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Zheng H, Munusamy S, Arora P, Jahani R, Guan X. A highly sensitive nanopore platform for measuring RNase A activity. Talanta 2024; 276:126276. [PMID: 38796995 PMCID: PMC11187776 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2024.126276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2024] [Revised: 05/11/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Ribonuclease A (RNase A) plays significant roles in several physiological and pathological conditions and can be used as a valuable diagnostic biomarker for human diseases such as myocardial infarction and cancer. Hence, it is of great importance to develop a rapid and cost-effective method for the highly sensitive detection of RNase A. The significance of RNase A assay is further enhanced by the growing attention from the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries to develop RNA-based vaccines and drugs in large part as a result of the successful development of mRNA vaccines in the COVID-19 pandemic. Herein, we report a label-free method for the detection of RNase A by monitoring its proteolytic cleavage of an RNA substrate in a nanopore. The method is ultra-sensitive with the limit of detection reaching as low as 30 fg per milliliter. Furthermore, sensor selectivity and the effects of temperature, incubation time, metal ion, salt concentration on sensor sensitivity were also investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiyan Zheng
- Department of Chemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | | | - Pearl Arora
- Department of Chemistry, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL, 60616, USA
| | - Rana Jahani
- Department of Chemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Xiyun Guan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA.
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Chen X, Zhang Y, Arora P, Guan X. Nanopore Stochastic Sensing Based on Non-covalent Interactions. Anal Chem 2021; 93:10974-10981. [PMID: 34319076 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.1c02102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
A variety of species could be detected by using nanopores engineered with various recognition sites based upon non-covalent interactions, including electrostatic, aromatic, and hydrophobic interactions. The existence of these engineered non-covalent bonding sites was supported by the single-channel recording technique. The advantage of the non-covalent interaction-based sensing strategy was that the recognition site of the engineered nanopore was not specific for a particular molecule but instead selective for a class of species (e.g., cationic, anionic, aromatic, and hydrophobic). Since different species produce current modulations with quite different signatures represented by amplitude, residence time, and even characteristic voltage-dependence curve, the non-covalent interaction-based nanopore sensor could not only differentiate individual molecules in the same category but also enable differentiation between species with similar structures or molecular weights. Hence, our developed non-covalent interaction-based nanopore sensing strategy may find useful application in the detection of molecules of medical and/or environmental importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohan Chen
- Department of Chemistry, Illinois Institute of Technology, 3101 S. Dearborn Street, Chicago, Illinois 60616, United States
| | - Youwen Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, Illinois Institute of Technology, 3101 S. Dearborn Street, Chicago, Illinois 60616, United States
| | - Pearl Arora
- Department of Chemistry, Illinois Institute of Technology, 3101 S. Dearborn Street, Chicago, Illinois 60616, United States
| | - Xiyun Guan
- Department of Chemistry, Illinois Institute of Technology, 3101 S. Dearborn Street, Chicago, Illinois 60616, United States
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Antaw F, Anderson W, Wuethrich A, Trau M. On the Behavior of Nanoparticles beyond the Nanopore Interface. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2021; 37:4772-4782. [PMID: 33870692 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.0c03083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Recent advances in solid-state and biological nanopore sensors have produced a deluge of analytical techniques for in situ characterization of bio-nano colloidal dispersions; however, the transport forces governing particle movement into and out of the nanopore are not yet fully understood. Herein, we study the motion of particles outside the smaller opening of an elastomeric size-tunable nanopore and relate this motion to existing transport forces known to act on particles within the pore. Subsequently, we develop a combined optoelectronic approach which allows the comparison of both resistive pulse sensing and single particle tracking-based techniques for particle size characterization and, intriguingly, measurements of the ensemble particle motion induced by a combination of particle electrophoresis as well as pressure-driven and electroosmotic flows through the sensor nanopore. We find evidence suggesting that although bulk fluid flow from the pore tends to drive particle motion, in certain circumstances, electrophoretically driven motion can dominate bulk fluid flow-driven motion even at large distances from the pore opening. By permitting direct observation of the behavior of fluids at the nanopore interface, this approach enables a greater understanding of the transport forces acting on particles as they migrate toward and move through nanopore sensors-with implications for future particle characterization systems and for nanopore methods in general.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fiach Antaw
