ABSTRACT
This study describes a novel dual-mode immunosensor that combines electrochemical (EC) and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) techniques for the detection of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a biomarker associated with prostate cancer. The sensor consists of a nanocomposite of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) deposited on two-dimensional (2D) molybdenum disulfide (Au@MoS2) modified on a working carbon electrode of a screen-printed electrode (SPE). Subsequently, the primary antibody (Ab1) is immobilized on the modified electrode, creating Ab1/Au@MoS2/SPE for specific recognition of the target PSA. In parallel, AuNPs are conjugated with a secondary antibody (Ab2) and a probe molecule, 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB), leading nanotags (TMB/Ab2/AuNPs) formation exhibiting strong SERS and EC responses. Upon the presence of the target, sandwich immunocomplexes can be formed through antigen-antibody interactions (Ab1-PSA-Ab2). The differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) technique is employed for EC detection mode, while a handheld Raman spectrometer with a 785â¯nm excitation laser is utilized to collect SERS signals. The developed system demonstrates excellent selectivity and sensitivity, with low limits of detection (LODs) of 3.58â¯pgâ¯mL-1 and 4.83â¯pgâ¯mL-1 for EC and SERS sensing, respectively. Importantly, the dual-mode immunosensor proves effective quantifying PSA protein in human serum samples with good recovery. Given its high sensitivity and proficiency in analyzing biological samples, this proposed immunosensor holds promise as an alternative tool for the early diagnosis of cancers.
ABSTRACT
To advance cervical cancer diagnostics, we propose a state-of-the-art label-free electrochemical immunosensor designed for the simultaneous detection of multiple biomarker proteins (p16INK4a, p53, and Ki67). This immunosensor is constructed using a polyethyleneimine-coated gold nanoparticles/2D tungsten disulfide/graphene oxide (PEI-AuNPs/2D WS2/GO) composite-modified three-screen-printed carbon electrode (3SPCE) array. The 2D WS2/GO hybrid provides a large specific surface area for supporting well-dispersed PEI-AuNPs and adsorbed redox-active species, enhancing overall performance. The PEI-AuNPs-decorated 2D WS2/GO composite not only improves electrode conductivity but also increases the antibody loading capacity. Redox-active species, including Cd2+ ions, 2,3-diaminophenazine (DAP), and methylene blue (MB), serve as distinct signaling compounds to quantitatively detect the cervical cancer biomarkers p16INK4a, p53, and Ki67, respectively. Additionally, the immunosensor demonstrates the detection with high sensitivity, good storage stability, high selectivity, and acceptable reproducibility. This immunosensor demonstrates a good linear relationship with the logarithm of protein concentrations. Additionally, the immunosensor also demonstrates high sensitivity, good storage stability, high selectivity, and acceptable reproducibility. Our promising results and the successful application of the immunosensor in detecting three tumor markers in human serum highlight its potential for clinical diagnosis of cervical cancer.
ABSTRACT
A label-free electrochemical immunosensor using a toluidine blue (TB)/porous organic polymer (POP)/two-dimensional molybdenum diselenide (2D MoSe2) nanocomposite is developed for highly sensitive detection of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in selected crops. A POP/2D MoSe2 composite material is employed to modify the surface of a screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE). Subsequently, TB is adsorbed on the modified SPCE surface, and the resulting TB/POP/2D MoSe2 composite is then used to construct a biosensor. The new POP/2D MoSe2 nanocomposite offers a high surface-to-volume area and is a good electroactive and biocompatible adsorbent for loading TB probe and capture antibodies. Adsorbed TB onto the POP/2D MoSe2 nanocomposite is utilized as a redox probe for the signal amplification unit. This TB/POP/2D MoSe2 nanocomposite provides good electron transfer properties of TB redox probe, good electrical conductivity, good biocompatibility, and likable adsorption ability, thus obtaining a sufficient immobilization quantity of antibodies for the sensor construction. After immobilization of the anti-AFB1 antibody and blocking with BSA on the composite surface, the immunosensor is obtained for the detection of AFB1. Under optimum conditions, the sensor shows a linear logarithmic range of 2.5-40 ng mL-1 with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.40 ng mL-1. The developed sensor provides several advantages in terms of simplicity, low cost, short analysis time, high selectivity, stability, and reproducibility. Additionally, the proposed immunosensor is successfully validated by the detection of AFB1 in rice, corn, and peanut samples. Utilizing the TB/POP/2D MoSe2 nanocomposite, this label-free electrochemical immunosensor demonstrates outstanding sensitivity and selectivity in detecting AFB1, making it a valuable tool for ensuring the safety of agricultural products and enhancing food security.
