Amperometric Immunosensor for Rapid Detection of Honeybee Pathogen Melissococcus Plutonius

European foulbrood (EFB) is a honeybee larvae disease caused by a bacterium Melissococcus plutonius. An amperometric immunosensor based on a sandwich assay was developed for rapid point‐of‐care detection of this pathogen. An in‐house made anti‐Melissococcus antibody was immobilized to a gold surface of a screen‐printed sensor via self‐assembled monolayer of cysteamine activated with glutaraldehyde. The direct impedimetric detection of captured microbial cells was tested, however, a better performance was obtained after the formation of sandwich with the peroxidase‐labeled antibody in the amperometric mode. The label‐free assay was limited by higher non‐specific binding. The limit of detection of the immunosensor was 6.6×10⁴ CFU mL^?1 (colony‐forming units) with wide linear range between 10⁵ CFU mL^?1 and 10⁹ CFU mL^?1. The whole analysis was completed within 2 h, which is shorter compared to common laboratory diagnostic tools, such as enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay or polymerase chain reaction. Furthermore, atomic force microscopy was used for confirmation of the bacteria presence on the electrode surface. The developed immunosensor was successfully employed in the analysis of real samples of honeybees and larvae. The achieved results demonstrate the potential of the amperometric immunosensor for practical in‐field diagnosis of EFB, which can prevent infection spreading and connected losses of honeybee colonies.     

Disposable Immunosensor for Escherichia Coli O157:H7 Based on a Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotube-Sodium Alginate Nanocomposite Film Modified Screen-Printed Carbon Electrode

A disposable immunosensor for the detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7 based on a multiwalled carbon nanotube–sodium alginate nanocomposite film was constructed. The nanocomposite was placed on a screen-printed carbon electrode, and horseradish peroxidase-labeled antibodies were immobilized to E. coli O157:H7 on the modified electrode to construct the immunosensor. The modification procedure was characterized by atomic force microscopy and cyclic voltammetry. Under optimal conditions, the proposed immunosensor exhibited good electrochemical sensitivity to E. coli O157:H7 in a concentration range of 10³–10¹⁰ cfu/mL, with a relatively low detection limit of 2.94 × 10² cfu/mL (S/N = 3). This immunosensor exhibited satisfactory specificity, reproducibility, stability, and accuracy, making it a potential alternative tool for early assessment of E. coli O157:H7.     

Determination of Staphylococcus aureus B-1266 by an Enzyme-Free Electrochemical Immunosensor Incorporating Magnetite Nanoparticles

A simple and inexpensive immunosensor is reported for the rapid determination of Staphylococcus aureus B-1266 that uses Fe₃O₄–SiO₂–NH₂ nanoparticles as the direct signal label. The electrochemical immunoassay procedure includes the incubation of bacteria with excess magnetite nanoparticles, the magnetic separation of the free nanoparticles, a labeled immunocomplex formation on the surface of a planar electrode, and the electrochemical response from the magnetite nanoparticles in the immunocomplex. The electrochemical immunosensor allows for the selective and accurate detection of S. aureus from 10 to 105?CFU?mL^?1 with a relative standard deviation lower than 10%. The limit of detection was 8.7?CFU?mL^?1.     

A sensitive method for simultaneous determination of four macrolides by CE with electrochemiluminescence detection and its applications in human urine and tablets

A sensitive method for simultaneous determination of azithromycin (AZI), acetylspiramycin (ACE), erythromycin (ERY), and josamycin (JOS) was developed by CE coupled with electrochemiluminescence detection with Ru(bpy)₃²⁺. The parameters related to separation and detection were investigated in detail. The four macrolides were well separated and detected within 6 min under the optimized conditions. The LOD (S/N=3) of AZI, ACE, ERY, and JOS were 1.2×10^?9, 7.1×10^?9, 3.9×10^?8 and 9.5×10^?8 mol/L, respectively. The LOQ (S/N=10) of AZI, ACE, ERY, and JOS in human urine were 8.2×10^?8, 2.5×10^?7, 8.9×10^?7 and 1.2×10^?6 mol/L, respectively. The recoveries of the four macrolides in human urine and pharmaceutical tablet samples were 85.0–104.0% at different concentration levels.     

