title: A sub-picomolar assay for protein by using cubic Cu2O nanocages loaded with Au nanoparticles as robust redox probes and efficient non-enzymatic electrocatalysts.
abstract: In this work, a simple and sensitive electrochemical aptasensor for protein (thrombin - TB used as the model) was developed by using cubic Cu2O nanocages (Cu2O-NCs) loaded with Au nanoparticles (AuNPs@Cu2O-NCs) as non-enzymatic electrocatalysts and robust redox probes. Through the specific sandwich-type reaction between TB and TB aptamers (TBA), the formed AuNPs@Cu2O-NCs bound with NH2-TBA were captured onto the electrode surface modified with SH-TBA. Based on the inherent redox activity of AuNPs@Cu2O-NCs with cubic nanostructures, a detectable electrochemical signal was generated which was dependent on the analyte concentration. Meanwhile, AuNPs@Cu2O-NCs showed an efficient electrocatalytic capability in the reduction of H2O2, resulting in a significant enhancement of the response signal. Thus, the simplification of the proposed strategy and the improvement of analytical performances were easily achieved with a sub-picomolar sensitivity (the limit of detection was 0.066 pmol L-1). The applicability of the simple and sensitive aptasensor was successfully demonstrated by assaying TB in human serum samples. This non-enzymatic detection platform would be potential and promising in clinical diagnostics and protein analysis techniques.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Luminescent and Real-Time Analytical Chemistry (Southwest University), Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, PR China. xwju@swu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Jianmin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Luminescent and Real-Time Analytical Chemistry (Southwest University), Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, PR China. xwju@swu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Ting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Luminescent and Real-Time Analytical Chemistry (Southwest University), Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, PR China. xwju@swu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Jiaxi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Luminescent and Real-Time Analytical Chemistry (Southwest University), Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, PR China. xwju@swu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Shijing
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Luminescent and Real-Time Analytical Chemistry (Southwest University), Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, PR China. xwju@swu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Xingxing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Luminescent and Real-Time Analytical Chemistry (Southwest University), Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, PR China. xwju@swu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Wenju
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3184-4033
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D015374:Biosensing Techniques; D003300:Copper / Q000737:chemistry*; D055664:Electrochemical Techniques; D006046:Gold; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D013917:Thrombin / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D006046:Gold; D003300:Copper; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D013917:Thrombin; C000520:cuprous oxide