A novel optical thrombin aptasensor based on magnetic nanoparticles and split DNAzyme

In this paper, we report a novel and sensitive optical sensing protocol for thrombin detection based on magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) and thrombin aptamer, employing split HRP-mimicking DNAzyme halves as its sensing element, which can catalyze the H₂O₂-mediated oxidation of the colorless ABTS into a blue-green product. A single nucleotide containing the recognition element and sensing element is utilized in our protocol. The specific recognition of thrombin and its aptamer leads to the structure deformation of the DNA strands and causes the split of the DNAzyme halves. Therefore, the decrease of absorption spectra can be recorded by the UV–visible Spectrophotometer. DNA-coated MNPs are utilized to separate the interferential materials from the analyst, thus making this assay can be applied in the detection of thrombin in complex samples, such as human plasma. This original, sensitive and cost-effective assay showed favorable recognition for thrombin. The absorbance signals with the concentration of thrombin over a range from 0.5 to 20 nM and the detection limit of thrombin was 0.5 nM. The controlled experiments showed that thrombin signal was not interfered in the presence of other co-existence proteins.     

Biocompatible core-shell nanoparticle-based surface-enhanced Raman scattering probes for detection of DNA related to HIV gene using silica-coated magnetic nanoparticles as separation tools

A novel, highly selective DNA hybridization assay has been developed based on surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) for DNA sequences related to HIV. This strategy employs the Ag/SiO₂ core-shell nanoparticle-based Raman tags and the amino group modified silica-coated magnetic nanoparticles as immobilization matrix and separation tool. The hybridization reaction was performed between Raman tags functionalized with 3′-amino-labeled oligonucleotides as detection probes and the amino group modified silica-coated magnetic nanoparticles functionalized with 5′-amino-labeled oligonucleotides as capture probes. The Raman spectra of Raman tags can be used to monitor the presence of target oligonucleotides. The utilization of silica-coated magnetic nanoparticles not only avoided time-consuming washing, but also amplified the signal of hybridization assay. Additionally, the results of control experiments show that no or very low signal would be obtained if the hybridization assay is conducted in the presence of DNA sequences other than complementary oligonucleotides related to HIV gene such as non-complementary oligonucleotides, four bases mismatch oligonucleotides, two bases mismatch oligonucleotides and even single base mismatch oligonucleotides. It was demonstrated that the method developed in this work has high selectivity and sensitivity for DNA detection related to HIV gene.     

多金属氧酸盐/壳聚糖磁性复合材料的制备及其用于磷酸化肽的富集

建立了一种基于多金属氧酸盐磁性材料富集磷酸化肽的方法。采用层层自组装技术制备多金属氧酸盐/壳聚糖磁性材料,结合基质辅助激光解吸电离飞行时间质谱（MALDI-TOF MS）检测手段,用于磷酸化肽的富集。该磁性材料具有快速磁响应、亲水性、正电性等优点,对磷酸化肽具有高的富集选择性。实验用β-酪蛋白作为模型蛋白质,通过富集后,方法的检出限为0.02 fmol,说明合成的磁性材料对微量蛋白样品分析具有很高的应用潜力。     

用于基因传输及磁共振显像的聚乙烯亚胺-g-聚己内酯共聚物的合成与表征

采用可生物降解的聚己内酯改性聚乙烯亚胺,得到两亲性的接枝共聚物(PEI-g-PCL).该共聚物通过溶剂挥发法在水中自组装形成纳米粒子,其内部负载有超顺磁性四氧化三铁纳米粒子(SPIO)及质粒DNA(pDNA).研究表明,PEI-g-PCL聚合物自组装形成的颗粒为胶束状,无论是否负载SPIO纳米粒子都可以有效地负载pDNA,并对293细胞具有较高的转染效率.此类载体有望在基因转染的过程中利用磁共振手段进行实时、无创观测.     