Fabrication of Immunosensor Based on Polyaniline,Fullerene‐C60 and Palladium Nanoparticles Nanocomposite: An Electrochemical Detection Tool for Prostate Cancer

Present work demonstrates the fabrication of new and facile sandwich‐type electrochemical immunosensor based on palladium nanoparticles (PdNPs), polyaniline (PANI) and fullerene‐C₆₀ nanocomposite film modified glassy carbon electrode (PdNP@PANI‐C₆₀/GCE) for ultrasensitive detection of Prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) biomarker. PdNP@PANI‐C₆₀ was electrochemically synthesized on GCE and used as an electroactive substrate. PdNP@PANI‐C₆₀ was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDS), cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Primary antibody anti‐PSA (Ab1) was covalently immobilized on PdNP@PANI‐C₆₀/GCE using NHS/EDC linkers. In the presence of PSA antigen, horseradish peroxidase secondary antibody (HRP‐Ab2) was brought into the surface of the electrode, developing stable amplified signals of H₂O₂ reduction. Under the optimal conditions, a linear curve for determination of PSA at the proposed immunosensor was 1.6×10^?4 ng.mL^?1 to 38 ng.mL^?1 with a limit of detection (LOD) of 1.95×10^?5 ng.mL^?1. The proposed immunosensor was successfully validated in serum and urine samples towards PSA detection with satisfactory and acceptable results.     

Label‐Free and Ultra‐Low Level Detection of Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium Using Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy

An immunosensor for rapid and low level detection of the bacterial pathogen Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium was designed and developed based upon label‐free electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and correlated to viable cell counts. The immunosensor was fabricated by electroplating gold onto a disposable printed circuit board (PCB) electrode by immobilizing monoclonal antibody (MAb) specific against Salmonella typhimurium cell surface lipopolysaccharide (LPS) onto the surface of the electrode. Use of mass‐fabricated and electroplated PCB electrodes allowed for disposable, highly sensitive, and rapid detection of Salmonella in an aqueous environment. Results demonstrate that in purified solution, Salmonella can be detected as low as 10 CFU in a 100 μL volume and label‐free and rapid manner in fewer than 90 s. The cost effective approach described here can be used for detection of pathogens with relevance for healthcare, food, and environmental applications.     

Study of antagonism between some intestinal bacteria with high-speed micellar electrokinetic chromatography

In this work, high-speed micellar electrokinetic chromatography with LIF detection was applied to study the antagonism between three intestinal bacteria, Escherichia coli (E. coli), Bacillus licheniformis (B. licheniformis) and Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis). The fluorescent derivatization for the bacteria was performed by labeling the bacteria with FITC. In a high-speed capillary electrophoresis (HSCE) device, the three bacteria could be completely separated within 4 min under the separation mode MEKC. The BGE was 1 × TBE containing 30 mM SDS and 1.5 × 10^–5 g/mL polyethylene oxide. The limits of detection for E. coli, B. licheniformis and B. subtilis were 2.80 × 10⁶ CFU/mL, 1.60 × 10⁶ CFU/mL and 1.90 × 10⁶ CFU/mL respectively. Lastly, the method was applied to investigate the antagonism between the three bacteria. The bacteria were mixed and cultured for 7 days. The samples were separated and determined every day to study the interaction between bacteria. The results showed that B. licheniformis and B. subtilis could not inhibit each other, but they could effectively inhibit the reproduction of E. coli. The method developed in this work was quick, sensitive and convenient, and it had great potential in the application of antagonism study for bacteria.     

Development of a liposome-based immunochromatographic strip assay for the detection of Salmonella

Salmonella species are ubiquitous human pathogens which pose a dangerous threat to the elderly and children worldwide. In this study, to develop a more efficient assay procedure for the rapid detection of Salmonella Typhimurium, an immunochromatographic strip assay was developed using immunoliposome (anti-Salmonella IgG-tagged) encapsulated with sulforhodamine B (SRB). The detection sensitivity of the developed immunochromatographic assay was compared with a commercial immunochromatographic test strip using colloidal gold nanoparticles. The liposomes were prepared through a reverse-phase evaporation method by using a lipid and phospholipid mixture and SRB, a fluorescence dye, which was encapsulated in the phospholipid bilayer. Furthermore, the outer surface of the SRB-encapsulated liposome was conjugated with antibody (affinity-purified polyclonal goat anti-Salmonella IgG) to form an immunoliposome (size, 223 nm), used as the analytical reagent in the developed immunoassay. For this strip assay, a plastic-backed nitrocellulose strip was immobilized with two antibody zones. The lower zone of the strip referred to Salmonella antigen capture zone (test line), while the other zone served as a positive control (control line). The lower zone was coated with affinity-purified polyclonal goat anti-Salmonella IgG, while the upper zone was coated with rabbit anti-goat IgG. During capillary migration of the wicking solution (diluted liposome and Salmonella culture, each 50 μl), Salmonella was captured with surface-bound immunoliposomes at the antigen capture zone, while the unbound liposomes migrated upward and bound to another zone. The color density of the antigen capture zone was directly proportional to the amount of S. Typhimurium in the test sample. As a result, the detection limit of the immunochromatographic strip assay developed in this study against S. Typhimurium was found to be 10² CFU/ml, which was significantly higher than the detection limit (10⁷ CFU/ml) of the commercial immunochromatographic test strip assay.     

