Self-assembling gold nanoparticles on thiol-functionalized poly(styrene-co-acrylic acid) nanospheres for fabrication of a mediatorless biosensor

A novel strategy to construct a sensitive mediatorless sensor of H₂O₂ was described. At first, a cleaned gold electrode was immersed in thiol-functionalized poly(styrene-co-acrylic acid) (St-co-AA) nanosphere latex prepared by emulsifier-free emulsion polymerization St with AA and function with dithioglycol to assemble the nanospheres, then gold nanoparticles were chemisorbed onto the thiol groups and formed monolayers on the surface of poly(St-co-AA) nanospheres. Finally, horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was immobilized on the surface of the gold nanoparticles. The sensor displayed an excellent electrocatalytical response to reduction of H₂O₂ without the aid of an electron mediator. The biosensor showed a linear range of 8.0 μmol L⁻¹–7.0 mmol L⁻¹ with a detection limit of 4.0 μmol L⁻¹. The biosensor retained more than 97.8% of its original activity after 60 days’ storage. Moreover, the studied biosensor exhibited good current reproducibility and good fabrication reproducibility.     

Highly Sensitive Voltammetric Thrombin Aptamer Sensor Based on the Synergistic Effect of Doping/Depositing Gold Nanoparticles in Polydopamine Film

A highly sensitive square‐wave voltammetric thrombin (TB) aptamer sensor was developed using functional polydopamine (PD) film by doping and depositing gold nanoparticles into the bulk and the surface of PD. The aptamer sensor was fabricated by immobilizing a thiolated TB‐binding aptamer (TBA) on the AuNPs‐doped/deposited PD film. AuNPs‐supported methylene blue labels were used for the detection of human α‐TB. Under the optimized conditions, the aptamer sensor’s dynamic range and the detection limit were determined to be 2.0 pM–50 nM and 0.97±0.06 pM, respectively. Finally, the proposed aptamer sensor was successfully examined in human serum samples and satisfactory results were obtained.     

Induction of tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-2 by cholesterol depletion leads to the conversion of proMMP-2 into active MMP-2 in human dermal fibroblasts

Cholesterol is one of major components of cell membrane and plays a role in vesicular trafficking and cellular signaling. We investigated the effects of cholesterol on matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) activation in human dermal fibroblasts. We found that tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2) expression and active form MMP-2 (64 kD) were dose-dependently increased by methyl-β-cyclodextrin (MβCD), a cholesterol depletion agent. In contrast, cholesterol depletion-induced TIMP-2 expression and MMP-2 activation were suppressed by cholesterol repletion. Then we investigated the regulatory mechanism of TIMP-2 expression by cholesterol depletion. We found that the phosphorylation of JNK as well as ERK was significantly increased by cholesterol depletion. Moreover, cholesterol depletion-induced TIMP-2 expression and MMP-2 activation was significantly decreased by MEK inhibitor U0126, and JNK inhibitor SP600125, respectively. While a low dose of recombinant TIMP-2 (100 ng/ml) increased the level of active MMP-2 (64 kD), the high dose of TIMP-2 (≥ 200 ng/ml) decreased the level of active MMP-2 (64 kD). Taken together, we suggest that the induction of TIMP-2 by cholesterol depletion leads to the conversion of proMMP-2 (72 kD) into active MMP-2 (64 kD) in human dermal fibroblasts.     

A novel electrogenerated chemiluminescence sensor for pyrogallol with core-shell luminol-doped silica nanoparticles modified electrode by the self-assembled technique

The core-shell luminol-doped SiO₂ nanoparticles were synthesized and immobilized on the surface of chitosan film coating graphite electrode by the self-assembled technique. Then, a novel electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) sensor for pyrogallol was developed based on its ECL enhancing effect for the core-shell luminol-doped silica nanoparticles. The ECL analytical performances and the sensing mechanism of this ECL sensor for pyrogallol were investigated in detail. The corresponding results showed that: compared with the conventional ECL reaction procedures by luminol ECL reaction system, the electrochemical (EC) reaction of pyrogallol and its subsequent chemiluminescence (CL) reaction occurred in the different spatial region whilst offering a high efficiency to couple the EC with the CL reaction to form the ECL procedures. In this case, this new sensing scheme offered more potential to improve the analytical performances of the ECL reaction. Under the optimum experimental conditions, this ECL sensor showed less than 5% decrease in continuums over 100 times ECL measurements, the detection limit was 1.0 × 1.0⁻⁹ mol/L for pyrogallol. The linear range extended from 3.0 × 10⁻⁹ mol/L to 2.0 × 10⁻⁵ mol/L for pyrogallol.     

A bifunctional electrochemical aptasensor based on AuNPs-coated ERGO nanosheets for sensitive detection of adenosine and thrombin

A simple and sensitive bifunctional electrochemical aptasensor for detection of adenosine and thrombin has been developed using gold nanoparticles–electrochemically reduced graphene oxide (AuNPs-ERGO) composite film-modified electrode. Firstly, the reduced graphene oxide film and AuNPs were sequentially immobilized on glassy carbon electrode (GCE) surface. Secondly, thrombin aptamer was immobilized on the modified electrode. Finally, adenosine aptamer was hybridized with it to serve as a recognition element and methylene blue (MB) as electrochemical signal indicator. In the presence of adenosine or thrombin, the sensor recognized it and a conformational change was induced in aptamer, resulting in decrease of the peak current of MB. The linear relation between concentration of adenosine or thrombin and peak current of MB allowed quantification of them. Thanks to the special electronic characteristic of AuNPs-ERGO composite film, sensitivity of sensor was greatly improved. Under optimal conditions, the proposed aptasensor presented an excellent performance in a linear range of 25 nM to 750 nM for adenosine and 0.5 nM to 10 nM for thrombin. Detection limits were estimated to be 8.3 nM for adenosine and 0.17 nM for thrombin, respectively. Moreover, dual-analyte detection of adenosine and thrombin was achieved without potentially increasing the complexity and cost of the assay.

     

Fabrication of a Sensitive Impedance Biosensor of DNA Hybridization Based on Gold Nanoparticles Modified Gold Electrode

In this work, we report on the preparation of a simple, sensitive DNA impedance sensor. Firstly gold nanoparticles were electrodeposited on the surface of a gold electrode, and then probe DNA was immobilized on the surface of gold nanoparticles through a 5′‐thiol‐linker. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was used to investigate probe DNA immobilization and hybridization. Compared to the bare gold electrode, the gold nanoparticles modified electrode could improve the density of probe DNA attachment and the sensitivity of DNA sensor greatly. The difference of electron transfer resistance (ΔR_et) was linear with the logarithm of complementary oligonucleotides sequence concentrations in the range of 2.0×10^?12 to 9.0×10^?8 M, and the detection limit was 6.7×10^?13 M. In addition, the DNA sensor showed a fairly good reproducibility and stability during repeated regeneration and hybridization cycles.     

Development of Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy Based Malaria Aptasensor Using HRP‐II as Target Biomarker

Current demand for a stable, low cost and sensitive malaria sensor has prompted to explore novel recognition systems that can substitute widely used protein based labile biorecognition elements to be used in point of care diagnostic devices. Here, we report a novel ssDNA aptamer of 90 mer sequence developed by SELEX process against HRP‐II, a specific biomarker for Plasmodium falciparum strains. High stability of the secondary structure of the isolated aptamer was discerned from its free energy of folding of −20.40 kcal mole⁻¹. The binding constant (K_d) of the aptamer with HRP‐II analysed by isothermal titration calorimetry was ∼1.32 μM. Circular dichroism studies indicated B form of the aptamer DNA. The aptamer was chemically immobilized on a gold electrode surface through a self‐assembled monolayer of dithio‐bis(succinimidyl) propionate to produce the aptasensor. The step wise modification of the layers over the gold electrode during fabrication of the aptasensor was confirmed by cyclic voltammetry. The aptasensor was then challenged with different concentration of HRP‐II and analysed the interaction signals through electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The impedance signal behaved reciprocally with the increasing concentrations of the target in the sample from which a dynamic range of 1 pM–500 pM (R²=0.99) and LOD of ∼3.15 pM were discerned. The applicability of the developed aptasensor to detect HRP‐II in mimicked real sample was also validated.     

