一次性信号放大电化学阻抗RNA传感器研究

以自制的丝网印刷碳电极(SPCE)为基体电极,利用DNA四面体纳米探针和酶催化信号放大构建了一个一次性电化学阻抗型RNA传感器.固定在AuNPs修饰的SPCE表面的DNA四面体结构能确保DNA探针具有可控的密度和方向,结合辣根过氧化物酶(HRP)催化H_2O_2氧化4-氯-1-萘酚(CN)的反应,生成不溶物沉积在电极表面,有效地放大电化学阻抗信号,实现了miRNA的高灵敏阻抗测定.检测限可以低至1.0 pmol/L,阻抗值和miRNA-141浓度的对数在3.0～1 000 pmol/L之间具有良好的定量关系.     

比率型荧光纸芯片快速检测赭曲霉毒素A

采用双荧光染料构建了一种新型比率型荧光纸芯片,将荧光染料Cy3和Cy5分别作为荧光供体和荧光受体,以二者间荧光共振能量转移(FRET)引起的荧光变化实现对赭曲霉毒素A(OTA)的一步法快速灵敏检测。将标记Cy3基团的核酸适配体(Aptamer)和标记Cy5基团的辅助DNA(aDNA)同时与纸芯片表面的互补DNA(CDNA)形成特定双链结构而发生FRET,导致Cy3荧光减弱而Cy5荧光增强。当存在OTA时,Aptamer与OTA结合后脱离双链结构,Cy3和Cy5两个荧光团远离,Cy3荧光增强而Cy5荧光减弱。实验结果表明,此系统的比率信号F₅₆₇/F₆₆₉(F₅₆₇/F₆₆₉为Cy3在567 nm处的荧光强度值与Cy5在669 nm处荧光强度值的比值)与OTA浓度在10～300 nmol/L范围内呈良好的线性响应,检出限(S/N=3)为5.6 nmol/L,花生和红酒样品中OTA的加标回收率为92.7%～107.6%。此传感器为食品中OTA等霉菌毒素污染检测提供了一种高效便捷的新方法。     

基于聚多巴胺纳米粒子的荧光共振能量转移法检测microRNA

基于聚多巴胺纳米粒子(PDA NPs)对Cy5标记单链DNA(Cy5-ssDNA)探针的荧光猝灭效应以及脱氧核糖核酸酶Ⅰ(DNaseⅠ)选择性切割DNA/RNA杂合结构中单链DNA的特性,建立了一种用于微小核糖核酸(miRNA)检测的新型恒温信号放大方法.在优化的实验条件下,体系的相对荧光强度(FR)与miR-21浓度的对数值成正比;对miR-21检测的线性范围为10 pmol/L~100 nmol/L,检出限达7 pmol/L.血清加标实验结果表明,该方法可用于生理环境下miR-21的检测.     

基于二硫化钼/纳米金和硫堇/纳米金信号放大的雌二醇电化学适配体传感器

构建了一种新型的基于二硫化钼/纳米金和硫堇/纳米金信号放大的检测17β-雌二醇的电化学适配体传感器. 利用巯基自组装技术将17β-雌二醇的适配体探针DNA固定在二硫化钼/纳米金修饰玻碳电极表面, 与末端带巯基的部分互补DNA链杂交, 将硫堇/纳米金电化学指示剂自组装在杂交后的双链DNA上, 制备了17β-雌二醇电化学适配体传感器. 二硫化钼/纳米金复合材料增加了电极的有效表面积和DNA探针的固定量. 纳米金作为信号物质载体负载硫堇, 实现了电化学指示剂的信号放大. 加入目标物17β-雌二醇后, 目标物与适配体DNA特异性结合, 导致互补DNA链脱落, 双链上结合的硫堇/纳米金电化学指示剂数量减少, 电化学信号降低. 实验结果表明, 在1.0×10 ^-14~5.0×10 ^-12 mol/L范围内17β-雌二醇浓度与峰电流的线性关系良好, 检出限为4.2×10 ^-15 mol/L(S/N=3). 该传感器可望用于其它环境激素类物质的检测.     

