Individually addressable microelectrode arrays fabricated with gold-coated pencil graphite particles for multiplexed and high sensitive impedance immunoassays

Organic Electrochemistry and a Role Reversal: Using Synthesis To Optimize Electrochemical Methods

Diblock copolymers are excellent coatings for microelectrode arrays because they provide a stable surface that can support both synthetic and analytical electrochemistry. However, the surfaces that are optimal for synthetic studies are not the same as the surfaces that are optimal for analytical studies. Hence, no one surface provides an ideal platform for both building and analyzing a molecular library. Fortunately, the synthetic chemistry available on a microelectrode array allows a surface that is ideal for synthesis can be converted into one that is ideal for signaling studies; a scenario that allows for the use of an optimized synthetic and analytical surface on a single microelectrode array.

Size-tunable, highly sensitive microelectrode arrays enabled by polymer pen lithography

By combining polymer pen lithography (PPL) patterning with in situ polymerization, we report a straightforward and bottom-up approach for bench-top fabrication of microelectrode arrays (MEAs) with well-controlled dimensions. The as-fabricated MEAs can be used to electrodeposit prussian blue in situ and work as a biosensor for H₂O₂ with a detection limit as low as 5 nM at a sensitivity of 0.7 A cm^-2 M^-1.

New Methods for the Site-Selective Placement of Peptides on a Microelectrode Array: Probing VEGF-v107 Binding as Proof of Concept

Cu(I)-catalyzed "click" reactions cannot be performed on a borate ester derived polymer coating on a microelectrode array because the Cu(II) precursor for the catalyst triggers background reactions between both acetylene and azide groups with the polymer surface. Fortunately, the Cu(II)-background reaction can itself be used to site-selectively add the acetylene and azide nucleophiles to the surface of the array. In this way, molecules previously functionalized for use in "click" reactions can be added directly to the array. In a similar fashion, activated esters can be added site-selectively to a borate ester coated array. The new chemistry can be used to explore new biological interactions on the arrays. Specifically, the binding of a v107 derived peptide with both human and murine VEGF was probed using a functionalized microelectrode array.

Introduction to Microelectrode Arrays, the Site-Selective Functionalization of Electrode Surfaces, and the Real-Time Detection of Binding Events

Microelectrode arrays have great potential as analytical tools because currents can be independently measured at each electrode in the array. In principle, these currents can be monitored in order to follow in real time the binding events that occur between the members of a molecular library and a biological target. To capitalize on this potential, the surface of the array must be selectively functionalized so that each unique member of the molecular library is associated with a unique individually addressable electrode or set of electrodes in the array. To this end, this instructional review summarizes methods for coating the arrays with porous polymers that allow for the attachment of molecules to the surface of the array, selectively conducting reactions at individual electrodes in the array, characterizing molecules that are placed on the arrays, and running the analytical experiments needed to monitor in real time binding events between molecules on the array and a biological target.

Microelectrode Arrays and the Use of PEG-Functionalized Diblock Copolymer Coatings

PEG-modified diblock copolymer surfaces have been examined for their compatibility with microelectrode array based analytical methods. The use of PEG-modified polymer surfaces on the arrays was initially problematic because the redox couples used in the experiments were adsorbed by the polymer. This led the current measured by cyclic voltammetry for the redox couple to be unstable and increase with time. However, two key findings allow the experiments to be successful. First, after multiple cyclic voltammograms the current associated with the redox couple does stabilize so that a good baseline current can be established. Second, the rate at which the current stabilizes is consistent every time a particular coated array is used. Hence, multiple analytical experiments can be conducted on an array coated with a PEG-modified diblock copolymer and the data obtained is comparable as long as the data for each experiment is collected at a consistent time point.

An electrochemical sensing platform based on local repression of electrolyte diffusion for single-step, reagentless, sensitive detection of a sequence-specific DNA-binding protein

In this paper, we report for the first time an electrochemical biosensor for single-step, reagentless, and picomolar detection of a sequence-specific DNA-binding protein using a double-stranded, electrode-bound DNA probe terminally modified with a redox active label close to the electrode surface. This new methodology is based upon local repression of electrolyte diffusion associated with protein-DNA binding that leads to reduction of the electrochemical response of the label. In the proof-of-concept study, the resulting electrochemical biosensor was quantitatively sensitive to the concentrations of the TATA binding protein (TBP, a model analyte) ranging from 40 pM to 25.4 nM with an estimated detection limit of ∼10.6 pM (∼80 to 400-fold improvement on the detection limit over previous electrochemical analytical systems).

Microelectrode arrays: a general strategy for using oxidation reactions to site selectively modify electrode surfaces

Oxidation reactions are powerful tools for synthesis because they allow for the functionalization of molecules. Here, we present a general method for conducting these reactions on a microelectrode array in a site-selective fashion. The reactions are run as a competition between generation of a chemical oxidant at the electrodes in the array and reduction of the oxidant by a "confining agent" in the solution above the array. The "confining agent" does not need to be more reactive than the substrate fixed to the surface of the array. In many cases, the same substrate placed on the surface of the array can also be used in solution as the confining agent.

Lab-on-a-drop: biocompatible fluorescent nanoprobes of gold nanoclusters for label-free evaluation of phosphorylation-induced inhibition of acetylcholinesterase activity towards the ultrasensitive detection of pesticide residues

The catalysis and phosphorylated inhibition of acetylcholinesterase were monitored using fluorescent AuNCs nanoprobes for detecting pesticide residues.

