Impedimetric nanostructured genosensor for detection of schistosomiasis in cerebrospinal fluid and serum samples.

Schistosomiasis is a neglected disease closely related to the low levels of social development and a serious public health problem. In this work, we performed an electrochemical detection of Schistosoma mansoni DNA with a self-assembled monolayer of mercaptobenzoic acid (MBA) immobilizing nanostructures composed of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and magnetite nanoparticles (FeO_NPs). Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and cyclic voltammetry (CV) were used to monitor the hybridization process.

Structural Studies of a Lipid-Binding Peptide from Tunicate Hemocytes with Anti-Biofilm Activity.

Clavanins is a class of peptides (23aa) histidine-rich, free of post-translational modifications. Clavanins have been studied largely for their ability to disrupt bacterial membranes. In the present study, the interaction of clavanin A with membranes was assessed by dynamic light scattering, zeta potential and permeabilization assays.

Chemical immobilization of antimicrobial peptides on biomaterial surfaces.

The hospital infections associated with surgical procedures and implants still represents a severe problem to modern society. Therefore, new strategies to combat bacterial infections mainly caused by microorganisms resistant to conventional antibiotics are extremely necessary. In this context, antimicrobial peptides have gained prominence due their biocompatibility, low toxicity and effectiveness.

Next-generation nanoantibacterial tools developed from peptides.

Bacteria resistant against various antimicrobial compounds have emerged in many countries, and the age of resistance has just started. Among the more promising novel antimicrobial compounds on which current research is focusing are the antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). These are often less susceptible to bacterial resistance since multiple modifications in the cellular membranes, cell wall and metabolism are required to reduce their effectiveness.

Antifungal nanofibers made by controlled release of sea animal derived peptide.

Candida albicans is a common human-pathogenic fungal species with the ability to cause several diseases including surface infections. Despite the clear difficulties of Candida control, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have emerged as an alternative strategy for fungal control. In this report, different concentrations of antifungal Cm-p1 (Cencritchis muricatus peptide 1) were electrospun into nanofibers for drug delivery.

Hierarchical composite polyaniline-(electrospun polystyrene) fibers applied to heavy metal remediation.

We describe the in situ preparation of a multipurpose hierarchical polyaniline-polystyrene (PANI-PS) composite based in the chemical polymerization of PANI on nonwoven (NW) electrospun PS mats. We performed a detailed study of the properties of these materials to select the best strategies to incorporate PANI chains into pristine NW PS mats without compromising the original porosity and mechanical flexibility of the matrices. The resulting composites presented nanostructured PANI chains highly dispersed in the interior of the NW PS mat and showed good electrical properties and surface-wetting characteristics that could be easily controlled.

Use of magnetic polyaniline/maghemite nanocomposite for DNA retrieval from aqueous solutions.

We demonstrated that the magnetic polyaniline/maghemite nanocomposite (Pani/γ-Fe2O3 MNC) is an efficient agent for retrieval of pure double stranded deoxyribonucleic acid (dsDNA) chains from aqueous solutions. The dsDNA chains used in the retrieval experiments were of sodium salt of Salmon Sperm DNA. Based on λ=260 nm absorption measurements, we have employed UV-Vis spectroscopy to estimate the concentration of DNA present in solutions, before and after the interaction with the MNC.

Optical and dielectric sensors based on antimicrobial peptides for microorganism diagnosis.

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are natural compounds isolated from a wide variety of organisms that include microorganisms, insects, amphibians, plants, and humans. These biomolecules are considered as part of the innate immune system and are known as natural antibiotics, presenting a broad spectrum of activities against bacteria, fungi, and/or viruses. Technological innovations have enabled AMPs to be utilized for the development of novel biodetection devices.

Elucidation of mechanisms of interaction of a multifunctional peptide Pa-MAP with lipid membranes.

This work aims to investigate the possible mechanism of action of the homologue peptide Pa-MAP based on the Antarctic fish Pleuronectes americanus, through a study by electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) of models of bilayer lipid membranes supported (BLM-s) on solid substrates. For comparison and validation of the data obtained by EIS, we also conducted a study evaluating the human peptide LL-37, whose mechanism of action is well described in the literature: its dielectric response was found to be similar to that of Pa-MAP. The results obtained indicate that Pa-MAP has a good potential for use as a membrane-disrupting peptide and also suggest that the corresponding mechanism of action occurs according to the carpet model followed by a detergent-like effect.

Development and characterization of hydrogels based on natural polysaccharides: policaju and chitosan.

The development of hydrogels based on natural polysaccharides was investigated by preparing mixtures of policaju/chitosan at weight ratios of 1:4 and 2:3. Utilizing dynamic light scattering (DLS) techniques for these mixtures, an increase on the hydrodynamic particle radius was observed varying their pH from 3.0 to 12.

Biosensor based on lectin and lipid membranes for detection of serum glycoproteins in infected patients with dengue.

In this work, we developed a biosystem based on Concanavalin A (ConA) and lipid membranes to recognize glycoproteins from the serum of patients contaminated with dengue serotypes 1, 2 and 3 (DENV1, DENV2 and DENV3). The modified gold electrode was characterized using cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and atomic force microscopy. Morphological analyses of 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC), DPPC-ConA, DPPC-ConA-DENV1, DPPC-ConA-DENV2 and DPPC-ConA-DENV3 revealed the existence of a non-uniform covering and large globules.

Impedimetric sensor of bacterial toxins based on mixed (Concanavalin A)/polyaniline films.

