Rita Meunier-Prest

Performance of interdigitated nanoelectrodes for electrochemical DNA biosensor

An electrochemical methodology for bio-molecule sensing using an array of well-defined nanostructures is presented. We describe the fabrication by e-beam lithography of nanoelectrodes consisting of a 100 micro m x 50 micro m area containing interdigitated electrodes of 100 nm in width and interelectrode distance of 200 nm. Sensitivity and response time of the nanoelectrodes are compared to the responses of macro- and microelectrodes. The specificity of the sensor is studied by modifying the gold electrodes with DNA. The technique enables to characterize both single and double-stranded DNA of 15 nucleotides. A special electrochemical cell is adapted to control the temperature and measure the DNA concentration by UV analysis. The electrochemical method requires no label on the DNA, only redox mediators were used.

Ferrocenyl glycopeptides as electrochemical probes to detect autoantibodies in multiple sclerosis patients' sera.

Glycopeptide analogues of CSF114(Glc), modified at N‐terminus with new ferrocenyl carboxylic acid and a new ferrocenyl‐thiphosphino amino acid, were used to implement a new electrochemical biosensor for autoantibody detection in multiple sclerosis. The ferrocenyl moiety of these “electrochemical probes” did not affect autoantibody recognition both in SP‐ELISA and in inhibition experiments. By electrochemical monitoring the interactions of the modified peptides Fc‐CSF114(Glc) and 4‐FcPhP(S)Abu‐CSF114(Glc) with the autoantibodies, we demonstrated that autoantibodies could be detected with a sensitivity comparable to ELISA method. The new electrochemical probes can be proposed to characterize autoantibodies as biomarkers of multiple sclerosis by a simple, rapid, and reproducible cyclic voltammetry‐based diagnostic methodology.

Electrochemical probe for the monitoring of DNA-protein interactions.

Self-assembly of thiol-terminated oligonucleotides on gold substrates provides a convenient way for DNA-functionalized surfaces. Here we describe the development of an electrochemical assay for the detection of DNA-protein interactions based on the modification of the electrochemical response of methylene blue (MB) intercalated in the DNA strands. Using a functionalized electrode with double stranded DNA carrying T3 RNA polymerase binding sequence, we show a substantial attenuation of the current upon the DNA-protein interaction. Moreover, a Langmuir binding isotherm for T3 RNA polymerase (T3 Pol) gives a dissociation constant K(D) equal to 0.46+/-0.23 microM. Such value is 100 times lower than the calculated K(D) for the non-specific interaction of bovine serum albumin (BSA) with T3 Pol promoter. In addition, the use of the T7 RNA polymerase (T7 Pol) promoter instead of the T3 Pol promoter induces an increase of K(D) from 0.46 microM to more than 25 microM. Accordingly, this strong decrease in the affinity of T3 Pol towards an off-target DNA promoter reveals an electrochemical sequence-specific discrimination of DNA-protein interactions. In conclusion, our results show that the developed electrochemical test allows the monitoring of DNA-protein interactions with high specificity and with an in situ protein detection threshold at a nanomolar range.

Electrochemical and DFT studies of the oxidative decomposition of the trihydride complexes Cp*M(dppe)H3 (M = Mo, W) in acetonitrile

