Electrochemical sensing of bisphenol A based on polyglutamic acid/amino-functionalised carbon nanotubes nanocomposite

A novel electrochemical aptasensor for bisphenol A assay based on triple-signaling strategy

Based on a triple-signaling strategy, a novel electrochemical aptasensor has been developed for sensitive and selective detection of bisphenol A (BPA). The thiolated ferrocene (Fc)-modified BPA-binding aptamer probe (Fc-P) was immobilized on the gold electrode and then hybridized with the methylene blue (MB)-modified complementary DNA probe (MB-P) to form a rigid double-stranded DNA (ds-DNA). The specific interaction between BPA and Fc-P led to the release of MB-P from the sensing interface and the conformational change of Fc-P. As a result, the oxidation peak currents of Fc and BPA increased with the increase of the concentration of target (BPA) according to the "signal-on" mode while that of MB decreased with the increase of the BPA concentration according to the "signal-off" mode. By superimposing the triple signal changes, BPA was detected sensitively with a linear range from 1 pM to 100 pM. The detection limit is 0.19 pM, and much lower than that obtained by most of the reported electrochemical methods. The aptasensor also exhibited satisfactory specificity, selectivity, reproducibility and stability. By changing the specific aptamers, this strategy could be easily extended to detect other redox targets, showing promising applications in environmental analysis, food safety monitoring, and bioanalysis.

Electrochemical determination of bisphenol A at ordered mesoporous carbon modified nano-carbon ionic liquid paste electrode

A simple bisphenol A (BPA) sensor was successfully fabricated based on ordered mesoporous carbon CMK-3 modified nano-carbon ionic liquid paste electrode (CMK-3/nano-CILPE). The nanostructure of CMK-3 and the surface morphologies of modified electrodes were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Electrochemical properties of the fabricated electrodes were investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The fabricated sensor displayed excellent electroactivity towards bisphenol A using linear sweep voltammetry (LSV). Experimental conditions influencing the analytical performance of the modified electrode were optimized. Under optimal conditions, the oxidation peak current was proportional to BPA concentration in the range from 0.2 μM to 150 μM with a detection limit of 0.05 μM (S/N=3). This method was successfully used for determination of BPA leached from drinking bottle and plastic bag with good recoveries.

Aptamer-functionalized nanoporous gold film for high-performance direct electrochemical detection of bisphenol A in human serum

In the present work, a highly sensitive and selective biosensor based on aptamer-functionalized nanoporous gold film (NPGF) was successfully developed for direct electrochemical detection of bisphenol A (BPA). NPGF was prepared by dealloying Ag from Au/Ag alloy leaf in concentrated nitric acid. The obtained NPGF was attached onto glassy carbon electrode and then was functionalized with BPA-specific aptamer via the formation of Au-S bond. The fabrication of the sensor was characterized by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. NPGF exhibited excellent electrocatalytic activity towards the redox reaction of BPA, which ensured high sensitivity of the sensor. The aptamer-captured BPA showed a pair of redox peaks around 0.35/0.28 V (vs. Ag/AgCl). The experimental parameters in terms of aptamer concentration, reaction time, pH, and temperature were optimized. The calibration plot showed a linear range from 0.1 nM to 100 nM BPA with a remarkable detection limit of 0.056±0.004 nM BPA. Particularly, the successful application of the developed sensor for the detection of BPA in human serum samples suggests its promising potential for clinical diagnosis.