A Label‐Free Electrochemical Aptasensor for Thrombin Using a Single‐Wall Carbon Nanotube (SWCNT) Casted Glassy Carbon Electrode (GCE)

An electrochemical aptasensor with a thrombin binding aptamer (TBA) was developed using a single‐wall carbon nanotube (SWCNT) casted GCE. The TBA was immobilized on SWCNTs through π‐stacking without any special modification, resulting in helical wrapping to the surface. In the presence of thrombin, the TBA binds with thrombin and the TBA concentration on the SWCNT surface decreases. The remaining amount of TBA can be analyzed by an electrochemical method without any label, because the guanine bases of the nucleic acid are measurable by electrochemical methods. The electrochemical oxidation of guanine nucleotides was enhanced by electrocatalytic mediation using Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ for higher sensitivity and reduction of the overpotential for electrochemical detection.     

G‐Quadruplex‐Based DNAzymes Aptasensor for the Amplified Electrochemical Detection of Thrombin

A novel G‐quadruplex‐based DNAzymes aptasensor for the amplified electrochemical detection of thrombin has been described. The aptasensor utilized a combination of hemin and guanine‐rich thrombin‐binding aptamer (TBA) to form horseradish peroxidase (HRP)‐mimicking DNAzymes with peroxidase catalytic activity. In the presence of thrombin, the enzyme activity could be extensively promoted, thereby providing the amplified electrochemical readout signals for detecting thrombin. This aptasensor exhibited high sensitivity and selectivity for thrombin determination, which enabled the analysis of thrombin with a detection limit of 6×10^–11 M. On the basis of results, this method could have broad applications in the detection of proteins and other biomolecules.     

A Sandwich‐type Electrochemiluminescence Aptasensor for Thrombin Based on Functional Co‐polymer Electrode Using Ru(bpy)32+ Doped Nanocomposites as Signal‐amplifying Tags

Herein, a signal‐on sandwich‐type electrochemiluminescence (ECL) aptasensor for the detection of thrombin (TB) was proposed. The graphene (GR) doped thionine (TH) was electropolymerized synchronously on the bare glassy carbon electrode (GCE) to form co‐polymer (PTG) electrode. The gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were decorated on the surface of the PTG by in‐situ electrodeposition, and the functional co‐polymer (PTG‐AuNPs) electrode was utilized as sensing interface. Then, TB binding aptamer I (TBA I) as capture probes were modified on the PTG‐AuNPs electrode to capture TB, and Ru(bpy)₃²⁺/silver nanoparticles doped silica core‐shell nanocomposites‐labeled TB binding aptamer II (RuAg/SiO₂NPs@TBA II) were used as signal probes to further bind TB, resulting in a sandwich structure. With the assistant of silica shell and AgNPs, the enrichment and luminous efficiency of Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ were significantly improved. Under the synergy of PTG‐AuNPs and RuAg/SiO₂NPs, the ECL signal was dramatically increased. The proposed ECL aptasensor displayed a wide linear range from 2 fM to 2 pM with the detection limit of 1 fM, which is comparable or better than that in reported ECL aptasensors for TB using Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ and its derivatives as the luminescent substance. The excellent sensitivity makes the proposed aptasensor a promising potential in pharmaceutical and clinical analysis.     

G‐Quadruplex‐Linked Supersandwich DNA Structure for Electrochemical Amplified Detection of Thrombin

In this paper, a novel strategy of electrochemical amplified detection of thrombin based on G‐quadruplex‐linked supersandwich structure was described. In the presence of K⁺ and hemin, the original hairpin DNA sequence activated an autonomous cross‐opening process to build up hemin/G‐quadruplex structure and can hybridize to form supersandwich structure containing multiple signal labels. With the addition of thrombin, it conjugated with its aptamer, leading to a remarkably descended signal. The supersandwich‐amplified electrochemical sensor system was highly sensitive in the concentration range from 10^?6 to 10^?10 M with a detection limit of 10 pM and also demonstrated excellent selectivity. The amplifying supersandwich structure with multiple labels can be implemented as a versatile sensing platform for analyzing other DNA in the presence of the appropriate probe.     