Highly sensitive microRNA quantification with zero background signal from silver nanoparticles

MicroRNAs are a class of noncoding RNAs, which play vital roles in numerous cellular processes. Recent studies have confirmed their significance in the theranostics of various diseases. We herein fabricate an electrochemical approach for microRNA quantification. DNA/microRNA/DNA hybridization and electrochemical signals from silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are employed in this work. DNA1 immobilized on a gold electrode interacts with target microRNA, along with amino group labeled DNA2, to form the sandwich hybrid. The adjacent DNA1 and DNA2 are then ligated, which can keep DNA2 on the electrode surface during the denaturation. Amino group modified at the 5′ end of DNA2 captures AgNPs on the electrode surface, which provide sharp stripping peaks for microRNA quantification. This electrochemical approach offers a simple and sensitive platform for the detection of microRNA, which shows great utility in biomedical research and clinical diagnosis.     

基于多边形金纳米颗粒的非标记型可卡因适体传感器的研制

实验合成了多边形金纳米颗粒,通过壳聚糖(CHIT)将合成的多边形金纳米颗粒固定在玻碳电极表面,然后通过自组装技术将带巯基的捕获DNA探针固定在修饰有多边形金纳米颗粒的电极表面,利用杂交反应使可卡因适体与DNA捕获探针结合,制成非标记型可卡因适体传感器。以六氨合钌作为电化学指示剂,通过测量传感器与目标物可卡因结合前后电流变化情况对可卡因进行测定。考察了缓冲溶液的pH、可卡因培育时间、扫描速度等对测定的影响。结果表明,在pH为7.40时该传感器的检测范围为1.0×10-10～1.0×10-3 mol/L,检测限为3.0×10-11 mol/L。该传感器制作简单,响应好,抗干扰能力强。     

A gold nanoparticle labeling strategy for the sensitive kinetic assay of the carbamate-acetylcholinesterase interaction by surface plasmon resonance

The article presents a novel strategy for a sensitive investigation of the interaction between acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and its small molecular carbamate inhibitors. Two carbamate inhibitors with different ether linkages and the terminal lipoate were synthesized and labeled with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). With the signal amplification of AuNPs, the specific interactions between the AuNPs labeled carbamate inhibitors (ALC1 and ALC2) and the immobilized AChE on sensor chip surface were readily examined. The detection sensitivities of ALC1 and ALC2 were 176 and 121 m°/nM, respectively, with the detection limits of 7.0 and 12 pM at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3. The association/dissociation constants for the binding interaction between carbamate inhibitors and AChE were reported for the first time. The affinity constants were estimated to be 3.13 × 10⁶ and 6.39 × 10⁵ M⁻¹ for ALC1 and ALC2 respectively. This AuNPs labeling strategy is versatile and may be applicable for the direct or competitive SPR kinetic assay of the interaction between small molecule inhibitors and their target proteins with a high sensitivity.     

Sensitive detection of organophosphates in river water by means of a piezoelectric biosensor

A highly sensitive piezoelectric biosensor has been developed for detection of cholinesterase inhibitors. The inhibitor benzoylecgonine-1,8-diamino-3,4-dioxaoctane (BZE-DADOO) was immobilized on a monolayer of 11-mercaptomonoundecanoic acid (MUA) self-assembled on the gold surface of the sensor. The binding of high-molecular-weight cholinesterase to the immobilized cocaine derivative was monitored with a mass sensitive piezoelectric quartz crystal (quartz crystal nanobalance; QCN). In the presence of an inhibiting substance in the sample, the binding of cholinesterase to the immobilized inhibitor was reduced. The decrease of the rate of mass change was proportional to the concentration of free inhibitor in the sample. This way the affinity sensor followed anti-cholinesterase toxicity and the enzyme activity of ChE was not addressed. A assay for detection of organophosphates (OP) was optimized. Regeneration of the sensor surface was achieved with 1 mol L^–1 formic acid, which enabled 40 measurements with one sensor. All assays were carried out in a flow-through arrangement. The total measurement time (binding+regeneration) was 25 min and the detection limit for different OP (paraoxon, diisopropylfluorophosphate, chlorpyriphos, and chlorfenvinphos) was down to 10^–10 mol L^–1 (0.02 g L^–1). This sensor was used for determination of organophosphate (diisopropylfluorophosphate) levels in river water samples.Dedicated to the memory of Wilhelm Fresenius     

