Anodic‐Stripping Voltammetric Immunoassay for Ultrasensitive Detection of Low‐Abundance Proteins Using Quantum Dot Aggregated Hollow Microspheres

A new anodic‐stripping voltammetric immunoassay protocol for detection of IgG1, as a model protein, was designed by using CdS quantum dot (QD) layer‐by‐layer assembled hollow microspheres (QDHMS) as molecular tags. Initially, monoclonal anti‐human IgG1 specific antibodies were anchored on amorphous magnetic beads preferably selective to capture F_ab of IgG1 analyte from the sample. For detection, monoclonal anti‐human IgG1 (F_c‐specific) antibodies were covalently coupled to the synthesized QDHMS. In a sandwich‐type immunoassay format, subsequent anodic‐stripping voltammetric detection of cadmium released under acidic conditions from the coupled QDs was conducted at an in situ prepared mercury film electrode. The immunoassay combines highly efficient magnetic separation with signal amplification by the multilayered QD labels. The dynamic concentration range spanned from 1.0 fg mL^?1 to 1.0 μg mL^?1 of IgG1 with a detection limit of 0.1 fg mL^?1. The electrochemical immunoassay showed good reproducibility, selectivity, and stability. The analysis of clinical serum specimens revealed good accordance with the results obtained by an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay method. The new immunoassay is promising for enzyme‐free, and cost‐effective analysis of low‐abundance biomarkers.     

Gold-silver-graphene hybrid nanosheets-based sensors for sensitive amperometric immunoassay of alpha-fetoprotein using nanogold-enclosed titania nanoparticles as labels

A stepwise method development strategy has been employed to develop a robust HPLC method to resolve several closely eluting structurally related impurities in an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API). This strategy consisted of automated column screening, optimization of the most critical chromatographic parameters, DryLab(?) modeling, and experimental verification of optimized separation conditions. DryLab(?) was used to predict an optimized gradient profile and separation temperature and these predictions were verified experimentally. A discussion of the accuracy of these predictions is presented. The robustness of the method was verified and the ability of DryLab(?) to predict, with reasonable accuracy, the outcome of such robustness studies was also examined. Once the robustness was established by the DryLab(?) predictions the remainder of the subsequent verification by experiment becomes a simple reiterative exercise. This study also demonstrates that factors such as column chemistry and critical chromatographic parameters can have a profound and oftentimes interrelated effect on the chromatographic separation of isomers, bromo analogs and other structurally very similar impurities. Therefore, it is critical to adopt a rational strategy, as demonstrated here, to evaluate the interplay of these factors, thereby greatly enhancing method development efficiency.     

Sensitive electrochemical immunoassay of carcinoembryonic antigen with signal dual-amplification using glucose oxidase and an artificial catalase

A new dual-amplification strategy of electrochemical signal based on the catalytic recycling of the product was developed for the antigen-antibody interaction by glucose oxidase (GOD)- conjugated gold-silver hollow microspheres (AuAgHSs) coupled with an artificial catalase, Prussian blue nanoparticles (PB), on a graphene-based immunosensing platform. The first signal amplification introduced in this study was based on the labeled GOD on the AuAgHSs toward the catalytic oxidation of glucose. The generated H(2)O(2) was catalytically reduced by the immobilized PB on the graphene nanosheets with the second amplification. With a sandwich-type immunoassay format, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) was monitored as a model analyte by using the synthesized AuAgHSs as labels in pH 6.0 phosphate buffer containing 10mM glucose. Under optimal conditions, the electrochemical immunosensor exhibited a wide dynamic range of 0.005-50 ng mL(-1) with a low detection limit (LOD) of 1.0 pg mL(-1) CEA (at 3σ). Both the intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation (CVs) were lower than 10%. The specificity and stability of the immunosensor were acceptable. In addition, the assay was evaluated for clinical serum specimens, and received a good correlation with those obtained by the referenced electrochemiluminescent (ECL).     

