Surface chemistry effects on the performance of an electrochemical DNA sensor

E-DNA sensors are a reagentless, electrochemical oligonucleotide sensing platform based on a redox-tag modified, electrode-bound probe DNA. Because E-DNA signaling is linked to hybridization-linked changes in the dynamics of this probe, sensor performance is likely dependent on the nature of the self-assembled monolayer coating the electrode. We have investigated this question by characterizing the gain, specificity, response time and shelf-life of E-DNA sensors fabricated using a range of co-adsorbates, including both charged and neutral alkane thiols. We find that, among the thiols tested, the positively charged cysteamine gives rise to the largest and most rapid response to target and leads to significantly improved storage stability. The best mismatch specificity, however, is achieved with mercaptoethanesulfonic and mercaptoundecanol, presumably due to the destabilizing effects of, respectively, the negative charge and steric bulk of these co-adsorbates. These results demonstrate that a careful choice of co-adsorbate chemistry can lead to significant improvements in the performance of this broad class of electrochemical DNA sensors.     

Topical advances in nanomaterials based electrochemical sensors for resorcinol detection

The ever-increasing environmental pollution is a severe threat to the ecosystem’s healthy sustainability, and therefore environmental monitoring of these pollutants has become a burning issue throughout the world. In recent years, cost-effective, selective, portable, sensitive, and rapid sensing devices must be developed in urgent need. Advancement in nanotechnology has urged the use of different types of nanomaterials as an excellent electrode material to amplify the electrochemical detection in terms of long-term stability and electrocatalytic activity of the electrochemical sensors in addition to fulfill the aforementioned desires. This review article intimates significant advancement in developing the enzymatic and non-enzymatic electrochemical sensors based on different nanomaterials for the detection of resorcinol (RS) in the absence or presence of other phenolic compounds. This also concludes the current associated challenges as well as future perspectives for the analysis of RS in the environment. There is plethora of reported articles on RS sensors, but this review mainly discusses the selective reports on the applications of RS sensors.     

Advances in nucleic acid architectures for electrochemical sensing

Nucleic acid–based electrochemical sensors are ideally suited to the detection of molecular targets for which enzymatic detection or direct electrochemical oxidation – reduction reactions are not possible. Moreover, the versatility of nucleic acids in their ability to bind a great variety of target types, from small molecules to single-entity mesoscopic targets, makes them attractive receptors for the development of electrochemical biosensors. In this brief opinion piece, we discuss field advances from the past two years. We hope the works highlighted here will inspire the community to pursue creative designs enabling the detection of larger and more complex targets with a specific focus on analytical validation and translation into preclinical or clinical applications.     

Estimation of uncertainties for the application of electrochemical sensors in clinical analysis

 The influence of the selection of type of electrochemical sensor, its design and calibration, data processing and sample history on the uncertainty of measurements in clinical analysis is discussed. Special requirements for in vivo analysis that may minimize the value of uncertainty of measurements are given. Received: 4 March 2002 Accepted: 1 November 2002 Correspondence to R. I. Stefan     

Recent advances of boron-doped diamond electrochemical sensors toward environmental applications

The electrocatalytic properties of boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrodes have been considered for a variety of sensing applications. The unusual electrochemical properties of BDD include a large potential window, a small background current, and better resistance to fouling than other carbon-based electrodes. The use of BDD for remediation and environmental sensing applications has recently attracted the interest of the sensor research community. This review focuses on recent developments that involve the use of BDD as an environmentally friendly sensing material for environmental analysis. The electrochemical properties of boron-doped diamond that has undergone surface modification (e.g., with metals or enzymes) will be considered. Recent achievements involving the use of BDD electrodes for detecting pesticides, mycotoxins, peroxides, and phenolic compounds are considered.     

