Immune-biosensor for aflatoxin B1 based bio-electrocatalytic reaction on micro-comb electrode

This paper reports a miniaturized immunosensor designed to determine a trace level cardiac marker, B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), using a microfluidic device combined with a portable surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor system. Sample BNP solution was introduced into the microchannel after an immunoreaction with acetylcholine esterase-labeled antibody (conjugate), and only unbound conjugate was trapped on the BNP-immobilized surface in the flow channel. Then, the thiol compound generated by the enzymatic reaction with the trapped conjugate was accumulated on a gold thin film located downstream in the microchannel to monitor the real-time SPR angle shift. We achieved a detectable concentration range of 5 pg/mL-100 ng/mL by monitoring the SPR angle shift, which covers the required detection range for the BNP concentrations found in blood. This success resulted from the use of a T-shaped microfluidic device structure, which prevents the sample solution from flowing over the gold film used for SPR detection. We were able to measure trace levels of BNP peptide (15 fg) within 30 min since the procedure with our immunosensor is simpler than a multistep immunoassay through the simultaneous use of a labeled enzymatic reaction and the real-time monitoring of enzymatic product accumulation in the microfluidic device. We employed the procedure to detect serum BNP by using spiked samples in human serum and achieved satisfactory recovery for heat-treated samples to denature the esterase in the serum before the immunoreaction.

We demonstrate herein a newly developed photoelectrochemical immunosensor for the determination of anti-cholera toxin antibody by using a photosensitive biotinylated polypyrrole film. The latter was generated by electro-oxidation of a biotinylated tris(bipyridyl) ruthenium(II) complex bearing pyrrole groups. The photoexcitation of this modified electrode potentiostated at 0.5 V vs SCE, in the presence of an oxidative quencher, pentaaminechloro cobalt(III) chloride (15 mM), led to a cathodic photocurrent. As a result of the affinity interactions, a layer of biotinylated cholera toxin was firmly bound to the functionalized polypyrrole film via avidin bridges. The resulting modified electrodes were tested as immunosensors for the detection of the corresponding antibody from 0 to 200 microg mL(-)(1). The antibody concentration was measured through the decrease in photocurrent intensity resulting from its specific binding onto the polymeric coating, the detection limit being 0.5 microg mL(-)(1).

The paper describes the development of a conductometric biosensor for detecting foodborne pathogens. The biosensor consists of two components: an immunosensor that is based on electrochemical sandwich immunoassay, and a reader for signal measurement. The architecture of the immunosensor utilizes a lateral flow system that allows the liquid sample to move from one pad to another. The biosensor provides a specific, sensitive, low volume, and near real-time detection mechanism. Results are presented to highlight the performance of the biosensor for enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella spp., which are of concern to biosecurity. The lower limit of detection is approximately 7.9 x 10(1) colony forming units per milliliter within a 10-min process. The ability to change the specificity of the antibodies will enable the biosensor to be used as a detection device for other types of foodborne pathogens.