Target-Triggered Assembly in a Nanopipette for Electrochemical Single-Cell Analysis

Anal Chem. 2021 Jan 19;93(2):1200-1208. doi: 10.1021/acs.analchem.0c04628. Epub 2020 Dec 10.

Abstract

Engineered nanopipette tools have recently emerged as a powerful approach for electrochemical nanosensing, which has major implications in both fundamental biological research and biomedical applications. Herein, we describe a generic method of target-triggered assembly of aptamers in a nanopipette for nanosensing, which is exemplified by sensitive and rapid electrochemical single-cell analysis of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), a ubiquitous energy source in life and important signaling molecules in many physiological processes. Specifically, a layer of thiolated aptamers is immobilized onto a Au-coated interior wall of a nanopipette tip. With backfilled pairing aptamers, the engineered nanopipette is then used for probing intracellular ATP via the ATP-dependent linkage of the split aptamers. Due to the higher surface charge density from the aptamer assembly, the nanosensor would exhibit an enhanced rectification signal. Besides, this ATP-responsive nanopipette tool possesses excellent selectivity and stability as well as high recyclability. This work provides a practical single-cell nanosensor capable of intracellular ATP analysis. More generally, integrated with other split recognition elements, the proposed mechanism could serve as a viable basis for addressing many other important biological species.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine Triphosphate / analysis*
  • Aptamers, Nucleotide / chemistry*
  • Biosensing Techniques*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Electrochemical Techniques*
  • Gold / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Single-Cell Analysis*

Substances

  • Aptamers, Nucleotide
  • Gold
  • Adenosine Triphosphate