Electrochemistry of self-assembled monolayers of the blue copper protein Pseudomonas aeruginosa azurin on Au(111)

We report the self-assembly and electrochemical behaviour of the blue copper protein Pseudomonas aeruginosa azurin on Au(111) electrodes in aqueous acetate buffer (pH=4.6). The formation of monolayers of this protein is substantiated by electrochemical measurements. Capacitance results indicate qualitatively that the protein is strongly adsorbed at sub-μM concentrations in a broad potential range (about 700 mV). This is further supported by the attenuation of a characteristic cyclic voltammetric peak of Au(111) in acetate solution with increasing azurin concentration. Reductive desorption is clearly disclosed in NaOH solution (pH=13), strongly suggesting that azurin is adsorbed via its disulphide group. An anodic peak and a cathodic peak associated with the copper centre of azurin are finally observed in the differential pulse voltammograms. These peaks are, interestingly, indicative of long-range electrochemical electron transfer such as paralleled by intramolecular electron transfer between the disulphide anion radical and the copper atom in homogeneous solution, and anticipated by theoretical frames. Together with reported in situ scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) results they constitute the first case for electrochemistry of self-assembled monolayers of azurin, even redox proteins. This integrated investigation provides a new approach to both structure and function of adsorbed redox metalloproteins at the molecular level.     

Synthesis of highly-branched Au@AgPd core/shell nanoflowers for in situ SERS monitoring of catalytic reactions

Alloy and small size nanostructures are favorable to catalytical performance, but not to surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) applications. Integrating SERS and catalytic activity into the nanocrystals with both alloy and small size structures is of great interest in fabrication of SERS platform to in situ monitor catalytical reaction. Herein, we report a facile method to synthesize Au@AgPd trimetallic nanoflowers (Au@AgPd NFs) with both SERS and catalytic activities, through simultaneous selective growth of Ag and Pd on Au core to form highly-branched alloy shell. These nanocrystals have the properties of small sizes, defects abundance, and highly-dispersed alloy shell which offer superior catalytic activity, while the merits of monodisperse, excellent stability, and highly-branched shell and core/alloy-shell structure promise the enhanced SERS activity. We further studied their growth mechanisms, and found that the ratio of Ag to Pd, sizes of Au core, and surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide together determine this special structure. Using this as-synthesized nanocrystals, a monolayer bifunctional platform with both SERS and catalytical activity was fabricated through self-assembly at air/water interface, and applied to in situ SERS monitoring the reaction process of Pd-catalyzed hydrogenation of 4-nitrothiophenol to 4-aminothiophenol.     

Bioelectrochemistry for in vivo analysis: Interface engineering toward implantable electrochemical biosensors

Electrochemical studies of redox active metalloproteins have become an increasingly fruitful area of study in recent years, particularly with the single-molecule resolution capability of electrochemical scanning tunnelling microscopy (EC-STM) which provides both imaging and current–voltage spectroscopy under bipotentiostatic control. In this review, some of the most exciting advances in recent years are outlined, and directions for future research are considered.     

Monolayers of a de novo designed 4-alpha-helix bundle carboprotein and partial structures on Au(111)-surfaces

Mapping of structure and function of proteins adsorbed on solid surfaces is important in many contexts. Electrochemical techniques based on single-crystal metal surfaces and in situ scanning probe microscopies (SPM) have recently opened new perspectives for mapping at the single-molecule level. De novo design of model proteins has evolved in parallel and holds promise for test and control of protein folding and for new tailored protein structural motifs. These two strategies are combined in the present report.We present a synthetic scheme for a new 4-alpha-helix bundle carboprotein built on a galactopyranoside derivative with a thiol anchor aglycon suitable for surface immobilization on gold. The galactopyranoside with thiol anchor and the thiol anchor alone were prepared for comparison. Voltammetry of the three molecules on Au(111) showed reductive desorption peaks caused by monolayer adsorption via thiolate-Au bonding. In situ STM of the thiol anchor disclosed an ordered adlayer with clear domains and molecular features. This holds promise, broadly for single-molecule voltammetry and the SPM and scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) of natural and synthetic proteins.     

