Intrinsic peroxidase-like activity of ferromagnetic nanoparticles.
Nanoparticles containing magnetic materials, such as magnetite (Fe3O4), are particularly useful for imaging and separation techniques. As these nanoparticles are generally considered to be biologically and chemically inert, they are typically coated with metal catalysts, antibodies or enzymes to increase their functionality as separation agents. Here, we report that magnetite nanoparticles in fact possess an intrinsic enzyme mimetic activity similar to that found in natural peroxidases, which are widely used to oxidize organic substrates in the treatment of wastewater or as detection tools. Based on this finding, we have developed a novel immunoassay in which antibody-modified magnetite nanoparticles provide three functions: capture, separation and detection. The stability, ease of production and versatility of these nanoparticles makes them a powerful tool for a wide range of potential applications in medicine, biotechnology and environmental chemistry.
Gao
Lizeng
L
National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 15 Datun Road, Beijing 100101, China.
Zhuang
Jie
J
Nie
Leng
L
Zhang
Jinbin
J
Zhang
Yu
Y
Gu
Ning
N
Wang
Taihong
T
Feng
Jing
J
Yang
Dongling
D
Perrett
Sarah
S
Yan
Xiyun
X
D040761:Biomimetic Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D052203:Ferrosoferric Oxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D007118:Immunoassay / Q000379:methods*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000737:chemistry*
D009195:Peroxidase; D052203:Ferrosoferric Oxide