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Wearable sweat sensors are reshaping healthcare monitoring, providing real-time data on hydration and electrolyte levels with user-friendly, noninvasive devices. This paper introduces a highly portable two-channel microfluidic device for simultaneous sweat sampling and the real-time detection of volatile organic compound (VOC) biomarkers. This innovative wearable microfluidic system is tailored for monitoring diabetes through the continuous and noninvasive tracking of acetone and ammonia VOCs, and it seamlessly integrates with smartphones for easy data management. The core of this system lies in the utilization of carbon polymer dots (CPDs) and carbon dots (CDs) derived from monomers such as catechol, resorcinol, o-phenylenediamine, urea, and citric acid. These dots are seamlessly integrated into hydrogels made from gelatin and poly(vinyl alcohol), resulting in an advanced solid-state fluorometric sensor coating on a cellulose paper substrate. These sensors exhibit exceptional performance, offering linear detection ranges of 0.05-0.15 ppm for acetone and 0.25-0.37 ppm for ammonia, with notably low detection limits of 0.01 and 0.08 ppm, respectively. Rigorous optimization of operational parameters, encompassing the temperature, sample volume, and assay time, has been undertaken to maximize device performance. Furthermore, these sensors demonstrate impressive selectivity, effectively discerning between biologically similar substances and other potential compounds commonly present in sweat. As this field matures, the prospect of cost-effective, continuous, personalized health monitoring through wearable VOC sensors holds significant potential for overcoming barriers to comprehensive medical care in underserved regions. This highlights the transformative capacity of wearable VOC sweat sensing in ensuring equitable access to advanced healthcare diagnostics, particularly in remote or geographically isolated areas.
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α-Synuclein (α-syn) is a hallmark protein of Parkinson's disease (PD). The aggregation process of α-syn has been heavily associated with the pathogenesis of PD. With the exponentially growing number of potential therapeutic compounds that can inhibit the aggregation of α-syn, there is now a significant demand for a high-throughput analysis system. Herein, a novel flow injection analysis system with an electrochemical biosensor as the detector was developed to study the interaction of a well-described antioxidant and amyloid inhibitor, pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) with α-synuclein peptides. Screen-printed gold electrodes (SPEs) were modified using heptapeptides from α-syn wild-type (WT) and mutants such as lysine knock-out (ETEE) and E46K. Affinity binding events between these peptides and PQQ were analyzed by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and further confirmed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. HPLC and LC/MS results revealed that PQQ formed a stable complex with α-syn. NMR results confirmed that the α-syn-PQQ complex was formed via a Schiff base formation-like process. In addition, results showed that lysine residues influenced the binding event, in which the presence of an extra lysine stabilized the α-syn-PQQ complex, and the absence of a lysine significantly decreased the interaction of α-syn with PQQ. Therefore, we concluded that EIS is a promising technique for the evaluation of the interaction between PQQ-based amyloid inhibitors and α-syn. The electrochemical flow injection analysis assembly provided a rapid and low-cost drug discovery platform for the evaluation of small molecule-protein interactions.
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Doença de Parkinson , Análise de Injeção de Fluxo , Humanos , Cofator PQQ , Peptídeos , alfa-Sinucleína/genéticaRESUMO
Simultaneous speciation of benzenediol isomers (BDIs), 1,2-benzenediol (catechol, CC), 1,3-benzenediol (resorcinol, RS), and 1,4-benzenediol (hydroquinone, HQ), was investigated by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) using a graphite paste electrode (GPE) modified with Prussian blue-polyaniline nanocomposite. The modified GPE showed good stability, sensitivity, and selectivity properties for all the three BDIs. Prussian blue-doped nanosized polyaniline (PBNS-PANI) was synthesized first by using mechanochemical reactions between aniline and ferric chloride hexahydrate as the oxidants and then followed by the addition of potassium hexacyanoferrate(II) in a solid-state and template-free technique. The material was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The DPV measurements are performed in phosphate electrolyte solution with pH 4.0 at a potential range of - 0.1 to 1.0 V. The proposed modified electrode displayed a strong, stable, and continuous three well-separated oxidation peaks towards electrooxidation at potentials 0.20, 0.31, and 0.76 V for HQ, CC, and RS, respectively. The calibration curves were linear from 1 to 350.5 µM for both HQ and CC, while for RS, it was from 2 to 350.5 µM. The limit of detection was determined to be 0.18, 0.01, and 0.02 µM for HQ, CC, and RS, respectively. The analytical performance of the PBNS-PANI/GPE has been evaluated for simultaneous determination of HQ, CC, and RS in creek water, commercial hair dye, and skin whitening cream samples with satisfactory recoveries between 90 and 106%. Overall, we demonstrated that the presence of NS-PANI and PB resulted in a large redox-active surface area that enabled a promising analytical platform for simultaneous detection of BDIs. Graphical abstract.