基于催化发夹组装和荧光共振能量转移的生物传感器检测EV71病毒

以肠道病毒71型(EV71)为检测对象，建立了基于催化发夹组装(CHA)和荧光共振能量转移(FRET)的生物传感器。设计了检测EV71 VP1基因的CHA信号放大策略，该体系由一对发夹探针(H1、 H2)构成，H1和H2分别标记了荧光基团Cy3和Cy5。当体系中有VP1基因时，可引发H1和H2催化自组装反应，从而使得Cy3和Cy5相互靠近并发生FRET,导致Cy3荧光信号降低，Cy5信号增强；当体系中没有VP1基因时，H1和H2则稳定存在于反应体系中，不发生FRET,只检测到Cy3的荧光信号。优化了缓冲液浓度、 H1与H2的比例、反应温度和反应时间。在最优条件下，所构建的传感器的Cy5与Cy3的荧光强度比值与EV71 VP1基因浓度在0.5～20 nmol/L范围内呈良好的线性关系，检出限为73 pmol/L(3σ)。咽拭子样品的加标回收率为99.6%～103.1%,相对标准偏差在0.3%～1.7%之间。本方法具有较好的特异性及抗干扰能力，在EV71监测和手足口病早期诊断方面具有良好的应用前景。     

基于DNA功能化金属有机框架材料的荧光探针对瓣状核酸内切酶1的检测和成像研究

结构特异性核酸酶瓣状核酸内切酶1 (Flap enduclease 1, FEN1)在多种癌细胞中过度表达,被认为是癌症临床诊断的潜在生物标志物。FEN1的精确检测对于癌症早期诊断和预后具有重要意义。荧光法具有操作简单、灵敏度高等优势,被广泛应用于FEN1检测,但基于比率荧光信号检测FEN1的策略尚未见报道。本研究设计了一种基于DNA功能化金属有机框架材料(MOFs)的比率荧光探针(FAM-RhB@UiO-66-NH₂),用于细胞内FEN1的检测和成像。其中,罗丹明B(RhB)被封装在MOFs中,荧光团FAM修饰的DNA链通过Zr—O—P相互作用与MOFs结合,形成基于荧光共振能量转移(FRET)的纳米探针。在FEN1存在的情况下,DNA链被酶切割,FRET体系被破坏,荧光比率发生变化,从而可实现对FEN1的检测。在最佳实验条件下,检测FEN1的线性范围为0.01～3.0 U,线性方程为y=0.1314x+1.6107,检出限低至0.004 U(3σ)。将此探针用于细胞内FEN1成像,能够区分癌细胞和正常细胞。     

氧化石墨烯增强荧光各向异性新策略在microRNA检测中的应用

microRNA(miRNA)是一类与癌症等重大疾病的发生密切相关的非编码小分子RNA.本文基于氧化石墨烯(GO)放大荧光各向异性(FA)原理,构建了GO/cDNA/Linker DNA/pDNA(DNA-GO)复合探针体系,结合靶物催化诱导信号循环放大策略,实现了miRNA-21的灵敏检测.在复合探针形成后,GO增加了荧光旋转体的体积和质量,Linker DNA上染料分子的荧光各向异性值增大.miRNA-21可通过"toehold"介导的链置换反应与Linker DNA杂交,使pDNA脱离Linker DNA.进一步加入Fuel DNA后,Fuel DNA与Linker DNA配对形成双链,从GO表面脱离,使Linker DNA上染料分子的荧光各向异性减小.被置换下来的miRNA-21进入下一循环,因此一个目标分子可以诱导形成多个Fuel DNA与Linker DNA的杂交双链,使荧光各向异性进一步减小.利用减小的荧光各向异性值实现了miRNA-21的灵敏检测.在本方法中,荧光各向异性减小值与miRNA-21浓度在10~330 nmol/L范围内呈线性关系,检测限为1.09 nmol/L.     

基于生物条形码与酶切放大的ATP荧光检测新方法

建立了基于纳米金生物条形码和酶切循环放大技术的荧光传感器用于高灵敏、高选择性检测ATP。通过ATP与核酸适体的特异性识别作用,将修饰有大量信号探针的纳米金条形码捕获到磁性微球表面。与释放的信号探针杂交后,分子信标的发卡结构被打开,荧光恢复。结合酶切技术使信号探针循环利用,显著增强荧光信号。在1~30 nmol/L范围内,ATP浓度与荧光信号呈良好的线性关系,检出限为0.5 nmol/L。用于细胞裂解液中ATP的测定,结果与HPLC方法接近。     