Sensitive electrochemical monitoring of nucleic acids coupling DNA nanostructures with hybridization chain reaction

Methods based on metal nanotags have been developed for metallobioassay of nucleic acids, but most involve complicated labeling or stripping procedures and are unsuitable for routine use. Herein, we report the proof-of-concept of a novel and label-free metallobioassay for ultrasensitive electronic determination of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-related gene fragments at an ultralow concentration based on target-triggered long-range self-assembled DNA nanostructures and DNA-based hybridization chain reaction (HCR). The signal is amplified by silver nanotags on the DNA duplex. The assay mainly consists of capture probe, detection probe, and two different DNA hairpins. In the presence of target DNA, the capture probe immobilized on the sensor sandwiches target DNA with the 3′ end of detection probe. Another exposed part of detection probe at the 5′ end opens two alternating DNA hairpins in turn, and propagates a chain reaction of hybridization events to form a nicked double-helix. Finally, numerous silver nanotags are immobilized onto the long-range DNA nanostructures, each of which produces a strong electronic signal within the applied potentials. Under optimal conditions, the target-triggered long-range DNA nanostructures present good electrochemical behaviors for the detection of HIV DNA at a concentration as low as 0.5 fM. Importantly, the outstanding sensitivity can make this approach a promising scheme for development of next-generation DNA sensors without the need of enzyme labeling or fluorophore labeling.     

Practical physical aspects of interfacial nucleic acid oligomer hybridisation for biosensor design

A significant amount of research concerning rapid, selective biomolecular analysis has focused on development of analytical methods that make use of nucleic acid hybridisation as the basis for selective recognition. The development of biosensors based on nucleic acid hybridisation requires consideration of the thermodynamics of hybrid formation at a solid interface, because the relative thermodynamic stability can dictate the selectivity of hybridisation. Careful control of hybridisation conditions such as the density of oligonucleotides, as well as the temperature, pH, and ionic strength, may therefore enhance the selectivity, sensitivity and speed of a nucleic acid hybridisation assay that is located at an interface.     

Feasibility studies for the detection of volatile organic compounds in the gas phase using microelectrode sensors

The use of microelectrode sensors to detect volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in air is demonstrated. In general, VOCs that oxidize easily to form protons gave a larger electrochemical response. The use of voltammetry for speciation and the effect of electrode size on the electrochemical response are discussed. We demonstrate that surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) can be used to monitor the electrochemical reactions in situ and discuss its applicability in identifying the electroactive species.     

Progress on predicting the electrochemical stability window of electrolytes

The advancement of novel electrical energy storage systems with high energy density encourages the development of electrolytes with wide electrochemical stability windows (ESWs). For the design of electrolytes, atomistic simulations have been used to investigate their electrochemical stability, providing a fast and economical approach for electrolytes screening, in which the simulation models are the key to predicting the electrolyte ESWs. Herein, the completing progress of the simulation models on predicting electrolyte ESWs is overviewed, which ranges in complexity from an isolated molecule/ion model to a solvation model and finally to a complex model of the electrode–electrolyte interface. We highlight the limitation and applicability of these models in detail and advocate a perspective of possible future research on the prediction of the electrolyte ESWs.     

Trends in the development of nucleic acid biosensors for medical diagnostics

Some of the recent advances in the field of biosensors for nucleic acid analysis in medical diagnostic applications are highlighted. Particular attention is paid in this review to the progress made in two key areas of development: (i) enhancements achieved in device selectivity, and (ii) enhancements achieved in device sensitivity.     

用于纳米孔道分析的四通道电化学传感器设计与仿真

纳米孔道技术是一种基于空间限域的超灵敏的单分子分析技术.通过研究单个分子限域于纳米孔道中所产生的离子电流的变化,可在单分子尺度上获取其结构、尺寸、电性及与孔道间弱相互作用的信息.目前主要应用的纳米孔道测量仪器单次实验仅能测量单个纳米孔道,其检测通量较低.本文基于实验室前期自主设计研制的单通道纳米孔道测量仪器Cube-D2上,比较研究了两种互阻放大器的测量特性,从而选择了合适的测量电路设计了四通道电化学传感器放大电路.进一步通过仿真验证了四通道电化学传感器设计方案的可行性,为阵列化高通量纳米孔道单分子电化学测量仪器的设计提供了理论基础.     

