Self-Assembled Core-Satellite Gold Nanoparticle Networks for Ultrasensitive Detection of Chiral Molecules by Recognition Tunneling Current.
Chirality sensing is a very challenging task. Here, we report a method for ultrasensitive detection of chiral molecule l/d-carnitine based on changes in the recognition tunneling current across self-assembled core-satellite gold nanoparticle (GNP) networks. The recognition tunneling technique has been demonstrated to work at the single molecule level where the binding between the reader molecules and the analytes in a nanojunction. This process was observed to generate a unique and sensitive change in tunneling current, which can be used to identify the analytes of interest. The molecular recognition mechanism between amino acid l-cysteine and l/d-carnitine has been studied with the aid of SERS. The different binding strength between homo- or heterochiral pairs can be effectively probed by the copper ion replacement fracture. The device resistance was measured before and after the sequential exposures to l/d-carnitine and copper ions. The normalized resistance change was found to be extremely sensitive to the chirality of carnitine molecule. The results suggested that a GNP networks device optimized for recognition tunneling was successfully built and that such a device can be used for ultrasensitive detection of chiral molecules.
College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Ocean University of China , Qingdao 266100, China.|School of Life and Environmental Science, Centre for Chemistry and Biotechnology, Deakin University , Geelong, Victoria 3216, Australia.
Yuanchao
Y
Zhang
College of Chemical Science and Engineering, Qingdao University , Qingdao 266071, China.
Jingquan
J
Liu
College of Chemical Science and Engineering, Qingdao University , Qingdao 266071, China.
Da
D
Li
School for Radiological and Interdisciplinary Sciences (RAD-X) and Collaborative Innovation Center of Radiation Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Soochow University , Suzhou 215123, China.
Xing
X
Dai
Nanjing Stomatological Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University , Nanjing 210008, China.
Fuhua
F
Yan
School of Life and Environmental Science, Centre for Chemistry and Biotechnology, Deakin University , Geelong, Victoria 3216, Australia.
Xavier A
XA
Conlan
School for Radiological and Interdisciplinary Sciences (RAD-X) and Collaborative Innovation Center of Radiation Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Soochow University , Suzhou 215123, China.|IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Centre , Yorktown Heights, New York 10598, United States.
Ruhong
R
Zhou
School of Life and Environmental Science, Centre for Chemistry and Biotechnology, Deakin University , Geelong, Victoria 3216, Australia.
Colin J
CJ
Barrow
Physics Department, Biomolecular Science Institute, Florida International University , Miami, Florida 33199, United States.
Jin
J
He
College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Ocean University of China , Qingdao 266100, China.
Xin
X
Wang
School of Life and Environmental Science, Centre for Chemistry and Biotechnology, Deakin University , Geelong, Victoria 3216, Australia.
Wenrong
W
Yang
biosensors; chiral molecule differentiation; chiral sensing; core satellite GNPs; molecular electronics; tunneling current recognition