An aptamer based assay for the β-adrenergic agonist ractopamine based on aggregation of gold nanoparticles in combination with a molecularly imprinted polymer

Engineering of dual recognition functional aptamer-molecularly imprinted polymeric solid-phase microextraction for detecting of 17β-estradiol in meat samples

In this study, an enhanced selective recognition strategy was employed to construct a novel solid-phase microextraction fiber coating for the detection of 17β-estradiol, characterized by the combination of aptamer biorecognition and molecularly imprinted polymer recognition. Benefiting from the combination of molecularly imprinted and aptamer, aptamer-molecularly imprinted (Apt-MIP) fiber coating had synergistic recognition effect. The effects of pH, ion concentration, extraction time, desorption time and desorption solvent on the adsorption capacity of Apt-MIP were investigated. The adsorption of 17β-estradiol on Apt-MIP followed pseudo-second order kinetic model, and the Freundlich isotherm. The process was exothermic and thermodynamically spontaneous. Compared with polymers that only rely on imprinted recognition, non-imprinted recognition or aptamer affinity, Apt-MIP had the best recognition performance, which was 1.30-2.20 times that of these three materials. Furthermore, the adsorption capacity of Apt-MIP for 17β-estradiol was 885.36-1487.52 times than that of polyacrylate and polydimethylsiloxane/divinylbenzone commercial fiber coatings. Apt-MIP fiber coating had good stability and could be reused for more than 15 times. Apt-MIP solid-phase microextraction coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography was successfully applied to the determination of 17β-estradiol in pork, chicken, fish and shrimp samples, with satisfactory recoveries of 79.61 %-105.70 % and low limits of detection (0.03 μg/kg). This work provides new perspectives and strategies for sample pretreatment techniques based on molecular imprinting technology and improves analytical performance.

Development of electrochemical aptasensors detecting phosphate ions on TMB substrate with epoxy-based mesoporous silica nanoparticles

This study, it is aimed to develop an electrochemical aptasensor that can detect phosphate ions using 3.3'5.5' tetramethylbenzidine (TMB). It is based on the principle of converting the binding affinity of the target molecule phosphate ion (PO₄^3-) into an electrochemical signal with specific aptamer sequences for the aptasensor to be developed. The aptamer structure served as a gate for the TMB to be released and was used to trap the TMB molecule in mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNPs). The samples for this study were characterized by transmission electron spectroscopy (TEM), Brunner-Emmet-Teller, dynamic light scattering&electrophoretic light scattering, and induction coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy. According to TEM analysis, MSNPs have a morphologically hexagonal structure and an average size of 208 nm. In this study, palladium-carbon nanoparticles (Pd/C NPs) with catalytic reaction were used as an alternative to the biologically used horseradish peroxidase (HRP) enzyme for the release of TMB in the presence of phosphate ions. The limit of detection (LOD) was calculated as 0.983 μM, the limit of determination (LOQ) was calculated as 3.276 μM, and the dynamic linear phosphate range was found to be 50-1000 μM. The most important advantage of this bio-based aptasensor assembly is that it does not contain molecules such as a protein that cannot be stored for a long time at room temperature, so its shelf life is very long compared to similar systems developed with antibodies. The proposed sensor shows good recovery in phosphate ion detection and is considered to have great potential among electrochemical sensors.

Gold nanoparticle-based optical nanosensors for food and health safety monitoring: recent advances and future perspectives

Modern society has been facing serious health-related problems including food safety, diseases and illness. Hence, it is urgent to develop analysis methods for the detection and control of food contaminants, disease biomarkers and pathogens. As the traditional instrumental methods have several disadvantages, including being time consuming, and having high cost and laborious procedures, optical nanosensors have emerged as promising alternative or complementary approaches to those traditional ones. With the advantages of simple preparation, high surface-to-volume ratio, excellent biocompatibility, and especially, unique optical properties, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have been demonstrated as excellent transducers for optical sensing systems. Herein, we provide an overview of the synthesis of AuNPs and their excellent optical properties that are ideal for the development of optical nanosensors based on local surface plasmon resonance (LSPR), colorimetry, fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) phenomena. We also review the sensing strategies and their mechanisms, as well as summarizing the recent advances in the monitoring of food contaminants, disease biomarkers and pathogens using developed AuNP-based optical nanosensors in the past seven years (2015-now). Furthermore, trends and challenges in the application of these nanosensors in the determination of those analytes are discussed to suggest possible directions for future developments.

Cross-linked chitosan/thiolated graphene quantum dots as a biocompatible polysaccharide towards aptamer immobilization

Chitosan has a number of commercial and possible biomedical uses. Chitosan as a polysaccharide is a bioactive polymer with a variety of applications due to its functional properties such as antibacterial activity, non-toxicity, ease of modification, and biodegradability. In this work, cross-linked chitosan/thiolated graphene quantum dot as a biocompatible polysaccharide was modified by gold nanoparticle and used for immobilization of ractopamine (RAC) aptamer. A highly specific DNA-aptamer (5'-SH-AAAAAGTGCGGGC-3'), selected to RAC was immobilized onto thiolated graphene quantum dots (GQDs)-chitosan (CS) nanocomposite modified by gold nanostructures (Au NSs) and used for quantification of RAC. Different shapes of gold nanostructures with various sizes from zero-dimensional nanoparticles to spherical structures were prepared by one-step template-assistant green electrodeposition method. Fully electrochemical methodology was used to prepare a new transducer on a glassy carbon surface which provided a high surface area to immobilize a high amount of the aptamer. Therefore, a label free electrochemical (EC) apta-assay for ultrasensitive detection of RAC was developed. A special immobilization media consisting of Au NSs/GQDs-CS/Cysteamine (CysA) was utilized to improve conductivity and performance of the biosensor. The RAC aptamer was attached on the Au NSs of the composite membrane via AuS bond. The fabrication process of the EC aptamer based assay was characterized by some electrochemical techniques. The peak currents obtained by differential pulse voltammetry decreased linearly with the increasing of RAC concentrations and the apta-assay responds approximately over a wide dynamic range of RAC concentration from 0.0044 fM to 19.55 μM. The low limit of quantification was 0.0044 fM.