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Compostos de Anilina/química , Derivados de Benzeno/análise , Ferrocianetos/química , Nanoestruturas/química , Derivados de Benzeno/química , Calibragem , Eletrodos , Humanos , Concentração de Íons de Hidrogênio , Isomerismo , Cinética , Limite de Detecção , Espectroscopia de Infravermelho com Transformada de FourierRESUMO
We present a proof of concept study for electrochemical detection of the metal-binding site of α-synuclein (α-syn). Parkinson's disease (PD) is associated with the aggregation and misfolding of α-syn in dopaminergic neurons. Because copper homeostasis is deregulated in PD, it is of great significance to study the metal-binding site of wild-type α-syn (48-53, VVHGVA) and its pathological mutants (H50Q and G51D). Cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were used to monitor the formation of a peptide-PEG mixed layer on gold surfaces. Differential pulse voltammetry was used to detect and evaluate the interaction of copper(II) with the peptide layer. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was used to characterize the formation and attachment of the peptide layer on gold surfaces. Isothermal titration calorimetry was also utilized to evaluate the binding characteristics of the peptides with copper(II) ions. Our results indicated that the effect of a single amino acid mutation on the peptides drastically influenced their ability to interact with copper(II) ions. These results demonstrated that our electrochemical approach provided a rapid and cost-effective platform to study the strong interaction between α-syn and copper(II), which is implicated as one of the factors inducing structural changes in α-syn toward the progression of PD.
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Cobre/metabolismo , Mutação , Peptídeos/metabolismo , alfa-Sinucleína/genética , Sequência de Aminoácidos , Sítios de Ligação , Eletroquímica , Ligação Proteica , Espécies Reativas de Oxigênio/metabolismo , alfa-Sinucleína/química , alfa-Sinucleína/metabolismoRESUMO
Recently, a plethora of ecofriendly methods have been developed for the synthesis of AuNPs using a multitude of biogenic agents. Polyphenols from plants are particularly attractive for producing AuNPs because in addition to helping with the synthesis of AuNPs, the polyphenol capping of the NPs can be used as a platform for versatile applications. Polyphenol-capped AuNPs could also make the detection of AuNPs possible, should they be released into the environment. Because polyphenols are redox-active, they can be used as a probe to detect AuNPs using electrochemical techniques. In this work, we have developed an MWCNT-rGO nanocomposite electrode for the sensitive detection of AuNPs capped with gallic acid (GA, a green-tea-derived polyphenol) using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). The reduction of gallic acid-capped AuNPs was used as the quantification signal, and the calibration curve displayed a detection limit of 2.57 pM. Using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), we have shown that the modification of the electrode surface with an MWCNT-rGO hybrid nanocomposite resulted in a 10-fold increase in current response leading to the sensitive detection of GA-AuNPs compared to unmodified electrodes. We have also demonstrated the applicability of the electrochemical sensor in detecting GA-AuNPs in various analytical matrixes such as human serum and natural creek water (Highland Creek, ON) with good recovery.
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Herein, we report the antioxidant activity of cannabidiol (CBD) and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in pure and mixed solutions at different ratios, as well as of six different Cannabis sativa extracts containing various proportions of CBD and THC by using spectrophotometric (reducing power assay, 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), hypochlorous acid (HOCl) scavenging assays) and electrochemical methods (cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry). The isolated cannabinoids, the different stoichiometric ratios of CBD and THC, and the natural extracts proved to have remarkable antioxidant properties in all the methods employed in this work. The antioxidant activity of CBD and THC was compared against that of the well-defined antioxidants such as ascorbic acid (AA), resveratrol (Resv) and (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). Clear evidence of the synergistic and antagonistic effects between CBD and THC regarding to their antioxidant activities was observed. Moreover, a good correlation was obtained between the optical and electrochemical methods, which proved that the reported experimental procedures can easily be adapted to determine the antioxidant activity of extracts from various Cannabis sativa species and related compounds.
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Canabidiol/química , Cannabis/química , Dronabinol/química , Sequestradores de Radicais Livres/química , Extratos Vegetais/química , Canabidiol/análise , Dronabinol/análise , Técnicas Eletroquímicas/métodos , Sequestradores de Radicais Livres/análise , Extratos Vegetais/análiseRESUMO
The biosynthesis of the dinuclear metal cluster at the active sites of the [NiFe]-hydrogenase enzymes is a multi-step process executed by a suite of accessory proteins. Nickel insertion during maturation of Escherichia coli [NiFe]-hydrogenase 3 is achieved by the metallochaperones HypA, SlyD and the GTPase HypB, but how these proteins cooperate to ensure nickel delivery is not known. In this study, the complexes formed between the individual purified proteins were examined by using several methods. Size exclusion chromatography (SEC) indicated that SlyD and HypB interact primarily in a 1:1 complex. The affinity of HypB-SlyD was measured by using surface plasmon resonance, which revealed a KD of 24 ± 10 nM in the absence of nucleotide and an interaction several fold tighter in the presence of GDP. A ternary complex between all three proteins was not detected, and instead SlyD blocked the interaction of HypA with HypB in competitive binding experiments. Furthermore, cross-linking experiments suggest a weak interaction between HypA and SlyD, which is not detectable by SEC. Electrochemical analysis confirmed each of the pairwise interactions and that the relative affinities of these complexes are on the order of HypB-SlyD > HypB-HypA > HypA-SlyD. These results indicate a hierarchy of interactions, as opposed to a single multiprotein complex, and provide insight into the nickel delivery process during hydrogenase enzyme maturation.
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Escherichia coli/enzimologia , Hidrogenase/metabolismo , Níquel/metabolismo , Cromatografia em Gel , Hidrogenase/química , Metalochaperonas/química , Metalochaperonas/metabolismo , Níquel/químicaRESUMO
A "detect and destroy" strategy is reported for the spectroscopic determination and photocatalytic degradation of Malachite Green (MG) in aqueous solutions. The intensity of the reflection peak maxima from the TiO2-coated 2D-photonic crystal (PhC) at 633 nm wavelength undergoes a gradual decrease with increasing concentrations of MG. The determination of MG was readily achieved in the nanomolar range due to the quenching of the reflection intensity of the peak, measured using a fiber optic probe. The assay works in the 1.0 nM to 10 µM MG concentration range with a detection limit of 1.3 nM. The same TiO2-coated 2D-PhC surface can photocatalytically degrade MG in aqueous solutions under UV irradiation. The photocatalytic degradation in the presence of TiO2-coated 2D-PhC becomes evident as the blue color of MG changes to colorless with increasing irradiation time. The decrease in absorption is detected at 617 nm. It was found that the photocatalytic efficiency of TiO2 was synergistically enhanced in the presence of 2D-PhCs. It is concluded that each component of the TiO2-coated 2D-PhC system plays a key role in the detection and degradation of MG. Graphical abstractSchematic representation for reflectometric detection and photocatalytic degradation of hazardous Malachite Green dye using TiO2-coated two-dimensional photonic crystals.
