Colorimetric Detection of Uranyl Using a Litmus Test

Frontiers in Chemistry
Sepehr ManochehryYingfu Li

Abstract

Ingestion of water containing toxic contaminants above levels deemed safe for human consumption can occur unknowingly since numerous common contaminants in drinking water are colorless and odorless. Uranyl is particularly problematic as it has been found at dangerous levels in sources of drinking water. Detection of this heavy metal-ion species in drinking water currently requires sending a sample to a laboratory where trained personnel use equipment to perform the analysis and turn-around times can be long. A pH-responsive colorimetric biosensor was developed to enable detection of uranyl in water which coupled the uranyl-specific 39E DNAzyme as a recognition element, and an enzyme capable of producing a pH change as the reporter element. The rapid colorimetric assay presented herein can detect uranyl in lake and well water at concentrations relevant for environmental monitoring, as demonstrated by the detection of uranyl at levels below the limits set for drinking water by major regulatory agencies including the World Health Organization (30 μg/L). This simple and inexpensive DNAzyme-based assay enabled equipment-free visual detection of 15 μg/L uranyl, using both solution-based and paper-based pH-dependent visualization stra...Continue Reading

References

Nov 1, 1992·Health Physics·L M ShieldsL Benally
May 1, 1990·Health Physics·S Lu, F Y Zhao
Jun 1, 1989·Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety·J L PaternainJ M Llobet
Jul 1, 1983·Health Physics·C R Cothern, W L Lappenbusch
Apr 29, 1997·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·S W Santoro, G F Joyce
Dec 1, 1994·Chemistry & Biology·R R Breaker, G F Joyce
Oct 1, 1995·Chemistry & Biology·R R Breaker, G F Joyce
Sep 7, 2001·Journal of the American Chemical Society·S W Santoro Barbas CF 3rd
Mar 17, 2004·CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association Journal = Journal De L'Association Medicale Canadienne·Erica Weir
Feb 8, 2007·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Juewen LiuYi Lu
Apr 26, 2008·Angewandte Chemie·Marcel HollensteinDavid M Perrin
Jan 15, 2009·Chembiochem : a European Journal of Chemical Biology·Andrea K BrownYi Lu
Mar 26, 2009·Chemistry & Biology·Kenny Schlosser, Yingfu Li
Mar 18, 2011·Angewandte Chemie·M Monsur AliYingfu Li
Mar 28, 2013·Journal of the American Chemical Society·Peiwen WuYi Lu
Apr 16, 2013·Spectrochimica Acta. Part A, Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy·Bin ZhouJia-Cheng Wang
Jan 5, 2014·Analytical Chemistry·Po-Jung Jimmy HuangJuewen Liu
Apr 26, 2014·Angewandte Chemie·Sana Jahanshahi-AnbuhiCarlos D M Filipe
Sep 10, 2014·Analytical Chemistry·Po-Jung Jimmy HuangJuewen Liu
Sep 13, 2014·Angewandte Chemie·Kha TramYingfu Li
Mar 24, 2015·Spectrochimica Acta. Part A, Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy·HongYan ZhangFengFu Fu
Apr 29, 2015·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Seyed-Fakhreddin TorabiYi Lu
Mar 10, 2016·Chembiochem : a European Journal of Chemical Biology·Wenhu ZhouJuewen Liu
Jan 17, 2017·Chembiochem : a European Journal of Chemical Biology·Ping-Yao HsiehYingfu Li
May 2, 2017·Current Opinion in Biotechnology·Claire E McGheeYi Lu
Jun 10, 2017·Chemical Reviews·Wenhu ZhouJuewen Liu
Aug 15, 2017·Accounts of Chemical Research·Meng LiuYingfu Li

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Sep 24, 2019·Chembiochem : a European Journal of Chemical Biology·Sahar Esmaeili SamaniYingfu Li

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Methods Mentioned

BETA
biosensor
biosensing
surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy
electrophoresis
biosensors

Software Mentioned

SigmaPlot
Photoshop

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.