Subject(s)
Biosensing Techniques , Nanocomposites , Aflatoxin B1/analysis , Tolonium Chloride , Polymers , Biosensing Techniques/methods , Porosity , Reproducibility of Results , Immunoassay/methods , Carbon/chemistry , Antibodies , Crops, Agricultural , Nanocomposites/chemistry , Electrochemical Techniques/methods , Limit of Detection , Gold/chemistryABSTRACT
The quantification of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) as a potential liver cancer biomarker which is generally found in ultratrace level is of significance in biomedical diagnostics. Therefore, it is challenging to find a strategy to fabricate a highly sensitive electrochemical device towards AFP detection through electrode modification for signal generation and amplification. This work shows the construction of a simple, reliable, highly sensitive, and label-free aptasensor based on polyethyleneimine-coated gold nanoparticles (PEI-AuNPs). A disposable ItalSens screen-printed electrode (SPE) is employed for fabricating the sensor by successive modifying with PEI-AuNPs, aptamer, bovine serum albumin (BSA), and toluidine blue (TB), respectively. The AFP assay is easily performed when the electrode is inserted into a small Sensit/Smart potentiostat connected to a smartphone. The readout signal of the aptasensor derives from the electrochemical response of TB intercalating into the aptamer-modified electrode after binding with the target. The decrease in current response of the proposed sensor is proportional to the AFP concentration due to the restriction of the electron transfer pathway of TB by a number of insulating AFP/aptamer complexes on the electrode surface. PEI-AuNPs improve SPE's reactivity and provide a large surface area for aptamer immobilization whereas aptamer provides selectivity to the target AFP. Consequently, this electrochemical biosensor is highly sensitive and selective for AFP analysis. The developed assay reveals a linear range of detection from 10 to 50000 pg mL-1 with R 2 = 0.9977 and provided a limit of detection (LOD) of 9.5 pg mL-1 in human serum. With its simplicity and robustness, it is anticipated that this electrochemical-based aptasensor will be a benefit for the clinical diagnosis of liver cancer and further developed for other biomarkers analysis.
ABSTRACT
Liver cancer is one of the most common global health problems that features a high mortality rate. Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a potential liver cancer biomarker for the diagnosis of liver cancer. The quantitative detection of AFP at an ultratrace level has important medical significance. Using the reaction of the antibody-antigen pair in an immunosensor enables the sensitive and selective AFP assay. Finding a strategy in signal generation and amplification is challenging to fabricate new sensitive electrochemical immunosensors for AFP detection. This study demonstrates the construction of a simple, reliable, and label-free immunosensor for the detection of AFP on a smart phone. Exfoliated two-dimensional (2D) molybdenum diselenide (MoSe2) and 2D tungsten diselenide (WSe2) were employed to modify the disposable screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE) to use as the electrochemical platform, which is affixed to a small potentiostat connected to a smart phone. The modified electrode offers antibody immobilization and allows detection of AFP via an immunocomplex forming a sandwich-like configuration with the AFP-corresponding aptamer. A heterojunction 2D MoSe2/2D WSe2 composite improves the SPCE's reactivity and provides a large surface area and good adsorption capacity for the immobilizing antibodies. The signal generation for the immunosensor is from the electrochemical response of methylene blue (MB) intercalating into the aptamer bound on the electrode. The response for the proposed sandwich-like immunosensor is proportional to the AFP concentration (1.0-50,000 pg ml-1). The biosensor has potential for the development of a simple and robust point-of-care diagnostic platform for the clinical diagnosis of liver cancer, achieving a low limit of detection (0.85 pg ml-1), high sensitivity, high selectivity, good stability, and excellent reproducibility.
