Functionalized carbon dots as sensors for gold nanoparticles in spiked samples: Formation of nanohybrids

This paper reports the synthesis, passivation and functionalization of luminescent carbon dots (CDs) possessing surface thiol ending groups. A simple procedure involving amidation of passivated carbon dots (p-CDs) with cysteamine boosts their photoluminescent properties and enables their use as easily controlled fluorescent nanosensors for determining citrate–gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). The mechanism behind the quenching phenomenon was established from fluorescence measurements at high temperatures and lifetime tests, and found to involve static quenching leading to the formation of CD–AuNP nanohybrids. A method for determining AuNPs in complex matrices was developed and validated by application to spiked drinking water and mussel tissues. The limits of detection and quantitation for AuNPs thus obtained were 0.20 and 0.66 nmol L^–1, respectively.     

Analysis of 17β-Estadiol from Sewage in Coastal Marine Environment by Surface Plasmon Resonance Technique

In this study, surface plasmon resonance(SPR) for monitoring 17β-eatradiol( E2 ) was developed. The small molecule E2 was immobilized on a CM5 sensor chip for an indirect competitive immunoassay to detect F2. The SPR response based on the antigen-antibody reaction was measured by injecting the sample solution into the flow system.The limitation of detection was 0.445 μg/L. The developed SPE-SPR system was applied to analyze the seawater samples. Recovery of E2 was 91.6%-93.1%. Relative standard deviations(RSD) for the E2 assay were between 10.9%-15.1% ( n = 3). The range of determination of E2 samples from the sewage in the coastal marine environment was between ND(lower than detection limit) and ca. 11.78 ng/L.     

Real-time analysis of enzymatic surface-initiated polymerization using surface plasmon resonance (SPR)

The kinetics of enzymatic surface-initiated polymerization of PHB on gold surface has been examined by SPR and the resultant polymer layers characterized by AFM and FT-IR spectrometry. The immobilized enzyme catalyzed surface-initiated polymerization of 3HB-CoA, resulting in the formation of a polymer brush on the surface. The rate of polymer growth from the surface was monitored by SPR in real-time. Polymer growth as measured by the increase in the resonance angle showed no apparent lag phase during the polymerization reaction. SPR analysis also revealed that the thickness of the polymer film could be controlled by varying the initial enzyme density on the surface. The average thicknesses of the PHB film after polymerization reaction were 95, 45 and 15 nm for the surfaces that were treated with 0.5, 0.3 and 0.1*10(-6) M of enzyme, respectively. The binding of PHA synthase at different concentration to the mixed SAMs and subsequent polymerization.     

基于金银合金薄膜的近红外表面等离子体共振传感器研究

利用淀积在玻璃衬底上的金银合金薄膜作为表面等离子体共振(SPR)芯片, 构建了Kretschmann结构的近红外波长检测型SPR传感器. 采用不同浓度的葡萄糖水溶液测试了金银合金薄膜SPR传感器的折射率灵敏度. 实验结果表明随着入射角从7.5°增大到 9.5°, SPR吸收峰的半高峰宽从292.8 nm 减小到 131.4 nm, 共振波长从 1215 nm蓝移到 767.7 nm, 折射率灵敏度从35648.3 nm/RIU 减小到 9363.6 nm/RIU.在相同的初始共振波长(λ_R)下获得的金银合金薄膜SPR折射率灵敏度高于纯金膜(纯金膜在λ_R=1215 nm下的折射率灵敏度为29793.9 nm/RIU). 利用1 μmol/L的牛血清蛋白(BSA)水溶液测试了传感器对蛋白质吸附的响应.结果表明, BSA分子吸附使得金银合金薄膜SPR吸收峰红移了12.1 nm而纯金膜SPR吸收峰仅红移了9.5 nm. 实验结果还表明, 在相同λ_R下, 金银合金薄膜SPR吸收峰的半高峰宽大于纯金膜的半高峰宽, 因此其光谱分辨率比纯金膜SPR传感器低. 关键词： 金银合金薄膜 表面等离子体共振 波长检测型 高灵敏度     

Rapid synthesis and characterization of ultra‐thin shell Au@SiO2 nanorods with tunable SPR for shell‐isolated nanoparticle‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SHINERS)

The recently reported shell‐isolated nanoparticle‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SHINERS) is considered as the next generation of advanced spectroscopy for its surface and molecular generality. With the aim to utilize the virtues of shell‐isolated strategy and advance the SHINERS technique, we introduce a silane‐based rapid synthesis method of silica‐coating Au nanorods (Au@SiO₂ NRs) with manoeuvrable ultra‐thin shell and tunable SPR. The results demonstrate that the SPR of Au NRs could be optimized to obtain large Raman enhancement using either 633 nm or 785 nm laser. Differing from previously reported Au@SiO₂ NRs synthesis method, we can tune the silica shell thickness within several nanometers to maximize the Raman signal while effectively eliminating the exterior interference. And this advanced synthesis method has also significantly reduced the silica‐coating time from one day to ca. 1 h. This method as a new development of SHINERS technique has successfully got enhanced signal in solution Raman tests of malachite green, giving a great potential to be extended to in‐situ measurement for daily life detection. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Design,synthesis and evaluation of lactoside-derived galectin-3 inhibitors

