Chemical Sensing with Chemically Modified Electrodes that Mimic Gating at Biomembranes Incorporating Ion-Channel Receptors

Electronic Processes within Quantum Dot-Molecule Complexes

The subject of this review is the colloidal quantum dot (QD) and specifically the interaction of the QD with proximate molecules. It covers various functions of these molecules, including (i) ligands for the QDs, coupled electronically or vibrationally to localized surface states or to the delocalized states of the QD core, (ii) energy or electron donors or acceptors for the QDs, and (iii) structural components of QD assemblies that dictate QD-QD or QD-molecule interactions. Research on interactions of ligands with colloidal QDs has revealed that ligands determine not only the excited state dynamics of the QD but also, in some cases, its ground state electronic structure. Specifically, the article discusses (i) measurement of the electronic structure of colloidal QDs and the influence of their surface chemistry, in particular, dipolar ligands and exciton-delocalizing ligands, on their electronic energies; (ii) the role of molecules in interfacial electron and energy transfer processes involving QDs, including electron-to-vibrational energy transfer and the use of the ligand shell of a QD as a semipermeable membrane that gates its redox activity; and (iii) a particular application of colloidal QDs, photoredox catalysis, which exploits the combination of the electronic structure of the QD core and the chemistry at its surface to use the energy of the QD excited state to drive chemical reactions.

Bilayer lipid membrane biosensor with enhanced stability for amperometric determination of hydrogen peroxide

In this paper, a polydopamine (PDA) film is electropolymerized on the surface of bilayer lipid membrane (BLM) which is immobilized with horseradish peroxidase (HRP). The coverage of the PDA film on HRP/BLM electrode is monitored by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The electrocatalytic reduction of H(2)O(2) at the PDA/HRP/BLM electrode is studied by means of cyclic voltammetry (CV). The biosensor has a fast response to H(2)O(2) of less than 5s and an excellent linear relationship is obtained in the concentration range from 2.5×10(-7) to 3.1×10(-3) molL(-1), with a detection limit of 1.0×10(-7) molL(-1) (S/N=3). The response current of BLM/HRP/PDA biosensor retains 84% of its original response after being stored in 0.1 molL(-1) pH 7.0 PBS at 4°C for 3 weeks. The selectivity, repeatability, and storage stability of PDA/HRP/BLM biosensor are greatly enhanced by the coverage of polydopamine film on BLM.

Self-consistent molecular dynamics formulation for electric-field-mediated electrolyte transport through nanochannels

A self-consistent molecular dynamics (SCMD) formulation is presented for electric-field-mediated transport of water and ions through a nanochannel connected to reservoirs or baths. The SCMD formulation is compared with a uniform field MD approach, where the applied electric field is assumed to be uniform, for 2nm and 3.5nm wide nanochannels immersed in a 0.5M KCl solution. Reservoir ionic concentrations are maintained using the dual-control-volume grand canonical molecular dynamics technique. Simulation results with varying channel height indicate that the SCMD approach calculates the electrostatic potential in the simulation domain more accurately compared to the uniform field approach, with the deviation in results increasing with the channel height. The translocation times and ionic fluxes predicted by uniform field MD can be substantially different from those predicted by the SCMD approach. Our results also indicate that during a 2ns simulation time K+ ions can permeate through a 1nm channel when the applied electric field is computed self-consistently, while the permeation is not observed when the electric field is assumed to be uniform.

Hybridization-modulated ion fluxes through peptide-nucleic-acid- functionalized gold nanotubes. A new approach to quantitative label-free DNA analysis

The inner walls of gold nanotubes, prepared by template synthesis in the nanopores of polycarbonate track etch membranes, have been chemically modified with peptide nucleic acid (PNA) and used for label-free quantification of complementary DNA sequences. Selective binding of DNA to the PNA-modified nanotubes is shown to decrease the flux of optically detected anionic markers through the nanotubes in a concentration-dependent manner. The strong dependence of the biorecognition-modulated ion transport through the nanopores on the ionic strength suggests a dominantly electrostatic exclusion mechanism of the ion flux decrease as a result of DNA binding to the PNA-modified nanopores.

Ion-channel Sensors Based on ETH 1001 Ionophore Embedded in Charged-alkanethiol Self-assembled Monolayers on Gold Electrode Surfaces

An ion-channel sensor was demonstrated by immobilizing ETH 1001, an ionophore for ion-selective electrodes, on a gold electrode surface. The approach for preparing the sensor was to incorporate the ionophore into a mixed self-assembled monolayer of 10-mercaptodecanesulfonate and 11-hydroxy-1-undecanethiol formed on the surface. The voltammetric responses for the thus prepared sensor to the primary cation Ca(2+) were observed by using [Fe(CN)(6)](3-/4-) as an electroactive marker. The ionophore was stably immobilized on the electrode surface with the hydrophobic interaction between its alkyl chains and those of the alkanethiol. The introduction of a proper charge density to the electrode surface improved the sensor sensitivity with retaining the selective response to Ca(2+) against Mg(2+) with concentrations above 10(-4) M.

