A differential strategy to enhance the anti-interference ability of molecularly imprinted electrochemiluminescence sensor with a semi-logarithmic calibration curve

The non-specific adsorption behaviors of various interferents on the surface of a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) are adverse for the selectivity of an MIP-based sensor, which can be overcome via a differential strategy by using the differential signal between MIP- and non-imprinted polymer (NIP)-based sensors. However, the normal differential mode is not suitable for the MIP-based sensors with non-linear calibration curves. Herein, an improved differential strategy is reported for an MIP-based sensor with a semi-logarithmic calibration curve, demonstrated by an electrochemiluminescence (ECL) sensor for dopamine (DA). Glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was modified by the mixture of g-C3N4, TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs). MIP membrane for DA was fabricated on the surface of g-C3N4/TiO2NPs/CNTs/GCE using chitosan for film-forming, obtained MIP@GCE. To enhance the anti-interference ability of the MIP-based DA sensor, the difference between exponential functions ECL intensities of MIP@GCE and NIP@GCE is used as the analytical signal in the improved differential strategy. The differential signal was increased linearly with increasing DA concentration ranging from 10 pM to 0.10 μM, with the detection limit of 5.6 pM. The interference level of Cu2+ on DA determination in the improved differential mode is only 9.7% of that in the normal MIP mode. The improved differential strategy can be used in other MIP-based sensors with semi-logarithmic calibration curves.

Fluorometric detection of alpha-fetoprotein based on the use of a novel organic compound with AIE activity and aptamer-modified magnetic microparticles

BACKGROUND

Liver cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world, and it seriously threatens human life and health. Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), as a carcinogenic glycoprotein, is an important serum marker for detecting liver cancer. Therefore, the accurate and sensitive determination of AFP is crucial for the early diagnosis and treatment of liver cancer. To this end, a label-free fluorescence aptasensor for detecting AFP based on the use of a novel organic Compound D with an aggregation-induced emission activity and aptamer-modified magnetic microparticles was constructed.

RESULTS

Compound D could combine with the complementary short chain of the aptamer (CSC-Apt) of AFP to form the D/CSC-Apt complex and realize the fluorescence enhancement of Compound D. Then, magnetic particles modified by the Apt of AFP (Apt-Fe3O4) were prepared. When AFP (or nontarget substance) and D/CSC-Apt were successively added to the Apt-Fe3O4 solution, Apt-Fe3O4 selectively bound to AFP or the D/CSC-Apt complex. Magnetic separation technology showed the changes in the fluorescence intensity of the supernatant. The research results revealed a good linear relationship between the changes in the fluorescence intensity of the supernatant and concentration of AFP within the concentration range of 10-10000 pg mL-1. The proposed aptasensor could achieve high-sensitivity and high-specificity detection of AFP, and its limit of detection was 3 pg mL-1 (S/N = 3).

SIGNIFICANCE AND NOVELTY

The sensor combines the advantages of high selectivity of Apt, high sensitivity of fluorescence analysis, AIE effect and good water solubility of Compound D, and rapid separation using magnetic separation technology. And it can be directly used for the detection of AFP in actual serum samples with high accuracy, whereas most of the methods reported in the literature can only detect AFP in spiked serum samples.

Fabrication of a ratiometric electrochemiluminescence biosensor using single self-enhanced nanoluminophores for the detection of spermine

A ratiometric electrochemiluminescence strategy using a single luminophore for accurate and sensitive biomolecule detection could be immensely valuable in bioanalysis. Herein, an ultrasensitive ratiometric electrochemiluminescence sensing system was fabricated using a self-enhanced luminophore with dual-signal emission for the detection of spermine. A nanocomposite was synthesized by the covalent attachment of N, N-diisopropylethylenediamine onto glutathione-protected Au-Ag bimetallic nanoclusters (DPEA-GSH@Au/Ag BNCs). The nanocomposite exhibited efficient intra-cluster charge transfer to produce strong anodic self-enhanced electrochemiluminescence emission at 0.8 V without external co-reactants. Interestingly, the DPEA@GSH@Au-Ag BNCs exhibited cathodic electrochemiluminescence emission upon the addition of the co-reactant potassium persulfate at -1.6 V, exhibiting stable and efficient dual-signal electrochemiluminescence emission features at a continuous potential window of -1.75 to 1.2 V. Thus, they were used to fabricate a single-luminophore electrochemiluminescence sensor with dual emission. The cathodic emission of the biosensor gradually increased with increasing concentrations of spermine, whereas the anodic electrochemiluminescence intensity remained almost constant, enabling the ratiometric detection of spermine. The fabricated biosensor, with an internal standard, significantly improved the accuracy and reliability of spermine detection in a wide concentration range of 0.85 pM-100 μM, with a low limit of detection of 0.12 pM (S/N = 3) under optimum conditions. This single-luminophore electrochemiluminescence sensing system could be used for the detection of spermine and could guide the construction of ratiometric electrochemiluminescence sensors in the future.