The dual-modes of QCM immunosensing for estradiol analysis via dynamic or round-off calibration

In this work, a piezoelectric immunosensor is developed for the detection of estradiol (E₂). The gold-coated chip of quartz crystal microbalance was modified by a 3-mercaptopropionic acid self-assembly monolayer, activated by carbodiimide/n-hydroxylsuccinimide, and then to immobilise the E₂ antibody via the interaction with their amine groups. The resonance frequency change resulted by the binding of E₂ on immobilised antibody differs from that of a blank (ΔF), was correlated to the antigen concentration. The construction of the sensing interface was confirmed by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Both round-off or dynamic modes were explored as analytical detection strategy in this work. Using round-off mode, the output ΔF responds to the concentration of E₂ with a detection limit of 0.04 μg mL^?1 and a linear range from 0.1 to 10 μg mL^?1. Meanwhile, using a dynamic mode, the presence of E₂ induced in a real-time sensing output along with the incubation of antigen. The slope of sensing output is in linear relation with the concentration of E₂ with a detection limit of 0.06 μg mL^?1. Thus, a faster immunesensing technique is established for rapid analysis requiring only several seconds other than the round-off mode which needs a complete incubation period for at least 60 min. This finding will greatly promote the applicability of immunosensor for rapid, real-time or in-site assays.     

Sensitive and Selective Detection of Enterococcus faecalis Using a New Turn-on Fluorogenic β-glucosidase Substrate Combined with a Modified Selective Broth

A new, simple-to-synthesize and sensitive turn-on fluorogenic substrate ( CFMU-Glu ) for β-glucosidase activity was developed. This probe was based on a 7-hydroxycoumarin derivative ( CFMU ) that could emit green fluorescence and had the low pK_a value of 5.61 ± 0.01. CFMU-Glu could be used for sensitive monitoring of the almond βGLU and Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) at the optimal pHs of 6.50 and 7.00, respectively. Moreover, a new sensitive and selective fluorogenic broth (PBF-B) for E. faecalis, utilizing CFMU-Glu and polymyxin B, was also developed. Polymyxin B was discovered to can significantly improve the detection selectivity and signal intensity. The proposed 4-four method using PBF-B and a microcentrifuge tube could provide fluorogenic detection limits of 5.01 × 10⁴ and 1.0 × 10⁵ CFU mL⁻¹ by fluorescence microplate reader and naked eye, respectively; it could also provide a turn-on chromogenic detection limit of 1.0 × 10⁶ CFU mL⁻¹ by naked eye. The proposed method could detect 8 CFU mL⁻¹ of E. faecalis in drinking water, Liangcha (herbal tea) and milk samples within 10 h, without pre-enrichment.     

Sandwich-type amperometric immunosensor for human immunoglobulin G using antibody-adsorbed Au/SiO2 nanoparticles

A novel sandwich-type electrochemical immunosensor for human immunoglobulin G (hIgG) was developed using Au/SiO₂ nanoparticles (NPs) with adsorbed horseradish peroxidase-anti-hIgG as the secondary antibody layer. The signal readout is based on the amperometric response to the catalytic reduction of hydrogen peroxide at an AuNPs-polythionine modified glassy carbon electrode. Under optimized conditions, the linear range is from 0.1 to 200 ng·mL^?1, with a detection limit of 0.035 ng·mL^?1 (at an S/N of 3). The immunosensor exhibited a performance that is better than that based on Au/SiO₂NPs-excluded secondary antibody.     

