Nanomaterials for biosensing applications: a review

Reference materials and representative test materials to develop nanoparticle characterization methods: the NanoChOp project case

This paper describes the production and characteristics of the nanoparticle test materials prepared for common use in the collaborative research project NanoChOp (Chemical and optical characterization of nanomaterials in biological systems), in casu suspensions of silica nanoparticles and CdSe/CdS/ZnS quantum dots (QDs). This paper is the first to illustrate how to assess whether nanoparticle test materials meet the requirements of a “reference material” (ISO Guide 30, 2015) or rather those of the recently defined category of “representative test material (RTM)” (ISO/TS 16195, 2013). The NanoChOp test materials were investigated with small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and centrifugal liquid sedimentation (CLS) to establish whether they complied with the required monomodal particle size distribution. The presence of impurities, aggregates, agglomerates, and viable microorganisms in the suspensions was investigated with DLS, CLS, optical and electron microscopy and via plating on nutrient agar. Suitability of surface functionalization was investigated with attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (ATR-FTIR) and via the capacity of the nanoparticles to be fluorescently labeled or to bind antibodies. Between-unit homogeneity and stability were investigated in terms of particle size and zeta potential. This paper shows that only based on the outcome of a detailed characterization process one can raise the status of a test material to RTM or reference material, and how this status depends on its intended use.

Quartz-Crystal Microbalance (QCM) for Public Health: An Overview of Its Applications

Nanobiotechnologies, from the convergence of nanotechnology and molecular biology and postgenomics medicine, play a major role in the field of public health. This overview summarizes the potentiality of piezoelectric sensors, and in particular, of quartz-crystal microbalance (QCM), a physical nanogram-sensitive device. QCM enables the rapid, real time, on-site detection of pathogens with an enormous burden in public health, such as influenza and other respiratory viruses, hepatitis B virus (HBV), and drug-resistant bacteria, among others. Further, it allows to detect food allergens, food-borne pathogens, such as Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium, and food chemical contaminants, as well as water-borne microorganisms and environmental contaminants. Moreover, QCM holds promises in early cancer detection and screening of new antiblastic drugs. Applications for monitoring biohazards, for assuring homeland security, and preventing bioterrorism are also discussed.

Rational design of quinones for high power density biofuel cells

Enzymatic fuel cells (EFCs) are devices that can produce electrical energy by enzymatic oxidation of energy-dense fuels (such as glucose). When considering bioanode construction for EFCs, it is desirable to use a system with a low onset potential and high catalytic current density. While these two properties are typically mutually exclusive, merging these two properties will significantly enhance EFC performance. We present the rational design and preparation of an alternative naphthoquinone-based redox polymer hydrogel that is able to facilitate enzymatic glucose oxidation at low oxidation potentials while simultaneously producing high catalytic current densities. When coupled with an enzymatic biocathode, the resulting glucose/O2 EFC possessed an open-circuit potential of 0.864 ± 0.006 V, with an associated maximum current density of 5.4 ± 0.5 mA cm-2. Moreover, the EFC delivered its maximum power density (2.3 ± 0.2 mW cm-2) at a high operational potential of 0.55 V.

Luminescent difluoroboron β-diketonate PEG-PLA oxygen nanosensors for tumor imaging

Surface modification of nanoparticles and biosensors is a dynamic, expanding area of research for targeted delivery in vivo. For more efficient delivery, surfaces are PEGylated to impart stealth properties, long circulation, and enable enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) in tumor tissues. Previously, BF2 dbm(I)PLA was proven to be a good oxygen nanosensor material for tumor hypoxia imaging in vivo, though particles were applied directly to the tumor and surrounding region. Further surface modification is needed for this dual-emissive oxygen sensitive material for effective intravenous (IV) administration and passive and active delivery to tumors. In this paper, an efficient synthesis of a new dual-emissive material BF2 dbm(I)PLA-mPEG is presented and in vitro stability studies are conducted. It is found that fabricated nanoparticles are stable for 24 weeks as a suspension, while after 25 weeks the nanoparticles swell and both dye and polymer degradation escalates. Preliminary studies show BF2 dbm(I)PLA-mPEG nanoparticle accumulation in a window chamber mammary tumor 24 h after IV injection into mice (C57Bl/6 strain) enabling tumor oxygen imaging.

