Dual-channel detection of metallothioneins and mercury based on a mercury-mediated aptamer beacon using thymidine-mercury-thymidine complex as a quencher

Target-promoted autocatalytic hairpin assembly of bivalent DNAzymes for sensitive and label-free electrochemical metallothionein assay

Metallothionein (MT) has shown to be an important biomarker for environmental monitoring and various diseases, due to its significant binding ability to heavy metal ions. On the basis of such a characteristic and the Hg2+-stabilized DNA duplex (Hg2+-dsDNA) probe, as well as a new autocatalytic hairpin assembly (aCHA)/DNAzyme cascaded signal enhancement strategy, the construction of a highly sensitive and label-free electrochemical MT biosensor is described. Target MT molecules bind Hg2+ in Hg2+-dsDNA to disrupt the duplex structure and to release ssDNA sequences, which trigger subsequent aCHA for efficient production of mimic aCHA triggering strands and many bivalent DNAzymes. The signal hairpins on the electrode are then cyclically cleaved by DNAzyme amplification cascade to liberate plenty G-quadruplex sequences, which bind hemin and yield largely enhanced currents for sensitive assay of MT with a detection limit of 0.217 nM in a label-free approach. Such sensor also shows selective discrimination capability to MT against other interfering proteins and assay of MT in normal serums with dilution has also been verified, indicating its potential for highly sensitive detection of different heavy metal ion binding molecules for various application scenarios.

Heavy metal ion sensing strategies using fluorophores for environmental remediation

The main aim of this review is to provide a holistic summary of the latest advances within the research area focusing on the detection of heavy metal ion pollution, particularly the sensing strategies. The review explores various heavy metal ion detection approaches, encompassing spectrometry, electrochemical methods, and optical techniques. Numerous initiatives have been undertaken in recent times in response to the increasing demand for fast, sensitive, and selective sensors. Notably, fluorescent sensors have acquired prominence owing to the numerous advantages such as good specificity, reversibility, and sensitivity. Further, this review also explores the advantages of various nanomaterials employed in sensing heavy metal ions. In this regard, exclusive emphasis is placed on fluorescent nanomaterials based on organic dyes, quantum dots, and fluorescent aptasensors for metal ion removal from aqueous systems, and to identify the fate of heavy metal ions in the natural environment.

Ag+-stabilized DNA triplex coupled with catalytic hairpin assembly and CRISPR/Cas12a amplifications for sensitive metallothionein assay

Metallothionein (MT) is a protein biomarker secreted by liver in response to the treatment for heavy metal toxicity and oncological diseases. On the basis of a new Ag+-stabilized DNA triplex probe (Ag+-SDTP), we establish a fluorescent biosensing system for high sensitivity detection of MT by combining catalytic hairpin assembly (CHA) and the CRISPR/Cas12a signal enhancements. The MT analyte complexes with Ag+ in Ag+-SDTP to disrupt the triplex structure and to release the ssDNA strands, which trigger subsequent CHA formation of many protospacer adjacent motif (PAM)-containing dsDNAs from two hairpins. Cas12a/crRNA further recognizes these PAM sequences to activate its trans-catalytic activity to cyclically cleave the fluorescently quenched ssDNA reporters to recovery drastically amplified fluorescence for detecting MT down to 0.34 nM within the dynamic range of 1∼800 nM. Moreover, the sensing method is able to selectively discriminate MT from other non-specific molecules and can realize low level detection of MT in diluted human serums, manifesting its potentiality for monitoring the disease-specific MT biomarker at trace levels.

Aptamer-based NanoBioSensors for seafood safety

Chemical and biological contaminants are of primary concern in ensuring seafood safety. Rapid detection of such contaminants is needed to keep us safe from being affected. For over three decades, immunoassay (IA) technology has been used for the detection of contaminants in seafood products. However, limitations inherent to antibody generation against small molecular targets that cannot elicit an immune response, along with the instability of antibodies under ambient conditions greatly limit their wider application for developing robust detection and monitoring tools, particularly for non-biomedical applications. As an alternative, aptamer-based biosensors (aptasensors) have emerged as a powerful yet robust analytical tool for the detection of a wide range of analytes. Due to the high specificity of aptamers in recognising targets ranging from small molecules to large proteins and even whole cells, these have been suggested to be viable molecular recognition elements (MREs) in the development of new diagnostic and biosensing tools for detecting a wide range of contaminants including heavy metals, antibiotics, pesticides, pathogens and biotoxins. In this review, we discuss the recent progress made in the field of aptasensors for detection of contaminants in seafood products with a view of effectively managing their potential human health hazards. A critical outlook is also provided to facilitate translation of aptasensors from academic laboratories to the mainstream seafood industry and consumer applications.

Synthesis of metal nanoclusters and their application in Hg2+ ions detection: A review

Mercuric (Hg²⁺) ions released from human activities, natural phenomena, and industrial sources are regarded as the global pollutant of world's water. Hg²⁺ ions contaminated water has several adverse effects on human health and the environment even at low concentrations. Therefore, rapid and cost-effective method is urgently required for the detection of Hg²⁺ ions in water. Although, the current analytical methods applied for the detection of Hg²⁺ ions provide low detection limit, they are time consuming, require expensive equipment, and are not suitable for in-situ analysis. Metal nanoclusters (MNCs) consisting of several to ten metal atoms are important transition missing between single atoms and plasmonic metal nanoparticles. In addition, sub-nanometer sized MNCs possess unique electronic structures and the subsequent unusual optical, physical, and chemical properties. Because of these novel properties, MNCs as a promising material have attracted considerable attention for the construction of selective and sensitive sensors to monitor water quality. Hence this review is focused on recent advances on synthesis strategies, and optical and chemical properties of various MNCs including their applications to develop optical assay for Hg²⁺ ions in aqueous solutions.

Mercuric ion detection by plasmon-enhanced spectrophotometric ellipsometer using specific oligonucleotide probes

Pollution due to heavy metal ions, including mercury, has become a major issue because of their toxicities. It is required to monitor mercury levels in aqueous media using fast and selective methods with high accuracy. Ellipsometry is a promising technique for instance when it's combined with the plasmon resonance phenomena. We reported a biosensor system available for qualitative/quantitative determination of mercuric ions in aqueous media where both the spectrophotometric ellipsometry and oligonucleotide recognition elements were used. A single step assay using both a linear (ProbeL) and a hair-pin (ProbeH) type oligonucleotide probe as a recognition element, in addition to a sandwich-type (ProbeLS) assay were developed and compared. The detection limits were 0.23 nM, 0.03 nM and 0.15 pM for ProbeL, ProbeH and ProbeLS, respectively. The detection range was between 0.05 nM and 100 nM Hg²⁺ for all assays proposed herein.

Fluorescent Sensors for the Detection of Heavy Metal Ions in Aqueous Media

Due to the risks that water contamination implies for human health and environmental protection, monitoring the quality of water is a major concern of the present era. Therefore, in recent years several efforts have been dedicated to the development of fast, sensitive, and selective sensors for the detection of heavy metal ions. In particular, fluorescent sensors have gained in popularity due to their interesting features, such as high specificity, sensitivity, and reversibility. Thus, this review is devoted to the recent advances in fluorescent sensors for the monitoring of these contaminants, and special focus is placed on those devices based on fluorescent aptasensors, quantum dots, and organic dyes.

Label-free fluorescent aptasensor berberine-based strategy for ultrasensitive detection of Hg2+ ion

A label-free fluorescent aptasensing platform was fabricated and a simple and rapid method to detect Hg²⁺ ion in aqueous solution was put forward by means of berberine and Hg²⁺ ion-aptamer are as the fluorescence probe and the recognition element, respectively. Various factors including the concentration of berberine, Hg²⁺ ion and Hg²⁺ ion-aptamer, pH effect and the reaction time were investigated in detail. Under the optimal experimental conditions, in the sensing system, the fluorescence intensity changes displayed a calibration response for Hg²⁺ ion in the range of 0.1 μM to 10.0 μM and the detection limit was of 7.7 nM (S/N = 3). The fabricated label-free fluorescence aptasensor is not only conveniently but also effectively applicable used for analysis of Hg²⁺ ion in blood serum and tap water samples and the recovery range is of 96.0%-105.7%. In brief, this study offers an easy, economical and stable assay system for detecting Hg²⁺ ion in rough condition.

