Aptamer based determination of Pb(II) by SERS and by exploiting the reduction of HAuCl4 by H2O2 as catalyzed by graphene oxide nanoribbons

Progress on aptamer-based SERS sensors for food safety and quality assessment: methodology, current applications and future trends

It is well known that food safety has aroused extensive attentions from governments to researchers and to food industries. As a versatile technology based on molecular interactions, aptamer sensors which could specifically identify a wide range of food contaminants have been extensively studied in recent years. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy integrated aptamer combines the advantages of both technologies, not only in the ability to specifically identify a wide range of food contaminants, but also in the ultra-high sensitivity, simplicity, portable and speed. To provide beneficial insights into the evaluation techniques in the field of food safety, we offer a comprehensive review on the design strategies for aptamer-SERS sensors in different scenarios, including non-nucleic acid amplification methods ("on/off" mode, sandwich mode, competition model and catalytic model) and nucleic acid amplification methods (hybridization chain reaction, rolling circle amplification, catalytic hairpin assembly). Meanwhile, a special attention is paid to the application of aptamer-SERS sensors in biological (foodborne pathogenic, bacteria and mycotoxins) and chemical contamination (drug residues, metal ions, and food additives) of food matrix. Finally, the challenges and prospects of developing reliable aptamer-SERS sensors for food safety were discussed, which are expected to offer a strong guidance for further development and extended applications.

On-signal amplification of silver nanosol RRS/SERS aptamer detection of ultratrace urea by polystyrene nanosphere catalyst

The catalytic amplification signal of polystyrene nanosphere (PN) is used to conveniently fabricate the resonance Rayleigh scattering (RRS)/surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) dual-mode method to sensitively and selectively detect urea in food. PN has strong catalysis of the slow nanoreaction of citrate-Ag(I) to produce yellow silver nanoparticles (AgNP), which exhibit strong RRS effect and SERS effect with molecular probes. When aptamer (Apt) is present, the Apt is adsorbed on the PN surface, the catalysis is weakened, the AgNP is reduced, and the SERS/RRS signal is weakened. After adding urea to exhibit specific Aptamer reaction, the Apt is desorbed from the PN surface and the catalysis is restored. As urea increase, the desorbed PNs increase to produce more AgNPs indicator to increase SERS/RRS signal. The increase value △I of SERS/RRS is linearly to urea concentration. Therefore, a sensitive and selective SERS/RRS dual-mode method for urea is established based on aptamers-regulated the catalysis of PNs. This method is applied to the detection of urea in milk with satisfactory results. The relative standard deviation is 3.9-6.8% and the recovery rate is 94.5-102%.

Advances in Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering-Based Aptasensors for Food Safety Detection

Owing to the excellent performances of high sensitivity, high specificity, on-site detection, and multiplexing capability, surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-based aptasensors have performed prosperous applications and gained impressive progress in food safety. Herein, we reviewed the SERS-based aptasensors from the principles to specific applications in food safety. First, the sensor-working principles, SERS label design and preparation are introduced. Then, the popular platforms in the aptasensors are summarized with their advantages and disadvantages, followed by their representative applications. Further, the specific applications of developing SERS-based aptasensors in food safety are systematically provided. Moreover, the multiplex analysis using SERS labels are highlighted. Finally, challenges and perspectives for improving the SERS-based aptasensor performance are also discussed, aiming to give some proposes for researchers to choose suitable SERS-based aptasensors according to specific applications.

Single-atom Fe catalytic amplification-gold nanosol SERS/RRS aptamer as platform for the quantification of trace pollutants

Bisphenol A (BPA), as a typical endocrine disruptor, poses a serious threat to human health. Therefore, it is urgent to establish a rapid, sensitive, and simple method for the determination of BPA. In this paper, based on the aptamer-mediated single-atom Fe carbon dot catalyst (SA_Fe) catalyzing the HAuCl₄-ethylene glycol (EG) nanoreaction, a new SERS/RRS di-mode detection method for BPA was established. The results show that SA_Fe exhibits a strong catalytic effect on the HAuCl₄-EG nanoreaction, which could generate purple gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) with resonance Rayleigh scattering (RRS) signals and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) effects. After the addition of BPA aptamer (Apt), it could encapsulate SA_Fe through intermolecular interaction, thus inhibiting its catalytic action, resulting in the reduction of AuNPs generated and the decrease of RRS and SERS signals of the system. With the addition of BPA, Apt was specifically combined with BPA, and SA_Fe was re-released to restore the catalytic ability; the generated AuNPs increased. As a result of this RRS and SERS signals of the system recovered, and their increment was linear with the concentration of BPA. Thus, the quantification of 0.1-4.0 nM (RRS) and 0.1-12.0 nM (SERS) BPA was realized, and the detection limits were 0.08 nM and 0.03 nM, respectively. At the same time, we used molecular spectroscopy and electron microscopy to study the SA_Fe-HAuCl₄-ethylene glycol indicator reaction, and proposed a reasonable SA_Fe catalytic reaction mechanism. Based on Apt-mediated SA_Fe catalysis gold nanoreaction amplification, a SERS/RRS di-mode analytical platform was established for targets such as BPA.