A detailed electrochemical study of the oxidative decomposition of the trihydride complexes Cp*M(dppe)H3 (M = Mo, W) in acetonitrile is presented. For the Mo complex, the decomposition occurs by four different pathways involving classical and non-classical tautomers, whereas only the classical form is accessible for the W derivative. Each of the decomposition pathways has been quantitatively assessed by analyses of the linear sweep voltammograms. In addition to the previously established (B. Pleune, D. Morales, R. Meunier-Prest, P. Richard, E. Collange, J. C. Fettinger and R. Poli, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1999, 121, 2209–2225) deprotonation, disproportionation, and H2 reductive elimination occurring via the non-classical tautomer of the 17-electron complex [Cp*Mo(dppe)H3]+ (obtained by oxidation at E1/2 = −0.33 V vs. Ag/AgCl), a new decomposition pathway from the more stable classical tautomer has been identified following a second oxidation process. In addition, the oxidatively induced H2 reductive elimination, previously evidenced only in THF or CH2Cl2, has been quantitatively assessed in MeCN. This process occurs preferentially by an associative mechanism (k = 0.020(4) M−1s−1) via the 19-electron [Cp*Mo(dppe)H(H2)(MeCN)]+ intermediate and is therefore in direct competition with the disproportionation mechanism. The resulting 17-electron [Cp*Mo(dppe)H(MeCN)]+ product is further oxidized at ca. 0.2 V. The oxidation of [Cp*Mo(dppe)H3]+ occurs at ca. 1.0 V and the resulting 16-electron [Cp*Mo(dppe)H3]2+ complex immediately delivers a proton to the starting material, giving [Cp*Mo(dppe)H4]+ and [Cp*Mo(dppe)H2]+. The latter coordinates MeCN in a rate determining step to afford [Cp*Mo(dppe)H2(MeCN)]+. The mechanistic details are consistent with studies at different scan rates and different MeCN concentrations, and are backed up by DFT calculations.

Electrochemical detection of the 2-isobutyl-3-methoxypyrazine model odorant based on odorant-binding proteins: The proof of concept

We developed an electrochemical assay for the detection of odorant molecules based on a rat odorant-binding protein (rOBP3). We demonstrated that rOBP3 cavity binds 2-methyl-1,4-naphtoquinone (MNQ), an electrochemical probe, as depicted from the decrease of its electrochemical signal, and deduced the dissociation constant, KdMNQ=0.5(±0.2)μM. The amount of MNQ displaced from rOBP3 by 2-isobutyl-3-methoxypyrazine (IBMP), a model odorant molecule, was measured using square-wave voltammetry. The release of MNQ by competition led to an increase of the electrochemical response. In addition, this method allowed determination of the dissociation constant of rOBP3 for IBMP, KdIBMP=0.5(±0.1)μM. A negative control was performed with a non-binding species, caffeic acid (CA). The determined binding affinity values were confirmed using a fluorescent competitive binding assay and isothermal titration microcalorimetry. This electrochemical assay opens the way for designing robust, reliable and inexpensive odorant biosensors.

Synthesis and characterization of fluorophthalocyanines bearing four 2-(2-thienyl)ethoxy moieties: from the optimization of the fluorine substitution to chemosensing

The energy levels of the HOMO/LUMO Frontier orbitals and the electronic properties of phthalocyanine macrocycles can be tuned by the introduction of substituents. Starting from tetrafluorophthalonitrile, we studied the substitution of fluorine atoms by (2-thienyl)ethoxy moieties. An optimization of the experimental conditions (nature and stoichiometry of the alcohol and base, temperature) allowed us to obtain the monoalkoxy derivative with a very good yield. It was fully characterized using 19F and 1H NMR spectroscopies, thermal analysis and X-ray diffraction on single crystals. Then, the corresponding zinc phthalocyanine was synthesized, characterized by means of 19F and 1H NMR spectroscopies, thermal analysis, and also by electronic spectroscopy and electrospray mass spectrometry. The unsymmetrical zinc phthalocyanine bearing also four (2-thienyl)ethoxy moieties was prepared by the mixed condensation of the tetraalkoxyphthalonitrile with the tetrafluorophthalonitrile. The phthalocyanines were used to build an electronic device, a p-type Molecular Semiconductor – Doped Insulator heterojunction (MSDI), in combination with the lutetium bisphthalocyanine as a molecular semiconductor, and their chemosensing behavior towards ammonia was studied.

