Molecular and nano structures of chiral PEDOT derivatives influence the enantiorecognition of biomolecules. In silico analysis of chiral recognition

In this study we investigated the synergistic effects of the chirality (molecular structure) and surface morphology (nanostructure) of a newly designed sensing platform for the stereoselective recognition of biomolecules. We synthesized 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene monomers presenting an OH functional group on the side chain (EDOT-OH) with either R or S chirality and then electropolymerized them in a template-free manner to engineer poly(EDOT-OH) nanotubes and smooth films with R or S chirality. We used a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) to examine the differential binding of fetal bovine serum, RGD peptide, insulin, and (R)- and (S)-mandelic acid (MA) on these chiral polymeric platforms. All of these biomolecules bound stereoselectively and with greater affinity toward the nanotubes than to the smooth films. The sensitive chiral recognition of (S)- and (R)-MA on the (R)-poly(EDOT-OH) nanotube surface occurred with the highest chiral discrepancy ratio of 1.80. In vitro experiments revealed a greater degree of protein deposition from MCF-7 cells on the chiral nanotube surfaces. We employed ab initio molecular dynamics simulations and density functional theory calculations to investigate the mechanism underlying the sensitive chiral recognition between the chiral sensing platforms and the chiral analyte molecules.

Soft and flexible material-based affinity sensors

Recent advances in biosensors and point-of-care (PoC) devices are poised to change and expand the delivery of diagnostics from conventional lateral-flow assays and test strips that dominate the market currently, to newly emerging wearable and implantable devices that can provide continuous monitoring. Soft and flexible materials are playing a key role in propelling these trends towards real-time and remote health monitoring. Affinity biosensors have the capability to provide for diagnosis and monitoring of cancerous, cardiovascular, infectious and genetic diseases by the detection of biomarkers using affinity interactions. This review tracks the evolution of affinity sensors from conventional lateral-flow test strips to wearable/implantable devices enabled by soft and flexible materials. Initially, we highlight conventional affinity sensors exploiting membrane and paper materials which have been so successfully applied in point-of-care tests, such as lateral-flow immunoassay strips and emerging microfluidic paper-based devices. We then turn our attention to the multifarious polymer designs that provide both the base materials for sensor designs, such as PDMS, and more advanced functionalised materials that are capable of both recognition and transduction, such as conducting and molecularly imprinted polymers. The subsequent content discusses wearable soft and flexible material-based affinity sensors, classified as flexible and skin-mountable, textile materials-based and contact lens-based affinity sensors. In the final sections, we explore the possibilities for implantable/injectable soft and flexible material-based affinity sensors, including hydrogels, microencapsulated sensors and optical fibers. This area is truly a work in progress and we trust that this review will help pull together the many technological streams that are contributing to the field.

Quantification of DNA by a Thermal-Durable Biosensor Modified with Conductive Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)

The general clinical procedure for viral DNA detection or gene mutation diagnosis following polymerase chain reaction (PCR) often involves gel electrophoresis and DNA sequencing, which is usually time-consuming. In this study, we have proposed a facile strategy to construct a DNA biosensor, in which the platinum electrode was modified with a dual-film of electrochemically synthesized poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) resulting in immobilized gold nanoparticles, with the gold nanoparticles easily immobilized in a uniform distribution. The DNA probe labeled with a SH group was then assembled to the fabricated electrode and employed to capture the target DNA based on the complementary sequence. The hybridization efficiency was evaluated with differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) in the presence of daunorubicin hydrochloride. Our results demonstrated that the peak current in DPV exhibited a linear correlation the concentration of target DNA that was complementary to the probe DNA. Moreover, the electrode could be reused by heating denaturation and re-hybridization, which only brought slight signal decay. In addition, the addition of the oxidized form of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD⁺) could dramatically enhance the sensitivity by more than 5.45-fold, and the limit-of-detection reached about 100 pM.

Glycan Stimulation Enables Purification of Prostate Cancer Circulating Tumor Cells on PEDOT NanoVelcro Chips for RNA Biomarker Detection

A glycan-stimulated and poly(3,4-ethylene-dioxythiophene)s (PEDOT)-based nanomaterial platform is fabricated to purify circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from blood samples of prostate cancer (PCa) patients. This new platform, phenylboronic acid (PBA)-grafted PEDOT NanoVelcro, combines the 3D PEDOT nanosubstrate, which greatly enhances CTC capturing efficiency, with a poly(EDOT-PBA-co-EDOT-EG3) interfacial layer, which not only provides high specificity for CTC capture upon antibody conjugation but also enables competitive binding of sorbitol to gently release the captured cells. CTCs purified by this PEDOT NanoVelcro chip provide well-preserved RNA transcripts for the analysis of the expression level of several PCa-specific RNA biomarkers, which may provide clinical insights into the disease.

Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) Bearing Phosphorylcholine Groups for Metal-Free, Antibody-Free, and Low-Impedance Biosensors Specific for C-Reactive Protein

Conducting polymers possessing biorecognition elements are essential for developing electrical biosensors sensitive and specific to clinically relevant biomolecules. We developed a new 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) derivative bearing a zwitterionic phosphorylcholine group via a facile synthesis through the Michael-type addition thiol-ene "click" reaction for the detection of an acute-phase biomarker human C-reactive protein (CRP). The phosphorylcholine group, a major headgroup in phospholipid, which is the main constituent of plasma membrane, was also expected to resist nonspecific adsorption of other proteins at the electrode/solution interface. The biomimetic EDOT derivative was randomly copolymerized with EDOT, via an electropolymerization technique with a dopant sodium perchlorate, onto a glassy carbon electrode to make the synthesized polymer film both conductive and target-responsive. The conducting copolymer films were characterized by cyclic voltammetry, scanning electron microscopy, attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The specific interaction of CRP with phosphorylcholine in a calcium-containing buffer solution was determined by differential pulse voltammetry, which measures the altered redox reaction between the indicators ferricyanide/ferrocyanide as a result of the binding event. The conducting polymer-based protein sensor achieved a limit of detection of 37 nM with a dynamic range of 10-160 nM, covering the dynamically changing CRP levels in circulation during the acute phase. The results will enable the development of metal-free, antibody-free, and low-impedance electrochemical biosensors for the screening of nonspecific biomarkers of inflammation and infection.

Multichromophoric electrochromic polymers: colour tuning of conjugated polymers through the side chain functionalization approach

Organic electrochromic materials have gained constantly increasing interest over the years with respect to their inorganic counterpart due to essentially two distinctive characteristics: their processability through solution based low cost processes and their wide colour palette. Such characteristic features enabled their application in displays, smart windows, electronic paper and ophthalmic lenses. Alongside the established concept of donor-acceptor polymers, side chain functionalized multichromophoric polymers are gaining attention as a highly performing and synthetically feasible alternative, particularly relevant to applications requiring a complete colourlessness in one of the accessible redox states of the material. The primary aim of the present article is to review all the results involving the tuning of the native electrochromic properties of simple conjugated polymers through the introduction of a discrete electrochromic molecule as a side chain substituent.

Palladium-catalyzed direct C–H arylations of dioxythiophenes bearing reactive functional groups: a step-economical approach for functional π-conjugated oligoarenes

A phosphine-free C–H arylation of dioxythiophenes bearing unprotected functional groups affords oligoarenes with good yields.

Comprehensive review in current developments of imidazole-based medicinal chemistry

Imidazole ring is an important five-membered aromatic heterocycle widely present in natural products and synthetic molecules. The unique structural feature of imidazole ring with desirable electron-rich characteristic is beneficial for imidazole derivatives to readily bind with a variety of enzymes and receptors in biological systems through diverse weak interactions, thereby exhibiting broad bioactivities. The related research and developments of imidazole-based medicinal chemistry have become a rapidly developing and increasingly active topic. Particularly, numerous imidazole-based compounds as clinical drugs have been extensively used in the clinic to treat various types of diseases with high therapeutic potency, which have shown the enormous development value. This work systematically gives a comprehensive review in current developments of imidazole-based compounds in the whole range of medicinal chemistry as anticancer, antifungal, antibacterial, antitubercular, anti-inflammatory, antineuropathic, antihypertensive, antihistaminic, antiparasitic, antiobesity, antiviral, and other medicinal agents, together with their potential applications in diagnostics and pathology. It is hoped that this review will be helpful for new thoughts in the quest for rational designs of more active and less toxic imidazole-based medicinal drugs, as well as more effective diagnostic agents and pathologic probes.

GRGDS-Functionalized Poly(lactide)-graft-poly(ethylene glycol) Copolymers: Combining Thiol-Ene Chemistry with Staudinger Ligation

A tri(ethylene glycol)-containing lactide analogue was synthesized via thiol-ene chemistry between a bi-functional triethylene glycol and allyl lactide. Subsequent tin-octoate-catalyzed ring-opening polymerization yielded well-defined poly(lactide)-graft-poly(ethylene glycol) copolymers with molecular weights of 6000 g/mol and polydispersity indices of 1.6. The tri(ethylene glycol) chains along the copolymers contain azide termini that are capable of 'click'-type postpolymerization functionalization. The utility of this strategy was demonstrated via successful Staudinger ligation to install the Gly-Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser (GRGDS) peptide.

Electropolymerized conjugated polyelectrolytes with tunable work function and hydrophobicity as an anode buffer in organic optoelectronics

A new class of conductive polyelectrolyte films with tunable work function and hydrophobicity has been developed for the anode buffer layer in organic electronic devices. The work function of these films featuring a copolymer of ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT), and its functionalized analogues were found to be easily tunable over a range of almost 1 eV and reach values as high as those of PEDOT:PSS. The new buffer material does not need the addition of any insulating or acidic material that might limit the film conductivity or device lifetime. Organic photovoltaic devices built with these films showed improved open-circuit voltage over those of the known PSS-free conductive EDOT-based polymers with values as high as that obtained for PEDOT:PSS. Furthermore, the surface hydrophobicity of these new copolymer films was found to be sensitive to the chemical groups attached to the polymer backbone, offering an attractive method for surface energy tuning.

Gray to colorless switching, crosslinked electrochromic polymers with outstanding stability and transmissivity from naphthalenediimmide-functionalized EDOT

The design, synthesis, polymerization and full electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical characterization of a new naphtalendiimide-functionalized PEDOT cross-linked electrochromic material is reported. The polymer shows exceptionally high redox reversibility, almost complete colorlessness in the bleached state and a gray color in the reduced state.