A molecular-imprint nanosensor for ultrasensitive detection of proteins.
Molecular imprinting is a technique for preparing polymer scaffolds that function as synthetic receptors. Imprinted polymers that can selectively bind organic compounds have proven useful in sensor development. Although creating synthetic molecular-imprinting polymers that recognize proteins remains challenging, nanodevices and nanomaterials show promise in this area. Here, we show that arrays of carbon-nanotube tips with an imprinted non-conducting polymer coating can recognize proteins with subpicogram per litre sensitivity using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. We have developed molecular-imprinting sensors specific for human ferritin and human papillomavirus derived E7 protein. The molecular-imprinting-based nanosensor can also discriminate between Ca(2+)-induced conformational changes in calmodulin. This ultrasensitive, label-free electrochemical detection of proteins offers an alternative to biosensors based on biomolecule recognition.
Cai
Dong
D
Department of Biology, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts 02467, USA. caid@bc.edu
Ren
Lu
L
Zhao
Huaizhou
H
Xu
Chenjia
C
Zhang
Lu
L
Yu
Ying
Y
Wang
Hengzhi
H
Lan
Yucheng
Y
Roberts
Mary F
MF
Chuang
Jeffrey H
JH
Naughton
Michael J
MJ
Ren
Zhifeng
Z
Chiles
Thomas C
TC
D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D003217:Conductometry / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D015336:Molecular Probe Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000295:instrumentation*; D040081:Protein Array Analysis / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity