Use of potentiometric sensors to study (bio)molecular interactions

Anal Chem. 2012 Jun 5;84(11):4921-7. doi: 10.1021/ac3005428. Epub 2012 May 8.

Abstract

Potentiometric sensors were used to study molecular interactions in liquid environments with sensorgram methodology. This is demonstrated with a lipophilic rubber-based and a collagen-based hydrogel sensor coating. The investigated molecules were promazine and tartaric acid, respectively. The sensors were placed in a hydrodynamic wall-jet system for the recording of sensorgrams. Millivolt sensor responses were first converted to a signal, expressing the concentration of adsorbed organic ions. Using a linearization method, a pseudo-first order-kinetic model of adsorption was shown to fit the experimental results perfectly. K(assoc), k(on), and k(off) values were calculated. The technique can be used over 4 decades of concentration, and it is very sensitive to low-MW compounds as well as to multiply charged large biomolecules. This study is the first to demonstrate the application of potentiometric sensors as an alternative and complement to surface plasmon resonance methods.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adsorption
  • Biosensing Techniques / methods
  • Collagen / chemistry
  • Hydrogels
  • Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
  • Ions
  • Kinetics
  • Potentiometry / methods*
  • Promazine / analysis*
  • Surface Plasmon Resonance
  • Tartrates / analysis*

Substances

  • Hydrogels
  • Ions
  • Tartrates
  • Collagen
  • Promazine
  • tartaric acid