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Corantes de Rosanilina/análise , Corantes de Rosanilina/efeitos da radiação , Espectrofotometria Ultravioleta/métodos , Titânio/química , Catálise/efeitos da radiação , Desinfetantes/análise , Desinfetantes/efeitos da radiação , Água Potável/análise , Água Doce/análise , Limite de Detecção , Estudo de Prova de Conceito , Titânio/efeitos da radiação , Raios Ultravioleta , Águas Residuárias/análise , Poluentes Químicos da Água/análise , Poluentes Químicos da Água/efeitos da radiaçãoRESUMO
Dye effluents are one of the main causes of water pollution. Azo dyes, the most widely applied colorants, are particularly difficult to degrade. Exposure of such dyes to the aquatic environment is hazardous to human health and biota due to their intrinsic harmful mutagenic and carcinogenic properties. Congo Red (CR) is an anionic and synthetic diazo dye, which is recalcitrant to the biodegradative process and metabolizes to produce a potential carcinogen. Research on the interaction of this toxic dye with serum albumin, as a transport protein, is of paramount significance because the physiological and toxicological behaviours of the dye in vivo are associated with its interactive characteristics with the proteins. In this regard, a detailed binding profile of CR with human serum albumin (HSA) was studied using isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) along with various spectroscopic and microscopic methods. The thermodynamic results from ITC indicated that the CR-HSA non-covalent interaction occured primarily due to favorable entropy and unfavorable enthalpy with a Ka of 106 M-1 at lower concentrations and 105 M-1 at higher concentrations. Steady-state fluorescence data revealed that the intrinsic fluorescence of HSA was quenched in the presence of CR via the static quenching mechanism. Using Förster's non-radioactive energy transfer theory (FRET), the specific binding distance r (2.73 nm) between the donor (Trp-214 from HSA) and the acceptor (CR) was calculated. Our preliminary results indicated that CR had a high affinity to HSA, which can have significant implications in the distribution and elimination of this toxic dye upon exposure.
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Compostos Azo/química , Calorimetria , Albumina Sérica Humana/química , Espectrometria de Fluorescência , Sítios de Ligação , Humanos , Ligação Proteica , TermodinâmicaRESUMO
The adhesin Legionella collagen-like (Lcl) protein can bind to extracellular matrix components and mediate the binding of Legionella pneumophila to host cells. In this study, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and surface plasmon resonance (SPR)-based biosensors were employed to characterize these interactions between glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and the adhesin Lcl protein. Fucoidan displayed a high affinity (KD 18 nM) for Lcl protein. Chondroitin sulfate A and dermatan sulfate differ in the position of a carboxyl group replacing D-glucuronate with D-iduronate. Our results indicated that the presence of D-iduronate in dermatan sulfate strongly hindered its interaction with Lcl. These biophysical studies provided valuable information in our understanding of adhesin-ligand interactions related to Legionella pneumophila infections.
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Técnicas Biossensoriais , Colágeno/metabolismo , Glicosaminoglicanos/metabolismo , Legionella pneumophila/química , Adesinas Bacterianas/metabolismo , Ligação ProteicaRESUMO
Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) plays an essential role in regulating corticosteroid hormone production, which has important functions in a myriad of critical physiological functions. In this proof-of-concept study, a miniaturized immunosensor was developed for the highly sensitive detection of ACTH using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) in connection with disposable screen-printed gold electrodes (SPGEs). A film of 3,3'-dithiobis[sulfosuccinimidylpropionate] (DTSSP) was prepared to immobilize anti-ACTH antibodies covalently on the nanostructured SPGE surface. The surface-immobilized anti-ACTH antibodies captured the biotinylated ACTH (biotin-ACTH) and non-labelled ACTH for the competitive immunoassay. After coupling of a streptavidin-alkaline phosphatase conjugate (Streptavidin-ALP), the bio-catalysed precipitation of an insoluble and insulating product onto the sensing interface changed the charge transfer resistance (Rct) characteristics significantly. The detection limit of 100 fg/mL was determined for ACTH in a 5 µL sample volume, which indicated that this versatile platform can be easily adapted for miniaturized electrochemical immunosensing of cancer marker biomolecules. High selectivity and sensitivity of our immunoassay to detect ACTH in real samples demonstrated its promising potential for future development and applications using clinical samples.
