Gold Nanoparticles Doped Three-Dimensional Sol-gel Matrix for Amperometric Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin Immunosensor

Advances on Hormones and Steroids Determination: A Review of Voltammetric Methods since 2000

This article presents advances in the electrochemical determination of hormones and steroids since 2000. A wide spectrum of techniques and working electrodes have been involved in the reported measurements in order to obtain the lowest possible limits of detection. The voltammetric and polarographic techniques, due to their sensitivity and easiness, could be used as alternatives to other, more complicated, analytical assays. Still, growing interest in designing a new construction of the working electrodes enables us to prepare new measurement procedures and obtain lower limits of detection. A brief description of the measured compounds has been presented, along with a comparison of the obtained results.

Silver-Incorporated Mussel-Inspired Polydopamine Coatings on Mesoporous Silica as an Efficient Nanocatalyst and Antimicrobial Agent

To tackle severe environmental pollution, a search for materials by economical and eco-friendly preparations is demanding for public health. In this study, a novel in situ method to form silver nanoparticles under mild conditions was developed using biomimetic reducing agents of polydopamine coated on the rodlike mesoporous silica of SBA-15. The synthesized SBA-15/polydopamine (PDA)/Ag nanocomposites were characterized by a combination of physicochemical and electrochemical methods. 4-Nitrophenol (4-NP) and methylene blue (MB) were used as models for the evaluation of the prepared nanocatalysts of SBA-15/PDA/Ag in which the composite exhibited enhanced catalytic performance toward degrading 4-NP in solution and MB on the membrane, respectively. Additionally, compared with that of solid core-shell SiO₂/PDA/Ag, tubular SBA-15/PDA/Ag showed the prolonged inhibitory effect on microbial growth as typified by Escherichia coli (60 h), Staphylococcus aureus (36 h), and Aspergillus fumigatus (60 h), which demonstrated efficient control of silver nanoparticles release from the mesopores. The constructed dual-functional SBA-15/PDA/Ag as the long-term antimicrobial agent and the catalyst of industrial products provides an integrated nanoplatform to deal with environmental concerns.

Advances in human chorionic gonadotropin detection technologies: a review

Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) is a glycoprotein secreted by placental trophoblast cells in pregnancy. HCG is a heterodimer composed of two different α- and β-subunits, with the latter being unique to HCG. As well as being the most important diagnostic markers for pregnancy, HCG is also a tumor marker, therefore, quantitative detection of HCG is of great value. Numerous advanced technologies have been developed for HCG concentration detection including electrochemical immunoassay, chemiluminescent immunoassay, fluorescence immunoassay, resonance scattering spectrometry, atomic emission spectrometry, radioimmunoassay, MS and so on. Some have pursued simple and easy operation, while others have emphasized on accuracy and applications in clinical medicine. This review provides a comprehensive summary of various methods of detecting HCG.

Raspberry-Like Bismuth Oxychloride on Mesoporous Siliceous Support for Sensitive Electrochemical Stripping Analysis of Cadmium

BiOCl-SiO₂ KIT-6 composite materials with raspberry-like structures are facilely prepared under hydrothermal conditions. The mesoporous siliceous support of SiO₂ KIT-6-incorporated BiOCl with enlarged yet refined surface morphology characterized by physiochemical methods exhibits an improved electrochemical performance. A sensitive electrochemical detection method of cadmium concentration using square wave anodic stripping voltammetry was developed based on BiOCl-SiO₂ KIT-6 composite-modified glassy carbon electrodes, which displayed wide linear ranges of 0.5 to 10 μg/L and 10 to 300 μg/L and a detection limit of 65 ng/L. The sensitive, versatile and eco-friendly sensor was successfully applied for the determination of cadmium-spiked human blood samples.

Selective determination of dopamine using quantum-sized gold nanoparticles protected with charge selective ligands

We report here the selective determination of dopamine (DA) using quantum-sized gold nanoparticles coated with charge selective ligands. Glutathione protected gold nanoparticles (GS-Au(25)) were synthesized and immobilized into a sol-gel matrix via thiol linkers. The GS-Au(25) modified sol-gel electrode was found to show excellent electrocatalytic activity towards the oxidation of DA but no activity towards the oxidation of ascorbic acid. The role of electrostatic charge in the selective electrocatalytic activity of GS-Au(25) was verified by voltammetry of redox markers carrying opposite charges. The pH dependent sensitivity for the determination of DA further confirmed the charge screening effect of GS-Au(25). Mechanistic investigation revealed that the selectivity is attained by the selective formation of an electrostatic complex between the negatively charged GS-Au(25) and DA cation. The GS-Au(25) modified sol-gel electrode also showed excellent selectivity for DA in the presence of an interferent, ascorbic acid.

The preparation of reagentless electrochemical immunosensor based on a nano-gold and chitosan hybrid film for human chorionic gonadotrophin

A novel amperometric immunosensor for determination of human serum chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) was constructed by immobilizing hCG antibody with nano-gold and chitosan (CHIT) hybrid film electrochemical co-deposited on a glassy carbon electrode. The fabricated procedures and electrochemical behaviors of proteins on such an interface were characterized with electrochemical impedance, cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. The effect of incubation time on the electrochemical behavior of immunosensor was studied and other experimental conditions such as mass ratio of CHIT and HAuCl4, depositing time of hybrid film, the pH, and temperature were studied too. The current response of the immunosensor is in linear relationship with concentration of hCG. The resulting immunosensor offers an excellent amperometric response for hCG ranging from 0.20 to 100 mIU mL(-1) with a detection limit of 0.1 mIU mL(-1). A satisfactory determination of hCG in serum samples can be obtained by this immunosensor.

Synthesis and electrochemical applications of gold nanoparticles

This review covers recent advances in synthesis and electrochemical applications of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). Described approaches include the synthesis of AuNPs via designing and choosing new protecting ligands; and applications in electrochemistry of AuNPs including AuNPs-based bioelectrochemical sensors, such as direct electrochemistry of redox-proteins, genosensors and immunosensors, and AuNPs as enhancing platform for electrocatalysis and electrochemical sensors.