Ultrasensitive and portable assay of mercury (II) ions via gas pressure as readout

Biosensors & Bioelectronics
Jing LeiYan Jin

Abstract

It is of the significant importance to achieve facile and on-site detection of heavy metal ions due to the serious harm to environment and human health. Herein, a facile and portable strategy was developed for detection of Hg2+ via portable pressure meter. Biotinylated DNA1 was conjugated on the surface of streptavidin-coated magnetic beads (MBs) to form MBs-DNA1 complex. In the presence of Hg2+, MBs-DNA1 can hybridize with platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs)-functionalized DNA2 (DNA2-PtNPs) via T-Hg2+-T binding. Then, PtNPs effectively catalyzed the decomposition of H2O2 to generate oxygen, leading to an increase in pressure of sealed well of 96-well plate. The gas pressure was linearly related with the concentration of Hg2+ in the range between 10 pM and 100 nM with a detection limit of 2.79 pM, which is more sensitive than most of the previous reports. The specific T-Hg2+-T binding made it easy to selectively detect Hg2+ even when other metal ions co-existed with Hg2+. Therefore, it offers a cost-effective, rapid, facile and portable way to detect Hg2+ by combining gas-generation reaction with T-Hg2+-T binding, which holds great potential for detecting Hg2+ in water sample.

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.