Protamine-gold nanoclusters as peroxidase mimics and the selective enhancement of their activity by mercury ions for highly sensitive colorimetric assay of Hg(II)

We certify that protamine-gold nanoclusters (PRT-AuNCs) synthesized by one-pot method exhibit peroxidase-like activity. The catalytic activity of PRT-AuNCs followed typical Michaelis-Menten kinetics and exhibited higher affinity to 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) as the substrate compared to that of natural horseradish peroxidase. Meanwhile, we found that Hg(II) could dramatically and selectively enhance the peroxidase-like activity of PRT-AuNCs, and the enhanced mechanism by Hg(II) was demonstrated to be generation of the cationic Au species and the partly oxidized Au species (Au^δ+) by Hg²⁺-Au⁰/Au⁺ interaction. Based on this finding, quantitative determinations of Hg(II) via visual observation and absorption spectra were achieved. The proposed strategy displays high selectivity that arises from the strong aurophilic interaction of mercury towards gold. Moreover, the developed method is highly sensitive with a wide linear range and low detection limit of 1.16 nM. This strategy is not only helpful to develop effective nanomaterials-based artificial enzyme mimics but also irradiative to discover new applications of artificial mimic enzymes in bio-detection, medical diagnostics, and biotechnology. Graphical abstract Protamine-gold nanoclusters (PRT-AuNCs) synthesized by one-pot method exhibit peroxidase-like activity. Hg(II) can stimulate the peroxidase-like activity of PRT-AuNCs selectively, enhancing their ability to catalyze the chromogenic reaction of TMB by H₂O₂.

Tetramethyl-6-carboxyrhodamine quenching-based aptasensing platform for aflatoxin B1: Analytical performance comparison of two aptamers

In this study, a simple TAMRA (tetramethyl-6-carboxyrhodamine) quenching-based aptasensing platform was designed for the detection of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). Here, we compared the analytical performance of two aptamer sequences: seqA and seqB. The AFB1 detection was based on the interactions of FAM (carboxyfluorescein)-labeled aptamer with TAMRA-labeled DNA complementary strand in the presence and absence of target analyte. Under optimized experimental conditions, TAMRA-labeled strand quenched the fluorescence response of FAM-labeled aptamer due to the noncovalent interaction between the two DNA strands. The binding of AFB1 induced the complex formation and weakened the interaction between FAM-labeled aptamer and TAMRA-labeled complementary strand, resulting in the fluorescence recovery. By using this principle concept, an assay was constructed for the detection of AFB1. The method exhibited good sensitivity, good selectivity with a limit of detection of 0.2 ng ml(-1), and a wide linear range from 0.25 to 32 ng ml(-1). For real sample application, the aptasensors were tested in beer and wine samples, with good recovery rates obtained for AFB1 detection.

Copper nanocluster-based fluorescent probe for sensitive and selective detection of Hg(2+) in water and food stuff

In this study, Hg(2+) ions were found to quench the fluorescence of glutathione (GSH)-capped copper clusters (Cu NCs). The Cu NCs were prepared by a simple reduction of CuSO4 in the presence of GSH serving both as a reducing and protecting agents, and characterized by ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy (UV-vis), high resolution scanning electron microscopy (HRTEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and X-ray photoelectron spectrometer (XPS). The GSH-Cu NCs displayed a small size, excellent water-dispersibility, good storage stability, good photostability and were stable in the presence of high concentrations of salt. The GSH-Cu NCs possessed strong blue fluorescence with a quantum yield of 10.6% and exhibited an excitation-independent fluorescence behavior. The zeta potential, TEM, resonance light scattering and dynamic light scattering measurements demonstrated that the Hg(2+) ion-induced aggregation of the Cu NCs contributed to the fluorescence quenching of the dispersed Cu NCs. On these findings, a sensitive and selective fluorescent probe was developed for detecting Hg(2+) in the linear range from 10nM to 10μM with a detection limit of 3.3nM (S/N=3). The proposed method has been successfully applied to determine Hg(2+) content in water sample and food stuff. The results of the proposed method were in good agreement with those obtained by a hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry (HG-AFS).