Introducing curcumin as an electrochemical DNA hybridization indicator and its application for detection of human interleukin-2 gene

In this paper, the application of curcumin (CU) as a non-toxic electrochemical DNA hybridization indicator was described. Hybridization investigations on a pencil graphite electrode surface as a transducer using oligonucleotides containing only one base type, including poly A, poly T, poly C, and poly G as probe and as related complementary/non-complementary sequences, showed that CU has no specific interaction with each of the oligonucleotides of DNA. Furthermore, results showed good interaction between CU and the hybridized form of oligonucleotides; thus, the extent of hybridization was evaluated based on the difference between differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) signals of CU accumulated on the probe-pencil graphite electrode (PGE) and CU accumulated on the probe-target-PGE. Then, the developed biosensor was successfully applied for the detection of short sequences of human interleukin-2 (hIL-2) gene as a model. A hybridization experiment with non-complementary oligonucleotide showed that the suggested DNA sensor responds selectively to the target. At optimized conditions, two linear ranges were obtained for hIL-2 gene, first from 50 to 1000 pM and second from 0.01 to 1 μM with a detection limit of 12 pM. 7.0) containing 20 mM NaCl.     

α-Glucosidase immobilization on functionalized Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles for screening of enzyme inhibitors

α-Glucosidase was stereoscopically immobilized on the surface of Fe₃O₄ magnetic nanoparticles, which was modified with APTES, using GA as a cross-linker. This established method had a broad application prospect for screening of enzyme inhibitors.     

Determination of DNA Hybridization on Gold Nanoparticle Conjugated Polystyrene Particle Thin Film Using Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy

Attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was used to detect DNA hybridization on a polystyrene conjugated gold nanoparticle thin film. The gold nanoparticles were synthesized on the surface of poly(ethylenimine) coated polystyrene particles by citrate reduction. Single-stranded DNA was then immobilized on the nanoparticle surface via thiol bonding. Ultraviolet-visible spectrometry was used to monitor the conjugation of the nanoparticles on polystyrene particles and the immobilization of a single-stranded DNA probe. The morphology of the polystyrene-gold nanoparticle thin film was characterized using scanning electron microscopy and showed successful conjugation and immobilization. The infrared spectra obtained from the hybridization showed features of DNA structure and peak shifts at 1657 cm^?1 compared to the non-complementary DNA due to changes in hydrogen bonding between N-H and C?O of complimentary bases pairs. The peaks at 1067, 975, 920, and 859 cm^?1, which were shifted to lower wavenumbers in the polystyrene-gold nanoparticle probe and target DNA, indicated hydrogen bonding formation between N-H and N of complimentary base pairs. ATR-FTIR spectroscopy provided simple, fast, and portable label-free detection of target DNA sequence on the polystyrene-gold nanoparticle thin film.     

Amplified label-free electrical detection of DNA hybridization

A new protocol is described for amplifying label-free electrochemical measurements of DNA hybridization based on the enhanced accumulation of purine nucleobases in the presence of copper ions . Such electrical DNA assays involve hybridization of the target to inosine-substituted oligonucleotide probes (captured on magnetic beads), acidic dipurinization of the hybrid DNA, and adsorptive chronopotentiometric stripping measurements of the free nucleobases in the presence of copper ions. Both amplified adenine and guanine peaks can be used for detecting the DNA hybridization. The dramatic signal amplification advantage of this type of detection has been combined with efficient magnetic removal of non-complementary DNA, use of microliter sample volumes and disposable transducers. Factors influencing the signal enhancement were assessed and optimized. A detection limit of 40 fmol (250 pg) was obtained with 10 min hybridization and 5 min adsorptive-accumulation times. The advantages of this procedure were demonstrated by its application in the detection of DNA segments related to the BRCA1 breast cancer gene. The copper enhancement holds great promise not only for the detection of DNA hybridization, but also for trace measurement of nucleic acids.     