Subject(s)
Biosensing Techniques , Liver Neoplasms , Humans , alpha-Fetoproteins , Immunoassay/methods , Biosensing Techniques/methods , Methylene Blue , Reproducibility of Results , Gold , Electrochemical Techniques/methods , Electrodes , Antibodies , Liver Neoplasms/diagnosisABSTRACT
In this study, the surface plasmon resonance (SPR)-enhanced fluorescence properties of gold quantum dots (AuQDs) on an aluminum (Al)-coated polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) grating substrate were investigated by changing the grating pitch via mechanical stretching. The SPR-excitation wavelength of the AuQDs/Al-coated PDMS-grating substrate was tuned by changing the incident light angle from 5° to 60° and stretching it from 0 to 1.0 mm. In addition, the SPR-enhanced fluorescence tuning ability was studied using an AuQD/Al-coated PDMS-grating film by stretching the substrate. The SPR-enhanced fluorescence (SPF) of the AuQDs on the Al-grating was observed using a violet laser as the excitation source at 405 nm with p-polarization. The wavelengths of the SPR excitation, corresponding to the SP-dispersion mode of +1, were shifted to a longer wavelength upon stretching the grating substrate from 0 to 1.0 mm. By stretching the AuQDs/Al-grating PDMS substrate, the SPR-enhanced fluorescence intensity increased at fixed incident angles of 15° and 35°, whereas the SPR-enhanced fluorescence intensity decreased at 40°. Moreover, the SPF could be tuned to exhibit different properties in tunable optical sensors.
Subject(s)
Quantum Dots , Surface Plasmon Resonance , Aluminum , Elastomers , Fluorescence , Gold , Quantum Dots/chemistryABSTRACT
The plasmon-induced photothermal effect offers effective light-to-heat conversion systems. In this study, we fabricate plasmonic photothermal silver nanoparticle (AgNP) grating films to produce highly effective plasmon-induced heat generation films. AgNP films provide effective heat generation by localized surface plasmon excitation in the void of the AgNP films. The heat generated at a AgNP film by irradiation of solar light is 3.4 times higher than that generated at the reference flat evaporated-Ag film. Furthermore, simultaneous excitation of localized surface plasmons and propagating surface plasmons is confirmed to be obtained on AgNP grating films by finite-difference time-domain simulation and reflectivity measurements. The AgNP grating film is created by the nanoimprinting technique. The grating structure on AgNPs further enhances electric field intensity in the large area of the film, which results in higher heat generation. Thus, 5.4 times higher heat generation is achieved compared with that of the reference flat evaporated-Ag film.
ABSTRACT
A dual-mode electrochemical biosensor is successfully developed for simultaneous detection of two different kinds of breast cancer biomarkers, namely cancer antigen 15-3 (CA 15-3) and microRNA-21 (miRNA-21), for the first time. The sensor composes of a poly(3-aminobenzylamine)/two-dimensional (2D) molybdenum selenide/graphene oxide nanocomposite modified two-screen-printed carbon electrode array (dual electrode), functionalized individually with 2,3-diaminophenazine-gold nanoparticles and toluidine blue-gold nanoparticles. Both kinds of the redox probe-gold nanoparticles are employed as signaling molecules and supports for immobilization of anti-CA 15-3 antibodies and capture DNA-21 probes, respectively. Due to the good conductivity and high surface-to-volume ratio of the nanocomposite, high amount of the antibodies and capture probes can be immobilized on the modified dual-electrode, giving the efficient duplex detection. Consequently, the biosensor provides good selectivity, and high sensitivity for the dual target analyte detection. The experimental results show that this label-free biosensor exhibits good linear responses to the concentrations of both target analytes with the limits of detection (LODs) of 0.14 U mL-1 and 1.2 fM for CA 15-3 and miRNA-21, respectively. This assay strategy has a great potential to be further developed for the simultaneous detection of a variety of miRNAs and protein biomarkers for point-of-care (POC) diagnostic applications.