纳米增强型毛细管酶柱用于葡萄糖液滴生物传感器的研究

葡萄糖的检测在临床医学以及食品工业等领域中十分重要.以往的检测方法主要包括化学发光法_{[1]、吸光光度法[2]、电化学法[3]和荧光法[4]等.固定化酶柱的制作是发展葡萄糖传感器的关键技术之一.传统的固定化方法主要是将具有生物活性的酶通过物理吸附、共价键合和交联的方法固定于载体基质上或包埋于有机聚合物的基质中.近期研究[5,6]表明,采用溶胶凝胶(Sol-gel)法将蛋白质和酶等生物活性物质包埋于无机陶瓷或玻璃材料内,保持生物组分的活性,且SiO2作为基质材料具有较好的坚固性、抗磨性、化学惰性以及高的光稳定性和透过性,但目前该法多用于电化学型生物传感器[7,8].本文利用纳米颗粒的比表面积大和吸附能力强等特点,将酶吸附在SiO2纳米颗粒表面,用易成膜的聚乙烯醇缩丁醛(PVB)作辅助基质在毛细管上固定酶,并采用分立式酶柱,克服了以往混合型酶柱普遍存在的酶促效率不高和使用寿命较短的局限性.所制得的酶柱具有表面反应活性高、表面活性中心多和催化效率高等特点.结合自行设计的液滴光化学传感装置[9,10],建立了一种高效、快速、微量的葡萄糖实时检测方法.}     

Ultra-sensitive colorimetric method to quantitate hundreds of polynucleotide molecules by gold nanoparticles with silver enhancement.

An ultra-sensitive colorimetric method to quantitate hundreds of polynucleotide molecules by gold nanoparticles with silver enhancement has been developed. The hybridization products from the target polynucleotides with biotin-labeled probes and gold nanoparticle-functioned oligonucleotides were immobilized to microplates via avidin-biotin system, and the absorbance signals of gold nanoparticles were amplified by silver enhance solution. This sandwich colorimetric assay can detect as few as 600 molecules for single-strand oligonucleotides and as few as 6000 molecules for double-strand polynucleotides in a 50 microL reaction system.     

Voltammetric Detection of Captopril in a Commercial Drug Using a Gold-Copper Metal-organic Framework Nanocomposite Modified Electrode

We report the application of an electrochemical sensor based on gold-copper metal-organic framework immobilized on the surface of a glassy carbon electrode to the detection of captopril (CAP), an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor. Cyclic voltammetric studies showed that the joint action of gold nanoparticles and copper-1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylate (Cu−BTC) enhanced the electrochemical response to the Cu-captopril complex that is adsorbed onto the surface of the electrode. Release of gold nanoparticles from Au@Cu−BTC not only increased the conductivity of the electrode but also provided a more favorable environment for the deposition of reduced Cu that is catalytically renewed on the electrode surface. The anodic current of the Cu^(II)−CAP oxidation peak varied linearly within two concentration ranges, namely 0.5 to 7.0 μmol L⁻¹ and 10 to 2500 μmol L⁻¹, with a limit of detection of 0.047 μmol L⁻¹. The mean recovery for the determination of captopril in commercial tablets was 100.3 % suggesting that the method has considerable potential for future industrial applications.     

Multi-walled Carbon Nanotubes and Gold Nanorod Decorated Biosensor for Detection of microRNA-126

In this article, we introduced a novel electrochemical biosensor for the detection of microRNA-126. The biosensor utilizes a hybridization assay combined with multi-walled carbon nanotubes and gold nanorod-decorated screen-printed carbon electrodes. For electrode preparation, gold nanorods were first immobilized onto the surface of bare and multi-walled carbon nanotube-modified screen-printed carbon electrodes, and the thiol tagged-capture probe was immobilized on the electrode surface through gold and thiol group interaction. After the immobilization, thiol tagged-capture probe hybridized with the target sequence. Under optimum conditions, we determined limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) as high as 11 nM and 36 nM, respectively.     