模板合成银纳米颗粒/DNA复合物：生物硫醇的高效荧光传感平台设计

金属纳米颗粒经常被用作纳米猝灭剂构建高效荧光传感平台.在本工作中,以FAM标记的DNA为模板,通过还原Ag＋制备得到银纳米颗粒（AgNPs）.由于AgNPs与DNA间稳固的结合,模板合成AgNPs呈现出很高的猝灭效率并可用作超猝灭剂以构建生物荧光传感平台.作为一种尝试,模板合成的DNA-AgNPs复合物被用作生物硫醇荧光检测.通过形成S-Ag键,硫醇与AgNPs发生作用并将FAM标记DNA从AgNPs表面取代下来,FAM荧光恢复.由于低的荧光背景信号,该传感器具有高信背比.此外,DNA-AgNPs复合物呈现出很好的稳定性,可应用于复杂的实际样品.为验证其在实际样品中检测生物硫醇的可行性,测定了人类尿样中的硫醇含量,其结果显示人类尿样中的硫醇总含量为229μM到302μM.为验证结果的可靠性,少量Cys被额外加入到尿样中,其回收率经测定为98%～103%.     

基于纳米生物条形码和杂交链式反应构建电化学生物传感器用于蛋白激酶活性分析

该文结合纳米生物条形码和杂交链式反应(HCR)双重信号放大策略构建了一种电化学生物传感器用于蛋白激酶A(PKA)的活性分析。以MoS₂/AuNPs纳米复合材料作为玻碳电极修饰材料，半胱氨酸修饰的底物肽链通过Au-S键自组装到修饰电极表面。当存在目标物PKA时，底物肽链被磷酸化，可与纳米生物条形码(S1-AuNPs-Ab)特异性结合，以S1-AuNPs-Ab探针中S1链作为引发链，可诱导发夹DNA(H1和H2)发生杂交链式反应。HCR产物吸附亚甲基蓝(MB)电活性分子，产生放大的电化学响应信号，实现对PKA活性的定量分析。该电化学传感器检测PKA的线性范围为10^-3～20 U/mL，检出限(S/N=3)为3×10^-4 U/mL。构建的电化学传感器具有良好的选择性、重现性和稳定性，可用于实际样品细胞裂解液中PKA的活性测定和蛋白激酶抑制剂的筛选及激酶相关药物的发现。     

A Janus 3D DNA nanomachine for simultaneous and sensitive fluorescence detection and imaging of dual microRNAs in cancer cells

Herein, a Janus three-dimensional (3D) DNA nanomachine was constructed for the simultaneous and sensitive fluorescence detection and imaging of dual microRNAs (miRNAs) in cancer cells, which could effectively eliminate signal interference in a homogeneous nanoparticle-based 3D DNA nanostructure caused by the proximity of the two different signal probes to achieve accurate co-location in the same position of living cancer cells. In this system, the Janus nanoparticles were synthesized as the carrier for immobilizing two different oligonucleotides on two different functionalized hemispheres of the nanoparticles to form a Janus 3D DNA nanostructure, which could convert trace amounts of miRNA-21 and miRNA-155 targets into massive FAM and Cy5-labeled duplexes to induce two remarkable fluorescence emissions by the catalytic hairpin assembly (CHA) and 3D DNA walker cascade nucleic acid amplification strategy, realizing sensitive detection and imaging of miRNA targets in cancer cells. Impressively, in comparison with current miRNA imaging methods based on nanoparticle assemblies, the proposed strategy could efficiently eliminate “false positive” results obtained in single type miRNA detection and distinctly increase the immobilization concentration of two different signal probes using Janus nanoparticles as the carrier to further enhance fluorescence intensity, resulting in accurate co-location in the same position of living cells. Meanwhile, the proposed fluorescence imaging technology makes it possible to visualize low concentrations of miRNAs with tiny change associated with some cancers, which could significantly improve the accuracy and precision compared to those of the conventional fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) approach. Therefore, it could serve as persuasive evidence for supplying accurate information to better understand biological processes and investigate mechanisms of various biomolecules and subcellular organelles, resulting in the further validation of their function in tumor proliferation and differentiation. This strategy provided an innovative approach to design new generations of nanomachines with ultimate applications in bioanalysis and clinical diagnoses.

A Janus three-dimensional DNA nanomachine was constructed for the simultaneous and sensitive fluorescent detection and imaging of dual microRNAs in the cancer cells.     