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Técnicas Biossensoriais , Hormônio Adrenocorticotrópico , Espectroscopia Dielétrica , Eletrodos , Ouro , Imunoensaio , Limite de DetecçãoRESUMO
In this study, simultaneous electrochemical detection of ascorbic acid (AA), dopamine (DA), and uric acid (UA) was performed using a modified graphite paste electrode (MGPE) with epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and green tea (GT) powder. It was shown that the anodic peak current increased in comparison with that of the graphite paste electrode (GPE) in the cyclic voltammograms. The optimal pH for simultaneous determination of a quaternary mixture of AA-DA-UA was determined to be pH 2. The anodic peak potentials for a mixture containing AA-DA-UA were well separated from each other. The catalytic peak currents obtained at the surface of the MGPE/EGCG were linearly dependent on the AA, DA, and UA concentrations up to 23, 14, and 14 µM, respectively. The detection limits for AA, DA, and UA were 190, 90, and 70 nM, respectively. The analytical performance of this sensor has been evaluated for simultaneous detection of AA, DA, and UA in real samples. Finally, a modified electrode was prepared using GT and used for simultaneous determination of AA, DA, and UA. Based on the results, MPGE/GT showed two oxidation peaks at 0.43 and 0.6 V for DA and UA, respectively, without any oxidation peak for AA. The calibration curves at the surface of MGPE/GT were linear up to 14 µM with a detection limit of 0.18 and 0.33 µM for DA and UA, respectively. MGPEs provide a promising platform for the future development of sensors for multiplexed electrochemical detection of clinically important analytes.
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Eletrodos , Ácido Ascórbico , Técnicas Biossensoriais , Catequina/análogos & derivados , Técnicas Eletroquímicas , Eletroquímica , Grafite , Oxirredução , Ácido ÚricoRESUMO
Two types of gold nanoparticles are compared for their use in a sensor for immunoglobulin detection - bipyramidal gold nanoparticles (GBPs) and gold nanorods (GNRs). Using surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy and square wave voltammetry allowed us to evaluate the utilities of these two types of gold nanoparticles in a label-free detection of the analyte IgG. However both systems showed a significant enhancement in sensitivity over a nanoparticle free system, showing a 64-fold enhancement for the GBP-containing sensor and a 16-fold enhancement for the GNR-containing sensor systems.
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Técnicas Biossensoriais , Ouro , Imunoglobulinas/análise , Nanopartículas Metálicas , Nanotubos , Humanos , Ressonância de Plasmônio de SuperfícieRESUMO
A novel electrochemical immunosensor fabricated from gold compact disc electrodes was designed for rapid evaluation of aggregation processes that lead to the formation of oligomeric and fibrillar states of amyloid-beta(1-42) (Aß(1-42)) during Alzheimer's disease. Conformation-specific antibodies were immobilized on the surface of the gold electrode using a 3,3'-dithiobis (sulfosuccinimidyl) propionate (DTSSP) linker. Surface binding events were analyzed by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) in which the formation of an antigen-antibody complex was quantified as a function of charge transfer resistance using a [Fe(CN)6](3-/4-) redox probe. The effectiveness of novel sym-triazine-derived aggregation modulators (TAE-1, TAE-2) to reduce the population of toxic oligomers was evaluated. Aß fibril formation was validated by thioflavin T (ThT) fluorescence, whereas oligomer formation was investigated by MALDI. Antigen detection by EIS was further supported by immuno dot blot assays for oligomeric and fibrillar components. Docking simulations of the aggregation modulators TAE-1 and TAE-2 with Aß(1-42) fibrils performed using Autodock Vina suggest a mechanism for the improved aggregation inhibition observed for TAE-2. The results demonstrate the utility and convenience of impedance immunosensing as an analytical tool for rapid and comprehensive evaluation of effective Aß aggregation modulating agents.
