Yuzhi Fang

An electrochemical DNA hybridization detection assay based on a silver nanoparticle label

A novel, sensitive electrochemical DNA hybridization detection assay, using silver nanoparticles as the oligonucleotide labeling tag, is described. The assay relies on the hybridization of the target DNA with the silver nanoparticle-oligonucleotide DNA probe, followed by the release of the silver metal atoms anchored on the hybrids by oxidative metal dissolution and the indirect determination of the solubilized Ag(I) ions by anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV) at a carbon fiber ultramicroelectrode. The influence of the relevant experimental variables, including the surface coverage of the target oligonucleotide, the duration of the silver dissolution steps and the parameters of the electrochemical stripping measurement of the silver(I) ions, is examined and optimized. The combination of the remarkable sensitivity of the stripping metal analysis at the microelectrode with the large number of silver(I) ions released from each DNA hybrid allows detection at levels as low as 0.5 pmol L(-1) of the target oligonucleotides.

A solid-state electrochemiluminescence biosensing switch for detection of thrombin based on ferrocene-labeled molecular beacon aptamer.

A solid-state electrochemiluminescence (ECL) biosensing switch system based on special ferrocene-labeled molecular beacon aptamer (Fc-MBA) has been developed successfully for thrombin detections. Such special switch system includes two main parts, an ECL substrate and an ECL intensity switch. The ECL substrate was made by modifying the complex of Au nanoparticle and Ruthenium (II) tris-(bipyridine) (Ru(bpy)(3)(2+)-AuNPs) onto Au electrode. A molecular beacon aptamer labeled by ferrocene acted as the ECL intensity switch. The loop bases of the ECL intensity switch are designed with special anti-thrombin aptamer sequence which could be combined with its target protein via the reaction between aptamer and thrombin. During the reactions, the molecular beacon aptamer opened its stem-loop, and the labeled Fc was consequently kept away from the ECL substrate. Such structural change resulted in an obvious ECL intensity increment due to the decreased quenching effect of Fc to the ECL substrate. The analytic results are sensitive and specific.

Electrochemical detection of sequence-specific DNA using a DNA probe labeled with aminoferrocene and chitosan modified electrode immobilized with ssDNA

The electrochemical detection of sequence-specific DNA using a DNA probe labeled with aminoferrocene (AFC) is reported. Sample ssDNA was immobilized on a chitosan modified glassy carbon electrode. A sequence-known DNA with 256 bp [obtained by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)] was successfully labeled with the electro-active reagent AFC by 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide for the first time. This DNA probe labeled with AFC was applied to hybridize with a sequence-unknown DNA sample. Only the complementary sequence (cDNA) could form a double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) with the DNA probe labeled with AFC. The anodic peak currents (ipa) of the AFC bound to the dsDNA by differential pulse voltammetry were used for the determination of cDNA. The ipa of AFC was linearly related to the concentration of cDNA sequence between 1.0 x 10(-8) and 6.0 x 10(-6) mol L-1. The detection limit was 2.0 x 10(-9) mol L-1 using 3 sigma (where sigma is the standard deviation of blank solution, n = 11). The probe showed high sensitivity and selectivity.

Immobilization of single-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid on gold electrode with self-assembled aminoethanethiol monolayer for DNA electrochemical sensor applications

A synthesized 24-mer single-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid (ssDNA) was covalently immobilized onto a self-assembled aminoethanethiol monolayer modified gold electrode, using water-soluble 1-ethyl-3(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-carbodiimide (EDC). The covalently immobilized ssDNAs were hybridized with complementary ssDNA (cDNA) or yAL(3) gene in solution, forming double-stranded DNAs (dsDNA). Meanwhile, daunomycin as an electrochemical active intercalator in the hybridization buffer solution was intercalated into the dsDNA to form a dsDNA/daunomycin system on the gold electrode surface, which was used for DNA electrochemical sensor. The cathodic waves of daunomycin bound to the double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) by linear sweep voltammetry were utilized to detect the cDNA. The cathodic peak current (i(pc)) of duanomycin was linearly related to the concentrations of cDNA between 0.1 mug ml(-1) and 0.1 ng ml(-1). The detection limit was about 30 pg ml(-1).

A Controllable Solid-State Ru(bpy)32+ Electrochemiluminescence Film Based on Conformation Change of Ferrocene-Labeled DNA Molecular Beacon

A controllable solid-state electrochemiluminescence (ECL) film based on efficient and stable quenching of ECL of ruthenium(II) tris-(bipyridine) (Ru(bpy)32+) by oxidizing ferrocene (Fc) at the electrode is developed. The ECL intensity is correlated to the distance which is controlled by the conformation of the ferrocene-labeled DNA molecular beacon (Fc-MB) between the Fc and Ru(bpy)32+ immobilized on the electrode. The conformation adjustment is conducted via complementary DNA hybridizing with the bases in the loop of the Fc-MB and changing the temperature of the Fc-MB and the resultant double-stranded DNA (dsDNA). Those events all result in change of the ECL intensity. With such characteristics, the solid-state Ru(bpy)32+-ECL film has the potential to be applied to reagentless DNA ECL biosensors and to calculate thermodynamic parameters of equilibrium constants of MB binding and the stem-loop formation.