Rapid and quantitative DNA analysis of genetic mutations for polycystic kidney disease (PKD) using magnetic/luminescent nanoparticles

Rapid and accurate detection of genetic mutations based on nanotechnology would provide substantial advances in detection of polycystic kidney disease (PKD), a disease whose current methods of detection are cumbersome due to the large size and duplication of the mutated gene. In this study, a nanotechnology-based DNA assay was developed for detection of SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) in a feline autosomal dominant PKD (ADPKD) model which can readily be adapted to diagnosis of human ADPKD type 1. Europium and terbium phosphors were doped into gadolinium crystal hosts with a magnetic core, providing stable luminescence and the possibility of magnetic manipulations in a solution-based assay. A hybridization-in-solution DNA assay was optimized for feline PKD gene SNP detection using genomic DNA extracted from feline kidney tissue and blood. This assay showed a substantial differentiation between PKD and control specimens. The nanotechnology-based DNA assay is attractive from the viewpoint of rapid availability, simple methodology, and cost reduction for clinical use to detect mutations involved in human ADPKD and other genetic diseases. Figure Schematic diagram of PKD (Polycystic Kidney Disease) SNPs detection assay using feline genomic DNA in magnetic/luminescent nanoparticle-based DNA hybridization     

Isolation of microbial DNA by newly designed magnetic particles

Carboxyl group-containing magnetic nonporous poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate-co-glycidyl methacrylate) (P(HEMA-co-GMA)) microspheres and cobalt ferrite nanoparticles modified with alginic acid (natural carboxylic polysaccharide) were used for isolation of microbial DNA of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from dairy products, lyophilised cell cultures, and bacterial colonies grown on hard media, and Trichophyton fungi DNA from lyophilised cells. DNA from the samples with lysed cells was reversibly adsorbed to the particles in the presence of high poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG 6000) and sodium chloride concentrations. The optimal final PEG and NaCl concentrations were 9.1 wt.% and 2.0 M, respectively. The adsorbed DNA was released from the particles in low ionic strength TE buffer. The quality of isolated DNA was checked by PCR amplification. Moreover, PCR amplicons were isolated on cobalt ferrite nanoparticles modified with alginic acid and checked by restriction analysis.     

基于介孔Fe3O4@mSiO2@Cu2+磁性纳米粒子的固相萃取-高效液相色谱法测定水中微囊藻毒素

通过水热合成和常温合成的方法制备了介孔Fe₃O₄@mSiO₂@Cu²⁺磁性复合纳米粒子(NPs),其具有均匀的尺寸大小、良好的磁性能和特异的选择性。本研究将合成的NPs用作磁性固相萃取(MSPE)介质,结合高效液相色谱(HPLC)发展了一种测定水样品中痕量微囊藻毒素MC-LR的方法。在优化MSPE和HPLC条件后,该方法在0.1~15 μg/L范围内呈现良好的线性,线性相关系数(r)为0.9994,检出限为0.025 μg/L,定量限为0.082 μg/L。进一步将该方法用于水样中痕量藻毒素分析,结果发现回收率达到78%。这一结果表明:制得的磁性纳米粒子具有良好的萃取性能,可有效用于水样中痕量藻毒素的测定。     

Poly(amino acid)-based thermoresponsive molecularly imprinted magnetic nanoparticles for specific recognition and release of lysozyme

In this study, poly(amino acid)-based thermoresponsive molecularly imprinted magnetic nanoparticles for recognition and release of lysozyme was prepared via surface imprinting method. For constructing the molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) layer, amino acid-based thermoresponsive monomer (N-methacryloyl-l-alanine methyl ester, MA-L-Ala-OMe) was mainly selected for the functional monomer along with N,N′-methylenebis(acrylamide) as the crosslinker. The resultant magnetic MIP nanoparticles were characterized in detail. Meanwhile, the dynamic light scattering studies and swelling ratios measurements were carried out for demonstrating the thermoresponsive property of the imprinted nanoparticles. The prepared magnetic MIP nanoparticles showed good adsorption capacity and selective recognition properties to lysozyme. Moreover, the fast adsorption process could reach equilibrium within 15 min. Importantly, the capture and release of lysozyme could be easily realized simply by altering the temperature of aqueous solution. Furthermore, the prepared imprinted nanoparticles were applied to separate lysozyme from the real egg white samples. The results proved that the thermoresponsive MIPs based on MA-L-Ala-OMe have great potential for selectively enriching target proteins in real samples.     

