Enhanced Colorimetric Detection on Porous Microarrays Using in Situ Substrate Production

The mechanism of an enzymatic reaction-induced SERS transformation for the study of enzyme–molecule interfacial interactions

The vibrational frequencies and spectral intensity of enzyme-conjugated SERS-active reporter molecules (4-MBA) shift and change regularly as a function of the concentration of glucose.

Versatile and Amplified Biosensing through Enzymatic Cascade Reaction by Coupling Alkaline Phosphatase in Situ Generation of Photoresponsive Nanozyme

The alkaline phosphatase (ALP) biocatalysis followed by the in situ enzymatic generation of a visible light responsive nanozyme is coupled to elucidate a novel amplification strategy by enzymatic cascade reaction for versatile biosensing. The enzymatic hydrolysis of o-phosphonoxyphenol (OPP) to catechol (CA) by ALP is allowed to coordinate on the surface of TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) due to the specificity and high affinity of enediol ligands to Ti(IV). Upon the stimuli by CA generated from ALP, the inert TiO2 NPs is activated, which demonstrates highly efficient oxidase mimicking activity for catalyzing the oxidation of the typical substrate of 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) under visible light (λ ≥ 400 nm) irradiation utilizing dissolved oxygen as an electron acceptor. On the basis of the cascade reaction of ALP and the nanozyme of CA coordinated TiO2 (TiO2-CA) NPs, we design exquisitely colorimetric biosensors for probing ALP activity and its inhibitor of 2, 4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-DA). Quantitative probing of ALP activity in a wide linear range from 0.01 to 150 U/L with the detection limit of 0.002 U/L is realized, which endows the methodology with sufficiently high sensitivity for potentially practical applications in real samples of human serum (ALP level of 40-190 U/L for adults). In addition, a novel immunoassay protocol by taking mouse IgG as an example is validated using the ALP/nanozyme cascade amplification reaction as the signal transducer. A low detection limit of 2.0 pg/mL is attained for mouse IgG, which is 4500-fold lower than that of the standard enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assay (ELISA) kit. Although only mouse IgG is used as a proof-of-concept in our experiment, we believe that this approach is generalizable to be readily extended to other ELISA systems. This methodology opens a new horizon for amplified and versatile biosensing including probing ALP activity and following ALP-based ELISA immunoassays.

Novel colorimetric immunoassay for ultrasensitive monitoring of brevetoxin B based on enzyme-controlled chemical conversion of sulfite to sulfate

A simple colorimetric immunoassay for quantitative monitoring of brevetoxin B on a functionalized magnetic bead by using glucose oxidase (GOx)/antibrevetoxin antibody-labeled gold nanoparticle as the signal transduction tag was developed. The assay was carried out on the basis of GOx-controlled sulfite-to-sulfate chemical conversion with a silver(I)-3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine [Ag(I)-TMB] system. Initially, the sulfite was used as an inhibitor of Ag(I) to hinder the color development of TMB due to the formation of insoluble silver sulfite. Accompanying H2O2 generation with GOx-catalyzed glucose, the sulfite was converted into the sulfate, thus resulting in the colorless-to-blue change. Under the optimal conditions, the absorbance decreased with increasing brevetoxin B from 0.5 to 200 ng/kg with a detection limit of 0.1 ng/kg (ppt). The precision and specificity were acceptable. Furthermore, the methodology gave results matching well with the referenced brevetoxin ELISA kit for monitoring of spiked Musculista senhousia samples.

Colorimetric detection of Shewanella oneidensis based on immunomagnetic capture and bacterial intrinsic peroxidase activity

Rapid detection and enumeration of target microorganisms is considered as a powerful tool for monitoring bioremediation process that typically involves cleaning up polluted environments with functional microbes. A novel colorimetric assay is presented based on immunomagnetic capture and bacterial intrinsic peroxidase activity for rapidly detecting Shewanella oneidensis, an important model organism for environmental bioremediation because of its remarkably diverse respiratory abilities. Analyte bacteria captured on the immunomagnetic beads provided a bacterial out-membrane peroxidase-amplified colorimetric readout of the immunorecognition event by oxidizing 3, 3′, 5, 5′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) in the present of hydrogen peroxide. The high-efficiency of immunomagnetic capture and signal amplification of peroxidase activity offers an excellent detection performance with a wide dynamic range between 5.0 × 10³ and 5.0 × 10⁶ CFU/mL toward target cells. Furthermore, this method was demonstrated to be feasible in detecting S. oneidensis cells spiked in environmental samples. The proposed colorimetric assay shows promising environmental applications for rapid detection of target microorganisms.

Sensitive chemiluminescence immunoassay for E. coli O157:H7 detection with signal dual-amplification using glucose oxidase and laccase

A novel, sensitive chemiluminescence (CL) immunoassay for Escherichia coli O157:H7 detection with signal dual-amplification using glucose oxidase (GOx) and laccase was investigated. The method was based on the characterization of a luminol-H2O2-laccase reaction. Compared with the horseradish peroxidase-based biosensor, laccase exhibited high catalytic activity in strong alkaline medium, which was compatible with the luminol system. The capture antibody was immobilized onto the magnetic bead (MB) surfaces. The detection antibody was linked with GOx through biotin-avidin recognition. Accordingly, the bioconjugation of MB-caputure antibody- E. coli O157:H7-detection antibody-GOx catalyzed the substrate glucose, thereby generating H2O2. E. coli O157:H7 was then detected by measuring the CL intensity after H2O2 formation. Under optimal conditions, the calibration plot obtained for E. coli O157:H7 was approximately linear from 4.3 × 10(3) colony-forming unit (CFU) mL(-1) to 4.3 × 10(5) CFU mL(-1), and the total assay time was <2.0 h without any enrichment. The limit of detection for the assay was 1.2 × 10(3) CFU mL(-1) (3σ), which was considerably lower than that of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method (1.0 × 10(5) CFU mL(-1)) (3σ). A series of repeatability measurements of using 1.7 × 10(4) CFU mL(-1) E. coli O157:H7 exhibited reproducible results with a relative standard deviation (RSD) of 3.5% (n = 11). Moreover, the proposed method was successfully used to detect E. coli O157:H7 in synthetic samples (spring water, apple juice, and skim milk), which indicated its potential practical application. This protocol can be applied in various fields of study.