Ordered arrays of semi-crown ligands on an Au(111) electrode surface: <Emphasis Type="Italic">in situ</Emphasis> STM study

In situ scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and cyclic voltammetry were employed to investigate the adsorption structures of three semi-crown ligands on an Au(111) surface under the potential control. It is found that all the molecules formed ordered arrays in 0.1 mol/L HClO₄ solution, although their geometric structures are complex and asymmetric. The driving force was supposed to come from the balance between intermolecular and molecule-substrate interactions. High resolution STM images revealed internal molecular structures, orientations and packing arrangements in the ordered adlayers. The results are useful for preparing ordered arrays of transition metal-mediated nanostructures.     

Interactions in different domains of truxenone supramolecular assembly on Au(111)

The two-dimensional assemblies of truxenone, diindeno[1,2-a;1',2'-c]fluorene-5,10,15-trione, on the Au(111) surface have been studied by scanning tunnelling microscopy in ultrahigh vacuum. It is found that the truxenone monolayer on Au(111) exhibits different two-dimensional supramolecular structures. The investigation using scanning tunnelling microscopy combined with the density functional theory calculations can be a helpful approach to understand the complicated supramolecular structures of truxenone self-assembly on Au(111).     

CO oxidation over ceria supported Au22 nanoclusters: Shape effect of the support

CO oxidation over ceria-supported Au₂₂ nanoclusters shows strong dependence on the support shape: the lattice oxygen in CeO₂ rods is more reactive than in the cubes and thus make rods a superior support for Au nanoclusters in catalyzing low temperature CO oxidation.     

A Au nanoparticle and polydopamine co-modified biosensor: A strategy for in situ and label-free surface plasmon resonance immunoassays

This article reports a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) strategy capable of label-free yet amplified in situ immunoassays for sensitive and specific detection of human IgG (hIgG), a serum marker that is important for the diagnosis of certain diseases. Primarily, a wavelength-modulated Kretschman configuration SPR analyzer was constructed, and Au film SPR biosensor chips were fabricated. Specifically, based on Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) adsorbed on the surface of the Au film, the AuNP/Au film was coated with polydopamine (PDA) to fix streptavidin (SA), and then the biotinylated antibodies were connected to the surface of the biosensor chip. The SPR analyzer was utilized for in situ real-time monitoring of hIgG. Due to the immunological recognition between the receptor and target, the surface plasmon waves produced by the attenuated total reflection were affected by the changes in the surface of the biosensor chip. The resonance wavelength (λ_R) of the output spectra gradually redshifted, and the redshift degrees were directly related to the target concentration. The biosensor can realize the in situ detection of hIgG, displaying satisfactory sensitivity, excellent specificity and stability. Briefly, by monitoring the shift in λ_R after specific binding, a new SPR immunoassay can be customized for label-free, in situ and amplified hIgG detection. The operating principle of this research could be extended as a common protocol for many other targets of interest.     

Preparation and characterization of gold nanoparticles and nanowires loaded into rod-shaped silica by a one-step procedure

Rod-shaped mesoporous silica nanoparticles (RMSN) with built-in gold nanoparticles or thin gold nanowires in the pore channels were in situ synthesized via a one-step procedure. The insertion of a hydrophobic gold precursor into the mesopores of RMSN was reached through a micellar solubilization mechanism and gold nanoparticles were achieved through a thermal reduction. The resulting RMSN and Au-RMSN samples were characterized by using X-ray diffraction, transmission and scanning microscopies (TEM and SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), nitrogen physisorption and solid-state Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR). The interaction of Au precursor (a carbene complex) with the thiol group at the silica surface was identified and found to play a crucial role in the dispersion of the uniform metal nanoparticles at the internal surface of RMSN. Moreover, TEM micrographs revealed the absence of large gold particles outside the mesopore network. The shape of Au nanoparticles and their loading amount in the mesoporous silica could be easily tuned by altering the concentration of gold precursor.     

Efficient Electrocatalytic Detection of Epinephrine at Gold Electrodes Modified with Self‐Assembled Metallo‐Octacarboxyphthalocyanine Complexes

Electrocatalysis of epinephrine at gold electrode pre‐modified with the self‐assembled monolayer of cysteamine and subsequently integrated with novel metallo‐octacarboxyphthalocyanine (MOCPc where M=Fe, Co and Mn) complexes (Au‐Cys‐MOCPc) was investigated. The electrodes showed response to the presence of epinephrine. The oxidation peak potential (E_p/V vs. Ag|AgCl, sat'd KCl) and charge transfer resistance (R_ct (kΩ)) in epinephrine solution depend markedly on the central metal of the phthalocyanine cores: Au‐Cys‐FeOCPck_ch=4.1×10⁷ M^?1 s^?1) which is higher than that of the Au‐cys‐CoOCPc or Au‐cys‐MnOCPc electrode. Mechanism, recognizing the mediation of the electrocatalytic process by the central M(II)/M(III) redox processes was proposed. Epinephrine electro‐oxidation at the Au‐cys‐FeOCPc electrode was studied in more details for the response characteristics. The diffusion coefficient of epinephrine was evaluated as (2.62±0.23)×10^?9 cm² s^?1. It was established that Au‐Cys‐FeOCPc is suitable for sensitive determination of epinephrine in physiological pH (7.40) conditions showing linear concentration range of up to 300 nM, with excellent sensitivity (0.53±0.01 nA nM^?1), and very low limits of detection (13.8 nM) and quantification (45.8 nM). The peak separation between ascorbic acid and epinephrine is large enough (190 mV) to permit simultaneous determination of both epinephrine and ascorbic acid in physiological pH 7.4 conditions using the Au‐cys‐FeOCPc electrode. Au‐cys‐FeOCPc electrode was successfully used for the determination of epinephrine in epinephrine hydrochloric acid injection with recovery of ca. 98.4%.     

Effect of Asymmetric Anchoring Groups on Electronic Transport in Hybrid Metal/Molecule/Graphene Single Molecule Junctions

A combined experimental and theoretical study on molecular junctions with asymmetry in both the electrode type and in the anchoring group type is presented. A scanning tunnelling microscope is used to create the “asymmetric” Au-S-(CH₂)n-COOH-graphene molecular junctions and determine their conductance. The measurements are combined with electron transport calculations based on density functional theory (DFT) to analyze the electrical conductance and its length attenuation factor from a series of junctions of different molecular length (n). These results show an unexpected trend with a rather high conductance and a smaller attenuation factor for the Au-S-(CH₂)_n-COOH-graphene configuration compared to the equivalent junction with the “symmetrical” COOH contacting using the HOOC-(CH₂)_n-COOH series. Owing to the effect of the graphene electrode, the attenuation factor is also smaller than the one obtained for Au/Au electrodes. These results are interpreted through the relative molecule/electrode couplings and molecular level alignments as determined with DFT calculations. In an asymmetric junction, the electrical current flows through the less resistive conductance channel, similarly to what is observed in the macroscopic regime.     

Structural characteristics of different types of nanoparticles synthesised in mesomorphic metal alkanoates

The class of thermotropic ionic liquid crystals (LCs) of the metal alkanoates possesses a number of unique properties, such as intrinsic ionic conductivity, high dissolving ability and ability to form time-stable mesomorphic glasses. These ionic LCs can be used as nanoreactors for the synthesis and stabilisation of different types of nanoparticles (NPs). Thus, some semiconductors, metals and core/shell NPs were chemically synthesised in the thermotropic ionic liquid crystalline phase (smectic A) of the cadmium octanoate (CdC₈) and of the cobalt octanoate (CoC₈). By applying the scanning electron microscopy, the cadmium and cobalt octanoate composites containing CdS, Au, Ag and core/shell Au/CdS NPs have been studied. NPs’ sizes and dispersion distribution of the NPs’ size in the nanocomposites have been obtained.     

The surface structure of flame-annealed Au(100) in aqueous solution: An STM study

The initial structure of flame-annealed Au(100) surfaces has been studied in air and in 0.1 M H₂SO₄ by scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM). It is shown that before, during and after contact with the electrolyte, at potentials sufficiently negative to prevent specific adsorption of anions, the flame-annealed Au(100) surface is reconstructed into exactly the same “hex” form as a surface which has been prepared by annealing in ultrahigh vacuum (UHV). However, the quality of the reconstructed surface depends sensitively on the sample preparation and on the experimental conditions of the flame-annealing procedure. The influence of the cooling procedure after flame annealing on the initial surface structure of the Au(100) electrode is demonstrated and briefly discussed in the light of results published previously.     