Subject(s)
Biosensing Techniques , Breast Neoplasms , Graphite , Metal Nanoparticles , MicroRNAs , Mucin-1 , Biomarkers, Tumor , Electrochemical Techniques , Electrodes , Female , Gold , Humans , Limit of DetectionABSTRACT
Methylene blue (MB) adsorption onto a two-dimensional molybdenum disulfide (2D MoS2)/graphene oxide (GO) nanocomposite sitting on a screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE) is used to develop a new sensitive label-free electrochemical immunosensor for the detection of matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7) cancer biomarkers. The 2D MoS2/GO nanocomposite deposited onto an SPCE provides a large specific surface area, fast electron transfer, and exceptional electrical conductivity. Furthermore, MB adsorbed onto the 2D MoS2/GO nanocomposite architecture can be used for signal amplification in electrochemical immunosensors. Moreover, an immunosensor platform was fabricated by the adsorption of anti-MMP-7 capture antibodies onto the MB/2D MoS2/GO nanocomposite surface via electrostatic interactions for the detection of the MMP-7 immunocomplex. Under optimum conditions, the label-free immunosensor exhibits a decrease in the current response for MB corresponding to the MMP-7 concentration. The sensor affords a linear logarithmic range of 0.010-75â¯ngâ¯mL-1 with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.007â¯ngâ¯mL-1. The developed electrochemical immunosensor provides high selectivity, good reproducibility, and excellent stability. Furthermore, the proposed immunosensor can be applied for the detection of MMP-7 in human serum samples with good recovery. Thus, this device can be applied for the early clinical diagnosis of pancreatic and colorectal cancers.
Subject(s)
Biosensing Techniques/methods , Electrochemical Techniques/methods , Immunoassay/methods , Matrix Metalloproteinase 7/blood , Disulfides/chemistry , Graphite/chemistry , Humans , Methylene Blue/chemistry , Molybdenum/chemistryABSTRACT
A new electrochemical immunosensor is developed for the label-free simultaneous detection of mucin1 (MUC1), cancer antigen 15-3 (CA15-3), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) early breast cancer biomarkers. The biosensor is simply designed using the deposition of three different systems of redox species-antibody-conjugated polyethylenimine coated-gold nanoparticles (PEI-AuNPs), for the first time. The screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE) comprising a three-working electrode array is modified with the conjugated PEI-AuNPs. Multiplex sensing is performed by utilizing the distinguishable electrochemical responses of the redox-active species; anthraquinone-2-carboxylic acid (AQ), thionine chloride (TH), and AgNO3 (Ag+) on the PEI-AuNPs conjugates for the detection of MUC1, CA15-3, and HER2, respectively. The single-run determination of the biomarkers by the proposed immunosensor is carried out by measuring the decrease (%) in the oxidation peak currents due to the formation of three kinds of antibody-antigen complexes. The decreased currents are logarithmically proportional to the antigen concentrations in the ranges of 0.10-100 U mL-1 CA15-3 and 0.10-100 ng mL-1 MUC1 and HER2 with detection limits of 0.21 U mL-1, 0.53 ng mL-1 and 0.50 ng mL-1, respectively, which are significantly lower than the clinically relevant cut-off levels. The sensor reveals high selectivity and satisfactory reproducibility. After storing for two weeks, the sensor retains the responses with ca. 90% of the initial currents. The immunosensor is successfully applied to detect three tumor markers in human serum and can provide a new technological platform for the development of low-cost, highly stable, sensitive, selective, and point-of-care (POC) diagnosis.
Subject(s)
Biocompatible Materials/chemistry , Biomarkers, Tumor/analysis , Biosensing Techniques , Electrochemical Techniques , Mucin-1/analysis , Receptor, ErbB-2/analysis , Antibodies/chemistry , Gold/chemistry , Humans , Male , Materials Testing , Metal Nanoparticles/chemistry , Polyethyleneimine/chemistryABSTRACT
A novel copper (II) ions [Cu(II)]-graphene oxide (GO) nanocomplex-modified screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE) is successfully developed as a versatile electrochemical platform for construction of sensors without an additionally external redox probe. A simple strategy to prepare the redox GO-modified SPCE is described. Such redox GO based on adsorbed Cu(II) is prepared by incubation of GO-modified SPCE in the Cu(II) solution. This work demonstrates the fabrications of two kinds of electrochemical sensors, i.e., a new label-free electrochemical immunosensor and non-enzymatic sensor for detections of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and glucose, respectively. Our immunosensor based on square-wave voltammetry (SWV) of the redox GO-modified electrode shows the linearity in a dynamic range of 1.0-500 pg.mL-1 with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.20 pg.mL-1 for the detection of IgG while non-enzymatic sensor reveals two dynamic ranges of 0.10-1.00 mM (sensitivity = 36.31 µA.mM-1.cm-2) and 1.00-12.50 mM (sensitivity = 3.85 µA.mM-1.cm-2) with a LOD value of 0.12 mM. The novel redox Cu(II)-GO composite electrode is a promising candidate for clinical research and diagnosis.
