Zeptomolar detection of Hg 2+ based on label-free electrochemical aptasensor: One step closer to the dream of single atom detection

Terbium Vanadate Nanowires-Based Electrochemical Sensors for Mercury Ions

Terbium vanadate nanowires were synthesized via a facile chemical approach using sodium vanadate and terbium chloride. Morphology, structure, composition, and electrochemical characteristics of the terbium vanadate nanowires were investigated by different techniques. Terbium vanadate nanowires with single crystalline tetragonal TbVO4 phase possess smooth surface and flat tips. The length of the nanowires is longer than 5 μm, and diameter is 40-100 nm. Terbium vanadate nanowires modified electrode was used for trace-level mercury ions (Hg2+) detection. One well-defined stripping peak exists at - 0.34 V at the terbium vanadate nanowires modified electrode in 0.1 mM Hg2+ solution. Buffer solution pH value, deposition time, deposition potential, and standing time are pH = 1, 150 s, - 1.5 V, and 60 s, respectively. Detection limit for Hg2+ detection is 0.18 nM, and linear range is 0.01-100 μM. The proposed terbium vanadate nanowires modified electrode exhibits significant selectivity, stability, and reproducibility toward Hg2+. The usefulness of the developed sensor based on the terbium vanadate nanowires modified electrode was verified by Hg2+ detection in real samples.

Gold nanoparticle-based signal amplified electrochemiluminescence for biosensing applications

Since the content levels of biomarkers at the early stage of many diseases are generally lower than the detection threshold concentration, achieving ultrasensitive and accurate detection of these biomarkers is still one of the major goals in bio-analysis. To achieve ultrasensitive and reliable bioassay, it requires developing highly sensitive biosensors. Among all kinds of biosensors, electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) based biosensors have attracted enormous attention due to their excellent properties. In order to improve the performance of ECL biosensors, gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) have been widely utilized as signal amplification tags. The introduction of Au NPs could dramatically enhance the performance of the constructed ECL biosensors via diverse ways such as electrode modification material, efficient energy acceptor in ECL resonant energy transfer (ECL-RET), reaction catalyst, surface plasmon resonance (SPR) enhancer, and as nanocarrier. Herein, we summarize recent developments and progress of ECL biosensors based on Au NPs signal amplification strategies. We will cover ECL applications of Au NPs as a signal amplification tag in the detection of proteins, metal ions, nucleic acids, small molecules, living cells, exosomes, and cell imaging. Finally, brief summary and future outlooks of this field will be presented.

Aptamers for Viral Detection and Inhibition

Recent times have experienced more than ever the impact of viral infections in humans. Viral infections are known to cause diseases not only in humans but also in plants and animals. Here, we have compiled the literature review of aptamers selected and used for detection and inhibition of viral infections in all three categories: humans, animals, and plants. This review gives an in-depth introduction to aptamers, different types of aptamer selection (SELEX) methodologies, the benefits of using aptamers over commonly used antibody-based strategies, and the structural and functional mechanism of aptasensors for viral detection and therapy. The review is organized based on the different characterization and read-out tools used to detect virus-aptasensor interactions with a detailed index of existing virus-targeting aptamers. Along with addressing recent developments, we also discuss a way forward with aptamers for DNA nanotechnology-based detection and treatment of viral diseases. Overall, this review will serve as a comprehensive resource for aptamer-based strategies in viral diagnostics and treatment.

Attomolar analyte sensing techniques (AttoSens): a review on a decade of progress on chemical and biosensing nanoplatforms

Detecting the ultra-low abundance of analytes in real-life samples, such as biological fluids, water, soil, and food, requires the design and development of high-performance biosensing modalities. The breakthrough efforts from the scientific community have led to the realization of sensing technologies that measure the analyte's ultra-trace level, with relevant sensitivity, selectivity, response time, and sampling efficiency, referred to as Attomolar Analyte Sensing Techniques (AttoSens) in this review. In an AttoSens platform, 1 aM detection corresponds to the quantification of 60 target analyte molecules in 100 μL of sample volume. Herein, we review the approaches listed for various sensor probe design, and their sensing strategies that paved the way for the detection of attomolar (aM: 10^-18 M) concentration of analytes. A summary of the technological advances made by the diverse AttoSens trends from the past decade is presented.