A microfluidic chip containing a molecularly imprinted polymer and a DNA aptamer for voltammetric determination of carbofuran

An electrochemical microfluidic chip is described for the determination of the insecticide carbofuran. It is making use of a molecularly imprinted film (MIP) and a DNA aptamer as dual recognition units. The analyte (carbofuran) is transported to the MIP and captured at the identification site in the channel. Then, carbofuran is eluted with carbinol-acetic acid and transported to the DNA aptamer on the testing position of the chip. It is captured again, this time by the aptamer, and detected by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). The dual recognition (by aptamer and MIP) results in outstanding selectivity. Additionally, graphene oxide-supported gold nanoparticles (GO-AuNPs) were used to improve the sensitivity of electrochemical detector. DPV response is linear in the 0.2 to 50 nM carbofuran concentration range at a potential of -1.2 V, with a 67 pM detection limit. The method has attractive features such as its potential for high throughput, high degree of automation, and high integration. Conceivably, the method may be extended to other analytes for which appropriate MIPs and aptamers are available. Graphical abstract Schematic of an electrochemical microfluidic chip for carbofuran detection based on a molecularly imprinted film (MIP) and a DNA aptamer as dual recognition units. In the chip, targets were recognized by MIP and aptamer, respectively. It shows promising potential for the design of electrochemical devices with high throughput, high automation, and high integration.

Molecularly imprinted polymers for the detection of illegal drugs and additives: a review

This review (with 154 refs.) describes the current status of using molecularly imprinted polymers in the extraction and quantitation of illicit drugs and additives. The review starts with an introduction into some synthesis methods (lump MIPs, spherical MIPs, surface imprinting) of MIPs using illicit drugs and additives as templates. The next section covers applications, with subsections on the detection of illegal additives in food, of doping in sports, and of illicit addictive drugs. A particular focus is directed towards current limitations and challenges, on the optimization of methods for preparation of MIPs, their applicability to aqueous samples, the leakage of template molecules, and the identification of the best balance between adsorption capacity and selectivity factor. At last, the need for convincing characterization methods, the lack of uniform parameters for defining selectivity, and the merits and demerits of MIPs prepared using nanomaterials are addressed. Strategies are suggested to solve existing problems, and future developments are discussed with respect to a more widespread use in relevant fields. Graphical abstract This review gives a comprehensive overview of the advances made in molecularly imprinting of polymers for use in the extraction and quantitation of illicit drugs and additives. Methods for syntheses, highlighted applications, limitations and current challenges are specifically addressed.

A paper-based competitive lateral flow immunoassay for multi β-agonist residues by using a single monoclonal antibody labelled with red fluorescent nanoparticles

An ultrasensitive paper based lateral flow assay is described for rapid and simultaneous fluorometric detection of several β-agonists including clenbuterol and its chemical analogues (mabuterol, brombuterol, cimaterol, cimbuterol, bromchlorbuterol and banbuterol). A nonspecific monoclonal antibody (mAb) against clenbuterol and its analogues was prepared and employed in a competitive immunoassay where mAb conjugated to fluorescent nanoparticles and free β-agonists compete for the binding sites. This enables rapid screening for the 7 β-agonists in a single run that takes about 8 min. Detection limits for the seven β-agonists are <50 pg g⁻¹ of pork. Recoveries ranged from 69.5% to 102.4%, and relative standard deviations were ±15%. The assay was applied to the analysis of both using spiked and unspiked pork for β-agonists, and the results compare well to those obtained by HPLC-MS.

Graphical abstract

An Improved Label-Free Indirect Competitive SPR Immunosensor and Its Comparison with Conventional ELISA for Ractopamine Detection in Swine Urine

Ractopamine (RCT) is banned for use in animals in many countries, and it is urgent to develop efficient methods for specific and sensitive RCT detection. A label-free indirect competitive surface plasmon resonance (SPR) immunosensor was first developed with a primary antibody herein and then improved by a secondary antibody for the detection of RCT residue in swine urine. Meanwhile, a pre-incubation process of RCT and the primary antibody was performed to further improve the sensitivity. With all the key parameters optimized, the improved immunosenor can attain a linear range of 0.3-32 ng/mL and a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.09 ng/mL for RCT detection with high specificity. Furthermore, the improved label-free SPR immunosenor was compared thoroughly with a conventional enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The SPR immunosensor showed advantages over the ELISA in terms of LOD, reagent consumption, analysis time, experiment automation, and so on. The SPR immunosensor can be used as potential method for real-time monitoring and screening of RCT residue in swine urine or other samples. In addition, the design using antibody pairs for biosensor development can be further referred to for other small molecule detection.