基于石墨烯化学修饰电极的适体传感器

采用石墨烯(RGO)作载体,凝血酶适体(TBA)作探针,凝血酶为目标蛋白,电化学阻抗谱(EIS)为检测技术,建立了检测蛋白质的新方法。由于RGO可增大电极有效表面积并提高电极表面电子传输速率以及TBA的特异性识别能力,此方法具有较高的灵敏度和良好的选择性。采用本方法检测凝血酶的线性范围为0.3～10 fmol/L,检出限为0.26 fmol/L。本研究将RGO应用于电化学适体传感器,证实了RGO修饰电极在电化学适体传感器领域中潜在的应用价值。     

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.     

Electrochemical Aptasensor Based on ZnO Modified Gold Electrode

We developed an electrochemical thrombin aptasensor based on ZnO nanorods functionalized by electrostatically adsorption of 30‐mer DNA aptamers. The sensor surface was characterized by AFM and SEM. The surface layer assembling was optimized using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) with ferricyanide ions as redox markers. The peak current of the ferricyanide and the charge transfer resistance gradually decreased with increasing concentration of thrombin in the range from 3 pM to 100 nM due to formation of aptamer‐thrombin complexes and slower diffusion of the marker ions through the surface layer. At optimal conditions, a limit of detection (LOD) of 3 pM for EIS measurements and 10 pM for CV response was calculated from the S/N=3.     

Glucosinolate Amperometric Bienzyme Biosensor Based on Carbon Nanotubes‐Gold Nanoparticles Composite Electrodes

A novel electrochemical biosensor design for glucosinolate determination involving bulk‐incorporation of the enzymes glucose oxidase and myrosinase into a colloidal gold ‐ multiwalled carbon nanotubes composite electrode using Teflon as binder is reported. Myrosinase catalyzes the hydrolysis of glucosinolate forming glucose, which is enzymatically oxidized. The generated hydrogen peroxide was electrochemically detected without mediator at the nanostructured composite electrode at E=+0.5 V vs. Ag/AgCl. Under the optimized conditions, the bienzyme MYR/GOx‐Au_coll‐MWCNT‐Teflon exhibited improved analytical characteristics for the glucosinolate sinigrin with respect to a biosensor constructed without gold nanoparticles, i.e. a MYR/GOx‐MWCNT‐Teflon electrode, as well as with respect to other glucosinolate biosensor designs reported in the literature. The biosensor exhibits good repeatability of the amperometric measurements and good interassay reproducibility. Furthermore, the biosensor exhibited a high selectivity with respect to various potential interferents. The usefulness of the biosensor was evaluated by the determination of glucosinolate in Brussel sprout seeds.     

Polyphenothiazine Modified Electrochemical Aptasensor for Detection of Human α‐Thrombin

QCM aptasensor for detection human thrombin has been developed on the base of polymeric forms of phenothiazine dyes, Methylene Blue and Methylene Green. Electrostatic accumulation of the analyte in the polyphenothiazine layer made it possible to increase the sensitivity of QCM detection of thrombin in comparison with bare gold electrodes coated with avidin or neutravidin. The influence of nonspecific binding of human serum albumin and the optimal composition of the surface layers were determined. The aptasensors developed make it possible to detect 10–100 nM of thrombin.     

Label‐Free Electrochemical Thrombin Aptasensor Based on Ag Nanoparticles Modified Electrode

A novel label‐free electrochemical method for protein detection based on redox properties of silver was developed. As recognition elements, thrombin‐binding aptamers were used. Screen printed electrodes modified with silver nanoparticles (AgNP) were employed as a sensing platform for aptasensor devices. The oxidation of silver upon polarization served as a basis for analytical response. Three different thrombin binding aptamers with various surface concentrations were studied. Linear range of aptasensor response corresponded to the 10⁻⁹ M to 10⁻⁷ M thrombin concentration range and the detection limit was 10⁻⁹ M.     

基于水滑石-金纳米粒子的阻抗型核酸适配体传感器的研究

在玻碳电极表面用电化学沉积法一步合成钴铝水滑石-金纳米粒子(CoAl LDH-GNPs)复合纳米材料,以复合纳米材料作为核酸适配体(Apt)的固定化基质,建立了一种高灵敏的阻抗型适配体传感器.采用扫描电镜(SEM)和能量色散谱仪(EDS)对CoAl LDH-GNPs复合纳米材料进行了表征,对电极的组装过程采用循环伏安法和电化学阻抗进行表征,对传感器的性能采用电化学阻抗进行研究.复合纳米材料CoAl LDH-GNPs构筑的传感器对凝血酶(THR)具有良好的信号响应,线性相关系数R=0.995,检出限为0.3 ng/L(S/N=3),检测范围为1.0 ng/L～ 100 μg/L.     