Adsorption of TTF,TCNQ and TTF-TCNQ on Au(111): An <Emphasis Type="Italic">in situ</Emphasis> ECSTM study

The adsorption and adlayer structures of tetrathiofulvalene (TTF), tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ) and TTF-TCNQ on Au(111) have been systematically investigated by in situ electrochemical scanning tunneling microscopy (ECSTM) and cyclic voltammetry in 0.1 mol L⁻¹ HClO₄. All the three molecules were found to form well-ordered adlayers in the double-layer potential region of Au(111). For TTF and TCNQ adlayers, (6×3) and (4×7) structures have been observed, respectively. A structural transition was observed on TCNQ adlayer at potential negative of 0.08 V vs. the reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE), and induced a new phase with (3 × 12) structure. On the other hand, the charge transfer complex, TTF-TCNQ, self-organized into ordered domains with a lamellar structure different from those of the pure TTF and TCNQ adlayers on Au(111). Its packing arrangement was comparable to surface structures of either single crystal or thin film of TTF-TCNQ. Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 20673121, 20733004 & 20821003), the National Key Project for Basic Research (Grant Nos. 2006CB806101 & 2006CB932100) and Chinese Academy of Sciences     

Effect of composition on the conductivity and morphology of poly(3-hexylthiophene)/gold nanoparticle composite Langmuir-Schaeffer films

Ultrathin Langmuir-Schaeffer (LS) films were fabricated from blends of regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and highly monodispersed dodecanethiolate-capped gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) mixed in varying weight ratios. The morphology of the ultrathin films was investigated by UV-visible absorption spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). The results of the structural investigations were correlated with the lateral conductivity of the films, with P3HT in its unintentionally doped state, probed by scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM), which proved to be a very sensitive technique. Control over the P3HT/Au NP ratio led to remarkable changes in the morphology and lateral conductivity of the films. Inclusion of Au NPs into P3HT was found to influence the ordering of P3HT, which ultimately determined the macroscopic charge transport characteristics of the films. Composite films with ca. 33% by weight of Au NPs were found to be the most ordered and exhibited the highest conductivity, substantially higher than P3HT alone. To provide insight into the film formation process, LS composite films comprising equal quantities of P3HT and Au NPs (by weight) were transferred at several surface pressures and investigated by SECM, AFM and FE-SEM.     

In situ monitoring of Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction by using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy on a bifunctional Au-Pd nanocoronal film

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), a powerful surface vibrational spectroscopic technique, is ideally suited for in situ monitoring the chemical transformations occurred at surfaces and/or interfaces. For in situ SERS monitoring, a platform integrated both plasmonic and catalytic activity is a prerequisite. Here, we fabricate a bifunctional Au-Pd nanocoronal film for in situ SERS monitoring Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction. This excellent bifunctional substrate leads to the coupling of high catalytic activity with a strong SERS effect at the center of two adjacent Au cores and shows fine reproducibility and stability of SERS signals. During investigating the Suzuki reaction with in situ SERS, we found two distinct catalytic kinetic processes resulted from two disparate catalytic sites on a Au-Pd nanocoronal. Comparing with conventional analytical techniques, this work provides a novel approach for studying Suzuki reactions at surfaces and/or interfaces with in situ SERS.     

n- and p-Type behaviour of the gold-substituted type-I clathrate,Ba8AuxSi46–x (x = 5.4 and 5.9)

Two samples of the gold-substituted silicon clathrate, Ba₈Au_xSi_46–x, have been synthesized from the elements at high temperature, one without subsequent treatment (so-called AG for as-grown) and the other after annealing in a silica tube (so-called A for annealed). A structure analysis on single crystal of both samples shows that the x Au content for the AG and A sample is 5.4 and 5.9, respectively. Both samples have been characterized by Seebeck coefficient and electrical conductivity measurements, as well as by ²⁹Si MAS NMR spectroscopy. The AG sample is an n-type semi conductor close to a metal, whereas the A one exhibits a p-type metallic behaviour. The NMR spectra are consistent with a high contribution to the conductivity of the Si(3s) orbitals at the Fermi level. To cite this article: N. Jaussaud et al., C. R. Chimie 8 (2005).     