Aptamer Turn-On SERS/RRS/Fluorescence Tri-mode Platform for Ultra-trace Urea Determination Using Fe/N-Doped Carbon Dots

Sensitive and selective methods for the determination of urea in samples such as dairy products are important for quality control and health applications. Using ammonium ferric citrate as a precursor, Fe/N-codoped carbon dots (CD_FeN) were prepared by a hydrothermal procedure and characterized in detail. CD_FeN strongly catalyzes the oxidation of 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) by H₂O₂ to turn on an indicator molecular reaction, forming an oxidized tetramethylbenzidine (TMB_ox) probe with surface-enhanced Raman scattering, resonance Rayleigh scattering, and fluorescence (SERS, RRS, and FL) signals at 1,598 cm⁻¹, 370 nm, and 405 nm, respectively. The urea aptamer (Apt) can turn off the indicator reaction to reduce the tri-signals, and the addition of urea turns on the indicator reaction to linearly enhance the SERS/RRS/FL intensity. Thus, a novel Apt turn-on tri-mode method was developed for the assay determination of ultra-trace urea with high sensitivity, good selectivity, and accuracy. Trace adenosine triphosphate and estradiol can also be determined by the Apt-CD_FeN catalytic analytical platform.

Gold and silver nanoparticles in resonance Rayleigh scattering techniques for chemical sensing and biosensing: a review

This review (with 116 refs.) summarizes the state of the art in resonance Rayleigh scattering (RRS)-based analytical methods. Following an introduction into the fundamentals of RRS and on the preparation of metal nanoparticles, a first large section covers RRS detection methods based on the use of gold nanoparticles, with subsections on proteins (albumin, bovine serum albumin and ovalbumin, glycoproteins, folate receptors, iron binding-proteins, G-proteins-coupled receptors, transmembrane proteins, epidermal growth factor receptors), on pesticides, saccharides, vitamins, heavy metal ions (such as mercury, silver, chromium), and on cationic dyes. This is followed by a section on RRS methods based on the use of silver nanoparticles, with subsections on the detection of nucleic acids and insecticides. Several Tables are presented where an RRS method is compared to the performance of other methods. A concluding section summarizes the current status, addresses current challenges, and gives an outlook on potential future trends. Graphical Abstract Change in the resonance Rayleigh scattering (RRS) intensity when mixing the nanoparticles with the specific analyte.

A dual-model SERS and RRS analytical platform for Pb(II) based on Ag-doped carbon dot catalytic amplification and aptamer regulation

Several carbon dots doping with diferent elements (Ca, Ag, Au) were fabricated and their catalytic properties had been investigated in this paper. It was found that the Ag-doped carbon dots (CDAg) had played a role of mimic enzyme on the reaction of HAuCl4-H2O2 and generated nanogold particles with surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and resonance Rayleigh scattering (RRS) effects. The aptamer (Apt) can be adsorbed on the CDAg surface and cause the catalysis weakening. When the target Pb(II) was added, it would combine with the Apt to produce firm complexes Pb-Apt and desorb CDAg, which caused its catalytic effect restore. The formed nanogold had a strong RRS peak (at 375 nm) and a high SERS peak (at 1615 cm-1) in the presence of molecular probe (Victoria blue B, VBB). The dual-model signals of SERS and RRS increased linearly with Pb(II) concentration increase within the scope of 0.006-0.46 μmol/L and 0.01-0.46 μmol/L. And their detection limits respectively were 0.0032 μmol/L and 0.0048 μmol/L Pb(II).

Functionalized magnetic composites based on the aptamer serve as novel bio-adsorbent for the separation and preconcentration of trace lead

A magnetic functionalized bio-sorbent based on aptamer was designed for the selective separation of ultra-trace Pb²⁺, shortly termed as Fe₃O₄@Au@DNA. Pb(II) specific aptamer attached to the magnetic solid substrate served as affinity probe to capture and separate trace lead. Oligonucleotides with a polyA block were employed for the immobilization on the surface of AuNPs, with adenine sequences (polyA) as the part of effective anchoring block. The prepared Fe₃O₄@Au@DNA composites were characterized by FT-IR, SEM and XPS. The binding of lead on Fe₃O₄@Au@DNA composites surface was pH-dependent, the adsorption follows Langmuir model, and the adsorption dynamic fits the pseudo-second-order kinetics model. Procedure for lead separation and preconcentration was explored and combined with detection of graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS). Under the optimum condition, an enrichment factor of 17.73 was obtained with a sample volume of 1.0 mL. The limit of detection (LOD) was 57 ng L^-1 along with a relative standard deviation (RSD) of 2.06 (n = 9). The procedure was further validated by a certified reference material GBW08608 and several environmental and blood samples.