A fluorescence turn-on method for real-time monitoring of protease activity based on the electron transfer between a fluorophore labeled oligonucleotide and cytochrome c

A new continuous fluorescence turn-on assay for protease activity and inhibitor screening has been developed. A fluorophore labeled single stranded DNA (FAM-DNA) and cytochrome c (cyt c) were employed. The fluorescence of the FAM-DNA was efficiently quenched when binding to cyt c, through the electron transfer between the FAM fluorophore and the heme cofactor of cyt c. In the presence of a protease, such as trypsin, cyt c was digested into small peptide fragments. The FAM-DNA was released, which resulted in the recovery of the FAM fluorescence. The rate of the cyt c digestion could be reduced via the addition of an inhibitor. As a result, reduced degree of the fluorescence recovery was obtained. The limit of detection of our assay is 1 nM trypsin and the IC₅₀ values are 3.23 μg mL⁻¹ and 0.303 μg mL⁻¹ for the inhibitor from egg white and the inhibitor from soybean, respectively. Our method could be used for the sensing of protease activity for various biochemical applications, and for the screening of protease inhibitors as drugs for the treatment of various related diseases.     

Fluorescence properties and photophysics of the sulfoindocyanine Cy3 linked covalently to DNA

The sulfoindocyanine Cy3 is one of the most commonly used fluorescent dyes in the investigation of the structure and dynamics of nucleic acids by means of fluorescence methods. In this work, we report the fluorescence and photophysical properties of Cy3 attached covalently to single-stranded and duplex DNA. Steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence techniques were used to determine fluorescence quantum yields, emission lifetimes, and fluorescence anisotropy decays. The existence of a transient photoisomer was investigated by means of transient absorption techniques. The fluorescence quantum yield of Cy3 is highest when attached to the 5' terminus of single-stranded DNA (Cy3-5' ssDNA), and decreases by a factor of 2.4 when the complementary strand is annealed to form duplex DNA (Cy3-5' dsDNA). Substantial differences were also observed between the 5'-modified strands and strands modified through an internal amino-modified deoxy uridine. The fluorescence decay of Cy3 became multiexponential upon conjugation to DNA. The longest lifetime was observed for Cy3-5' ssDNA, where about 50% of the decay is dominated by a 2.0-ns lifetime. This value is more than 10 times larger than the fluorescence lifetime of the free dye in solution. These observations are interpreted in terms of a model where the molecule undergoes a trans-cis isomerization reaction from the first excited state. We observed that the activation energy for photoisomerization depends strongly on the microenvironment in which the dye is located. The unusually high activation energy measured for Cy3-5' ssDNA is an indication of dye-ssDNA interactions. In fact, the time-resolved fluorescence anisotropy decay of this sample is dominated by a 2.5-ns rotational correlation time, which evidences the lack of rotational freedom of the dye around the linker that separates it from the terminal 5' phosphate. The remarkable variations in the photophysical properties of Cy3-DNA constructs demonstrate that caution should be used when Cy3 is used in studies employing DNA conjugates.     

Sensitive and selective fluorescence detection of guanosine nucleotides by nanoparticles conjugated with a naphthyridine receptor

Novel fluorescent nanosensors, based on a naphthyridine receptor, have been developed for the detection of guanosine nucleotides, and both their sensitivity and selectivity to various nucleotides were evaluated. The nanosensors were constructed from polystyrene nanoparticles functionalized by (N-(7-((3-aminophenyl)ethynyl)-1,8-naphthyridin-2-yl)acetamide) via carbodiimide ester activation. We show that this naphthyridine nanosensor binds guanosine nucleotides preferentially over adenine, cytosine, and thymidine nucleotides. Upon interaction with nucleotides, the fluorescence of the nanosensor is gradually quenched yielding Stern–Volmer constants in the range of 2.1 to 35.9 mM⁻¹. For all the studied quenchers, limits of detection (LOD) and tolerance levels for the nanosensors were also determined. The lowest (3σ) LOD was found for guanosine 3’,5’-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) and it was as low as 150 ng/ml. In addition, we demonstrated that the spatial arrangement of bound analytes on the nanosensors’ surfaces is what is responsible for their selectivity to different guanosine nucleotides. We found a correlation between the changes of the fluorescence signal and the number of phosphate groups of a nucleotide. Results of molecular modeling and ζ-potential measurements confirm that the arrangement of analytes on the surface provides for the selectivity of the nanosensors. These fluorescent nanosensors have the potential to be applied in multi-analyte, array-based detection platforms, as well as in multiplexed microfluidic systems.     