Tris(2,2′-bipyridyl)cobalt(III)-doped silica nanoparticle DNA probe for the electrochemical detection of DNA hybridization

A new and sensitive electrochemical DNA hybridization detection assay, using tris(2,2′-bipyridyl)cobalt(III) [Co(bpy)₃³⁺]-doped silica nanoparticles as the oligonucleotide (ODN) labeling tag, and based on voltammetric detection of Co(bpy)₃³⁺ inside silica nanoparticles, is described. Electro-active Co(bpy)₃³⁺ is not possible for directly linking with DNA, it is doped into the silica nanoparticles in the process of nanoparticles synthesis for DNA labeling with trimethoxysilylpropydiethylenetriamine (DETA) and glutaraldehyde as linking agents. The Co(bpy)₃³⁺ labeled DNA probe is used to hybridize with target DNA immobilized on the surface of glassy carbon electrode. Only the complementary sequence DNA (cDNA) could form a double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) with the DNA probe labeled with Co(bpy)₃³⁺ and give an obvious electrochemical response. A three-base mismatch sequence and non-complementary sequence had negligible response. Due to the large number of Co(bpy)₃³⁺ molecules inside silica nanoparticles linked to oligonucleotide DNA probe, the assay showed a high sensitivity. It allows the detection at levels as low as 2.0×10⁻¹⁰ mol l⁻¹ of the target oligonucleotides.     

超顺磁性DNA纳米富集器应用于痕量寡聚核苷酸的富集

随着纳米技术的迅速发展 ,纳米材料逐渐被应用到细胞生物学和分子生物学研究领域 ,为生物医学的研究和发展提供了新的技术和手段 [1～ 4 ] .如超顺磁性纳米颗粒由于具有尺寸小、比表面积大、悬浮稳定性好及在外磁场作用下的磁导向性运输和富集等优良特性 ,使其在细胞和生物活性     

聚丙烯酰胺修饰Fe_3O_4磁性纳米粒子的制备与表征

首先通过化学处理在Fe3O4磁性纳米粒子表面引入Si—H键,然后通过选择性的硅氢加成反应制备了一个端基带溴的磁性引发剂,并利用原子转移自由基聚合(ATRP)技术,在该磁性引发剂表面接枝了聚丙烯酰胺高分子,该聚丙烯酰胺高分子展现出分子量高度可控性和窄的分子量分布.经聚丙烯酰胺修饰后Fe3O4磁性纳米粒子的比饱和磁化强度为58.5 emu.g-1,与未修饰纳米Fe3O4相比下降约20%.     

Synthesis of novel thiazolo[3,2-a]chromeno[4,3-d]pyrimidine-6(7H)-ones by bioactive Fe3O4@gly@thiophen@Cu(NO3)2 as reusable magnetic nanocatalyst

In this study, new Fe₃O₄@gly@thiophen@Cu(NO₃)₂ magnetic nanoparticles were synthesized. The final product was used as an efficient and novel magnetic nanocatalyst for synthesizing new derivatives of thiazolo[3,2-a] chromeno[4,3-d]pyrimidine-6(7H) in a short time and with higher efficiency. In the synthesis of Fe₃O₄@gly@thiophen@Cu(NO₃)₂ magnetic nanoparticles, the use of glycine proved an inexpensive and readily available coating for Fe₃O₄ than previously reported materials, and the structure was confirmed using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, energy-dispersive x-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, EDX mapping, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis/derivative thermogravimetry, and vibrating sample magnetometry. The biological properties of magnetic nanoparticles were evaluated, and they exhibited acceptable antifungal and antibacterial properties in terms of minimum inhibitory concentration, minimum fungicidal concentration, and minimum bactericidal concentration.     