From Small Molecules Toward Whole Cells Detection: Application of Electrochemical Aptasensors in Modern Medical Diagnostics

This paper focuses on the current state of art as well as on future trends in electrochemical aptasensors application in medical diagnostics. The origin of aptamers is presented along with the description of the process known as SELEX. This is followed by the description of the broad spectrum of aptamer-based sensors for the electrochemical detection of various diagnostically relevant analytes, including metal cations, abused drugs, neurotransmitters, cancer, cardiac and coagulation biomarkers, circulating tumor cells, and viruses. We described also possible future perspectives of aptasensors development. This concerns (i) the approaches to lowering the detection limit and improvement of the electrochemical aptasensors selectivity by application of the hybrid aptamer-antibody receptor layers and/or nanomaterials; and (ii) electrochemical aptasensors integration with more advanced microfluidic devices as user-friendly medical instruments for medical diagnostic of the future.

Multienzymes activity of metals and metal oxide nanomaterials: applications from biotechnology to medicine and environmental engineering

With the rapid advancement and progress of nanotechnology, nanomaterials with enzyme-like catalytic activity have fascinated the remarkable attention of researchers, due to their low cost, high operational stability, adjustable catalytic activity, and ease of recycling and reuse. Nanozymes can catalyze the same reactions as performed by enzymes in nature. In contrast the intrinsic shortcomings of natural enzymes such as high manufacturing cost, low operational stability, production complexity, harsh catalytic conditions and difficulties of recycling, did not limit their wide applications. The broad interest in enzymatic nanomaterial relies on their outstanding properties such as stability, high activity, and rigidity to harsh environments, long-term storage and easy preparation, which make them a convenient substitute instead of the native enzyme. These abilities make the nanozymes suitable for multiple applications in sensing and imaging, tissue engineering, environmental protection, satisfactory tumor diagnostic and therapeutic, because of distinguished properties compared with other artificial enzymes such as high biocompatibility, low toxicity, size dependent catalytic activities, large surface area for further bioconjugation or modification and also smart response to external stimuli. This review summarizes and highlights latest progress in applications of metal and metal oxide nanomaterials with enzyme/multienzyme mimicking activities. We cover the applications of sensing, cancer therapy, water treatment and anti-bacterial efficacy. We also put forward the current challenges and prospects in this research area, hoping to extension of this emerging field. In addition to therapeutic potential of nanozymes for disease prevention, their practical effects in diagnostics, to monitor the presence of SARS-CoV-2 and related biomarkers for future pandemics will be predicted.

Electrospun tin (IV) oxide nanofiber based electrochemical sensor for ultra-sensitive and selective detection of atrazine in water at trace levels

Atrazine, a class 3a carcinogen, is a pesticide of chloro triazine family and is known to severely affect the human endocrine system upon consumption. The toxic effects of atrazine cause damage not only to the humans but also to animals and plants. In lieu of the detrimental effects of atrazine on environment, it is essential to develop a sensor platform capable of its detection in water. Here, we propose ultrasensitive electrochemical detection of atrazine using electrospun SnO₂ nanofibers. In this study, the nanofibers have been characterized using Field Emission Spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), UV-Vis-NIR spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Using a label-free transduction, we have detected atrazine in fairly low concentrations, with the limit of detection being 0.9 zM and the sensitivity being 4.11 (μA/μM)/cm², in a wide dynamic detection range varying from 1 zM to 1 μM. Furthermore, we have reported atrazine detection in trace levels in spiked real time water samples, which is an essential step in ensuring that the sensing platform can be deployed for practical applications. In addition to this, the sensor exhibits excellent selectivity, reasonable stability (when stored at 4 °C), and good interference-resistance.

Electrochemical Aptasensors for Food and Environmental Safeguarding: A Review

Food and environmental monitoring is one of the most important aspects of dealing with recent threats to human well-being and ecosystems. In this framework, electrochemical aptamer-based sensors are resilient due to their ability to resolve food and environmental contamination. An aptamer-based sensor is a compact analytical device combining an aptamer as the bio-sensing element integrated on the transducer surface. Aptamers display many advantages as biorecognition elements in sensor development when compared to affinity-based (antibodies) sensors. Aptasensors are small, chemically unchanging, and inexpensive. Moreover, they offer extraordinary elasticity and expediency in the design of their assemblies, which has led to innovative sensors that show tremendous sensitivity and selectivity. This review will emphasize recent food and environmental safeguarding using aptasensors; there are good prospects for their performance as a supplement to classical techniques.