Fluorescence Signal Amplification Strategies Based on DNA Nanotechnology for miRNA Detection

In this review,the most recent progresses in the field of fluorescence signal amplification strategies based on DNA nanotechnology for miRNA are summarized.The types of signal amplification are given and the principles of amplification strategies are explained,including rolling circle amplification(RCA),catalytic hairpin assembly(CHA),hybridization chain reaction(HCR)and DNA walker.Subsequently,the application of these signal amplification methods in biosensing and bioimaging are covered and described.Finally,the challenges and the outlook of fluorescence signal amplification methods for miRNA detection are briefly commented.     

A chloride ion nanosensor for time-resolved fluorimetry and fluorescence lifetime imaging

In this work, the first CdSe/ZnS quantum dot (QD) photoluminescence lifetime based chloride ion nanosensor is reported. The acridinium dication lucigenin was self-assembled on the surface of negatively charged mercaptopropionic acid capped QDs to achieve QD-lucigenin conjugates. Upon attachment, a drastic decrease of the photoluminescence lifetime of both QD nanoparticles and lucigenin is observed by virtue of a charge transfer mechanism. Since lucigenin is a chloride-sensitive indicator dye, the photoluminescence decay of QD-lucigenin conjugates changes by adding chloride ion. The photoluminescence lifetime of the QDs in the conjugate increases after reacting with Cl(-), but also shows a concomitant decrease in the lucigenin lifetime immobilized on the surface. The photoluminescence lifetime of QD-lucigenin nanosensors shows a linear response in the Cl(-) concentration range between 0.5 and 50 mM. Moreover, the ratio τ(ave)(QD)/τ(ave)(luc) can be used as an analytical signal since the lifetime ratio presents a linear response in the same Cl(-) concentration range. The system also shows good selectivity towards most of the main anions and molecules that can be found in biological fluids. These nanosensors have been satisfactorily applied for Cl(-) determination in simulated intracellular media with high sensitivity and high selectivity. Finally, we demonstrate the potential application of the proposed nanosensor in confocal fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM). These results show the promising application of the QD-lucigenin nanosensors in FLIM, particularly for intracellular sensing, with the invaluable advantages of the time-resolved fluorescence techniques.     

pH荧光纳米传感器的研制及表征

利用溶胶-凝胶技术制得了单分散性很好的二氧化硅纳米微球,通过共价偶联方式引入对pH变化敏感的荧光素异硫氰酸酯（FITC）,这种FITC功能化二氧化硅纳米微球（FITC功能化硅微球）可作为pH荧光纳米传感器。当pH值从4.0变至7.5时,荧光强度增大约30倍。该传感器灵敏度高,响应速度快,容易制备,光稳定性好,可望用于单细胞的pH分析。     

Cell-permeable and biocompatible polymeric nanoparticles for apoptosis imaging

Here, we report for the first time cell-permeable and biocompatible polymeric nanoparticles consisting of a polymer conjugated to a near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence (Cy5.5)-linked effector caspase-specific peptide. The close spatial proximity of the NIR fluorochromes in polymeric nanoparticles results in an autoquenched state, but polymer nanoparticles give rise to strong NIR fluorescence signal under apoptotic cells. Thus, the smart polymeric nanoparticle developed here is an attractive probe for real-time imaging of apoptosis in single cells.     

壳聚糖支载菁染料荧光探针及荧光特性

壳聚糖支载有机荧光染料可在生理条件下改变其荧光特性,本文采用壳聚糖(CTS)支载有机荧光染料Cy3,利用红外光谱和热分析对产物进行了表征,研究了壳聚糖支载的荧光染料紫外吸收光谱和荧光光谱特性,结果表明,壳聚糖支载的荧光染料Cy3的紫外吸收特征峰的波长无明显变化,荧光强度明显增强,支载后的荧光染料光稳定性良好,初步细胞标记实验显示,壳聚糖支载后的Cy3染料对脑胶质瘤细胞具有良好的亲和性,并能穿透细胞膜且发出明显荧光。     

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.