Nitrosoreductase-Like Nanocatalyst for Ultrasensitive and Stable Biosensing

Anal Chem. 2018 Jan 2;90(1):807-813. doi: 10.1021/acs.analchem.7b03364. Epub 2017 Dec 14.

Abstract

Enzyme-like nanocatalytic reactions developed for high signal amplification in biosensors are of limited use because of their low reaction rates and/or unwanted side reactions in aqueous electrolyte solutions containing dissolved O2. Herein, we report a nitrosoreductase-like catalytic reaction, employing 4-nitroso-1-naphthol, Pd nanoparticles, and H3N-BH3, which affords a high reaction rate and minimal side reactions, enabling its use in ultrasensitive electrochemical biosensors. 4-Nitroso-1-naphthol was chosen after five hydroxy-nitro(so)arene compounds were compared in terms of high signal and low background levels. Importantly, the nanocatalytic reaction occurs without the self-hydrolysis and induction period observed in the nanocatalytic reduction of nitroarenes by NaBH4. The high signal level results from (i) fast nanocatalytic 4-nitroso-1-naphthol reduction, (ii) fast electrochemical redox cycling, and (iii) the low influence of dissolved O2. The low background level results from (i) slow direct reaction between 4-nitroso-1-naphthol and H3N-BH3, (ii) slow electrode-mediated reaction between 4-nitroso-1-naphthol and H3N-BH3, and (iii) slow electrooxidation of H3N-BH3 at electrode. When applied to the detection of parathyroid hormone, the detection limit of the newly developed biosensor was ∼0.3 pg/mL. The nitrosoreductase-like nanocatalytic reaction is highly promising for ultrasensitive and stable biosensing.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies / immunology
  • Biosensing Techniques / methods
  • Catalysis
  • Electrochemical Techniques / methods
  • Humans
  • Limit of Detection
  • Metal Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Naphthols / chemistry*
  • Nitroso Compounds / chemistry*
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Palladium / chemistry
  • Parathyroid Hormone / analysis*
  • Parathyroid Hormone / immunology

Substances

  • Antibodies
  • Naphthols
  • Nitroso Compounds
  • Parathyroid Hormone
  • Palladium