Ultrasensitive flexible FET-type aptasensor for CA 125 cancer marker detection based on carboxylated multiwalled carbon nanotubes immobilized onto reduced graphene oxide film

The development of a novel flexible and ultrasensitive aptasensor based on carboxylated multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)/ reduced graphene oxide-based field effect transistor (FET) has been reported for label-free detection of the ovarian cancer antigen (CA125). The fabricated sensor has a straightforward design based on the noncovalent attachment of MWCNTs/aptamer conjugated onto few layers reduced graphene oxide nanosheets and its integration with poly-methyl methacrylate (PMMA) as a suitable platform for designing flexible field-effect transistors. The surface properties of the aptasensor were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Under optimal conditions, the proposed aptasensor exhibited a wide linear dynamic range for CA125 (1.0 × 10^-9-1.0 U/mL) with a low detection limit of 5.0 × 10^-10 U/mL. The proposed aptasensor was also successfully applied to detect CA125 in real human serum samples. Furthermore, sensor flexibility is also a challenging area in chemical and biological sensors, especially for portable, wearable, or even implantable sensors, so, the reduced graphene oxide-based FET-type aptasensor showed bendable flexibility on the PMMA substrate. In addition, the aptasensor exhibited high sensitivity, selectivity, stability and reproducibility which offers great promise as a high performance and flexible FET-type aptasensor to detect CA125 and other cancer biomarkers in clinical samples and biological fluids.

Switchable electrochemiluminescence aptasensor coupled with resonance energy transfer for selective attomolar detection of Hg2+ via CdTe@CdS/dendrimer probe and Au nanoparticle quencher

In the present study, an ultrasensitive electrochemiluminescence (ECL) aptasensing assay for selective detection of Hg²⁺ was designed. In this electrochemiluminescence resonance energy transfer (ECL-RET) approach, Fe₃O₄@SiO₂/dendrimers/QDs exhibited amplified ECL emissions (switch "on" state) and with the hybridization between T-rich ssDNA(S₁) immobilized on the Fe₃O₄@SiO₂/dendrimers/QDs and AuNPs modified with complementary aptamer (AuNPs-S₂), the ECL of QDs nanocomposites was efficiently quenched (switch "off" state). In the presence of Hg²⁺ ions, formation of strong and stable T-Hg²⁺-T complex led to the release of the AuNPs-S₂ from double-stranded DNA(dsDNA) and the recovery of the ECL signal of QDs (second signal switch "on" state). Under optimal conditions, Hg²⁺ can be detected in a wide linear range from 20aM to 2µM with a very low detection limit of 2aM. The proposed ECL aptasensor showed high selectivity for Hg²⁺ determination compared to other environmentally relevant metal ions at concentration ratio more than 1000 times. The aptasensor was used for detection Hg²⁺ ions from samples of tap waters, carp and saltwater fishes with satisfactory results. The aptasensor exhibited high sensitivity, wide linear response (11 orders of magnitude), excellent reproducibility and stability. The proposed aptasensor will be a promising candidate for facile and rapid determination of Hg^2＋in environmental and fishery samples.

Peptide nucleic acid as a selective recognition element for electrochemical determination of Hg2

A novel electrochemical PNA-based biosensor for the determination of Hg²⁺ is described. The receptor layer, containing single strands of polythymine PNA (peptide nucleic acid), was formed at the surface of gold electrode. Due to the presence of thymine bases and peptide bonds, an interaction between Hg²⁺ ion and receptor layer occurs. The influence of chain modification - PNA vs. DNA - and type of redox marker - anionic AQMS-Na (sodium salt of anthraquinone-2-sulfonic acid) and Fe^II/III (potassium ferri/ferrocyanide) or cationic MB (methylene blue) and RuHex (hexaammineruthenium(III) chloride) - were studied. Proposed PNA-based biosensor with anionic AQMS-Na as a redox marker demonstrated significantly better analytical parameters, as compared to results obtained for other tested redox markers (for measurements at pH6.0). The linear response towards Hg²⁺ was in the range from 5 to 500nmol·L^-1 with the detection limit of 4.5nmol·L^-1. The developed sensor distinguishes itself with high selectivity towards Hg²⁺, even for solutions containing several interfering cations. Interactions between Hg²⁺ and PNA receptor layer were studied using square wave voltammetry (SWV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS).