Invertase-labeling gold-dendrimer for in situ amplified detection mercury(II) with glucometer readout and thymine-Hg(2+)-thymine coordination chemistry.
A simple, low-cost transducer with glucometer readout was designed for sensitive detection of mercury(II) (Hg(2+)), coupling with thymine-Hg(2+)-thymine (T-Hg(2+)-T) coordination chemistry and invertase-functionalized gold-dendrimer nanospheres for the signal amplification. Initially, nanogold-encapsulated poly(amidoamine) dendrimers (Au DENs) were synthesized by in-situ reduction of gold(III). Thereafter, the as-prepared Au DENs were utilized for the labeling of invertase and T-rich signal DNA probe. In the presence of target Hg(2+), the functionalized Au DENs were conjugated to capture DNA probe-modified electrode via T-Hg(2+)-T coordination chemistry. Accompanying the Au DENs, the labeled invertase could hydrolyze sucrose into glucose, which could be quantitatively monitored by an external personal glucometer (PGM). The PGM signal increased with the increasing target Hg(2+) in the sample. Under the optimal conditions, our designed sensing platform exhibited good PGM responses toward target Hg(2+), and allowed the detection of Hg(2+) at a concentration as low as 4.2 pM. This sensing system also displayed remarkable specificity relative to target Hg(2+) against other competing ions, and could be applied for reliable monitoring of spiked Hg(2+) into the environmental water samples with satisfactory results. With the advantages of cost-effectiveness, simplicity, portability, and convenience, our strategy provides a tremendous potential to be a promising candidate for point-of-use monitoring of non-glucose targets by the public.
Key Laboratory of Analysis and Detection for Food Safety (MOE & Fujian Province), Institute of Nanomedicine and Nanobiosensing, Department of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, PR China.
Zhenli
Z
Qiu
Key Laboratory of Analysis and Detection for Food Safety (MOE & Fujian Province), Institute of Nanomedicine and Nanobiosensing, Department of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, PR China.
Jian
J
Shu
Key Laboratory of Analysis and Detection for Food Safety (MOE & Fujian Province), Institute of Nanomedicine and Nanobiosensing, Department of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, PR China.
Guixiao
G
Jin
Key Laboratory of Analysis and Detection for Food Safety (MOE & Fujian Province), Institute of Nanomedicine and Nanobiosensing, Department of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, PR China.
Mingdi
M
Xu
Key Laboratory of Analysis and Detection for Food Safety (MOE & Fujian Province), Institute of Nanomedicine and Nanobiosensing, Department of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, PR China. Electronic address: dianping.tang@fzu.edu.cn.
Qiaohua
Q
Wei
Key Laboratory of Analysis and Detection for Food Safety (MOE & Fujian Province), Institute of Nanomedicine and Nanobiosensing, Department of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, PR China.
Guonan
G
Chen
Key Laboratory of Analysis and Detection for Food Safety (MOE & Fujian Province), Institute of Nanomedicine and Nanobiosensing, Department of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, PR China.
Dianping
D
Tang
D003217:Conductometry / Q000295:instrumentation*; D015342:DNA Probes / Q000737:chemistry*; D050091:Dendrimers / Q000737:chemistry; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005947:Glucose / Q000032:analysis*; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry*; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods; D013941:Thymine / Q000737:chemistry; D043324:beta-Fructofuranosidase / Q000737:chemistry*
D015342:DNA Probes; D050091:Dendrimers; D006046:Gold; D043324:beta-Fructofuranosidase; D008628:Mercury; D005947:Glucose; D013941:Thymine
Invertase-functionalized gold-dendrimer nanospheres; Mercury(II) ion; Personal glucometer; Thymine–Hg(2+)–thymine