- Centre for Personalized Nanomedicine, Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, Corner of College and Cooper Roads (Building 75), Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Will Anderson
- Centre for Personalized Nanomedicine, Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, Corner of College and Cooper Roads (Building 75), Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Alain Wuethrich
- Centre for Personalized Nanomedicine, Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, Corner of College and Cooper Roads (Building 75), Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Matt Trau
- Centre for Personalized Nanomedicine, Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, Corner of College and Cooper Roads (Building 75), Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
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Roozbahani GM, Chen X, Zhang Y, Wang L, Guan X. Nanopore detection of metal ions: Current status and future directions. SMALL METHODS 2020; 4:2000266. [PMID: 33365387 PMCID: PMC7751931 DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202000266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2020] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
In this review, we highlight recent research efforts that aimed at developing nanopore sensors for detection of metal ions, which play a crucial role in environmental safety and human health. Protein pores use three stochastic sensing-based strategies for metal ion detection. The first strategy is to construct engineered nanopores with metal ion binding sites, so that the interaction between the target analytes and the nanopore can slow the movement of metal ions in the nano-channel. Second, large molecules such as nucleic acids and especially peptides could be utilized as external selective molecular probes to detect metal ions based on the conformational change of the ligand molecules induced by the metal ion-ligand chelation / coordination interaction. Third, enzymatic reactions can also be used as an alternative to the molecule probe strategy in the situation that a sensitive and selective probe molecule for the target analyte is difficult to obtain. On the other hand, by taking advantage of steady-state analysis, synthetic nanopores mainly use two strategies (modification and modification-free) to detect metals. Given the advantages of high sensitivity & selectivity, and label-free detection, nanopore-based metal ion sensors should find useful application in many fields, including environmental monitoring, medical diagnosis, and so on.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Xiaohan Chen
- Department of Chemistry, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, Illinois, 60616, USA
| | - Youwen Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, Illinois, 60616, USA
| | - Liang Wang
- Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing 400714, China
- The University of Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Xiyun Guan
- Department of Chemistry, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, Illinois, 60616, USA
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Slouka Z, Senapati S, Chang HC. Microfluidic systems with ion-selective membranes. ANNUAL REVIEW OF ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY (PALO ALTO, CALIF.) 2014; 7:317-35. [PMID: 24818814 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-anchem-071213-020155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
When integrated into microfluidic chips, ion-selective nanoporous polymer and solid-state membranes can be used for on-chip pumping, pH actuation, analyte concentration, molecular separation, reactive mixing, and molecular sensing. They offer numerous functionalities and are hence superior to paper-based devices for point-of-care biochips, with only slightly more investment in fabrication and material costs required. In this review, we first discuss the fundamentals of several nonequilibrium ion current phenomena associated with ion-selective membranes, many of them revealed by studies with fabricated single nanochannels/nanopores. We then focus on how the plethora of phenomena has been applied for transport, separation, concentration, and detection of biomolecules on biochips.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zdenek Slouka
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556; , ,
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Wang G, Wang L, Han Y, Zhou S, Guan X. Nanopore stochastic detection: diversity, sensitivity, and beyond. Acc Chem Res 2013; 46:2867-77. [PMID: 23614724 DOI: 10.1021/ar400031x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Nanopore sensors have emerged as a label-free and amplification-free technique for measuring single molecules. First proposed in the mid-1990s, nanopore detection takes advantage of the ionic current modulations produced by the passage of target analytes through a single nanopore at a fixed applied potential. Over the last 15 years, these nanoscale pores have been used to sequence DNA, to study covalent and non-covalent bonding interactions, to investigate biomolecular folding and unfolding, and for other applications. A major issue in the application of nanopore sensors is the rapid transport of target analyte molecules through the nanopore. Current recording techniques do not always accurately detect these rapid events. Therefore, researchers have looked for methods that slow molecular and ionic transport. Thus far, several strategies can improve the resolution and sensitivity of nanopore sensors including variation of the experimental conditions, use of a host compound, and modification of the analyte molecule and the nanopore sensor. In this Account, we highlight our recent