Quantum‐Dot‐Functionalized Poly(styrene‐co‐acrylic acid) Microbeads: Step‐Wise Self‐Assembly,Characterization, and Applications for Sub‐femtomolar Electrochemical Detection of DNA Hybridization |
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Authors: | Haifeng Dong Feng Yan Hanxu Ji Danny K. Y. Wong Huangxian Ju |
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Affiliation: | 1. MOE Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Nanjing University Nanjing 210093 (PR China);2. Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Prevention and Cure Nanjing 210009 (PR China);3. Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences Macquarie University Sydney, NSW 2109 (Australia) |
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Abstract: | A novel nanoparticle label capable of amplifying the electrochemical signal of DNA hybridization is fabricated by functionalizing poly(styrene‐co‐acrylic acid) microbeads with CdTe quantum dots. CdTe‐tagged polybeads are prepared by a layer‐by‐layer self‐assembly of the CdTe quantum dots (diameter = 3.07 nm) and polyelectrolyte on the polybeads (diameter = 323 nm). The self‐assembly procedure is characterized using scanning and transmission electron microscopy, and X‐ray photoelectron, infrared and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The mean quantum‐dot coverage is (9.54 ± 1.2) × 103 per polybead. The enormous coverage and the unique properties of the quantum dots make the polybeads an effective candidate as a functionalized amplification platform for labelling of DNA or protein. Herein, as an example, the CdTe‐tagged polybeads are attached to DNA probes specific to breast cancer by streptavidin–biotin binding to construct a DNA biosensor. The detection of the DNA hybridization process is achieved by the square‐wave voltammetry of Cd2+ after the dissolution of the CdTe tags with HNO3. The efficient carrier‐bead amplification platform, coupled with the highly sensitive stripping voltammetric measurement, gives rise to a detection limit of 0.52 fmol L?1 and a dynamic range spanning 5 orders of magnitude. This proposed nanoparticle label is promising, exhibits an efficient amplification performance, and opens new opportunities for ultrasensitive detection of other biorecognition events. |
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Keywords: | DNA biosensors layer‐by‐layer assembly polybeads quantum dots signal amplification |
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