Nanoelectronic detection of lectin-carbohydrate interactions using carbon nanotubes

Nano Lett. 2011 Jan 12;11(1):170-5. doi: 10.1021/nl103286k. Epub 2010 Dec 6.

Abstract

We have used single-walled carbon nanotube field-effect transistor (NTFET) devices to probe the interactions between carbohydrates and their recognition proteins called lectins. These interactions are involved in a wide range of biological processes, such as cell-cell recognition, cell-matrix interaction as well as viral and bacterial infections. In our experiments, NTFETs were functionalized noncovalently with porphyrin-based glycoconjugates synthesized using "click" azide-alkyne chemistry, and change in electrical conductance was measured upon specific binding of two bacterial lectins that present different carbohydrate preference, namely PA-IL, PA-IIL from Pseudomonas aeruginosa and a plant lectin Concanavalin A. However, no significant change in the device characteristics was observed when the devices were exposed to other lectins with different specificity. Detection of PA-IL binding to galactosylated NTFETs was highly sensitive (2 nM) with a measured dissociation constant (K(d) = 6.8 μM) corresponding to literature data. Fluorescence microscopy, atomic force microscopy, UV-vis-NIR spectroscopy, and several control measurements confirmed the NTFET response to selective interactions between carbohydrates and lectins.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism
  • Biosensing Techniques / instrumentation*
  • Carbohydrate Metabolism*
  • Concanavalin A / metabolism
  • Equipment Design
  • Glycoconjugates / chemistry*
  • Glycoconjugates / metabolism
  • Lectins / metabolism*
  • Nanotubes, Carbon / chemistry*
  • Nanotubes, Carbon / ultrastructure
  • Protein Binding
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / metabolism
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Transistors, Electronic*

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Glycoconjugates
  • Lectins
  • Nanotubes, Carbon
  • Concanavalin A