Sandwich-type immunosensors and immunoassays exploiting nanostructure labels: A review

Methods based on sandwich-type immunosensors and immunoassays have been developed for detection of multivalent antigens/analytes with more than one eptiope due to the use of two matched antibodies. High-affinity antibodies and appropriate labels are usually employed for the amplification of detectable signal. Recent research has looked to develop innovative and powerful novel nanoparticle labels, controlling and tailoring their properties in a very predictable manner to meet the requirements of specific applications. This articles reviews recent advances, exploiting nanoparticle labels, in the sandwich-type immunosensors and immunoassays. Routine approaches involve noble metal nanoparticles, carbon nanomaterials, semiconductor nanoparticles, metal oxide nanostructures, and hybrid nanostructures. The enormous signal enhancement associated with the use of nanoparticle labels and with the formation of nanoparticle-antibody-antigen assemblies provides the basis for sensitive detection of disease-related proteins or biomolecules. Techniques commonly rely on the use of biofunctionalized nanoparticles, inorganic-biological hybrid nanoparticles, and signal tag-doped nanoparticles. Rather than being exhaustive, this review focuses on selected examples to illustrate novel concepts and promising applications. Approaches described include the biofunctionalized nanoparticles, inorganic-biological hybrid nanoparticles, and signal tage-doped nanoparticles. Further, promising application in electrochemical, mass-sensitive, optical and multianalyte detection are discussed in detail.

Site-selective chemistry and the attachment of peptides to the surface of a microelectrode array

Peptides have been site-selectively placed on microelectrode arrays with the use of both thiol-based conjugate additions and Cu(I)-coupling reactions between thiols and aryl halides. The conjugate addition reactions used both acrylate and maleimide Michael acceptors. Of the two methods, the Cu(I)-coupling reactions proved far superior because of their irreversibility. Surfaces constructed with the conjugate addition chemistry were not stable at neutral pHs, especially the surface using the maleimide acceptor. Once a peptide was placed onto the array, it could be monitored in "real-time" for its interactions with a biological receptor.

Building addressable libraries: amino acid derived fluorescent linkers

A new amino acid derived fluorescent linker for attaching molecules to the surface of a microelectrode array has been developed. Molecules to be monitored on an array are attached to the C-terminus of the linker, the N-terminus is then used to attach the linker to the array, and the side chain is used to synthesize a fluorescent tag. The fluorescent group is made with a one-step oxidative cycloaddition reaction starting from a hydroxyindole group. The linker is compatible with site-selective Cu(I)-chemistry on the array, it allows for quality control assessment of the array itself, and it is compatible with the electrochemical impedance experiments used to monitor binding events on the surface of the array.

Site-selective, cleavable linkers: quality control and the characterization of small molecules on microelectrode arrays

A "safety-catch" linker strategy has been used to release a portion of the products of a Diels-Alder reaction conducted on a microelectrode array for characterization of stereochemistry. The attachment and cleavage of organic compounds from the surface of selected electrodes in the array can be accomplished by site-selective generation of base or acid at the electrode. It was found that the surface of the array had a minor influence on the stereochemistry of the Diels-Alder reaction, leading to slightly more of the exo-product relative to a similar solution-phase reaction.

Site-selectively functionalizing microelectrode arrays: the use of Cu(I)-catalysts

Site-selective Cu(I)-catalyzed reactions have been developed on microelectrode arrays. The reactions are confined to preselected electrodes on the arrays using oxygen as the confining agent. Conditions initially developed for the Cu(I)-catalyzed click reaction have proven general for the coupling of amine, alcohol, and sulfur nucleophiles to both vinyl and aryl iodides. Differences between reactions run on 1-K arrays and reactions run on 12-K arrays can be attributed to the 1-K array reactions being divided cell electrolyses and the 12-K array reactions being undivided cell electrolyses. Reactions on the 12-K arrays benefit from the use of a non-sugar-derived porous reaction layer for the attachment of substrates to the surface of the electrodes. The reactions are sensitive to the nature of the ligand used for the Cu catalyst.

Direct route to well-defined, chemically diverse electrode arrays

The selective placement of molecules of interest at specific locations on surfaces is a keystone for the bridge between interfacial science and technology. One approach to this problem is the use of electrochemistry to direct interfacial reactions that immobilize species from solution onto surfaces. In this study, sets of individually functionalized gold electrodes were formed by the selective formation of monolayers from four different alkyl thiosulfates. Analysis of the arrays using spatially resolved X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) revealed each type of functionality exclusively on the electrode to which it was directed. The wetting behavior of these surfaces was also consistent with homogeneous monolayers placed selectively on each electrode. The flexibility of this method provides the ability to produce a wide variety of chemical patterns at interfaces of interest for a range of technological applications.

A label-free electronic biosensor for detection of bone turnover markers

This paper describes the development of a biosensor based on label-free immunosensing for the detection of the C-terminal telopeptide bone turnover marker from type-1 collagen. A self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of dithiodipropionic acid was deposited on a gold electrode. Then streptavidin and biotinylated anti-human C-terminal telopeptide antibody were successively conjugated on the self-assembled monolayer. Electrochemical impedance measurements were made to characterize each step of the SAM/streptavidin/biotinylated antibody binding. Subsequently, electrochemical impedance was measured with different concentrations of C-teminal telopeptide. A detection limit of 50 ng/mL and a dynamic range up to 3 μg/mL were achieved. To our knowledge, this is the first attempt to develop a label-free immunosensor based on electrochemical impedance with DC bias for detection of bone-related degradation and rebuilding products. The electronic biosensor might eventually be used for quantitative point-of-care screening of bone health. It is hoped that analysis of bone turnover markers can indicate the beginning of bone diseases such as osteoarthritis and osteoporosis so that treatment might start early when it is most effective.