM–1 mM, good sensitivity of 8.87 µA/(mM ⋅ cm²), low detection limit of 0.98 µM, and rapid response time of 5 s to hydrogen peroxide were achieved under a working potential of −0.4 V in phosphate buffer solution (pH of 7.4). In addition, the CuO NWs/3D-Cu foam material showed excellent selectivity to hydrogen peroxide and good resistance against poisonous interferents, including ascorbic acid, dopamine, urea, uric acid, and potassium chloride. Furthermore, the CuO NWs/3D-Cu foam presented good reproducibility, stability, and accurate detection for hydrogen peroxide in real sample; therefore, it may be considered to be a potential free-standing hydrogen peroxide sensor in practical analysis applications.     

谷胱甘肽稳定的CdTe量子点荧光猝灭法测定痕量过氧化氢

以谷胱甘肽稳定的CdTe量子点作为荧光探针,基于荧光猝灭法对过氧化氢进行了定量检测,考察了缓冲溶液体系、量子点浓度、反应时间等多种因素的影响。实验结果表明,在pH=7.2的Na2HPO4-NaH2PO4缓冲液中,反应时间为15min,过氧化氢浓度为1.0×10-6～3.0×10-5 mol/L范围时,其线性回归方程为△F=9.78+7.56c(10-6 mol/L),线性相关系数和检测限分别为0.9992和1.27×10-8 mol/L。谷胱甘肽稳定的CdTe量子点荧光猝灭法已用于水样的测定,回收率在96%～103%之间,相对标准偏差RSD不大于3.3%,结果令人满意。