Capacitance Polypyrrole‐based Impedimetric Immunosensor for Interleukin‐10 Cytokine Detection

In the present study, we developed a novel label‐free capacitance impedimetric immunosensor based on the immobilization of the human monoclonal antibody anti‐interleukin‐10 (anti‐IL‐10 mAb) onto polypyrrole (PPy)‐modified silicon nitride (Si₃N₄) substrates. The immunosensor was used for the detection of the recombinant interleukin‐10 antigen (rh IL‐10) that may be secreted in patients at the early stage of inflammation. The immunosensor was created by chemical deposition of PPy conducting layer on pyrrole?silane (SPy)‐treated Si/SiO₂/Si₃N₄ substrates (Si/SiO₂/Si₃N₄?SPy), followed by anti‐IL‐10 mAb immobilization through carboxyl‐functionalized diazonium (CMA) protocol and carbodiimide chemistry. The surface characterization and the biofunctionalization steps were characterized by SEM, FTIR and cyclic voltammetry (CV) while the detection process was carried out by using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) analyses. The created immunosensor showed two linear fittings (R²=0.999) for the detection of rh IL‐10 within the concentration range from 1–50 pg/mL. It exhibited high sensitivity (0.1128 (pg/mL)^?1) with a very low limit of detection (LOD)=0.347 pg/mL, more particularly, at the low concentration range (1–10 pg/mL). Thus, this developed polypyrrole‐based immunosensor represents a promising strategy for creation of miniaturized label‐free, fast and highly sensitive biosensors for diagnosis of inflammation biomarkers at very low concentrations with reduced cost.     

Determination of p-nitroaniline by the tartrate-acetone-Mn2+-KBrO3-H2SO4 double organic substrate oscillating system using non-equilibrium stationary state

This paper described the determination of p-nitroaniline in a double organic substrate oscillating system of tartrate-acetone-Mn²⁺-KBrO₃-H₂SO₄. Under the optimum conditions, temperature was chosen as a control parameter to design the bifurcation point and proposed a convenient method for determination of p-nitroaniline. Results showed that the system consisting of 3.5 mL 0.06 mol L⁻¹ tartrate, 4.0 mL 0.7 mol L⁻¹ H₂SO₄, 1.5 mL 1.5×10⁻⁴ mol L⁻¹ MnSO₄, 4.0 mL 0.4 mol L⁻¹ acetone and 7.0 mL 0.05 mol L⁻¹ KBrO₃ was very sensitive to the surrounding at 33.5°C. A good linear relationship between the potential difference and the negative logarithm concentration of p-nitroaniline was obtained to be in the range of 2.50×10⁻⁷∼3.75×10⁻⁵ mol L⁻¹ with a lower detection limit of 2.50×10⁻⁸ mol L⁻¹.      

Fluorescence detection of Escherichia coli on mannose modified ZnTe quantum dots

Rapid detection and identification of Escherichia coli(E.coli) is essential to prevent its quickly spread.In this study,a novel fluorescence probe based on ZnTe quantum dots(QDs) modified by mannose(MAN)had been prepared for the determination of E.coli.The results showed that the obtained QDs showed excellent selectivity toward E.coli,and presented a good linearity in range of 1.0×10~5～1.0×10~8 CFU/mL.The optimum fluorescence intensity for detecting E. coli was found to be at pH 7.0 with a temperature of25℃ and incubation time of 20 min.Under these optimum conditions,the detection limit of E.coli was4.6×10~4 CFU/mL.The quenching was discussed to be a static quenching procedure,which was proved by the quenching efficiency of QDs decreased with the temperature increasing.     

Gold Nanoparticle‐Based Redox Signal Enhancement for Sensitive Detection of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Hormone

A sensitive immunosensor for the detection of pregnancy marker, human chorionic gonadotropin hormone (hCG), was developed using the direct electrical detection of Au nanoparticles. We utilized disposable screen‐printed carbon strips (SPCSs) for the development of our immunosensor, which provided cost‐effective tests with the required antigen sample volume as small as 2 μL. After the recognition reaction between the surface‐immobilized primary antibody and hCG, the captured antigen was sandwiched with a secondary antibody that was labeled with Au nanoparticles. Au nanoparticles were exposed to a preoxidation process at 1.2 V for 40 s, which was subsequently followed with a reduction scan on the same surface using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). We could observe Au nanoparticle‐labeled antigen‐antibody complexes immobilized on the surface of SPCS using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Additionally, the number of Au nanoparticles on the immunosensor was determined using SEM images, and showed a linear relationship with the current intensity obtained from the DPV measurements with a detection limit of 36 pg/mL hCG (612 fM, 3.6×10^?4 IU/mL). Our immunosensor system, a combination of the screen‐printing technology with Au nanoparticles provides a promising biosensor for various applications in life sciences.     

