Long-Wavelength Illumination-Induced Photocurrent Enhancement of a ZnPc Photocathodic Material for Bioanalytical Applications.

Herein, a novel photocathodic nanocomposite poly{4,8-bis[5-(2-ethylhexyl)-thiophen-2-yl] benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b']dithiophene-2,6-diyl-alt-3-fluoro-2-[(2-ethylhexyl)-carbonyl]thieno[3,4-b]thiophene-4,6-diyl}/phthalocyanine zinc (PTB7-Th/ZnPc) with high photoelectric conversion efficiency under long-wavelength illumination was prepared to construct an ultrasensitive biosensor for the detection of microRNA-21 (miRNA-21), accompanied by a prominent anti-interference capability toward reductive substances. Impressively, the new heterojunction PTB7-Th/ZnPc nanocomposite could not only generate a strong cathodic photocurrent to improve the detection sensitivity under long-wavelength illumination (660 nm) but also effectively avoid the high damage of biological activity caused by short-wavelength light stimulation. Accordingly, by coupling with rolling circle amplification (RCA)-triggered DNA amplification to form functional biquencher nanospheres, a PEC biosensor was fabricated to realize the ultrasensitive analysis of miRNA-21 in the concentration range of 0.1 fM to 10 nM with a detection limit as low as 32 aM. This strategy provided a novel long-wavelength illumination-induced photocurrent enhancement photoactive material for a sensitive and low-damage anti-interference bioassay and early clinical disease diagnosis.

P3HT-PbS nanocomposites with mimicking enzyme as bi-enhancer for ultrasensitive photocathodic biosensor.

Photocathodic biosensor has great capability in anti-interference from reductive substances, however, the low signal intensity of photoactive species with inferior detection sensitivity restricts its wide application. In this work, the P3HT-PbS nanocomposites were synthesized as signal tags, by integrating with target-trigger generated hemin/G-quadruplex nanotail as bi-enhancer to significantly apmplify the photocurrent, an ultrasensitive photocathodic biosensor was proposed for detection of ß2-microglobulin (ß2-MG). Impressively, P3HT with cathode signal is an attractive polymer consisted of substantial thiophene groups with high absorption coefficient and mobility of photo-generated holes, which could anchor with the PbS dots as sensitizer, providing a high charge mobility and strong photosensitivity. More importantly, target-trigger generated hemin/G-quadruplexes could accept the electron from illuminated photoactive species through the conversion of Fe(III)/Fe(II) in hemin, effectively reducing charge recombination rate as well as accelerating the generation of electron acceptor O2 in the assistant of H2O2. Moreover, hemin/G-quadruplexes inherited the HRP mimicking catalytic capability that further improved the produce of plentiful O2. As a result, PEC cathode signal was significantly enhanced for sensitive analysis of ß2-MG protein with a good detection range of 0.1 pg/mL to 100 ng/mL. It would provide a path for establishing PEC platform with excellent anti-interference ability and extend the application of photoelectrochemical (PEC) biosensor in bioanalysis and early disease diagnosis.

Novel D-A-D-Type Supramolecular Aggregates with High Photoelectric Activity for Construction of Ultrasensitive Photoelectrochemical Biosensor.

In this work, hydrazine-functionalized perylene diimide derivative supramolecular (HPDS), a novel self-enhanced donor-acceptor-donor (D-A-D) type aggregates with excellent photoelectric activity, was synthesized by a facile one-pot green route and further applied in construction of coreactant-free photoelectrochemical (PEC) biosensor for ultrasensitive DNA assay. Impressively, the HPDS formed by D-A-D units not only possessed effectively shorted electron-transfer path between donor and acceptor, but also presented a desiring aggregate state via the π-π stacking of perylene core and hydrogen bonding of the terminal moiety, thereby acquiring a high density electron flow for generating the extremely high PEC signal. Experimental data showed that the well film-formed HPDS aggregate could produce an exciting photocurrent intensity about 6-fold stronger than that of precursor perylene dianhydride with donor N2H4 in detection buffer and even 12-fold than that of perylene dianhydride only. In this respect, the resultant HPDS aggregate as a novel self-enhanced PEC signal tag was adopted to fabricate the coreactant-free PEC biosensor with the help of target dual-recycling-induced bipedal DNA walker cascade amplification strategy for ultrasensitive DNA (a fragment of TP53 gene) assay. The proposed biosensor showed a high sensitivity with a low detection limit down to femtomole level, providing a new avenue for sensitive bioanalysis and clinical diagnosis.

Ultrasensitive photoelectrochemical biosensor for MiRNA-21 assay based on target-catalyzed hairpin assembly coupled with distance-controllable multiple signal amplification.

Here, with the target-catalyzed hairpin assembly generated dsDNA (HP1-HP2) to synchronously control the departure of quencher ferrocene and approach of sensitizer methylene blue, a distance-controllable multiple signal amplification based photoelectrochemical biosensor was proposed for MiRNA-21 assay.

Ultrasensitive Photoelectrochemical Detection of Multiple Metal Ions Based on Wavelength-Resolved Dual-Signal Output Triggered by Click Reaction.

In this work, a click reaction-triggered wavelength-resolved dual-signal output photoelectrochemical (PEC) biosensor with DNAzymes-assisted cleavage recycling amplification was proposed for sensitive triplex metal ions assay. Substantial DNA fragments azido-S1 and azido-S2, derived from the Pb2+ (target 1) and Mg2+ (target 2) dependent cleavage cycle of DNAzymes, respectively, were grafted efficiently on the same alkynyl-DNA (capture DNA) modified electrode via the Cu2+ (target 3) and ascorbic acid (AA) cocatalyzed click reaction, which thus could be subsequently used for immobilization of two different photoactive nanomaterials labeled with single DNA to generate distinguishing dual-signal output for simultaneously sensitive detection of Pb2+ and Mg2+. Furthermore, the control variable method was used for detecting Cu2+ by altering the concentration of Cu2+ in the click reaction. Owing to the usage of the click reaction and target-converted signal amplifying strategy, the utilization rate of cycle output DNAs was largely increased, significantly improving the detection sensitivity of the proposed approach. As a result, low detection limits down to picomolar were acquired for the detection of Pb2+, Mg2+, and Cu2+, providing a versatile, efficient, and sensitive PEC method for multiple assays of various targets such as metal ions, small molecules, and tumor markers.