Ultrasensitive analysis of kanamycin residue in milk by SERS-based aptasensor

An ultrasensitive method for the kanamycin (KANA) detection in milk sample using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy-based aptasensor was employed in the current study. Double strand DNA binding bimetallic gold@silver nanoparticles were developed as a sensing platform. Probe DNAs were first embedded on the surface of gold nanoparticles by the end-modified thiol, and after silver shell encapsulating, KANA aptamer DNAs with the Raman reporter Cy3 were then hybridized with probe DNAs by complementary base pairing. Results showed that with increase in the KANA concentration, the Raman intensity of Cy3 decreased. Besides achieving selectivity, an ultralow detection limit of 0.90 pg/mL, a broad linear relationship ranging from 10 μg/mL to 100 ng/mL in aqueous reagent and satisfactory recoveries of 90.4-112% in liquid whole milk were obtained. The result of actual sample proved that this aptasensor was promising in trace determination of KANA residue.

Graphene-based nanoplatforms for surface-enhanced Raman scattering sensing

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is one of the important techniques for sensing applications in biological analysis, disease diagnosis, environmental science, and food safety. Graphene provides an excellent nanoplatform for SERS sensing due to its two-dimensional flat structure, uniform electronic and photonic properties, excellent mechanical stability, atomic uniformity, and high biocompatibility. In this review, we summarize recent advances in the fabrication of various graphene-based nanoplatforms for SERS sensing. We present the strategies, such as self-assembly, in situ synthesis, one-pot synthesis, liquid phase reduction, and biomimetic synthesis, for the fabrication of graphene-based hybrid metallic and alloy nanoplatforms, and then demonstrate the potential applications of graphene-based nanoplatforms for the SERS sensing of ions, organic dyes, pesticides, bacteria, DNA, proteins, cells, and other chemicals in great detail. In addition, we also discuss the future development of this interesting research field and provide several perspectives. This work will be helpful for readers to understand the fabrication and sensing mechanisms of graphene-based SERS sensing nanoplatforms; meanwhile, it will promote the development of new materials and novel methods for high performance sensing and biosensing applications.

Applications of SERS in the Detection of Stress-Related Substances

A wide variety of biotic and abiotic stresses continually attack plants and animals, which adversely affect their growth, development, reproduction, and yield realization. To survive under stress conditions, highly sophisticated and efficient tolerance mechanisms have been evolved to adapt to stresses, which consist of the variation of effector molecules playing vital roles in physiological regulation. The development of a sensitive, facile, and rapid analytical methods for stress factors and effector molecules detection is significant for gaining deeper insight into the tolerance mechanisms. As a nondestructive analysis technique, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) has unique advantages regarding its biosensing applications. It not only provides specific fingerprint spectra of the target molecules, conformation, and structure, but also has universal capacity for simultaneous detection and imaging of targets owing to the narrow width of the Raman vibrational bands. Herein, recent progress on biotic and abiotic stresses, tolerance mechanisms and effector molecules is summarized. Moreover, the development and promising future trends of SERS detection for stress-related substances combined with nanomaterials as substrates and SERS tags are discussed. This comprehensive and critical review might shed light on a new perspective for SERS applications.

A Sensitive Gold Nanoplasmonic SERS Quantitative Analysis Method for Sulfate in Serum Using Fullerene as Catalyst

Fullerene exhibited strong catalysis of the redox reaction between HAuCl₄ and trisodium citrate to form gold nanoplasmon with a strong surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) effect at 1615 cm^−1 in the presence of Vitoria blue B molecule probes. When fullerene increased, the SERS peak enhanced linearly due to formation of more AuNPs as substrate. Upon addition of Ba²⁺, Ba²⁺ ions adsorb on the fullerene surface to inhibit the catalysis of fullerene that caused the SERS peak decreasing. Analyte SO₄^2− combined with Ba²⁺ to form stable BaSO₄ precipitate to release free fullerene that the catalysis recovered, and the SERS intensity increased linearly. Thus, a new SERS quantitative analysis method was established for the detection of sulfate in serum samples, with a linear range of 0.03⁻3.4 μM.