Research on a New Micro-Volume Fluorescence Capillary Biosensor Assay for Sequentially Quantifying Pyruvate and Lactate

Paper-based chiral biosensors using enzyme encapsulation in hydrogel network for point-of-care detection of lactate enantiomers

Chiral analysis is of pivotal importance in a variety of fields due to the different biological activities and functions of enantiomers. Here, we develop a simple paper-based chiral biosensor that can perform sample-to-answer simultaneous analysis of lactate enantiomers in human serum samples. By modification of alginate hydrogel with "egg-box" three-dimensional network structure on a glass microfiber paper, reagents of enantiomer-selective enzymatic reactions are efficiently encapsulated forming the sensing regions for chiral analysis. Dual enzyme catalytic system (lactate dehydrogenase and glutamic pyruvic transaminase) is utilized to enhance the response of the biosensor. A smartphone with color analysis software is used to collect and analyze the fluorescence signal from the product nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide. The results show that the sensor has excellent selectivity toward lactate enantiomers with low limit-of-detection of (30.0 ± 0.7) μM for L-lactate and (3.0 ± 0.2) μM for D-lactate, and wide linear detection range of 0.1-3.0mM and 0.01-0.5 mM for L-lactate and D-lactate respectively. The proposed method is successfully applied to the simultaneous detection of L-/D-lactate concentrations in human serum with satisfactory accuracy. Our study provides a robust approach for developing chiral biosensors, which would have promising application prospect in point-of-care testing (POCT) analysis of various biological and food samples.

A novel high-stability bioelectrochemical sensor based on sol-gel immobilization of lactate dehydrogenase and AuNPs-rGO signal enhancement for serum pyruvate detection

Pyruvate participates in diverse metabolic pathways in the body and is normally present in human blood at 40-120 μM, with concentrations outside this range associated with various diseases. Therefore, accurate and stable blood pyruvate level tests are necessary for effective disease detection. However, traditional analytical techniques require complicated instrumentation and are time consuming and expensive, prompting researchers to develop improved methods based on biosensors and bioassays. Here, we designed a highly stable bioelectrochemical pyruvate sensor affixed to a glassy carbon electrode (GCE). To maximize biosensor stability, 0.1 U of lactate dehydrogenase was affixed to the GCE using a sol-gel process, resulting in generation of Gel/LDH/GCE. Next, 2.0 mg/mL AuNPs-rGO was added to enhance current signal strength, resulting in generation of the bioelectrochemical sensor Gel/AuNPs-rGO/LDH/GCE. AuNPs-rGO synthesized in advance was verified as correct using transmission electron microscopy and UV-Vis, Fourier-transform infrared and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Pyruvate detection conducted via differential pulse voltammetry in phosphate buffer (pH 7.4, 100 mM) at 37 °C for 1-4500 μM pyruvate provided detection sensitivity as high as 254.54 μA/mM/cm². The reproducibility, regenerability and storage stability were analyzed with the relative standard deviation of 5 bioeletrochemical sensors detection was 4.60% and biosensor accuracy after 9 cycles was 92%, with accuracy remaining at 86% after 7 days. In the presence of D-glucose, citric acid, dopamine, uric acid and ascorbic acid, the Gel/AuNPs-rGO/LDH/GCE sensor exhibited excellent stability, high anti-interference ability and better performance than conventional spectroscopic methods for detection of pyruvate in artificial serum.

Quantification of CRP in human serum using a handheld fluorescence detection system for capillary-based ELISA

We developed a handheld fluorescence detection system for capillary-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The detection system implements both a long-pass filter and perpendicular optical arrangement, i.e., a power LED and a palm-sized spectrometer, to minimize background signals from the excitation light and optical scattering. The lower detection limit for resorufin was 0.13 μM. The detection system was applied to the quantification of C-reactive protein (CRP) in human serum with a capillary-based ELISA. The lower detection limit for CRP was 31 ng/ml, and the observed CRP levels in human serum were comparable to those obtained with a conventional ELISA system.

