In situ formation of gold nanoparticles in polymer inclusion membrane: Application as platform in a label-free potentiometric immunosensor for Salmonella typhimurium detection

Polymeric ion selective electrodes are highly sensitive to changes in zero current ion flow and this offers a route to signal amplification in label-free potentiometric immunosensors. In this work, a label-free potentiometric immunosensor toward Salmonella typhimurium (ST) assembled in a home-made pipette-tip electrode is described. The signal-output amplification was implemented on a gold nanoparticle polymer inclusion membrane (AuNPs-PIM) which was used as sensing platform and for antibody immobilization. Additionally, a marker ion was used to detect the antibody-antigen binding event at the electrode surface. The immunosensor construction was performed in several steps: i) gold salt ions extraction in PVC membrane; ii) AuNPs formation using Na₂EDTA as reduction agent; iii) antibody anti-Salmonella conjugation on AuNPs-PIM in pipette-tip electrodes. The potential shift observed in potentiometric measurements was derived simply from the blocking effect in the ionic flux caused by antigen-antibody conjugation, without no extra steps, mimetizing the ion-channel sensors. A detection limit of 6 cells mL^-1 was attained. As proof-of-concept, recovery studies were performed in spiked commercial apple juice samples with success. Due to the simplicity of use, the appealing cost of equipment and sensor production and being able to provide a quick analytical response (less than 1 h for a complete assay, including sample preparation for analysis), this scheme represents a good prototype device for the detection of foodborne pathogens like ST or other immune-responsive bacteria.

A novel potentiometric immunoassay for carcinoma antigen 15-3 by coupling enzymatic biocatalytic precipitation with a nanogold labelling strategy

Methods based on potentiometric measurement have been developed for immunoassays, but most exhibit low sensitivities and are unsuitable for early diagnosis of disease.

Pulsed galvanostatic control of a polymeric membrane ion-selective electrode for potentiometric immunoassays

Pulsed galvanostatic control of ion fluxes across polymeric membrane ion-selective electrodes (ISEs) is an emerging field for potentiometric sensing. Herein we report a novel potentiometric enzyme immunoassay based on current-controlled release of an enzyme substrate, which eliminates the addition of marker ions in the sample solution. In this method, the carboxylated poly(vinyl chloride) matrix at the outer layer of the ISE membrane is employed to attach a primary antibody. A sandwich immunoassay with an alkaline phosphatase labeled antibody (ALP-Ab) as the reporter is used for the determination of human IgG (as a model protein). The large difference between the lipophilicity of the substrate ion and that of the product ion allows p-nitrophenyl phosphate to be used as the enzyme substrate for potentiometric immunosensors. After the immunoreactions, the captured ALP-Ab catalyzes the hydrolysis of the substrate ions released at the sample-membrane interface by using the pulsed galvanostatic technique. This process can be potentiometrically determined by measuring the open circuit potential of the ISE. Under optimal conditions, the potential response of the proposed immunosensor is proportional to the concentration of human IgG in the range of 50-1000 ng/mL with a detection limit of 30 ng/mL (3σ). Owing to simplicity and independence of sample volume and sample turbidity, the proposed potentiometric immunoassay offers a viable alternative to those based on optical absorbance.

Recent developments in potentiometric biosensors for biomedical analysis

A large variety of potentiometric biosensors is developed using biocatalytic and bioaffinity-based biosensing schemes. However, only few of them could be applied for the biomedical analysis. The most promising are those for the detection of main products of protein metabolism, namely urea and creatinine. A novel group of potentiometric biosensors is constituted by bioaffinity-based devices that could be used for immunoassays or genoanalysis. This paper reviews the recent trends in these fields as well as discusses advantages, limitations and pitfalls of the developed biosensors. Some potentiometric biosensors useful for real biomedical analysis are reported in detail.