Based on docking computation, a panel of lactoside derivatives have been designed as galectin-3 inhibitors. Suitable functional group modifications at C′-3 of methyl lactoside were predicted to supply some additional π–cation, π…H–O, and hydrogen bond interactions between the designed substrates and galectin-3 residues. The selected compounds, giving higher TotalScore in docking calculations, were thus synthesized, and their binding affinities toward galectin-3 were evaluated with SPR assay.     

Sequence‐Defined Introduction of Hydrophobic Motifs and Effects in Lectin Binding of Precision Glycomacromolecules

This study investigates the influence of an increasingly hydrophobic backbone of multivalent glycomimetics based on sequence‐defined oligo(amidoamines) on their resulting affinity toward bacterial lectins. Glycomacromolecules are obtained by stepwise assembly of tailor‐made building blocks on solid support, using both hydrophobic aliphatic and aromatic building blocks to enable a gradual change in hydrophobicity of the backbone. Their binding behavior toward model lectin Concanavalin A (ConA) is evaluated using isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) showing higher affinities for glycomacromolecules with higher content of hydrophobic and aromatic moieties in the backbone. Finally, glycomacromolecules are tested in a bacterial adhesion inhibition study against Escherichia coli where more hydrophobic backbones yield higher inhibitory potentials most likely due to additional secondary interactions with hydrophobic regions of the protein receptor as well as a change in conformation exposing carbohydrate ligands for increased binding. Overall, the results highlight the influence and thereby importance of the polymer backbone itself on the resulting properties of polymeric biomimetics.     

TOF-SIMS structural characterization of self-assembly monolayer of cytochrome b5 onto gold substrate

Orientation and three-dimensional structure of immobilized proteins on bio-devices are very important to assure their high performance. Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) is able to analyze upper surface of one layer of molecules. Orientation of immobilized proteins can be evaluated based on determination of a partial structure, representing ensemble of amino acids, on the surface part. In this study, a monolayer of cytochrome b5 was reconstituted onto gold substrate and investigated by surface plasmon resonance (SPR). After freeze-drying, the resulted protein self-assembly was evaluated using TOF-SIMS with the bismuth cluster ion source, and then TOF-SIMS spectra were analyzed to select peaks specific to cytochrome b5 and identify their chemical formula and ensembles of amino acids. The results from TOF-SIMS spectra analysis were compared to the amino acid sequence of the modified cytochrome b5 and three-dimensional structure of cytochrome b5 registered in the protein data bank. Finally, fragment-ion-generating parts of the immobilized-cytochrome b5 are determined based on the suggested residues and three-dimensional structure. These results suggest the actual structure and confirm the expected orientation of immobilized protein.     

Anomalous adsorptive properties of HIV protease: indication of two-dimensional crystallization?

Adsorption of HIV protease onto surfaces that are usually considered to be protein-resistant was studied quantitatively using surface plasmon resonance. Adsorption onto gold surfaces functionalized by OH-terminated alkyl chains was much stronger than onto oligo(ethylene glycol)-terminated surfaces. Equilibrium and kinetic adsorption constants were determined. An anomalous mutual attraction between adsorbate molecules was observed, indicating the possibility of two-dimensional crystallization of HIV protease. These results are applicable for the design of sensors/biosensors for HIV protease resistance detection and for proper manipulation of this enzyme in laboratory devices.     

Multi-analyte SPR immunoassays for environmental biosensing of pesticides

Multi-analyte detection of environmentally relevant pesticides is performed by using a two-channelled surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensor. The special design of the SPR instrument allows the determination of several analytes (DDT, chlorpyrifos and carbaryl) via different immobilization formats. First, simultaneous pesticide monitoring is possible by flowing chlorpyrifos, carbaryl or DDT samples separately over each channel of the SPR system, wherein their corresponding recognition element was previously immobilized. The second approach is based on the multiple and combined immobilization of several analyte recognition elements on the sensing surface of one individual flow cell. In this format, the analysis time for all three pesticides varied from 40 to 60 min depending on the number of regeneration cycles. In most cases, similar detection limits were attained for the target analyte irrespective of the assay format, with sensitivity values at the nanogram per litre level (18–50 ng L⁻¹). The assay reproducibility was proved through the repeated use of the same sensor surface for over more than 200 assay cycles, whereas the absence of biosensor response to non-related analytes showed the specificity and reliability of the analysis. The SPR instrument, including optics, electronics and microfluidics, is already commercialised by the company SENSIA, SL.