Signal-off Photoelectrochemical Aptasensor for S. aureus Detection Based on Graphite-like Carbon Nitride Decorated with Nickel Oxide

A signal-off photoelectrochemical (PEC) aptasensor was proposed for pathogenic bacteria detection based on graphite-like carbon nitride decorated with NiO. The S. aureus be captured by the specific recognition of DNA aptamer, which was immobilized on the PEC electrode surface according to the specific effect of carboxylic group and NiO. The PEC signal would be obviously suppressed due to the transfer blocking of electron donor to PEC active material surface by steric hindrance and electrostatic repulsion. The PEC aptasensor showed excellent specificity and high sensitivity for S. aureus, and this provides simple strategy to construct point-of-care testing aptasensor for bacteria analysis.     

基于铁氰化镍的非标记型核酸适配体电化学传感器检测凝血酶

在玻碳电极（GCE）表面首先用增敏作用的多壁碳纳米管(MWCNTs)夹心于两层电沉积的铁氰化镍（NiHCF）氧化还原电化学探针之间,然后以金纳米粒子为固定核酸适配体的载体,构建了检测凝血酶的非标记型核酸适配体生物传感器。 利用扫描电子显微镜(SEM)对MWCNTs和NiHCF的形貌进行了表征。 利用电化学阻抗谱对传感器的组装过程进行了监测,用循环伏安法（CV）和差分脉冲伏安法（DPV）对传感器的电化学行为进行了研究。 以铁氰化镍为探针的传感器对凝血酶的检测在1.0 ng/L~1.0 mg/L范围内呈良好的线性关系,相关系数为0.998,检测限为0.2 ng/L(S/N=3)。     

Voltammetric Determination of Nifedipine on Carbon Nanotubes‐Modified Glassy Carbon Electrode: A new Application to Dissolution Test Studies

We report the adsorptive voltammetric determination of nifedipine on multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT)‐modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE). Nifedipine was adsorbed on the MWCNT and then reduced using linear sweep and cyclic voltammetry (LSV and CV). Parameters such as pH and accumulation time were tested. The MWCNT‐modified GCE showed enhanced currents and good signal‐to‐noise characteristics in comparison with the bare GCE. Consecutive measurements with the modified electrode were highly repeatable and reproducible. The MWCNT/GCE was used for the determination of nifedipine and is recommended for quantitation in dissolution test studies. In this study we have tested normal and extended‐release pharmaceutical formulations of nifedipine using USP apparatus 2 and tracking the released drug in solution by the proposed voltammetric method. The main advantage of the voltammetric determination is the feasibility to detect the drug in‐situ avoiding tedious intermediate steps such as filtration, collection and replenishment of sample solutions. This work seeks to demonstrate the feasibility of applying voltammetric techniques in dissolution test studies.     

Impedimetric Aptasensor Based on Disposable Graphite Electrodes Developed for Thrombin Detection

The impedimetric aptasensor for Thrombin (THR) was developed for the first time herein by measuring changes at the charge‐transfer resistance, R_ct upon to protein? aptamer complex formation. After covalent activation of pencil graphite electrode (PGE) surface using covalent agents, amino linked aptamer (APT) was immobilized onto activated PGE surface. Then APT‐THR interaction was explored by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). After the optimization of experimental conditions (e.g., APT and THR concentration, immobilization and interaction times), the selectivity of impedimetric aptasensor was tested in the presence of other biomolecules: factor Va and bovine serum albumine (BSA) both in buffer media, or in diluted fetal bovine serum (FBS).     