An acetylcholinesterase enzyme electrode stabilized by an electrodeposited gold nanoparticle layer

Electrodeposition of colloidal gold nanoparticles onto a planar gold electrode was used to create a more favorable surface for the attachment of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase. Atomic force microscopy demonstrated that the gold nanoparticles roughened the surface consequently enhancing the interaction of the enzyme with the gold electrode. The enzyme-modified electrode sensor was utilized for the sensitive electrochemical detection of thiocholine at the gold surface after hydrolysis of acetylthiocholine by the immobilized enzyme. In the absence of the nanoparticle layer, the sensor response to acetylthiocholine was significantly reduced and the utility of the electrode was limited. The ability of the nanoparticle-based sensor to reliably measure concentrations of the organophosphate pesticide carbofuran at nM concentrations was demonstrated by monitoring the inhibition of the hydrolysis of acetylthiocholine. This relatively straightforward strategy is potentially valuable for the development of new devices for the sensitive detection of potentially dangerous and deadly neurotoxins.     

Plasmonic Nanobiosensor with Chain Reaction Amplification Mechanism

Herein we demonstrate a plasmonic nanobiosensor that explores chain reaction amplification mechanisms to transduce chemical signals released in biocatalytic reactions, turning optical signals into a visual spectral range. The sensor has a very simple design: gold nanoparticles resting in the surface of a grafted P2VP film. Changes in the gold nanoparticles’ position causes changes in the plasmon coupling mode. This is detected by means of a maximum absorbance shift.     

Selective Immobilization of Gold Nanoparticles on the Surface of a Photoreactive Polymer

Summary. A photoreactive polymer containing thiocyanate (SCN) groups was employed for the immobilization of gold nanoparticles (AuNP). Upon UV illumination, isothiocyanate (NCS) groups are generated at the surface by photoisomerization. The illuminated areas of the polymer layer containing NCS were selectively modified with 2-aminoethanethiol to give SH terminated thiourea units at the surface. Gold nanoparticles were selectively immobilized in these areas by immersing the polymer surface in a colloidal solution of gold nanoparticles stabilized by citric acid. Depending on the time of immersion, different amounts of gold were deposited on the illuminated areas, while no immobilization of AuNP was observed in the non-illuminated areas. By using photolithographic masks, patterned gold structures (μm scale) were produced on the polymer surface.     

Selective Immobilization of Gold Nanoparticles on the Surface of a Photoreactive Polymer

A photoreactive polymer containing thiocyanate (SCN) groups was employed for the immobilization of gold nanoparticles (AuNP). Upon UV illumination, isothiocyanate (NCS) groups are generated at the surface by photoisomerization. The illuminated areas of the polymer layer containing NCS were selectively modified with 2-aminoethanethiol to give SH terminated thiourea units at the surface. Gold nanoparticles were selectively immobilized in these areas by immersing the polymer surface in a colloidal solution of gold nanoparticles stabilized by citric acid. Depending on the time of immersion, different amounts of gold were deposited on the illuminated areas, while no immobilization of AuNP was observed in the non-illuminated areas. By using photolithographic masks, patterned gold structures (μm scale) were produced on the polymer surface.     

Streptavidin-enhanced assay for sensitive and specific detection of single nucleotide polymorphism in TP53

This paper reports an approach to detection of single nucleotide polymorphism based on special amplification assay and surface plasmon resonance biosensor technology. In this assay, a part of the target DNA is recognized by a probe (probe A) coupled with streptavidin–oligonucleotide (SON) complexes ex situ, and when the mixture is injected in the sensor, another part of the target DNA is recognized by a DNA probe (probe B) immobilized on the sensor surface. To achieve high sensitivity and specificity, the assay is optimized in terms of composition of SON complexes, probe design, and assay temperature. It is demonstrated that this approach provides high specificity (no response to targets containing single-mismatched bases) and sensitivity (improves sensor response to perfectly matched oligonucleotides by one order of magnitude compared to the direct detection method). The assay is applied to detection of a short synthetic analogue of TP53 containing a “hot spot”—single nucleotide mismatch frequently mutated in germ line cancer—at levels down to 40 pM.