research efforts that have focused on applications of nanopore sensors including the differentiation of chiral molecules, the study of enzyme kinetics, and the determination of sample purity and composition. Then we summarize our efforts to regulate molecular transport. We show that the introduction of various surface functional groups such as hydrophobic, aromatic, positively charged, and negatively charged residues in the nanopore interior, an increase in the ionic strength of the electrolyte solution, and the use of ionic liquid solutions as the electrolyte instead of inorganic salts may improve the resolution and sensitivity of nanopore stochastic sensors. Our experiments also demonstrate that the introduction of multiple functional groups into a single nanopore and the development of a pattern-recognition nanopore sensor array could further enhance sensor resolution. Although we have demonstrated the feasibility of nanopore sensors for various applications, challenges remain before nanopore sensing is deployed for routine use in applications such as medical diagnosis, homeland security, pharmaceutical screening, and environmental monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guihua Wang
- Department of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, Illinois 60616, United States
| | - Liang Wang
- Department of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, Illinois 60616, United States
| | - Yujing Han
- Department of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, Illinois 60616, United States
| | - Shuo Zhou
- Department of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, Illinois 60616, United States
| | - Xiyun Guan
- Department of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, Illinois 60616, United States
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Haque F, Li J, Wu HC, Liang XJ, Guo P. Solid-State and Biological Nanopore for Real-Time Sensing of Single Chemical and Sequencing of DNA. NANO TODAY 2013; 8:56-74. [PMID: 23504223 PMCID: PMC3596169 DOI: 10.1016/j.nantod.2012.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 227] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Sensitivity and specificity are two most important factors to take into account for molecule sensing, chemical detection and disease diagnosis. A perfect sensitivity is to reach the level where a single molecule can be detected. An ideal specificity is to reach the level where the substance can be detected in the presence of many contaminants. The rapidly progressing nanopore technology is approaching this threshold. A wide assortment of biomotors and cellular pores in living organisms perform diverse biological functions. The elegant design of these transportation machineries has inspired the development of single molecule detection based on modulations of the individual current blockage events. The dynamic growth of nanotechnology and nanobiotechnology has stimulated rapid advances in the study of nanopore based instrumentation over the last decade, and inspired great interest in sensing of single molecules including ions, nucleotides, enantiomers, drugs, and polymers such as PEG, RNA, DNA, and polypeptides. This sensing technology has been extended to medical diagnostics and third generation high throughput DNA sequencing. This review covers current nanopore detection platforms including both biological pores and solid state counterparts. Several biological nanopores have been studied over the years, but this review will focus on the three best characterized systems including α-hemolysin and MspA, both containing a smaller channel for the detection of single-strand DNA, as well as bacteriophage phi29 DNA packaging motor connector that contains a larger channel for the passing of double stranded DNA. The advantage and disadvantage of each system are compared; their current and potential applications in nanomedicine, biotechnology, and nanotechnology are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farzin Haque
- Nanobiotechnology Center, Markey Cancer Center and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - Jinghong Li
- Department of Chemistry, Beijing Key Laboratory for Microanalytical Methods and Instrumentation, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Hai-Chen Wu
- Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials & Nanosafety, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xing-Jie Liang
- Laboratory of Nanomedicine and Nanosafety, CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology of China, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Peixuan Guo
- Nanobiotechnology Center, Markey Cancer Center and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
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Liu N, Jiang Y, Zhou Y, Xia F, Guo W, Jiang L. Two-Way Nanopore Sensing of Sequence-Specific Oligonucleotides and Small-Molecule Targets in Complex Matrices Using Integrated DNA Supersandwich Structures. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2013. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201209162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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Liu N, Jiang Y, Zhou Y, Xia F, Guo W, Jiang L. Two-way nanopore sensing of sequence-specific oligonucleotides and small-molecule targets in complex matrices using integrated DNA supersandwich structures. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2013; 52:2007-11. [PMID: 23307498 DOI: 10.1002/anie.201209162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 126] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2012] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nannan Liu
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, P.R. China
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