title: Picogram detection of metal ions by melanin-sensitized piezoelectric sensor.
abstract: A heavy metal ion sensor was constructed by cross-linking melanin onto the gold electrode of quartz crystal microbalance (QCM). A mercury ion sensitivity of 518+/-37 Hz/ppm was observed, a substantial increase in sensitivity compared to previous reports of 10-50 Hz/ppm with the limit of detection at 5 ppb. Detection of other metal ions including Sn(2+), Ge(4+), Li(+), Zn(2+), Cu(2+), Bi(3+), Co(2+), Al(3+), Ni(2+), Ag(+), and Fe(3+) were also performed. Unexpectedly, binding of Mn(7+), Pb(2+), Cd(2+), and Cr(3+) increased resonant frequencies. The surface profile of melanin thin film upon binding to metal ions was investigated by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Structural change of melanin upon binding to metal ions was characterized by circular dichroism and by infrared spectroscopy. The current study provides the first example of melanin-coated piezoelectric sensor showing high sensitivity and selectivity to metal ions.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Nanotechnology, National Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan, ROC. gstevehuang@mail.nctu.edu
authors.forename: G Steven
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Meng-Te
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Chia-Wei
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Yu-Shiun
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Meng-Yen
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Hong
mesh_terms: D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D002942:Circular Dichroism; D003460:Crystallization; D008543:Melanins / Q000737:chemistry*; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis*; D011791:Quartz; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013055:Spectrophotometry, Infrared
chemical_list: D008543:Melanins; D008670:Metals; D011791:Quartz