ABSTRACT
A bi-functional material based on silver nanoparticles (AgNPs)-reduced graphene oxide (rGO) composite for both electrode modification and signal generation is successfully synthesized for use in the construction of a label-free electrochemical immunosensor. An AgNPs/rGO nanocomposite is prepared by a one-pot wet chemical process. The AgNPs/rGO composite dispersion is simply cast on a screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE) to fabricate the electrochemical immunosensor. It possesses a sufficient conductivity/electroreactivity and improves the electrode reactivity of SPCE. Moreover, the material can generate an analytical response due to the formation of immunocomplexes for detection of human immunoglobulin G (IgG), a model biomarker. Based on electrochemical stripping of AgNPs, the material reveals signal amplification without external redox molecules/probes. Under optimized conditions, the square wave voltammetric peak current is responded to the logarithm of IgG concentration in two wide linear ranges from 1 to 50 pg.ml-1 and 0.05 to 50 ng.ml-1, and the limit of detection (LOD) is estimated to be 0.86 pg.ml-1. The proposed immunosensor displays satisfactory sensitivity and selectivity. Importantly, detection of IgG in human serum using the immunosensor shows satisfactory accuracy, suggesting that the immunosensor possesses a huge potential for further development in clinical diagnosis.
ABSTRACT
We studied the effect of gold quantum dots (AuQDs)/grating-coupled surface plasmon resonance (GC-SPR) in inverted organic solar cells (OSCs). AuQDs are located within a GC-SPR evanescent field in inverted OSCs, indicating an interaction between GC-SPR and AuQDs' quantum effects, subsequently giving rise to improvement in the performance of inverted OSCs. The fabricated solar cell device comprises an ITO/TiO2/P3HT : PCBM/PEDOT : PSS : AuQD/silver grating structure. The AuQDs were loaded into a hole transport layer (PEDOT : PSS) of the inverted OSCs to increase absorption in the near-ultraviolet (UV) light region and to emit visible light into the neighbouring photoactive layer, thereby achieving light-harvesting improvement of the device. The grating structures were fabricated on P3HT:PCBM layers using a nanoimprinting technique to induce GC-SPR within the inverted OSCs. The AuQDs incorporated within the strongly enhanced GC-SPR evanescent electric field on metallic nanostructures in the inverted OSCs improved the short-circuit current and the efficiency of photovoltaic devices. In comparison with the reference OSC and OSCs with only green AuQDs or only metallic grating, the developed device indicates enhancement of up to 16% power conversion efficiency. This indicates that our light management approach allows for greater light utilization of the OSCs because of the synergistic effect of G-AuQDs and GC-SPR.
ABSTRACT
A label-free multiplexed electrochemical biosensor based on a gold nanoparticles/graphene quantum dots/graphene oxide (AuNPs/GQDs/GO) modified three-screen-printed carbon electrode (3SPCE) array is successfully constructed to detect miRNA-21, miRNA-155, and miRNA-210 biomarkers for the first time. Redox species (anthraquinone (AQ), methylene blue (MB), and polydopamine (PDA)) are used as redox indicators for anchoring capture miRNA probes, which hybridize with the complementary targets, miRNA-21, miRNA-155, and miRNA-210, respectively. After three target miRNAs are present, the square wave voltammetry (SWV) scan displays three well-separated peaks. Each peak indicates the presence of one miRNA, and its intensity quantitatively correlates with the concentration of the corresponding target analyte. This phenomenon results in the substantial decline of the SWV peak current of the redox probes. The developed AuNPs/GQDs/GO-based biosensor reveals excellent performance for simultaneous miRNA sensing. It offers a wide linear dynamic range from 0.001 to 1000 pM with ultrasensitive low detection limits of 0.04, 0.33, and 0.28 fM for the detection of miRNA-21, miRNA-155, and miRNA-210, respectively. It also presents high selectivity and applicability for the detection of miRNAs in human serum samples. This multiplex label-free miRNA biosensor has great potential for applications in breast cancer diagnosis.