Comprehensive Study of Poly(2,3,5,6-tetrafluoroaniline): From Electrosynthesis to Heterojunctions and Ammonia Sensing

In this work, we report for the first time on a comprehensive study of poly(2,3,5,6-tetrafluoroaniline) (PTFANI). Contrary to the nonfluorinated polyaniline (PANI) or its analogues bearing one fluorine atom, PTFANI is a poorly conductive material. We present a comprehensive study of the electrosynthesized PTFANI from its monomer in an acidic aqueous medium. PTFANI was fully characterized by a potential-pH diagram, spectroelectrochemistry, and electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM) measurements, as well as by a morphological study. Combined with the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis, it allowed us to understand the redox properties of this polymer compared to those of the unsubstituted PANI. At pH < 1.85, no proton transfer occurred during the electrochemical process, but the insertion of anions at the site of the protonated imines was demonstrated through the EQCM and XPS experiments. PTFANI showed a lower ratio of 1 ClO4- per 3 2,3,5,6-tetrafluoroaniline units compared to that of PANI. The behavior at pH > 1.85 was different; no anion upload was observed during the electron transfer, but 1 H+ per electron was involved during the transition between the leucoemeraldine and emeraldine base forms. It should also be noted that the oxidation of the emeraldine into the pernigraniline form was not accessible in PTFANI because of the electron-withdrawing effects of the fluorine atoms. However, we took advantage of the unique behavior of PTFANI to build heterojunctions, by combining with a highly conductive molecular material, namely lutetium bisphthalocyanine, LuPc2. The obtained double-lateral heterojunction exhibited a particularly interesting sensitivity to ammonia, even under humid atmospheres, with a limit of detection of 450 ppb. This work paves the way for the use of PTFANI in other electronic devices and as a sensor not only in the field of air quality monitoring but also in the field of health diagnosis in measuring the human breath.

[60]Fullerene l-Amino Acids and Peptides: Synthesis under Phase-Transfer Catalysis Using a Phosphine–Borane Linker. Electrochemical Behavior

A new method to link amino acid and peptide derivatives to [60]fullerene is described. It uses hydrophosphination with a secondary phosphine borane. First, the stereoselective synthesis of secondary phosphine borane amino acid derivatives was achieved by alkylation of phenylphosphine borane with γ-iodo-α-amino ester reagents under phase-transfer catalysis (PTC). Second, a sec-phosphine borane amino ester was saponified and coupled with α,γ-diamino esters to afford the corresponding dipeptide derivatives in good yields. Finally, the hydrophosphination reaction of [60]fullerene by the sec-phosphine borane compounds was performed under PTC to obtain C60-amino acid or dipeptide derivatives in yields up to 80% by P-C bond formation. This addition reaction which proceeds in mild and moderate dilute conditions (0.03 M) leads to [60]fullerene derivatives as epimeric mixtures (∼1:1) due to the P-chirogenic center but without racemization of the amino acid or peptide moiety. In addition, the electrochemical behavior of a C60-phosphine borane amino ester was investigated by cyclic voltammetry and spectroelectrochemistry after controlled-potential electrolysis. It showed evidence for the retro-hydrophosphination reaction into free [60]fullerene and sec-phosphine borane amino ester compound. Consequently, the synthesis of sec-phosphine borane amino acids followed by their use in hydrophosphination reactions of [60]fullerene under phase-transfer catalysis has demonstrated a great utility for the preparation of C60-derivatives. Indeed, the hydrophosphination and the retro-hydrophosphination reactions of [60]fullerene/phosphine borane compounds offer a promising new strategy for the reversible immobilization of amino acid or peptide derivatives on carbon nanomaterials such as [60]fullerene.

Synthesis Of Organometallic Glycopeptides And Electrochemical Studies To Detect Autoantibodies In Multiple Sclerosis Patients'Sera.

Feliciana Real-Fernandez, Amelie Chamois-Colson, Jerome Bayardon, Francesca Nuti, Elisa Peroni, Maria R. Moncelli, Rita Meunier-Prest, Sylvain Juge and Anna Maria Papini Laboratory of Peptide & Protein Chemistry & Biology, Polo Scientifico, University of Florence, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino (FI), Italy; Laboratoire de Synthese et d’Electrosynthese Organometalliques (LSEO), Universite de Bourgogne, 21068, Dijon, France