A miniaturized electrochemical toxicity biosensor based on graphene oxide quantum dots/carboxylated carbon nanotubes for assessment of priority pollutants.
The study presented a sensitive and miniaturized cell-based electrochemical biosensor to assess the toxicity of priority pollutants in the aquatic environment. Human hepatoma (HepG2) cells were used as the biological recognition agent to measure the changes of electrochemical signals and reflect the cell viability. The graphene oxide quantum dots/carboxylated carbon nanotubes hybrid was developed in a facile and green way. Based on the hybrid composite modified pencil graphite electrode, the cell culture and detection vessel was miniaturized to a 96-well plate instead of the traditional culture dish. In addition, three sensitive electrochemical signals attributed to guanine/xanthine, adenine, and hypoxanthine were detected simultaneously. The biosensor was used to evaluate the toxicity of six priority pollutants, including Cd, Hg, Pb, 2,4-dinitrophenol, 2,4,6-trichlorophenol, and pentachlorophenol. The 24h IC50values obtained by the electrochemical biosensor were lower than those of conventional MTT assay, suggesting the enhanced sensitivity of the electrochemical assay towards heavy metals and phenols. This platform enables the label-free and sensitive detection of cell physiological status with multi-parameters and constitutes a promising approach for toxicity detection of pollutants. It makes possible for automatical and high-throughput analysis on nucleotide catabolism, which may be critical for life science and toxicology.
School of Environment, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130117, PR China.
Xiaolin
X
Zhu
School of Environment, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130117, PR China.
Guanlan
G
Wu
School of Environment, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130117, PR China.
Nan
N
Lu
School of Environment, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130117, PR China. Electronic address: yuanx@nenu.edu.cn.
Xing
X
Yuan
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, United States. Electronic address: baikun@engr.uconn.edu.
Baikun
B
Li
D019297:2,4-Dinitrophenol / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D015374:Biosensing Techniques; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002733:Chlorophenols / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D055664:Electrochemical Techniques; D006108:Graphite / Q000737:chemistry*; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D008904:Miniaturization; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D010416:Pentachlorophenol / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D011687:Purines / Q000378:metabolism; D045663:Quantum Dots / Q000737:chemistry*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity
D002733:Chlorophenols; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D011687:Purines; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D006108:Graphite; D010416:Pentachlorophenol; C024564:2,4,6-trichlorophenol; D019297:2,4-Dinitrophenol
Carbon nanotubes; Cell sensor; Graphene oxide quantum dots; Priority pollutants; Toxicity