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Peptídeos beta-Amiloides/efeitos dos fármacos , Técnicas Biossensoriais , Peptídeos beta-Amiloides/química , Técnicas Eletroquímicas/instrumentação , Técnicas Eletroquímicas/métodos , Humanos , Imunoquímica/instrumentação , Imunoquímica/métodos , MicroeletrodosRESUMO
Self-aggregation of amyloid-ß (Aß) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Small molecule inhibitors of Aß fibril formation reduce the Aß-mediated neurotocixity. In this report, the interaction of amyloid-ß (Aß) with well-described modulators, (-)epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) and Zn(ii), was detected using a LED-based interferometric reflectance imaging sensor (LED-IRIS) in a high-throughput and real-time format. Nucleation-based fibril growth strategy was employed, as the "seeds" of Aß were prepared in the presence of EGCG and Zn(ii). The seeds were then covalently immobilized on the chip surface. Using microfluidics, Aß oligomers were exposed onto the seeds resulting in the elongation of fibrils, which was detected as the increase in the spot height. Monitoring the changes on the chip surface enabled to detect the efficacy of modulators to inhibit or facilitate the growth of Aß fibrils. The proof-of-concept study reported here introduces a novel platform to facilitate the screening of small molecules towards the discovery of promising AD therapeutics.
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Peptídeos beta-Amiloides/análise , Técnicas Biossensoriais/métodos , Ensaios de Triagem em Larga Escala/métodos , Luz , Fragmentos de Peptídeos/análise , Técnicas Biossensoriais/instrumentação , Ensaios de Triagem em Larga Escala/instrumentação , Humanos , Interferometria/métodosRESUMO
The growing interest in membrane interactions of amyloidogenic proteins indicates that lipid binding and the regulation of membrane potential are critical to the onset and progression of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's (PD), Alzheimer's (AD), and prion diseases. Advancing the understanding of this field requires the application of varied biophysical and biological techniques designed to probe the characteristics and underlying mechanisms of membrane-peptide interactions. Therefore, the development of a rapid cytotoxicity evaluation system using a membrane potential-sensitive bis-oxonol fluorescent dye, DiBAC4(3) is reported here. The exposure of C-terminal truncated α-synuclein 119 (α-Syn119) and amyloid-ß(1-42) (Aß(1-42)) to U2-OS cell cultures resulted in an immediate, significant, and concentration-dependent increase in fluorescence response of DiBAC4(3). This response was strongly correlated with the cytotoxicity of α-Syn119 and Aß(1-42) as determined by conventional CC8 and ATP assays. Furthermore, the capacity of well-defined polyphenolic antioxidants (i.e., pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ), baicalein, (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), and myricetin) to mitigate amyloid-induced cytotoxicity was evaluated using the developed biosensing system. We envisage that this work would accelerate the development of a rapid and cost-effective high-throughput screening platform in drug discovery for AD and PD.
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Peptídeos beta-Amiloides/antagonistas & inibidores , Técnicas Biossensoriais , Corantes Fluorescentes/química , Fragmentos de Peptídeos/antagonistas & inibidores , alfa-Sinucleína/antagonistas & inibidores , Peptídeos beta-Amiloides/genética , Peptídeos beta-Amiloides/metabolismo , Antioxidantes/química , Barbitúricos/química , Catequina/análogos & derivados , Catequina/química , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Sobrevivência Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , Flavanonas/química , Humanos , Isoxazóis/química , Fragmentos de Peptídeos/genética , Fragmentos de Peptídeos/metabolismo , Proteínas Recombinantes/antagonistas & inibidores , Proteínas Recombinantes/biossíntese , Proteínas Recombinantes/toxicidade , Tiobarbitúricos/química , alfa-Sinucleína/genética , alfa-Sinucleína/metabolismoRESUMO
A number of human protein misfolding disorders, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), are closely related to the accumulation of ß-sheet-rich amyloid fibrils or aggregates. Neuronal toxicity in AD has been linked to the interactions of amyloid-ß (Aß) with metals, especially Zn(2+), Cu(2+), and Fe(3+), which leads to the production of reactive oxygen species. Nucleation-dependent Aß aggregation, or "seeding", is thought to propagate fibril formation. In this surface plasmon resonance imaging (SPRi) study, we have shown that the fibril seeds formed with the incubation of Aß in the presence of metals are better at promoting monomer elongation compared to Aß alone or in the presence of a well-described polyphenol, (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). This is a novel attempt to simultaneously monitor the effects of multiple modulators on fibril elongation using a single chip. EGCG was shown in transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and thioflavin T (ThT) studies to promote the formation of off-pathway, highly stable unstructured oligomers, supporting the SPRi results. These findings suggest that SPRi provides a promising platform as a screening tool for small molecules that can affect the aggregation pathways in neurodegenerative diseases.
