Anna Miodek

Electrochemical Aptasensor of Human Cellular Prion Based on Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes Modified with Dendrimers: A Platform for Connecting Redox Markers and Aptamers

The present work aims to develop an electrochemical biosensor based on aptamer able to detect human cellular prions PrP(C) as a model biomarker of prion disease with high sensitivity. We designed the biosensor using multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) modified with polyamidoamine dendrimers of fourth generation (PAMAM G4) which in turn were coupled to DNA aptamers used as bioreceptors. Electrochemical signal was detected by a ferrocenyl redox marker incorporated between the dendrimers and aptamers interlayer. MWCNTs, thanks to their nanostructure organization and electrical properties, allow the distribution of aptamers and redox markers over the electrode surface. We demonstrated that the interaction between aptamers and prion proteins leads to variation in the electrochemical signal of the ferrocenyl group. High sensitivity with a detection limit of 0.5 pM and a wide linear range of detection from 1 pM to 10 μM has been demonstrated. Detection of PrP(C) in spiked blood plasma has been achieved in the same range of concentrations as for detection of PrP(C) in buffer. The sensor demonstrated a recovery of minimum 85% corresponding to 1 nM PrP(C) and a maximum of 127% corresponding to 1 pM PrP(C).

E-DNA Sensor of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Based on Electrochemical Assembly of Nanomaterials (MWCNTs/PPy/PAMAM)

Two-step electrochemical patterning methods have been employed to elaborate composite nanomaterials formed with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) coated with polypyrrole (PPy) and redox PAMAM dendrimers. The nanomaterial has been demonstrated as a molecular transducer for electrochemical DNA detection. The nanocomposite MWCNTs-PPy has been formed by wrapping the PPy film on MWCNTs during electrochemical polymerization of pyrrole on the gold electrode. The MWCNTs-PPy layer was modified with PAMAM dendrimers of fourth generation (PAMAM G4) with covalent bonding by electro-oxidation method. Ferrocenyl groups were then attached to the surface as a redox marker. The electrochemical properties of the nanomaterial (MWCNTs-PPy-PAMAM-Fc) were studied using both square wave voltammetry and cyclic voltammetry to demonstrate efficient electron transfer. The nanomaterial shows high performance in the electrochemical detection of DNA hybridization leading to a variation in the electrochemical signal of ferrocene with a detection limit of 0.3 fM. Furthermore, the biosensor demonstrates ability for sensing DNA of rpoB gene of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in real PCR samples. Developed biosensor was suitable for detection of sequences with a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) T (TCG/TTG), responsible for resistance of M. tuberculosis to rifampicin drug, and discriminating them from wild-type samples without such mutation. This shows potential of such systems for further application in pathogens diagnostic and therapeutic purpose.

Electrochemical aptasensor of cellular prion protein based on modified polypyrrole with redox dendrimers.

This work consists of the development of an electrochemical aptasensor based on polyprrole modified with redox dendrimers, able to detect human cellular prions PrP(C) with high sensitivity. The gold surface was modified by conductive polypyrrole film coupled to polyamidoamine dendrimers of fourth generation (PAMAM G4) and ferrocenyl group as redox marker. The aptamers were immobilized on the surface via biotin/streptavidin chemistry. Electrochemical signal was detected by ferrocenyl group incorporated between dendrimers and aptamers layers. We demonstrated that the interaction between aptamer and prion protein led to variation in electrochemical signal of the ferrocenyl group. The kinetics parameters (diffusion coefficient D and heterogeneous constant transfer ket) calculated from electrochemical signals demonstrate that the variation in redox signal results from the lower diffusion process of ions during redox reaction after prion interaction due to bulk effect of larger protein. The association of redox dendrimers with conducting polypyrrole leads to high sensitivity of PrP(C) determination with detection limit of 0.8 pM, which is three orders of magnitude lower, compared to flat ferrocene-functionalized polypyrrole. Detection of PrP(C) in spiked blood plasma has been achieved and demonstrated a recovery up to 90%.

Direct electrochemical detection of PB1-F2 protein of influenza A virus in infected cells.

