Array-Based Discriminative Optical Biosensors for Identifying Multiple Proteins in Aqueous Solution and Biofluids

Identification of proteins is an important issue both in medical research and in clinical practice as a large number of proteins are closely related to various diseases. Optical sensor arrays with recognition ability have been flourished to apply for distinguishing multiple chemically or structurally similar analytes and analyzing unknown or mixed samples. This review gives an overview of the recent development of array-based discriminative optical biosensors for recognizing proteins and their applications in real samples. Based on the number of sensor elements and the complexity of constructing array-based discriminative systems, these biosensors can be divided into three categories, which include multi-element-based sensor arrays, environment-sensitive sensor arrays and multi-wavelength-based single sensing systems. For each strategy, the construction of sensing platform and detection mechanism are particularly introduced. Meanwhile, the differences and connections between different strategies were discussed. An understanding of these aspects may help to facilitate the development of novel discriminative biosensors and expand their application prospects.

Label free aptasensor for ultrasensitive detection of tobramycin residue in pasteurized cow's milk based on resonance scattering spectra and nanogold catalytic amplification

TOB aptamer can be adsorbed on the AuNPs surface to form AuNPs-aptamer complexation to prevent AuNPs aggregation in high salt solution. When TOB was added to the AuNPs solution, the aptamer would bind with TOB and depart from the AuNPs surface. The amount of the AuNPs-aptamer complexation depends on the TOB concentration. Different concentration of AuNPs-aptamer can catalyze the reduction reaction of CuSO₄ to produce different size Cu₂O particle. The resonance scattering peak intensities are correlated with the Cu₂O size. Large size Cu₂O particle as a resonance scattering spectroscopy probe can remarkable improve the TOB detection sensitivity. We have succeeded to detect the trace TOB in aqueous solutions. The linear range and limit of detection were 0.50-17 nM and 0.19 nM, respectively. This simple and inexpensive method exhibited high sensitivity and selectivity, which was successfully used to detect TOB in milk. The results indicated the accuracy and precision were satisfied.