基于多肽的电化学传感器在蛋白质检测中应用的研究进展

生物体内的细胞通常会分泌各种各样的蛋白质,这些蛋白质在生物体中发挥着重要作用,尤其是可被用于诊断各种疾病的发生和发展。多肽具有良好选择性、空间适应能力和识别灵活的特点,可与不同类型的蛋白分子形成非共价键,用于蛋白质的生物检测。将多肽与电化学生物传感器结合用于蛋白质的广谱检测具有良好的发展前景。本文介绍了多肽修饰的电化学传感器在不同蛋白质检测方面的研究进展,分析了待测蛋白质的不同对多肽修饰的电化学传感器分类的影响及其优缺点,提出了基于多肽的电化学传感器在不同蛋白质检测中存在的问题,并展望了其未来发展。     

Viable but nonculturable cells used in biosensor fabrication for long-term storage stability

In this paper, we first reported the viable but nonculturable (VBNC) cells used for fabricating biosensor. The organic-inorganic hybrid material composed of silica and the grafting copolymer of poly(vinyl alcohol) and 4-vinylpyridine (PVA-g-P(4-VP)) was used to immobilize microbial cells for biosensor fabrication. The VBNC cells were formed after the hybrid material dried, showing the cell walls were sacrificed. With the intracellular enzymes as core and the “sacrificed” cell walls as shell, the present VBNC cells maybe considered as a core/shell structure. The extracellular material worked as the scaffold for core/shell structure. The core/shell structure and the scaffold structure were demonstrated by single-cell level image analysis using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). The electrochemical method was adopted for further examining the enzyme activity of VBNC cells. The VBNC cells did not need nutrient treatment and other physicochemical factors for cell growth, which is a significant contribution for storing biosensor. A glucose-glutamic acid biosensor fabricated by the VBNC cells exhibited long-term storage stability for 100 days.     

Molecularly imprinted conducting polymer based electrochemical sensor for detection of atrazine

An original electrochemical sensor based on molecularly imprinted conducting polymer (MICP) is developed, which enables the recognition of a small pesticide target molecule, atrazine. The conjugated MICP, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene-co-thiophene-acetic acid), has been electrochemically synthesized onto a platinum electrode following two steps: (i) polymerization of comonomers in the presence of atrazine, already associated to the acetic acid substituent through hydrogen bonding, and (ii) removal of atrazine from the resulting polymer, which leaves the acetic acid substituents open for association with atrazine. The obtained sensing MICP is highly specific towards newly added atrazine and the recognition can be quantitatively analyzed by the variation of the cyclic voltammogram of MICP. The developed sensor shows remarkable properties: selectivity towards triazinic family, large range of detection (10⁻⁹ mol L⁻¹ to 1.5 × 10⁻² mol L⁻¹ in atrazine) and low detection threshold (10⁻⁷ mol L⁻¹).     

Fabrication of an electrochemical sensor based on spiropyran for sensitive and selective detection of fluoride ion

In the past decades, numerous electrochemical sensors based on exogenous electroactive substance have been reported. Due to non-specific interaction between the redox mediator and the target, the instability caused by false signal may not be avoided. To address this issue, in this paper, a new electrochemical sensor based on spiropyran skeleton, namely SPOSi, was designed for specific electrochemical response to fluoride ions (F⁻). The breakage of Si–O induced by F⁻ based on the specific nucleophilic substitution reaction between F⁻ and silica would directly produce a hydroquinone structure for electrochemical signal generation. To improve the sensitivity, SPOSi probe was assembled on the single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) through the π–π conjugating interaction. This electrode was successfully applied to monitor F⁻ with a detection limit of 8.3 × 10⁻⁸ M. Compared with the conventional F⁻ ion selected electrode (ISE) which utilized noncovalent interaction, this method displays higher stability and a comparable sensitivity in the urine samples.     