Influenza virus represents a major concern of human health and animal production. PB1-F2 is a small proapoptotic protein supposed to contribute to the virulence of influenza A virus (IAV). However, the molecular mechanism of action of PB1-F2 is still unclear.PB1-F2 expression and behavior during the viral cycle is difficult to follow with classical biochemical methods. In this work we have developed an electrochemical biosensor based on immuno-detection system for quantification of PB1-F2 protein in infected cell. The electrochemical immunosensor was based on conducting copolypyrrole integrating ferrocenyl group as redox marker for enhancing signal detection. A specific anti-PB1-F2 monoclonal antibody was immobilized on the copolypyrrole layer via biotin-streptavidin system. We demonstrate that this electrochemical system sensitively detect purified recombinant PB1-F2 over a wide range of concentrations from 5 nM to 1.5 µM. The high sensor sensitivity allowed the detection of PB1-F2 in lysates of infected cells confirming that PB1-F2 is expressed in early stages of viral cycle. The immunosensor developed shows enhanced performances for the evaluation of PB1-F2 protein concentration in biological samples and could be applied for studying of PB1-F2 during influenza virus infection.

Electrochemical Detection of the Oligomerization of PB1-F2 Influenza A Virus Protein in Infected Cells

PB1-F2 is a nonstructural accessory protein of Influenza A virus described to enhance the mortality and the morbidity of the virus in a host-dependent manner. In this work, an electrochemical biosensor based on an immunodetection system was developed to follow the oligomerization of PB1-F2 during the viral cycle. The immunosensor was based on conductive polypyrrole modified with ferrocenyl groups as a redox marker for enhancing signal detection. Antibodies specific for monomeric or oligomeric PB1-F2 forms were immobilized on polypyrrole matrix via biotin/streptavidin layer. We demonstrated that this electrochemical biosensor sensitively detects PB1-F2 in both conformational forms. The linear range extends from 5 nM to 1.5 μM and from 5 nM to 0.5 μM for monomeric and oligomeric PB1-F2, respectively. The calculated limit of detection was 0.42 nM for monomeric PB1-F2 and 16 nM for oligomers. The biosensor platform allows the detection and quantification of PB1-F2 in lysates of infected cells during viral cycle. We show that at early stages of viral cycle, PB1-F2 is mainly monomeric but switched to amyloid-like structures at a later stage of infection. The quantification of two protein structural forms points out that PB1-F2 expression profiles and kinetics of oligomerization are cell-type-dependent.

Surface Plasmon Resonance Immunosensor for Detection of PB1-F2 Influenza A Virus Protein in Infected Biological Samples

The detection and evaluation of concentration of influenza virus proteins in biological samples is critical in a broad range of medical and biological investigations regarding the concern over potential outbreaks of virulent influenza strains in animals and humans. This paper describes a sensitive, label-free approach for the detection of a virulence factor PB1-F2. PB1-F2 is a small, 90 amino acid long polypeptide expressed in influenza A viruses, which generally exacerbate virus pathogenicity. The developed immunosensoris based on a non-the-chipcovalently immobilized specific monoclonal anti-PB1-F2 antibody and a SPR technology. The immunosensor was calibrated using purified full length PB1-F2 protein. Itdetected PB1-F2 with the linear range extended from 10 to 500 nM, repeatability of 5% for 500 nM PB1-F2 and showed saturationof protein concentrations higher than 1 μM. The sensor can quantify PB1-F2 in its monomeric form but not when its oligomerization was induced by preincubation in 0.05% SDS. The immunosensor was successfully applied in the detection and quantification of PB1-F2 in infected mouse lungs and cell lines, providing temporal expression profiles of PB1-F2 during viral infection. In lungs of infected mice, the influenza virus structural nucleoprotein NP was detected in parallel using a specific anti-NP antibody. This parallel detection of PB1-F2 and NP suggests that applied sensor chip technology may be amenable to an arrow immunosensor for simultaneous detection of all known influenza virus proteins in infected tissues and cells.