An Amperometric Biosensor Based on the Coimmobilization of Horseradish Peroxidase and Methylene Blue on a Carbon Nanotubes Modified Electrode

A novel hydrogen peroxide biosensor has been constructed based on the characteristics of the carbon nanotube. The multiwall carbon nanotube (MWNT) was used as a coimmobilization matrix to incorporate horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and electron transfer mediator methylene blue (MB) onto a glassy carbon electrode surface. Cyclic voltammetry and amperometric measurements were employed to demonstrate the feasibility of methylene blue as an electron carrier between the immobilized peroxidase and the surface of glassy carbon electrode. The amperometric response of this resulting biosensor to H₂O₂ shows a linear relation in the range from 4 μM to 2 mM. The detection limit was 1 μM when the signal to noise ratio is 3. The presence of dopamine and ascorbic acid hardly affects the sensitive determination of H₂O₂. This biosensor also possesses very good stability and reproducibility.     

基于碳纳米管的高灵敏度免标记电化学核酸适体传感电极

以电活性钌化合物[Ru(NH₃)₆]³⁺为信号传感源,借助碳纳米管构建了高灵敏检测腺苷免标记电化学传感电极（BSA/Apt/CNTs/GC）. BSA/Apt/CNTs/GC电极在最佳实验条件下检测腺苷线性范围为5.0×10^-11 ~ 1.0×10^-7 mol·L^-1,检测下限为2.7×10^-11 mol·L^-1. 该传感电极有较高的灵敏度、良好的选择性、重现性和稳定性. 与传统标记型适体传感电极相比,其制作简便,也许还适用于其他小分子和蛋白质的检测,有一定的普适性.     

An Impedimetric Aptasensor Based on a Novel Line‐Pad‐Line Electrode for the Determination of VEGF165

In this work, a novel, simple and label‐free line‐pad‐line electrode (LPLE) biosensor was developed for detection of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF₁₆₅). DNA aptamer was used as a recognition element for high specificity to VEGF₁₆₅, and original LPLE as the substrate electrode for high sensitivity of the biosensor. This sensor was prepared by immobilizing anti‐VEGF₁₆₅ aptamers on the LPLE surface through gold‐sulfur (Au?S) bonding. Upon the addition of VEGF₁₆₅, a large target‐induced conformational change in the surface‐immobilized aptamer was generated and caused variations in the interfacial properties,which led to a corresponding increase in the impedance magnitude of the LPLE. Finally, our results demonstrate that the calibration curve for VEGF₁₆₅determination was linear over the range of 0.026‐31.4 fM with a detection limit as low as 0.017 fM.Additionally, our sensor was fabricated on printed circuit board (PCB) with a new electrode construction, and can potentially be implemented with the advantages of simplicity, low‐cost and easy mass production. Besides, considering its desirable sensitivity and specificity, the proposed use of LPLE provided a promising strategy for a wide variety of sensing applications.     

Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes‐Chitosan Modified Single‐Use Biosensors for Electrochemical Monitoring of Drug‐DNA Interactions

A multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNT)‐chitosan (CHIT) modified pencil graphite electrode (CNT‐CHIT/PGE) was developed for the first time herein for electrochemical monitoring of the interaction of an anticancer drug, mitomycin C (MC) and DNA. The characterization of unmodified PGE, CHIT/PGE, CNT/PGE and CHIT‐CNT/PGE were performed by scanning electron microscopy and cyclic voltammetry techniques. The oxidation signals of MC and guanine were measured before and after interaction at the surface of CNT‐CHIT/PGEs using differential pulse voltammetry. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy technique was also successfully utilized for monitoring of the interaction process at the surface of CNT‐CHIT/PGEs in different interaction times.     

Electrochemical Aptasensor for the Determination of Ochratoxin A at the Au Electrode Modified with Ag Nanoparticles Decorated with Macrocyclic Ligand

An electrochemical aptasensor for ochratoxin A (OTA) detection has been developed on the base of a gold electrode covered with electropolymerized neutral red and silver nanoparticles obtained by chemical reduction with macrocyclic ligands bearing catechol fragments. Thiolated aptamers against OTA were covalently attached to silver nanoparticles via Ag? S bonding. The interaction with OTA induced the conformational switch of the aptamer, which caused increase of the charge transfer resistance measured by EIS in the presence of ferricyanide ions. The LOD achieved (0.05 nM) was comparable to other electrochemical aptasensors employing sophisticated assembling technique and enzyme amplification of the signal. The aptasensor was validated in spiked beer samples. The recovery of the OTA determination was found to be 66.3±14.1 % for light beer and 64.3±1.8 % for dark beer.