Qiaohua Wei

Cobalt-Porphyrin-Platinum-Functionalized Reduced Graphene Oxide Hybrid Nanostructures: A Novel Peroxidase Mimetic System For Improved Electrochemical Immunoassay

5,10,15,20-Tetraphenyl-21H,23H-porphine cobalt flat stacking on the reduced graphene oxide with platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs/CoTPP/rGO) were first synthesized and functionalized with monoclonal rabbit anti-aflatoxin B1 antibody (anti-AFB1) for highly efficient electrochemical immunoassay of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in this work. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), atomic force microscope (AFM) and spectral techniques were employed to characterize the PtNPs/CoTPP/rGO hybrids. Using anti-AFB1-conjugated PtNPs/CoTPP/rGO as the signal-transduction tag, a novel non-enzymatic electrochemical immunosensing system was designed for detection of target AFB1 on the AFB1-bovine serum albumin-functionalized sensing interface. Experimental results revealed that the designed immunoassay could exhibit good electrochemical responses for target analyte and allowed the detection of AFB1 at a concentration as low as 5.0 pg mL−1 (5.0 ppt). Intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation were below 10%. Importantly, the methodology was further validated for analyzing naturally contaminated or spiked blank peanut samples with consistent results obtained by AFB1 ELISA kit, thus providing a promising approach for quantitative monitoring of organic pollutants.

In situ amplified electrochemical aptasensing for sensitive detection of adenosine triphosphate by coupling target-induced hybridization chain reaction with the assembly of silver nanotags.

Biomolecular immobilization and construction of the sensing platform are usually crucial for the successful development of a high-efficiency detection system. Herein we report on a novel and label-free signal-amplified aptasensing for sensitive electrochemical detection of small molecules (adenosine triphosphate, ATP, used in this case) by coupling with target-induced hybridization chain reaction (HCR) and the assembly of electroactive silver nanotags. The system mainly consisted of two alternating hairpin probes, a partial-pairing trigger-aptamer duplex DNA and a capture probe immobilized on the electrode. Upon target ATP introduction, the analyte attacked the aptamer and released the trigger DNA, which was captured by capture DNA immobilized on the electrode to form a newly partial-pairing double-stranded DNA. Thereafter, the exposed domain at trigger DNA could be utilized as the initator strand to open the hairpin probes in sequence, and propagated a chain reaction of hybridization events between two alternating hairpins to form a long nicked double-helix. The electrochemical signal derived from the assembled silver nanotags on the nicked double-helix. Under optimal conditions, the electrochemical aptasensor could exhibit a high sensitivity and a low detection limit, and allowed the detection of ATP at a concentration as low as 0.03 pM. Our design showed a high selectivity for target ATP against its analogs because of the high-specificity ATP-aptamer reaction, and its applicable for monitoring ATP in the spiking serum samples. Improtantly, the distinct advantages of the developed aptasensor make it hold a great potential for the development of simple and robust sensing strategies for the detection of other small molecules by controlling the apatmer sequence.

Invertase-labeling gold-dendrimer for in situ amplified detection mercury(II) with glucometer readout and thymine-Hg(2+)-thymine coordination chemistry.

A simple, low-cost transducer with glucometer readout was designed for sensitive detection of mercury(II) (Hg(2+)), coupling with thymine-Hg(2+)-thymine (T-Hg(2+)-T) coordination chemistry and invertase-functionalized gold-dendrimer nanospheres for the signal amplification. Initially, nanogold-encapsulated poly(amidoamine) dendrimers (Au DENs) were synthesized by in-situ reduction of gold(III). Thereafter, the as-prepared Au DENs were utilized for the labeling of invertase and T-rich signal DNA probe. In the presence of target Hg(2+), the functionalized Au DENs were conjugated to capture DNA probe-modified electrode via T-Hg(2+)-T coordination chemistry. Accompanying the Au DENs, the labeled invertase could hydrolyze sucrose into glucose, which could be quantitatively monitored by an external personal glucometer (PGM). The PGM signal increased with the increasing target Hg(2+) in the sample. Under the optimal conditions, our designed sensing platform exhibited good PGM responses toward target Hg(2+), and allowed the detection of Hg(2+) at a concentration as low as 4.2 pM. This sensing system also displayed remarkable specificity relative to target Hg(2+) against other competing ions, and could be applied for reliable monitoring of spiked Hg(2+) into the environmental water samples with satisfactory results. With the advantages of cost-effectiveness, simplicity, portability, and convenience, our strategy provides a tremendous potential to be a promising candidate for point-of-use monitoring of non-glucose targets by the public.

Luminescent Ag6Au6 Heterometallic Ethisterone Cluster and Probe for Estrogen Receptor α

A heterometallic cluster [Ag6Au6(ethisterone)12] of an unprecedented topology was synthesized and characterized. A sensitive and specific probe for estrogen receptor α (ERα) has been developed for the first time based on the enhancement of the Ag6Au6 luminescence.