Biosynthesis of Au NPs over modified Fe3O4 support using Rubia Tinctorum extract for the treatment of colorectal carcinoma in the in vitro condition: A pre-clinical trial study

In this study, an eco-friendly and low-cost procedure for the synthesis of Rubia Tinctorum plant extract modified magnetic nanocomposite (RT/Fe₃O₄) has been demonstrated. Au nanoparticles (Au NPs) were further decorated in situ over the designed RT/Fe₃O₄ nanocomposite exploiting the plant derived phytochemicals as bio-reductant and stabilizer. The resulting Au NPs@RT/Fe₃O₄ nanocomposite was characterized by various analytical methods like Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) elemental mapping, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), vibrating-sample magnetometer (VSM), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), and inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) analysis. The Au NPs@RT/Fe₃O₄ nanocomposite has been explored biologically in the anticancer and antioxidant assays. In the antioxidant test, the IC50 of Au NPs@RT/Fe₃O₄ nanocomposite and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radicals were 155 and 129 µg/ml, respectively. In the cellular and molecular part of the recent study, the treated cells with Au NPs@RT/Fe₃O₄ nanocomposite were assessed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay for 48 h about the cytotoxicity and anti-human colon carcinoma properties on normal (HUVECs), colorectal adenocarcinoma (HT-29), colorectal carcinoma (HCT 116), ileocecal colorectal adenocarcinoma (HCT-8 [HRT-18]), and Burkitt's lymphoma (Ramos.2G6.4C10) cell lines. The viability of malignant colon cell line reduced dose-dependently in the presence of Au NPs@RT/Fe₃O₄ nanocomposite. The IC50 of Au NPs@RT/Fe₃O₄ nanocomposite were 250, 256, 212, and 197 µg/ml against Ramos.2G6.4C10, HCT-8 [HRT-18], HCT 116, and HT-29 cell lines, respectively.     

Design of activatable red-emissive assay for cysteine detection in aqueous medium with aggregation induced emission characteristics

A novel water-soluble red-emissive AIE fluorescence probe for cysteine (Cys) in situ was prepared and the performance of selectivity and sensitivity has been carefully investigated in this study. The probe was established on the electrostatic interaction of sulfonate functionalized tetraphenylethene (TPE) and polycation generated by the reaction between a polymer bearing dinitrobenzenesulfonate groups and Cys. From the experimental results, it was easy to distinguish Cys from glutathione (GSH) and homocysteine (Hcy) with a detection limit of 73 nmol/L. The assay system also possessed strong anti-interference ability against multitudinous amino acids. The Stokes shift was 142 nm and the emission ranged from 550 nm to 850 nm. In addition, double responses in fluorescence and ultraviolet-visible spectra also make the red-emissive assay ideal for sensitive detection and quantification of Cys for most purposes, especially in-situ monitoring of Cys in aqueous medium.     

Flexible NH3 sensors fabricated by in situ self-assembly of polypyrrole

Novel flexible NH₃ gas sensors were formed by the in situ self-assembly of polypyrrole (PPy) on plastic substrates. A negatively charged substrate was prepared by the formation of an organic monolayer (3-mercapto-1-propanesulfonic acid sodium salt—MPS) on a polyester (PET) substrate using a pair of comb-like Au electrodes. Two-cycle poly(4-styrenesulfonic acid) sodium salt/poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PSS/PAH) bilayers (precursor layer) were then layer-by-layer (LBL) deposited on an MPS-modified substrate. Finally, a monolayer of PPy self-assembled in situ and PPy multilayer thin films self-assembled LBL in situ on a (PSS/PAH)₂/MPS/Au/Cr/PET substrate. The thin films were analyzed by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The effects of the precursor layer (PSS), the deposition time of the monolayer of PPy and the number of PPy multilayers on the gas sensing properties (response) and the flexibility of the sensors were investigated to optimize the fabrication of the film. Additionally, other sensing properties such as sensing linearity, reproducibility, response and recovery times, as well as cross-sensitivity effects were studied. The flexible NH₃ gas sensor exhibited a strong response that was comparable to or even greater than that of sensors that were fabricated on rigid substrate at room temperature.