Gene sensors based on peptide nucleic acid (PNA) probes: relationship between sensor sensitivity and probe/target duplex stability

Gene sensors based on peptide nucleic acid (PNA) probes were prepared and the relationship between sensor sensitivity and the duplex stability of the probe PNAs and target complementary DNAs was studied using five synthesized PNAs (10-, 15-, 17-, 20-, and 22-mers). It was found that the association constants for the probe PNA/target DNA pairs depend not only on the length but also on the base pair sequence, and that the trend in the sensor responses was the same as that in the association constants for the corresponding pairs. In addition, by using two kinds of probe PNAs with different lengths, it was demonstrated that fabrication of sensors based on probe PNAs with comparable association constants yielded similar response curves and sensor sensitivities.

Biorecognition-modulated ion fluxes through functionalized gold nanotubules as a novel label-free biosensing approach

A novel biosensing principle is presented, based on the potentiometric monitoring of an indicator ion such as Ca2+, whose zero-current flux through chemically modified nanochannels is altered by biorecognition events.

Voltammetric detection of inorganic phosphate using ion-channel sensing with self-assembled monolayers of a hydrogen bond-forming receptor

A voltammetric ion-channel sensing for phosphate based on gold electrodes modified with the self-assembled monolayers of a bis-thiourea receptor was developed to detect phosphate. The working principle of this voltammetric sensor conceptually mimics that of ligand gated ion-channel proteins, as to chemically stimulated changes in membrane permeability. The response to analytes is based on the change in electron transfer rate constant of the redox reaction of [Fe(CN)(6)](4-/3-) marker, before and after binding of phosphate to the receptor on the electrode surface; where the electrostatic repulsion between a phosphate-receptor complex and the marker induced the decrease in the rate constant. In a solution of pH 7.0, a high selectivity was observed for phosphate and the sensor was virtually insensitive at all to many of other anions, such as SO(4)(2-), AcO(-), NO(3)(-), and Cl(-). The sensor response was obtained with phosphate concentrations above 5.0 x 10(-4) M using cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry.

Methods of analysis for chemicals that promote/disrupt cellular signaling

Methods of analysis were presented for chemicals that promote or disrupt cellular signaling pathways. The developed analytical methods are based not only on receptor binding, but also on the following known molecular-level processes involved in signal transduction along signaling pathways, reconstituted in vitro or taken in part in living cells. The methods were discussed in relation to receptor binding assay and/or bioassay. Examples include: (1) Insulin signaling pathways; (1-i) Chemical selectivity of agonists for insulin signaling pathways based on agonist-induced phosphorylation of a target peptide; (1-ii) An SPR-based screening method for agonist selectivity for insulin signaling pathways based on the binding of phosphotyrosine to its specific binding protein; (1-iii) A fluorescent indicator for tyrosine phosphorylation-based insulin signaling pathways; (2) An optical method for evaluating ion selectivity for calcium signaling pathways in the cell; (3) Assay and screening of chemicals that disrupt cellular signaling pathways, potential endocrine disruptors in particular; (4) Protein conformational changes, and (5) A screening method for antigen-specific IgE using mast cells, based on intracellular calcium signaling.

Some new aspects in biosensors

This paper reviews recent advances in biosensors contributed mainly by our laboratory. The biosensors, based on the new immobilization materials - sol-gel organic-inorganic hybrid materials, cryohydrogel (or organohydrogel) and bilayer lipid membranes, are presented. The analytical performances of the biosensors are discussed. Applications of the biosensors in extreme environment are emphasized. A new generation of biosensors - surface plasmon resonance biosensors and capacitance biosensors, are also described.

Self-assembled monolayer of a redox-active calix[4]arene: voltammetric recognition of the Ba2+ ion in aqueous media

The Redox-active monolayer of a novel calix[4]arene recognizing redox-inactive ionic species by voltammetry is reported. Calix[4]arene-disulfide-diquinone, which is not only redox-active but is also a highly selective ionophore for the Ba2+ ion, spontaneously forms a stable and dense monolayer film on gold. The redox-active calixarene monolayer selectively recognizes Ba2+ ion in aqueous media, and the voltammetric signals are proportional to the ionic concentration. A new voltammetric peak can be detected by square-wave voltammetry upon adding a dilute solution containing Ba2+ ion having a concentration as low as 1.0 x 10(-6) M. The Langmuir plot (1/ip vs 1/[Ba2+]) shows a linear slope in the range from 1.0 x 10(-6) M to 1.0 x 10(-4) M. This modified electrode does not show any significant interference from alkali and alkaline earth metal ions except for Sr2+ and Ca2+. Only 100- and 500-fold concentrations of Sr2+ and Ca2+ ions, respectively, can lead to voltammetric responses comparable to that of Ba2+.