Ratiometric ECL sensor based on Apt-AuNS@Lu nanoprobe for analyzing cell swelling-induced ATP release

An Entropy-Driven Multipedal DNA Walker Microsensor for In Situ Electrochemical Detection of ATP

Microelectrode- and nanoelectrode-based electrochemistry has become a powerful tool for the in situ monitoring of various biomolecules in vivo. However, two challenges limit the application of micro- and nanoelectrodes: the difficulty of highly sensitive detection of nonelectroactive molecules and the specific detection of target molecules in complex biological environments. Herein, we propose an electrochemical microsensor based on an entropy-driven multipedal DNA walker for the highly sensitive and selective detection of ATP. An ATP aptamer was immobilized on the microelectrode surface to form the DNA walker track for selective ATP recognition. Multiple walking "legs" were attached to quantum dots to create the multipedal DNA walker. ATP was selectively captured by the ATP aptamer, triggering the autonomous movement of the multipedal DNA walker on the microelectrode interface, which brought methylene blue (MB) closer to the microelectrode interface, realizing a cascade signal amplification. Additionally, ATP release induced by hypotonic conditions in BV2 cells was successfully monitored, indicating that increased cell volume enhances ATP release. This multipedal DNA walker microsensor offers a novel strategy for in situ, highly sensitive, and selective monitoring of nonelectroactive biomolecules in vivo, which is crucial for investigating the neurochemical processes involved in neurological diseases.

Ultrasensitive electrochemiluminescence biosensor based on dual quenching effects of silver nanoclusters and multiple cycling amplification for detection of ATP

In this work, an electrochemiluminescence (ECL) biosensor based on dual ECL quenching effects of silver nanoclusters (Ag NCs) and multiple cycling amplification was designed to achieve ultrasensitive detection of ATP. The specific recognition of target ATP to aptamer initiated multiple cycling amplification, and a small amount of target was converted into a large number of DNA product chains (S1) by amplification. After S1 opened hairpin DNA 2 (HP2), Ag NCs approached the surface of CdS quantum dots (QDs) modified-electrode by complementary DNA, resulting in a significant decrease of ECL intensity from CdS QDs. The quenching principle is as follows. Firstly, the absorption spectrum of Ag NCs overlaps well with the ECL emission spectrum of CdS QDs, leading to effective ECL resonance energy transfer (ECL-RET); Secondly, Ag NCs could catalyze electrochemical reduction of K2S2O8, leading to consumption of ECL co-reactant and reducing ECL of QDs. The double-ECL quenching achieved ultrasensitive biosensing detection of ATP with a wide range from 1 aM to 1 pM. This present work reported new principle of double-quenching QDs ECL by Ag NCs, and developed a novel ECL biosensor by combining with multiple cycle amplification technique, which has great contribution to the development of QDs ECL and biosensing applications.

Development and challenges of antimicrobial peptide delivery strategies in bacterial therapy: A review

The escalating global prevalence of antimicrobial resistance poses a critical threat, prompting concerns about its impact on public health. This predicament is exacerbated by the acute shortage of novel antimicrobial agents, a scarcity attributed to the rapid surge in bacterial resistance. This review delves into the realm of antimicrobial peptides, a diverse class of compounds ubiquitously present in plants and animals across various natural organisms. Renowned for their intrinsic antibacterial activity, these peptides provide a promising avenue to tackle the intricate challenge of bacterial resistance. However, the clinical utility of peptide-based drugs is hindered by limited bioavailability and susceptibility to rapid degradation, constraining efforts to enhance the efficacy of bacterial infection treatments. The emergence of nanocarriers marks a transformative approach poised to revolutionize peptide delivery strategies. This review elucidates a promising framework involving nanocarriers within the realm of antimicrobial peptides. This paradigm enables meticulous and controlled peptide release at infection sites by detecting dynamic shifts in microenvironmental factors, including pH, ROS, GSH, and reactive enzymes. Furthermore, a glimpse into the future reveals the potential of targeted delivery mechanisms, harnessing inflammatory responses and intricate signaling pathways, including adenosine triphosphate, macrophage receptors, and pathogenic nucleic acid entities. This approach holds promise in fortifying immunity, thereby amplifying the potency of peptide-based treatments. In summary, this review spotlights peptide nanosystems as prospective solutions for combating bacterial infections. By bridging antimicrobial peptides with advanced nanomedicine, a new therapeutic era emerges, poised to confront the formidable challenge of antimicrobial resistance head-on.