A novel immobilization fluorescence capillary analysis method and its applications

Fluorescence capillary analysis (FCA) realizes trace-level analysis of micro-volume samples; it is easy to operate, extremely low in analytical cost and can significantly lessen environmental pollution from analytical chemistry waste. FCA has the characteristics of green analytical chemistry and has been applied in clinical, biochemical, pharmaceutical, food safety and other fields. FCA basically involves a micro-volume glass capillary, a capillary holder and an ordinary fluorescence detector. The capillary is not only a container for chemical reaction and detection but also functions as a carrier to immobilize enzymes, gene probes or reagents; it can be used repeatedly or can be disposable. In analysis, the capillary which is modified with functional reagents sucks in a measured liquid for the reaction and is then inserted into the holder within the fluorescent detector for measurement. The immobilized FCA method has been successfully used in the determination of reduced coenzyme I, ethanol in liqueur, lactic acid in dairy products, pyruvic acid and glucose in serum, trace-level sulfated bile acid in urine, the ratio of pyruvic/lactic acid in serum, and pyruvic acid in cells as well as in DNA end-labeling and dyeing methods. Further, FCA can also be extended to capillary arrays to complete multipurpose simultaneous determinations and can be combined with mobile phones as fluorescence detectors for use in mobile health analytical technology. FCA will produce considerable social benefits in medicine, pharmacy, fermentation of food, environmental protection and other fields. Therefore, the relevant contents are presented in this tutorial review.

An improved enzyme nanoparticles based amperometric pyruvate biosensor for detection of pyruvate in serum

The nanoparticles of commercially available pyruvate oxidase (POx) from Aerococcus species were prepared by desolvation method, which were then characterized and covalently immobilized onto gold electrode (AuE) to construct an improved model of amperometric pyruvate biosensor. The POxNPs/Au electrode was analyzed morphologically by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). On the other hand, cyclic voltammetry studies (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) helped in deciphering the electrochemical properties of the electrode at different stages of construction. The biosensor showed optimum response within 7.5 s, at a potential of 0.28 V, pH 5.5 and 35 °C. A linear relationship was observed between biosensor response i.e. current (μA) and pyruvate concentration in the range, 0.01 μM - 5000 μM, with a lower detection limit of 0.67 μM. The analytical recovery of added pyruvate in sera was 99.0% and 99.5% within and between batch coefficient of variation (CV) were 0.045% and 0.040% respectively. The working electrode displayed an excellent correlation coefficient (R² = 0.99%) between levels of pyruvate in sera, as detected by the standard spectrophotometric method and the present biosensor. The biosensor was utilized for detection of total pyruvate level in sera of apparently healthy individuals and patients suffering from cardiogenic stress, more specifically cardiac failure. The activity of the biosensor deteriorated by 25%, after its regular use over a period of 240 days, while being stored dry at 4°C.

Fluorescence quenching capillary analysis for determining trace-level nitrite in food based on the citric acid/ethylenediamine nanodots/nitrite reaction

We found that nitrite after protonation can react with amine radical on citric acid/ethylenediamine carbon nanodots (CA/EDA-CDs) to form nitrosamines, and fluorescence quenching of CA/EDA-CDs occurred during this process. Using the reaction mechanism a fluorescence quenching capillary analysis (FQCA) was developed. After optimized reaction conditions, the following results were obtained: the required concentration of CA/EDA-CDs was 12 mg/L, HCl concentration was 32 mmol/L, and the reaction conducted in room temperature for 20 min. Under optimized conditions, FQCA has a linear response in 20-500 μg/L in which RSD was less 4.5% (n = 11), the detection limit was 6.5 μg/L and the recovery was in 95-105%. The measured results were consistent with the national standard method. FQCA has been used for determining nitrite in foods and nature waters. The capillary in FQCA was used as the container for CA/EDA-CDs/NO₂^- reaction and NO₂^- determination, and realized trace-level analysis for micro-volume samples (<10 μL/time).

Development of a fluorescent capillary biosensor based on self-assembled AuNP/LDH for micro-volume intracellular pyruvate

A highly sensitive fluorescent capillary biosensor based on self-assembled AuNPs/LDH for micro-volume intracellular pyruvate.