Mussel-Inspired Surface-Imprinted Sensors for Potentiometric Label-Free Detection of Biological Species

Angewandte Chemie - International Edition

5 years ago

Mussel-Inspired Surface-Imprinted Sensors for Potentiometric Label-Free Detection of Biological Species

Shengshuai Gao, Jiawang Ding, Wei Qin, Rongning Liang

Using sensors to quantify clinically relevant biological species has emerged as a fascinating research field due to their potential to revolutionize clinical diagnosis and therapeutic monitoring. Taking advantage of the wide utility in clinical analysis and low cost of potentiometric ion sensors, we demonstrate a method to use such ion sensors to quantify bioanalytes without chemical labels. This is achieved by combination of chronopotentiometry with a mussel-inspired surface imprinting technique. The biomimetic sensing method is based on a blocking mechanism by which the recognition reaction between the surface imprinted polymer and a bioanalyte can block the current-induced ion transfer of an indicator ion, thus causing a potential change. The present method offers high sensitivity and excellent selectivity for detection of biological analytes. As models, trypsin and yeast cells can be measured at levels down to 0.03 U mL−1 and 50 CFU mL−1, respectively. Learning from nature: The use of ion sensors for the quantification of a variety of biological analytes ranging from proteins to whole cells is presented. This is achieved by combining chronopotentiometry with a mussel-inspired surface imprinting technique. The biomimetic sensing strategy based on a blocking mechanism provides a general sensing principle for the detection of biological analytes by using electrochemical sensors.

Publisher URL: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/resolve/doi

DOI: 10.1002/anie.201701892