Subject(s)
Biosensing Techniques , Breast Neoplasms , Graphite , Metal Nanoparticles , MicroRNAs , Quantum Dots , Breast Neoplasms/diagnosis , Breast Neoplasms/genetics , Electrochemical Techniques , Female , Gold , Humans , Limit of Detection , MicroRNAs/geneticsABSTRACT
Numerous studies suggest that modification with functional nanomaterials can enhance the electrode electrocatalytic activity, sensitivity, and selectivity of the electrochemical sensors. Here, a highly sensitive and cost-effective disposable non-enzymatic glucose sensor based on copper(II)/reduced graphene oxide modified screen-printed carbon electrode is demonstrated. Facile fabrication of the developed sensing electrodes is carried out by the adsorption of copper(II) onto graphene oxide modified electrode, then following the electrochemical reduction. The proposed sensor illustrates good electrocatalytic activity toward glucose oxidation with a wide linear detection range from 0.10 mM to 12.5 mM, low detection limit of 65 µM, and high sensitivity of 172 µA mM-1 cm-2 along with satisfactory anti-interference ability, reproducibility, stability, and the acceptable recoveries for the detection of glucose in a human serum sample (95.6-106.4%). The copper(II)/reduced graphene oxide based sensor with the superior performances is a great potential for the quantitation of glucose in real samples.
ABSTRACT
Numerous clinical studies suggest that microRNAs (miRNAs) are indicative biomolecules for the early diagnosis of cancer. This work aims to develop a cost-effective and label-free electrochemical biosensor to detect miRNA-21, a biomarker of breast cancer. An electrochemical sensor is fabricated using a nanocomposite, consisting of graphene (GP), polypyrrole (PPY) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), modified onto a screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE) to improve electron transfer properties and increase the degree of methylene blue (MB) intercalation for signal amplification. The GP/PPY-modified electrode offers good electrochemical reactivity and high dispersibility of AuNPs, resulting in excellent sensor performance. Peak current of the MB redox process, which is proportional to miRNA-21 concentration on the electrode surface, is monitored by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). Under optimal conditions, this sensor is operated by monitoring the MB signal response due to the amount of hybridization products between miRNA-21 target molecules and DNA-21 probes immobilized on the electrode. The proposed biosensor reveals a linear range from 1.0 fM to 1.0 nM with a low detection limit of 0.020 fM. In addition, the miRNA-21 biosensor provides good selectivity, high stability, and satisfactory reproducibility, which shows promising potential in clinical research and diagnostic applications.
Subject(s)
Biosensing Techniques , Graphite , Metal Nanoparticles , MicroRNAs , Electrochemical Techniques , Gold , Limit of Detection , Methylene Blue , Polymers , Pyrroles , Reproducibility of ResultsABSTRACT
In this work, we report, for the first time, the construction of a label-free electrochemical immunosensor for highly sensitive detection of a new lung cancer biomarker, GM2 activator protein (GM2AP). A polyethyleneimine-coated gold nanoparticle (PEI-AuNP) and phosphomolybdic acid (PMA) modified electrode is developed as a novel redox platform for GM2AP detection. A PEI-AuNP film-modified screen-printed carbon electrode, as a signal amplifier support, was successfully fabricated for the adsorption of PMA redox molecules and is used for signal amplification. Under the optimized conditions, GM2AP detection is based on a decrease in the current response of PMA redox probes proportionally relative to an amount of the immunocomplex. Our sensor exhibits two linear ranges of 0.005-25 and 25-400 ng mL-1 with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.51 pg mL-1. The immunosensor is successfully applied for the determination of GM2AP in both human urine and serum samples. The proposed sensor offers the advantages of simple fabrication, low cost, rapid analysis, satisfactory stability, high selectivity and sensitivity, and good reproducibility. The LOD of the biosensor is approximately 2863 and 1804 fold lower than the clinically relevant levels in human urine and serum, respectively. Our strategy can be used as an alternative non-invasive clinical analysis method for lung cancer screening.