A low-cost surface plasmon resonance instrument based on detection of resonance excitation wavelength

A laboratory-made surface plasmon resonance (SPR) instrument based on the detection of resonance excitation wavelength has been successfully fabricated. The performance and workability of the SPR instrument was demonstrated as a DNA biosensor. Biotinylated single-stranded oligonucleotides (ssDNA) were chemically immobilized on a gold-film surface of the SPR instrument as a DNA probe for the detection of its fully complementary, half-complementary and non-complementary ssDNA. The immobilization of the ssDNA probe was done by avidin-biotin linkage. The ssDNA used were 12-mer oligonucleotides. The sensing mechanism was based on the shift in resonance wavelength of an excitation light beam as the target ssDNA hybridized with the ssDNA on the gold-film surface. The linear dynamic ranges of the DNA biosensor for fully complementary and half-complementary ssDNA are 0.04-1.2 pM and 0.08-1.1 pM, respectively. The DNA biosensor showed higher sensitivity to fully complementary ssDNA than to half-complementary ssDNA. But no shift of resonance wavelength to the non-complementary ssDNA was observed.     

Microwave‐assisted preparation of poly(ionic liquids)‐modified polystyrene magnetic nanospheres for phthalate esters extraction from beverages

The fabrication of novel poly(ionic liquids)‐modified polystyrene (PSt) magnetic nanospheres (PILs‐PMNPs) by a one‐pot miniemulsion copolymerization reaction was achieved through an efficient microwave‐assisted synthesis method. The morphology, structure, and magnetic behavior of the as‐prepared magnetic materials were characterized by using transmission electron microscopy, vibrating sample magnetometry, etc. The magnetic materials were utilized as sorbents for the extraction of phthalate esters (PAEs) from beverage samples followed by high‐performance ultrafast liquid chromatography analysis. Significant extraction parameters that could affect the extraction efficiencies were investigated particularly. Under optimum conditions, good linearity was obtained in the concentration range of 0.5–50 (dimethyl phthalate), 0.3–50 (diethyl phthalate), 0.2–50 (butyl benzyl phthalate), and 0.4–50 μg/L (di‐n‐butyl phthalate), with correlation coefficients R ² > 0.9989. Limits of detection were in the range 125–350 pg. The proposed method was successfully applied to determine PAEs from beverage samples with satisfactory recovery ranging from 77.8 to 102.1% and relative standard deviations ranging from 3.7 to 8.4%. Comparisons of extraction efficiency with PSt‐modified MNPs as sorbents were performed. The results demonstrated that PILs‐PMNPs possessed an excellent adsorption capability toward the trace PAE analytes.     

Modeling of DNA hybridization detection using methylene blue as an electroactive label

Mathematical modeling of methylene blue (MB) signal in ssDNA and dsDNA on pencil graphite electrode is described. A DNA biosensor was developed based on MB signal. The probe and target DNAs were 20 mer oligonucleotides corresponding to consensus sequence of HPV major capsid protein L1 gene. Hybrids of various complementary and non-complementary oligonucleotides with the probe were considered as dsDNA with different hybridization degrees. Modeling was developed by incorporation of only the stable forms of dsDNA hybrids. Effect of hybridization degree on current signal in various forms was studied. A factor named AHP (Average Hybridization Percentage) for verifying the hybridization events was defined. Results showed that there is a significant mathematical relation between the calculated AHP and MB signals.     

Enhancing the fluorescence intensity of DNA microarrays by using cationic surfactants

DNA microarrays have been used as powerful tools in genomics studies and single nucleotide polymorphisms analysis. However, the fluorescence detection used in most conventional DNA microarrays is still limited by its sensitivity. The aim of this study is to use a cationic surfactant, cetyl trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), to enhance the fluorescence intensity of 6-carboxy-fluorescene (FAM)-labeled DNA probes immobilized on a DNA microarray. We show that in the presence of CTAB the immobilized FAM-labeled DNA probes is 11-fold brighter than that without exposure to CTAB. Similarly, when we hybridize FAM-labeled DNA targets to a DNA microarray and treat the surface with CTAB solution, the fluorescence intensity shows a 26-fold increase for perfect-match DNA targets. More importantly, the contrast between perfect-match and 1-mismatch DNA is also increased from 1.3-fold to 15-fold. This method offers a simple and efficient technique to enhance the detection limit of DNA microarrays.