Electrocatalytical Oxidation of Nitrite and Its Determination Based on Au@Fe3O4 Nanoparticles

A promising electrochemical nitrite sensor was fabricated by immobilizing Au@Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles on the surface of L ‐cysteine modified glassy carbon electrode, which was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. The proposed sensor exhibited excellent electrocatalytic activity toward nitrite oxidation. The kinetic parameters of the electrode reaction process were calculated, (1–α)n_α was 0.38 and the heterogeneous electron transfer coefficient (k) was 0.13 cm s^?1. The detection conditions such as supporting electrolyte and pH value were optimized. Under the optimized conditions, the linear range for the determination of nitrite was 3.6×10^?6 to 1.0×10^?2 M with a detection limit of 8.2×10^?7 M (S/N=3). Moreover, the as‐prepared electrode displayed good stability, repeatability and selectivity for promising practical applications.     

Metal Enhanced Electrochemical Cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) Sensor for Biological Applications

Pain measurement is commonly required in biomedical and other emergency situations, yet there has been no pain biosensor reported in literature. Conventional approaches for pain measurement relies on Wong‐Baker face diagrams, which are grossly inadequate for situations involving children or unconscious people. We report a label‐free immunosensor for monitoring the pain biomarker cylooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) in blood. The sensor is based on the concept of metal‐enhanced detection (MED). MED relies on the idea that the immobilization of underpotential deposition (upd) metallic films deposited either as a monolayer or electrostatically held onto a solid gold substrate could significantly amplify bimolecular recognition such as involving antigen‐antibody (Ab‐Ag) interactions. The surface bound Ab‐Ag complex insulates the electrode; causing a decrease in concentration‐dependent redox signals. A linear detection range of (3.64–3640.00)×10^?4 ng/mL was recorded with a detection limit of 0.25×10^?4 ng/mL, which was 4 orders of magnitude lower than that reported for ELISA for the same biomarker. The immunosensor exhibited selectivity of less than 6 % for potential interferents.     

Separation and detection of multiple pathogens in a food matrix by magnetic SERS nanoprobes

A rapid and sensitive method was developed here for separation and detection of multiple pathogens in food matrix by magnetic surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) nanoprobes. Silica-coated magnetic probes (MNPs@SiO₂) of ∼100 nm in diameter were first prepared via the reverse microemulsion method using cetyltrimethylammonium bromide as a surfactant and tetraethyl orthosilicate as the silica precursor. The as-prepared MNPs@SiO₂ were functionalized with specific pathogen antibodies to first capture threat agents directly from a food matrix followed by detection using an optical approach enabled by SERS. In this scheme, pathogens were first immuno-magnetically captured with MNPs@SiO₂, and pathogen-specific SERS probes (gold nanoparticles integrated with a Raman reporter) were functionalized with corresponding antibodies to allow the formation of a sandwich assay to complete the sensor module for the detection of multiple pathogens in selected food matrices, just changing the kinds of Raman reporters on SERS probes. Here, up to two key pathogens, Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium and Staphylococcus aureus, were selected as a model to illustrate the probability of this scheme for multiple pathogens detection. The lowest cell concentration detected in spinach solution was 10³ CFU/mL. A blind test conducted in peanut butter validated the limit of detection as 10³ CFU/mL with high specificity, demonstrating the potential of this approach in complex matrices.     

Study and Application of Polarographic Catalytic Wave of Chlordiazepoxide in the Presence of Persulfate

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Electrocatalytic Reduction of Peroxy Disulfate on the Palladized Aluminum Electrode Modified by Prussian Blue: Application to the Analysis of Decolorizing Powders

The mechanism of catalytic reduction of peroxydisulfate on the palladized aluminum electrode modified by Prussian blue (PB/Pd‐Al) was studied. The charge transfer‐rate limiting step as well as overall reduction reaction of S₂O₈^2? is found to be a one‐electron and two‐electron abstraction respectively. The modified electrode is exploited for the hydrodynamic amperometry of peroxydisulfate. It is found that the calibration graph is linear in the S₂O₈^2?concentration range 5×10^?6–1.5×10^?3 mol L^?1. The detection limit of the method was 2.4×10^?6 mol L^?1 S₂O₈². The method was successfully used for the determination of S₂O₈^2? in decolorizing powders