Nanotechnology strategies for hepatocellular carcinoma diagnosis and treatment

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common malignancy threatening human health, and existing diagnostic and therapeutic techniques are facing great challenges. In the last decade or so, nanotechnology has been developed and improved for tumor diagnosis and treatment. For example, nano-intravenous injections have been approved for malignant perivascular epithelioid cell tumors. This article provides a comprehensive review of the applications of nanotechnology in HCC in recent years: (I) in radiological imaging, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), fluorescence imaging (FMI) and multimodality imaging. (II) For diagnostic applications in HCC serum markers. (III) As embolic agents in transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) or directly as therapeutic drugs. (IV) For application in photothermal therapy and photodynamic therapy. (V) As carriers of chemotherapeutic drugs, targeted drugs, and natural plant drugs. (VI) For application in gene and immunotherapy. Compared with the traditional methods for diagnosis and treatment of HCC, nanoparticles have high sensitivity, reduce drug toxicity and have a long duration of action, and can also be combined with photothermal and photodynamic multimodal combination therapy. These summaries provide insights for the further development of nanotechnology applications in HCC.

A novel biosensor based on multienzyme microcapsules constructed from covalent-organic framework

Electrochemical biosensors based on enzymes modified electrode are attracting special attention due to their broad applications. However, the immobilization of enzymes on electrode is always an important challenge because it's not conducive to conformational expansion of enzymes and affects the bioactivity of enzymes accordingly. Although the imobilization of enzymes in micropores of crystalline covalent-organic framework (COF) and metal-organic framework (MOF) to construct electrochemical biosensors based on pore embedding can achive good reuslts, their micropores can still not guarantee that the enzyme's conformation is well extended. Herein, a multienzyme microcapsules (enzymes@COF) containing glucose oxidase, horseradish peroxidase and acetylcholinesterase with a 600 nm-sized cavity and a shell of COF was used to construct electrochemical biosensors. The 600 nm-sized cavity ensures free conformation expansion of encapsulated enzymes and the shell of COF with good chemical stablity protects encapsulated enzymes against external harsh environments. And the specific catalytic substrates of the enzymes can infiltrated into the microcapsule through the pores of COF shell. So, the biosensor based on enzymes@COF microcapsules demonstrated preeminent performances as compared with those of enzymes assembled on electrode. The detection limits were 0.85 μM, 2.81 nM, 3.0×10^-13 g/L, and the detection range were 2.83 μM-8.0 mM, 9.53 nM-7.0 μM, 10^-12 g/L-10^-8 g/L for glucose, H2O2 and malathion detection. This work shows that it is feasible to fabricate electrochemical sensors using enzymes@COF microcapsules.

Graphite-like Carbon Nitride Nanotube for Electrochemiluminescence Featuring High Efficiency, High Stability, and Ultrasensitive Ion Detection Capability

Herein, for the first time, we introduced a novel electrochemiluminescence (ECL) luminophore based on a one-dimensional g-C₃N₄ nanotube using K₂S₂O₈ as the coreactant. The g-C₃N₄ nanotube/K₂S₂O₈ couple displayed very satisfactory ECL performance, i.e., an ECL efficiency (Φ_ECL) of 437% (vs 100% for the Ru(bpy)₃²⁺/K₂S₂O₈ reference) and excellent ECL stability (the relative standard deviation (RSD) = 0.78%). By contrast, Φ_ECL and RSD of the control g-C₃N₄ nanosheet/K₂S₂O₈ couple were merely 196% and 45.34%, respectively. The mechanism study revealed that the g-C₃N₄ nanotube features a large surface area and much lower interfacial impedance in the porous microstructure, which are beneficial for accelerating the charge transfer rate and stabilizing charge/excitons for ECL. Moreover, using the g-C₃N₄ nanotube/K₂S₂O₈ system as a sensing platform, excellent Cu²⁺ detection capability was also achieved. Our work thus triggers a promising g-C₃N₄ nanomaterial system toward ECL application.

A sandwich-type ECL immunosensor for the sensitive determination of CEA content based on red emission carbon quantum dots as luminophores

A novel electrochemiluminescent immunosensor was constructed based on the quenching effect between red emission carbon quantum dots and aminated graphene.

Electrochemical aptasensor for analyzing alpha-fetoprotein using RGO-CS-Fc nanocomposites integrated with gold-platinum nanoparticles

Herein, a label-free electrochemical aptasensor for alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) analysis was established. The AFP aptamer (AFP-Apt), as the recognition molecule, was immobilized on the surface of a screen-printed carbon electrode, which was modified by gold-platinum metallic nanoparticles and reduced graphene oxide-chitosan-ferrocene nanohybrids (Au-Pt NPs/RGO-CS-Fc), to build the AFP electrochemical aptasensor. The construction process of the aptasensor was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. With the addition of AFP, the formation of the AFP-aptamer conjugation blocked the electron transfer reaction, reducing the differential pulse voltammetric responses of the current of Fc in the RGO-CS-Fc nanohybrids. By optimizing the experimental parameters, AFP could be detected with the dynamic concentration range of 0.001 to 10.0 μg mL^-1 and with a detection limit of 0.3013 ng mL^-1. In addition, the approach was manifested to have good selectivity, reproducibility, and stability. The fabricated aptasensor had a good recovery rate of 102.36% to 118.09% in real human serum samples. This work demonstrates that the electrochemical aptasensor is a useful tool for analyzing AFP inexpensively, rapidly, and accurately.