Biomedical applications of gold nanomaterials: opportunities and challenges

In the past few years, there has been an unprecedented development of gold nanomaterials (AuNMs) for potential clinical applications. Owing to their advantageous physical, chemical, and biological properties, AuNMs have attracted great attention in the nanomedicine arena for applications in biological sensing, biomedical imaging, drug delivery, and photothermal therapy. Their tunable size, shape, and surface characteristics coupled with excellent biocompatibility render them ideal candidates for translation from bench-top to bedside. This review summarizes the recent research on the applications of AuNM with a focus on biomedical diagnostics and therapeutics. The bio-interaction of these NM with cells and their in vivo responses are presented. After reviewing these potential applications, future challenges and prospects are discussed and the suitability of how AuNMs are used as effective tools in clinical medicine is assessed.

Photonic nanojet array for fast detection of single nanoparticles in a flow

We detect by optical microscopy Au and fluorescent nanoparticles (NPs) during their motion in water-based medium, using an array of dielectric microspheres that are patterned in a microwell array template. The microspheres act as lenses focusing the light originating from a microscope objective into so-called photonic nanojets that expose the medium within a microfluidic channel. When a NP is randomly transported through a nanojet, its backscattered light (for a bare Au NP) or its fluorescent emission is instantaneously detected by video microscopy. Au NPs down to 50 nm in size, as well as fluorescent NPs down to 20 nm in size, are observed by using a low magnification/low numerical aperture microscope objective in bright-field or fluorescence mode, respectively. Compared to the NPs present outside of the photonic nanojets, the light scattering or fluorescence intensity of the NPs in the nanojets is typically enhanced by up to a factor of ∼40. The experimental intensity is found to be proportional to the area occupied by the NP in the nanojet. The technique is also used for immunodetection of biomolecules immobilized on Au NPs in buffer and, in future, it may develop into a versatile tool to detect nanometric objects of environmental or biological importance, such as NPs, viruses, or other biological agents.

Fabrication and properties of a supramolecular hybrid hydrogel doped with CdTe quantum dots

A fluorescent supramolecular hydrogel was fabricated based on the host–guest self-assembly between the amphiphilic block copolymer on the CdTe quantum dot (QD) surface and the cyclic oligosaccharide host molecule, α-cyclodextrin (α-CD).

Contrasting effects of nanoparticle-protein attraction on amyloid aggregation

Nanoparticles (NPs) have been experimentally found to either promote or inhibit amyloid aggregation of proteins, but the molecular mechanisms for such complex behaviors remain unknown. Using coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations, we investigated the effects of varying the strength of nonspecific NP-protein attraction on amyloid aggregation of a model protein, the amyloid-beta peptide implicated in Alzheimer's disease. Specifically, with increasing NP-peptide attraction, amyloid aggregation on the NP surface was initially promoted due to increased local protein concentration on the surface and destabilization of the folded state. However, further increase of NP-peptide attraction decreased the stability of amyloid fibrils and reduced their lateral diffusion on the NP surface necessary for peptide conformational changes and self-association, thus prohibiting amyloid aggregation. Moreover, we found that the relative concentration between protein and NPs also played an important role in amyloid aggregation. With a high NP/protein ratio, NPs that intrinsically promote protein aggregation may display an inhibitive effect by depleting the proteins in solution while having a low concentration of the proteins on each NP's surface. Our coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulation study offers a molecular mechanism for delineating the contrasting and seemingly conflicting effects of NP-protein attraction on amyloid aggregation and highlights the potential of tailoring anti-aggregation nanomedicine against amyloid diseases.

Development of a novel and efficient H2O2 sensor by simple modification of a screen printed Au electrode with Ru nanoparticle loaded functionalized mesoporous SBA15

A novel and efficient electrochemical sensor has been developed to quantitatively measure H₂O₂ concentration by cyclic voltammetry.