Selection of Aptamers Against Whole Living Cells: From Cell-SELEX to Identification of Biomarkers

Aptamer selection protocols, named cell-SELEX, have been developed to target trans-membrane proteins using whole living cells as target. This technique presents several advantages. (1) It does not necessitate the use of purified proteins. (2) Aptamers are selected against membrane proteins in their native conformation. (3) Cell-SELEX can be performed to identify aptamers against biomarkers differentially expressed between different cell lines without prior knowledge of the targets. (4) Aptamers identified by cell-SELEX can be further used to purify their targets and to identify new biomarkers. Here, we provide a protocol of cell-SELEX including the preparation of an oligonucleotide library, next-generation sequencing and radioactive binding assays. Furthermore, we also provide a protocol to purify and identify the target of these aptamers. These protocols could be useful for the discovery of lead therapeutic compounds and diagnostic cell-surface biomarkers.

Detection of Soluble Oligomers Formed by PB1-F2 Influenza A Virus Protein in vitro

Influenza A viruses (IAV) remain a major cause of respiratory disease worldwide each year and have been responsible for three main pandemics during the last century comprising the Spanish flu which killed up to 50 million of people. IAV are RNA enveloped viruses belonging to the Orthomyxoviridae family. The nature of the genome of IAV favors the constant and hardly predictable emergence of new strains such as highly virulent H5N1 viruses since 2003, or the H1N1 2009 pandemic strain. Recently, new human cases of severe respiratory illness with a new avian influenza A (H7N9) virus have been reported in China (mortality rate of 60%).Thus, researchers maintain their efforts to determine specific markers of virulence and to evaluate the potential of emerging strains to cause new pandemics.

Electrochemical functionalization of polypyrrole through amine oxidation of poly(amidoamine) dendrimers: Application to DNA biosensor.

Electrochemical patterning method has been developed to fabricate composite based on polypyrrole (PPy) film and poly(amidoamine) dendrimers of fourth generation (PAMAM G4). PPy layer was generated using electrochemical polymerization of pyrrole on a gold electrode. PPy film was then modified with PAMAM G4 using amines electro-oxidation method. Covalent bonding of PAMAM G4 and the formation of PPy-PAMAM composite was characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). Ferrocenyl groups were then attached to such surface as a redox marker. Electrochemical properties of the modified nanomaterial (PPy-PAMAM-Fc) were studied using both amperometric and impedimetric methods to demonstrate the efficiency of electron transfer through the modified PPy layer. The obtained electrical and electrochemical properties were compared to a composite where PPy bearing carboxylic acid functions was chemically modified with PAMAM G4 by covalent attachment through formation of amid bond (PPy-CONH-PAMAM). The above mentioned studies showed that electrochemical patterning does not disturb the electronic properties of PPy. The effect of the number of functional groups introduced by the electrochemical patterning was demonstrated through the association of various compounds (ethylenediamine, PAMAM G2 and PAMAM G6). We demonstrated that such compounds could be applied in the biosensors technology. The modified PPy-PAMAM-Fc was evaluated as a platform for DNA sensing. High performance in the DNA detection by variation of the electrochemical signal of ferrocene was obtained with detection limit of 0.4 fM. Furthermore, such approach of electrochemical patterning by oxidation of amines could be applied for chemical modification of PPy and open a new way in various biosensing application involving functionalized PPy.

Electrochemical DNA Biosensors for Bioterrorism Prevention

In the wake of letters containing anthrax spores terrifying the USA and other letters containing unidentified white powders circulating all over the world, the threat of bioterrorism attracts the attention of the general public as well as scientist. Therefore, it is urgent to develop rapid, sensitive, and high-throughput diagnostic methods able to counter attacks of bioterrorism by elucidating the suitable actions that should be implemented to prevent serious epidemic diseases. Numerous such methods are in development but Nucleic Acid Detection is the standard employed for identifying most biological agents that are used in bioterrorism. This method is based on PCR assays via the classical techniques of amplification and fluorescent detection. On the other hand, electrochemical biosensors are promising platforms that could achieve rapid highly sensitive and selective onsite detection of such agents. This chapter will present the recent developments in electrochemical biosensors for preparing DNA detection platforms that could be used to prevent attacks of bioterrorism.