Determination of thiols following their separation by CZE with amperometric detection at a carbon electrode

The amperometric detection (AD) employing a carbon disk electrode as a working electrode to determine the thiol compounds, including cysteine (CYS), glutathione (GSH), 6-thiopurine (TP), and methimazole (MMI), following their separation by capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) is described in this paper. The detection potential was chosen at +1100 mV and all analytes exhibit good response at this potential on the carbon disk electrode. The reproducibility, linearity, and recovery were evaluated under the optimum conditions. The four analytes can be baseline resolved within 20 min and the detection limits reached about 10(-6) mol/l of magnitude. The method was applied to the separation and determination of the actual thiol samples and the analytical results were satisfactory.

Determination of polyhydroxy antibiotics by capillary zone electrophoresis with amperometric detection at a nickel electrode

Abstract Capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) with amperometric detection at a nickel electrode for the determination of polyhydroxy antibiotics in alkaline solution is described. The electrode used was a 300 μm diameter Ni disk electrode operated in a wall-jet configuration. With a working potential of +0.54 V and an 80 cm capillary (o.d. 360 μm, i.d. 25 μm) at 15 kV in the electrophoretic medium of 0.10 mol/1 NaOH, a sample mixture containing seven different polyhydroxy antibiotics was separated within 20 min. The linearity varied over three orders of magnitude of concentration, the detection limit was 0.50 μmol/1, for doublemycin, and the relative standard deviation of the peak current was about 5.5% in a period of 8 h. The method has been successfully employed to the determination of the purity of kanamycin, and the content of amikacin in human urines.

Determination of hydrochlorothiazide and rutin in Chinese herb medicines and human urine by capillary zone electrophoresis with amperometric detection

In this paper, capillary zone electrophoresis with amperometric detection (CZE-AD) was firstly applied to the simultaneous determination of rutin (RT) and hydrochlorothiazide (HCT) in compound Chinese herb medicines and human urine samples. The two analytes could be perfectly analyzed within 12 min and showed significant current responses at carbon electrode under the optimum conditions. It was found that the linear range of HCT was from 2.0 x 10(-6) to 1.0 x 10(-4) mol l(-1) and that of RT was from 1.0 x 10(-6) to 1.0 x 10(-4) mol l(-1). Their sensitivity was determined by linear regression and calculated as 7.02 x 10(4) and 2.17 x 10(5) nA l mol(-1), respectively, and their detection limits were 5.0 x 10(-7) and 2.0 x 10(-7) mol l(-1), respectively (S/N=3). Above results demonstrated that this method was of high sensitivity, good repeatability, high selectivity and could be used in metabolic kinetics studies of medicines. Satisfactory results were obtained when this method was used to simultaneously analyze the amounts of RT and HCT in one general compound Chinese herb medicine-Zhen Ju jiang Ya Pian and human urine samples.

Simultaneous determination of flavonoids in chrysanthemum by capillary zone electrophoresis with running buffer modifiers

Despite the separation efficiency of capillary electrophoresis (CE) is much higher than other chromatographic methods, it is sometimes difficult to perfectly separate the complex ingredients in biological samples. One possible and simple way to develop the separation effect in CE is to add some modifiers in the running buffer. In this paper, the suitable running buffer modifiers were explored to simultaneously separate and detect six typical flavonoids (apigenin, luteolin, kaempferol, quercetin, (+)-catechin and (-)-epicatechin) which are the main active ingredients in chrysanthemum by capillary zone electrophoresis with amperometric detection (CZE-AD). It was found that when beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) and the mixture of methanol and ethanol were used as running buffer modifiers, a baseline separation of the six analytes could be accomplished in less than 20 min and the detection limits were as low as 10(-7) or 10(-8)gm l(-1). Other factors affecting the CZE separation, such as working potential, pH value and ionic strength of running buffer, separation voltage and sample injection time were extensively investigated. Under the optimum conditions, a successful practical application on the determination of chrysanthemum samples confirmed the validity and practicability of this method.

Voltammetric determination of sequence-specific DNA by electroactive intercalator on graphite electrode

Abstract A synthesized 24-mer single-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid (ssDNA) was covalently immobilized onto a chemically-modified graphite electrode with surface-bound primary amino groups, using water-soluble 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-carbodiimide (EDC). The immobilized ssDNA was hybridized with various concentrations of complementary DNA (cDNA) in hybridization buffer solution containing ethidium bromide (EB). The dsDNA/EB system was formed on the electrode surface. The anodic waves of the EB bound to the double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) in cyclic voltammetry were used for the determination of cDNA. The anodic peak currents (ipa) of EB were linearly related to the concentrations of cDNA between 1 × 10−4mg ml−1 and 1 × 10−6mg ml−1. The detection limit was about 2 × 10−7mg ml−1.