Antibody-invertase Cross-linkage Nanoparticles: A New Signal Tag for Point-of-Care Immunoassay of Alpha-fetoprotein for Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Personal Glucometer

Methods based on immunoassays have been developed for cancer biomarker alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), but most involve complicated or stripping procedures and are unfavourable for routine use. Herein we report the proof-of-concept of simple and point-of-care (POC) immunoassay for AFP in hepatocellular carcinoma on a portable personal glucometer (PGM) by using antibody-invertase cross-linkage nanoparticles as the signal-generation tags. Antibody-invertase cross-linkage nano tags were synthesized by using reverse micellar method with glutaraldehyde. The POC immunoassay was carried out on monoclonal anti-AFP capture antibody-coated microplate with a sandwich-type reaction mode. Introduction of invertase nano labels accompanying target AFP could hydrolyse sucrose into glucose and fructose. The produced glucose molecules could be determined on a portable personal glucometer. Relative to unimolecular invertase labelling, improved analytical features were acquired with antibody-invertase nano labelling. With the nano labels, PGM-based immunoassay exhibited good electrochemical responses for the detection of AFP, and allowed detection of AFP at a concentration as low as 5.4 pg mL⁻¹. Moreover, a good repeatability and intermediate precision could be found down to 12.68 %. Good well-matched results were obtained for analysis of human serum specimens between POC immunoassay and commercial human AFP ELISA kit.     

In situ dispensing glue to prepare flexible Si-based anode for lithium-ion batteries

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - Silicon (Si) is the most promising anode material for lithium-ion batteries. But the serious volume expansion effect occurred during the lithium-ion...     

基于聚2,6-二氨基吡啶膜及纳米金修饰的癌胚抗原免疫传感器研究

在玻碳电极表面电聚合2,6-二氨基吡啶(pPA), 利用硫堇(Thi)、纳米金(nano-Au)固载癌胚抗体, 制得稳定性好、灵敏度较高、线性范围宽的电流型免疫传感器. 通过循环伏安法考察了该免疫传感器的电化学特性, 在优化的实验条件下, 该免疫传感器的峰电流随着检测溶液中癌胚抗原(CEA)浓度的增大而减小, 并在0.5～20和20～160 ng/mL CEA范围内呈现出良好的线性关系, 检测下限为0.2 ng/mL. 该免疫传感器具有制作简单、重现性好、线性范围宽等优点, 可用于临床上对CEA的检测.     

Enzyme-free amperometric glucose sensor using a glassy carbon electrode modified with poly(vinyl butyral) incorporating a hybrid nanostructure composed of molybdenum disulfide and copper sulfide

The authors describe an enzyme-free amperometric method for the determination of glucose at nanomolar levels at near neutral pH values. A hybrid nanostructure composed of molybdenum disulfide and copper sulfide (MoS₂-CuS) was prepared using L-cysteine as both the sulfur donor and the reducing agent. The nanohybrid was then immobilized on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) by incorporating it into a film of poly(vinyl butyral). Transmission electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy were utilized to characterize the MoS₂-CuS nanohybrids. Three modified GCEs (MoS₂/GCE, CuS/GCE and MoS₂-CuS/GCE) were investigated with respect to their sensitivity to glucose, and the MoS₂-CuS/GCE was found to perform best in displaying a limit of detection as low as 0.3 μM in pH 7.2 buffer at an applied potential of +0.18 V (versus Ag/AgCl). The repeatability and intermediate precision are below 7.0% at 0.05, 0.5 and 1.0 mM concentration levels. The method was applied to the determination of glucose in spiked human serum samples, and recoveries were between 92.3 and 110.7%. This detection scheme is rapid and cost-effective. Natural enzymes and additional electron mediators are not required.

Open image in new window

Graphical Abstract MoS₂-CuS hybrid nanostructures on a glassy carbon electrode were utilized for enzyme-free sensing of glucose at nanomolar levels.

     

Electrochemical detection of hepatitis C virus with signal amplification using BamHI endonuclease and horseradish peroxidase-encapsulated nanogold hollow spheres

A novel electrochemical method to detect hepatitis C virus was developed based on site-specific cleavage of BamHI endonuclease and enzymatic signal amplification with horseradish peroxidase-encapsulated nanogold hollow spheres.     

Bis-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde Schiff-base cobalt(II) complex as a neutral carrier for a highly selective iodide electrode.

A new solvent polymeric membrane electrode based on N,N'-bis-(dimethylaminobenzaldehyde)-glycine cobalt(II) [Co(II)-BDMABG] as a neutral carrier is described, which displays a preferential potentiometric response to iodide ion and an anti-Hofmeister selectivity sequence in the following order: I- > ClO4- > Sal- > SCN- > NO2- > Br- > NO3- > Cl- > SO3(2-) > SO4(2-). The electrode exhibits a near-Nernstian potential linear range of 9.0 x 10(-7)-1.0 x 10(-1) M with a detection limit of 6.8 x 10(-7) M and a slope of -53.0 mV/decade in pH 2.0 of a phosphate buffer solution at 20 degrees C. The response mechanism is discussed in view of the A.C. impedance technique and the UV spectroscopy technique. The electrode was successfully applied to the determination of iodide in Jialing River and Spring in Jinyun Mountains with satisfactory results.