Subject(s)
Biosensing Techniques , Lung Neoplasms , Metal Nanoparticles , Biomarkers, Tumor , Early Detection of Cancer , Electrochemical Techniques , G(M2) Activator Protein , Gold , Humans , Immunoassay , Limit of Detection , Lung , Lung Neoplasms/diagnosis , Molybdenum , Phosphoric Acids , Polyethyleneimine , Reproducibility of ResultsABSTRACT
Biotransformations of stemofoline (1a), (2'S)-hydroxystemofoline (2a), (11Z)-1',2'-didehydrostemofoline (3a) and stemocurtisine (4) were studied through fermentation with Cunninghamella elegans TISTR 3370. Three new stemofoline derivatives; 6 R-hydroxystemofoline (1b), (2'S, 6 R)-dihydroxystemofoline (2b) and (11Z,6R)-1',2'-didehydro-6-hydroxystemofoline (3b), together with the known compound 1',2'-didehydrostemofoline-N-oxide (3c), were produced by C-hydroxylation and N-oxidation reactions. Stemocurtisine was not biotransformed under these conditions. The transformed product 1b was four times more potent (IC50 = 11.01 ± 1.49 µM) than its precursor 1a (IC50 = 45.1 ± 5.46 µM) as an inhibitor against acetylcholinesterase.
Subject(s)
Alkaloids/chemistry , Alkaloids/metabolism , Heterocyclic Compounds, 4 or More Rings/chemistry , Biotransformation , Cunninghamella/metabolism , Fermentation , Oxidation-ReductionABSTRACT
The incorporation of metallic nanoobjects into devices allows to increase light harvesting, which increases the device performance. In this study, we used a combination of gold quantum dots and grating-coupled surface plasmon resonance (GCSPR) to improve the performance of organic solar cells (OSCs) with a poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) (P3HT):[6,6]-phenyl C61 butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) photoactive layer. Gold quantum dots with a green fluorescent color (green-AuQD) were loaded into a hole transport layer (HTL) aiming to harvest photons in the UV region and emit visible light into the neighboring photoactive layer. Meanwhile, plasmonic grating structures, which were created on the photoactive layer surfaces via the nanoimprinting technique, provided an enhancement effect through light scattering and GCSPR. Thus, an excellent enhancement of OSC efficiency with a significant increase in short circuit photocurrent (J SC) and power conversion efficiency (PCE) in comparison to that of the reference cell was achieved. The fabricated device provides a J SC value as high as 8.41 mA cm-2 (a 14.11% enhancement) and a PCE value of 3.91% (a 19.57% enhancement). The systematic study clearly reveals that the remarkable enhancement of OSC efficiency is achieved by incorporating both AuQD and plasmonic grating.
ABSTRACT
In this work, we developed an effective voltammetric immunosensing platform for the sensitive detection of prostate specific antigen (PSA) utilizing a graphene oxide (GO) modified screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE) hybridized with the ex-situ prepared silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) as a probe and signal transducer. The sensing platform comprises a direct-type immunoassay involving the selective interaction of PSA with anti-PSA. The surface morphology and analytical performance of the modified SPCE were characterized through relevant instrumentations. The changes in the voltammetric reduction current of AgNPs at 0.11â¯V in the sensor electrode was correlated to the PSA concentration. Under optimum conditions, the fabricated immunosensor exhibited a sensitive response to PSA with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.27â¯ngâ¯mL-1 and a dynamic calibration range of 0.75-100.0â¯ngâ¯mL-1. We demonstrated that the participation of AgNPs along with GO modification contribute to the desired signal amplification and sensitive detection of PSA. It is anticipated that the proposed immunosensor can serve as a biomarker and potentially be utilized for the real sample quantification of PSA.