Breath biosensing: using electrochemical enzymatic sensors for detection of biomarkers in human breath

Detection of biomarkers for disease by noninvasive methods is critical for the early diagnosis and screening of disease, enabling prompt treatment. Breath biosensors are a viable option as the exhaled breath contains several biomarkers linked to lung cancer, oxidative stress, diabetes, and other diseases. Breath analysis has been achieved by advanced analytical techniques such as gas chromatography and infrared spectroscopy. However, electrochemical enzymatic breath biosensors offer a cost-effective, sensitive platform for biomarker detection without complex analysis and interpretation by trained laboratory personnel. This review aims to summarize recent advances in the field of electrochemical enzymatic breath biosensors and offer future opportunities from other applications of nonelectrochemical enzymatic breath biosensors.     

Hexachloroiridate(IV) as a redox probe for the electrochemical discrimination of B-DNA and M-DNA monolayers on gold

This paper demonstrates the effectiveness of using the redox couple to investigate DNA monolayers, and compares the potential advantages of this system to the standard redox couple. B-DNA monolayers were converted to M-DNA by incubation in buffer containing 0.4 mM Zn²⁺ at pH 8.6 and studied by cyclic voltammetry (CV), impedance spectroscopy (IS) and chronoamperometry (CA) with . Compared to B-DNA, M-DNA showed significant changes in CV, IS and CA spectra. However, only small changes were observed when the monolayers were incubated in Mg²⁺ at pH 8.6 or in Zn²⁺ at pH 6.0. The heterorgeneous electron-transfer rate (k_ET) between the redox probe and the surface of a bare gold electrode was determined to be 5.7 × 10⁻³ cm/s. For a B-DNA modified electrode, the k_ET through the monolayer was too slow to be measured. However, under M-DNA conditions, a k_ET of 1.5 × 10⁻³ cm/s was reached. As well, the percent change in resistance to charge transfer, measured by IS, was used to illustrate the dependence of M-DNA formation on pH. This result is consistent with Zn²⁺ ions replacing the imino protons on thymine and guanine residues. The redox couple was also effective in differentiating between single-stranded and double-stranded DNA during de-hybridization and rehybridization experiments.     

Significance of nanomaterials in electrochemical sensors for nitrate detection: A review

Nanomaterial-enabled electrochemical sensors are designed as an economical, efficient, and user-friendly analytical tool for on-site and routine nitrate analysis over a wide range of environmental samples. The remarkable advances and tunable attributes of nanomaterials have greatly improved the analytical performance of electrochemical nitrate sensors. In this review, a comprehensive elucidation of the recent advances in nanomaterial-based electrochemical nitrate sensors is presented. The review firstly provides a general introduction, followed by typical electrochemical sensing methods. The next two sections detail various nanomaterials, including graphene derivatives, carbon nanotubes/fibers, metal/bimetal/metal oxide nanoparticles, and conducting polymers for modifying electrodes in enzymatic and non-enzymatic electrochemical nitrate sensors. Finally, the perspectives and current challenges in achieving real-world applications of nanomaterial-based electrochemical nitrate sensors are outlined.     

Challenges with prediction of battery electrolyte electrochemical stability window and guiding the electrode – electrolyte stabilization

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An overview of a sustainable approach to the biosynthesis of AgNPs for electrochemical sensors

Mother nature furnishes various sources to synthesize nanomaterial’s with different geometry, size, and functionality. In this outline, we aimed to discuss the biological source-mediated fabrication of Ag NPs because of their easy handling, yields, and economical and non-toxicity. The literature reveals that different plant species, fungi, and bacteria can employ biosynthesis, enabling the fabrication of nanoparticles with different features, notably size, geometry, and morphology. The exact mechanisms have not been understood well, even though it is trusted that bio-sourced is responsible for this process. The method of synthesis can be influenced by pH, concentration, time, and biomass. The optimized biosynthesized AgNPs can employ in various domains like sensors, nanomedicine, environmental pollution etc., The main objective of the paper is to elaborate on the biosynthesized AgNPS in electrochemical sensing and its surface modifications. Furthermore, these electroanalytical techniques are to be used for real-time sampling to allow the selective detection of the target analyte.