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Peptídeos beta-Amiloides/metabolismo , Catequina/análogos & derivados , Metais/química , Ressonância de Plasmônio de Superfície , Doença de Alzheimer/metabolismo , Doença de Alzheimer/patologia , Peptídeos beta-Amiloides/química , Benzotiazóis , Catequina/química , Catequina/metabolismo , Cobre/química , Compostos Férricos/química , Humanos , Íons/química , Cinética , Microscopia Eletrônica de Transmissão , Fragmentos de Peptídeos/química , Fragmentos de Peptídeos/metabolismo , Tiazóis/química , Tiazóis/metabolismo , Zinco/químicaRESUMO
Cancer is a major global health challenge that would benefit from advances in screening methods for early detection that are rapid and low cost. TF-antigen is a tumor-associated antigen displayed on cell surface proteins of a high percentage of human carcinomas. Here we present a fluorometric bioassay for TF-antigen (galactose-ß-(1â3)-N-acetyl-d-galactosamine) that utilizes quantum dot (QD) technology coupled with magnetic beads for rapid detection of TF-antigen at high sensitivity (10(-7) M range). In the competitive bioassay, 4-aminophenyl ß-d-galactopyranoside (4-APG) conjugated to QDs competes with TF-antigen for binding sites on peanut agglutinin (PNA) that is immobilized on magnetic beads. The bioassay is specific and ultrasensitive in the environment of complex protein mixtures, demonstrating its potential applicability for the screening of clinical samples.
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Antígenos Glicosídicos Associados a Tumores/análise , Técnicas Biossensoriais/métodos , Fluorometria/métodos , Pontos Quânticos , Animais , Antígenos Glicosídicos Associados a Tumores/metabolismo , Ligação Competitiva , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Humanos , Imãs/química , Microesferas , Aglutinina de Amendoim/metabolismoRESUMO
This article presents the fabrication and characterization of novel tattoo-based solid-contact ion-selective electrodes (ISEs) for non-invasive potentiometric monitoring of epidermal pH levels. The new fabrication approach combines commercially available temporary transfer tattoo paper with conventional screen printing and solid-contact polymer ISE methodologies. The resulting tattoo-based potentiometric sensors exhibit rapid and sensitive response to a wide range of pH changes with no carry-over effects. Furthermore, the tattoo ISE sensors endure repetitive mechanical deformation, which is a key requirement of wearable and epidermal sensors. The flexible and conformal nature of the tattoo sensors enable them to be mounted on nearly any exposed skin surface for real-time pH monitoring of the human perspiration, as illustrated from the response during a strenuous physical activity. The resulting tattoo-based ISE sensors offer considerable promise as wearable potentiometric sensors suitable for diverse applications.
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Epiderme/química , Potenciometria/instrumentação , Adulto , Eletrodos , Humanos , Concentração de Íons de Hidrogênio , Masculino , Papel , TatuagemRESUMO
Several severe neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and prion-associated transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, have been linked to dysregulation of specific proteins capable of self-assembly into deleterious fibrillar aggregates termed amyloids. A wide range of analytical techniques has been used to clarify the mechanisms of these protein-misfolding processes, in the hope of developing effective therapeutic treatment. Most of these studies have relied heavily on conventional methods of protein characterization, notably circular dichroism spectroscopy, thioflavin T fluorescence, transmission electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy, which are particularly suitable for monitoring later-stage aggregate formation. Although electrochemical methods of protein detection have existed for some time, they have only recently gained prominence as a powerful tool for studying the early stages of protein aggregation during which the more toxic soluble amyloid species form. Electrochemical detection methods include direct detection of intrinsic redox-active amino acid residues, protein-catalyzed hydrogen evolution, use of extrinsic ß-sheet binding mediators, and impedance spectroscopy. In this review, we evaluate the use of electrochemistry for study of protein aggregation related to neurodegenerative disorders.