Detergent resistant membrane fractions are involved in calcium signaling in Müller glial cells of retina

Compartmentalization of the plasma membrane into lipid microdomains promotes efficient cellular processes by increasing local molecular concentrations. Calcium signaling, either as transients or propagating waves require integration of complex macromolecular machinery. Calcium waves represent a form of intercellular signaling in the central nervous system and the retina. We hypothesized that the mechanism for calcium waves would require effector proteins to aggregate at the plasma membrane in lipid microdomains. The current study shows that in Müller glia of the retina, proteins involved in calcium signaling aggregate in detergent resistant membranes identifying rafts and respond by redistributing on stimulation. We have investigated Purinoreceptor-1 (P2Y1), Ryanodine receptor (RyR), and Phospholipase C (PLC-β1). P2Y1, RyR and PLC-β1, redistribute from caveolin-1 and flotillin-1 positive fractions on stimulation with the agonists, ATP, 2MeS-ATP and Thapsigargin, an inhibitor of sarcoplasmic-endoplasmic reticulum Ca-ATPase (SERCA). Redistribution is absent on treatment with cyclopiazonic acid, another SERCA inhibitor. Disruption of rafts by removing cholesterol cause proteins involved in this machinery to redistribute and change agonist-induced calcium signaling. Cholesterol depletion from raft lead to increase in time to peak of calcium levels in agonist-evoked calcium signals in all instances, as seen by live imaging. This study emphasizes the necessity of a sub-population of proteins to cluster in specialized lipid domains. The requirement for such an organization at the raft-like microdomains may have implications on intercellular communication in the retina. Such concerted interaction at the rafts can regulate calcium dynamics and could add another layer of complexity to calcium signaling in cells.

Glucose-oxidase label-based redox cycling for an incubation period-free electrochemical immunosensor

Catalytic reactions of enzyme labels in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays require a long incubation period to obtain high signal amplification. We present herein a simple immunosensing scheme in which the incubation period is minimized without a large increase in the detection limit. This scheme is based on electrochemical-enzymatic (EN) redox cycling using glucose oxidase (GOx) as an enzyme label, Ru(NH3)6(3+) as a redox mediator, and glucose as an enzyme substrate. Fast electron mediation of Ru(NH3)6(3+) between the electrode and the GOx label attached to the electrode allows high signal amplification. The acquisition of chronocoulometric charges at a potential in the mass transfer-controlled region excludes the influence of the kinetics of Ru(NH3)6(2+) electrooxidation and also facilitates high signal-to-background ratios. The reaction between reduced GOx and Ru(NH3)6(3+) is rapid even in air-saturated Tris buffer, where the faster competitive reaction between reduced GOx and dissolved oxygen also occurs. The direct electrooxidation of glucose at the electrode and the direct electron transfer between glucose and Ru(NH3)6(3+) that undesirably increase background levels occur relatively slowly. The detection limit for the EN redox cycling-based detection of cancer antigen 125 (CA-125) in human serum is slightly higher than 0.1 U/mL for the incubation period of 0 min, and the detection limits for the incubation periods of 5 and 10 min are slightly lower than 0.1 U/mL, indicating that the detection limits are almost similar irrespective of the incubation period and that the immunosensor is highly sensitive.

Enhanced stability of horseradish peroxidase encapsulated in acetalated dextran microparticles stored outside cold chain conditions

Micro- and nanoparticles have been shown to improve the efficacy of safer protein-based (subunit) vaccines. Here, we evaluate a method of improving the vaccine stability outside cold chain conditions by encapsulation of a model enzyme, horseradish peroxidase (HRP), in an acid-sensitive, tunable biodegradable polymer, acetalated dextran (Ac-DEX). Vaccines that are stable outside the cold chain would be desirable for use in developing nations. Ac-DEX particles encapsulating HRP were prepared using two different methods, probe sonication and homogenization. These particles were stored under different storage conditions (-20 °C, 4 °C, 25 °C or 45 °C) for a period of 3 months. On different days, the particles were characterized for various physical and chemical measurements. At all conditions, Ac-DEX particles remained spherical in nature, as compared to PLGA particles that fused together starting at day 3 at 45 °C. Furthermore, our results indicated that encapsulation of HRP in Ac-DEX reduces its storage temperature dependence and enhances its stability outside cold chain conditions. Homogenized particles performed better than probe sonicated particles and retained 70% of the enzyme's initial activity as compared to free HRP that retained only 40% of the initial activity after 3 months of storage at 25 °C or 45 °C. Additionally, HRP activity was more stable when encapsulated in Ac-DEX, and the variance in enzyme activity between the different storage temperatures was not observed for either particle preparation. This suggests that storage at a constant temperature is not required with vaccines encapsulated in Ac-DEX particles. Overall, our results suggest that an Ac-DEX based micro-/nanoparticles system has wide applications as vaccines and drug delivery carriers, including those in developing nations.