In this paper, we report the use of Concanavalin A (ConA) and electrosynthesized polyaniline (PANI) thin films for the development of a new electrochemical sensor that allows the specific detection of two bacterial toxins: lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Escherichia coli and lipoteichoic acid from Staphylococcus aureus. The impedimetric sensor is fabricated by using glutaraldehyde to self-assemble ConA lectin on PANI-modified steel electrodes through covalent binding. ConA acts as a recognition element for bacterial toxins.

Mechanistic aspects of peptide-membrane interactions determined by optical, dielectric and piezoelectric techniques: an overview.

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have been isolated from a wide variety of organisms that include microorganisms, plants, insects, frogs and mammals. As part of the innate immune system expressed in many tissues, AMPs are able to provide protection against invasion of foreign microorganisms and exhibit a broad spectrum of activity against bacteria, fungi and/or virus. Non-AMPs cell-penetrating peptides have been used as carriers for overcoming the membrane barrier and helping in the delivery of various molecules into the cell.

Impedimetric sensor for toxigenic Penicillium sclerotigenum detection in yam based on magnetite-poly(allylamine hydrochloride) composite.

We describe a new DNA biosensor for the detection of toxigenic Penicillium sclerotigenum in pure culture or infected yams. The P. sclerotigenum detection takes place on a self-assembled monolayer of a (magnetite)/(poly(allylamine hydrochloride)) (Fe3O4-PAH) composite that serves as an anchoring layer for the DNA hybridization interaction.

Evaluation of Magainin I interactions with lipid membranes: an optical and electrochemical study.

Most antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have shown clear activity related to the disruption of lipid bilayers. In order to improve knowledge of this subject, the interaction of Magainin I (MagI) with phospholipid layers (PLs), uncoated or coated with synperonic (Synp), was studied using cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) techniques. MagI peptide was immobilized on gold electrode via a self-assembling monolayer obtained from liposomes and liposomes covered by Synp.

Carbohydrate-protein interactions and their biosensing applications.

Carbohydrate recognition is clearly present throughout nature, playing a major role in the initial attachment of one biological entity to another. The important question is whether these prevalent interactions could provide a real suitable alternative to the use of antibodies or nucleic acid for detection and identification. Currently, examples of carbohydrates being employed in biological detection systems are limited.

Diagnosis of dengue infection using a modified gold electrode with hybrid organic-inorganic nanocomposite and Bauhinia monandra lectin.

A sensitive and selective biosensor for dengue serotyping was successfully developed. The biosensor uses a novel gold nanoparticles-polyaniline hybrid composite (AuNpPANI) for the immobilization of Bauhinia monandra lectin (BmoLL). The nanocomposite was applied to a bare gold electrode surface by chemical adsorption, and BmoLL was subsequently electrostatically adsorbed to the nanocomposite-modified surface.

Protein unfolding studied by fluorescence methods and electrical impedance spectroscopy: the cases of Cratylia mollis and Concanavalin A.

This work is dedicated to the investigation of the prevailing molecular interactions between Cratylia mollis (Cramoll) and Concanavalin A (Con A) lectins and ionic (sodium dodecylsulfate, SDS) and non-ionic (Triton X-100, TX-100) surfactants, where we have used electrical impedance spectroscopy to map the dielectric characteristics of mixed lectin/surfactant solutions. The disorder induced in the lectin conformation is proportional to the extent of the access of the surfactant to the fluorophore present in the protein, resulting in its progressive unfolding. The complete unfolding of the lectin is associated to the formation of micelles in the core of the protein, each one of them containing a large number of detergent molecules, and therefore the process can be accompanied by measuring the electrical response of the binary surfactant/lectin system.

Impedimetric biosensor based on self-assembled hybrid cystein-gold nanoparticles and CramoLL lectin for bacterial lipopolysaccharide recognition.

We report the development of a new selective and specific electrochemical biosensor for bacterial lipolysaccharide (LPS). An electrode interface was constructed using a l-cysteine-gold nanoparticle (AuNpCys) composite to be immobilized by electrostatic interaction in the network of a poly(vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate maleic acid) (PVM) layer on a gold bare electrode. The impedimetric biosensor is fabricated by self-assembled CramoLL lectin on the PVM-AuNpCys-modified gold electrode through electrostatic interaction.

An impedimetric biosensor for detection of dengue serotype at picomolar concentration based on gold nanoparticles-polyaniline hybrid composites.

In this work, we describe the preparation and characterization of a novel gold nanoparticles-polyaniline hybrid composite (AuNpPANI) with SH-terminal groups that, due to its ability of immobilizing dengue serotype-specific primers 1, 2 and 3 (ST1, ST2 and ST3), can be used for the development of biosensors. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and cyclic voltammetry (CV) were performed. CV and EIS results demonstrated that the AuNpPANI can immobilize ST1, ST2 and ST3, forming AuNpPANI-ST complexes.

Development of impedimetric and optical calcium biosensor by using modified gold electrode with porcine S100A12 protein.

We describe the development of a label free method to analyze the interactions between Ca(2+) and the porcine S100A12 protein immobilized on polyvinyl butyral (PVB). The modified gold electrodes were characterized using cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) techniques. SEM analyses of PVB and PVB-S100A12 showed a heterogeneous distribution of PVB spherules on gold surface.

Comparison of the interfacial properties of Eugenia uniflora and Triticum vulgaris lectins.

We have investigated the interfacial and dielectric properties of EuniSL, a recently purified lectin obtained from seeds of Eugenia uniflora (EuniSL), through surface pressure (Pi) and surface potential (DeltaV) measurements of its floating monolayers at the 2.0 View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Thermodynamic characterization of the prevailing molecular interactions in mixed floating monolayers of phospholipids and usnic acid.

The investigation of the characteristics of mixed floating monolayers of phospholipids and usnic acid (UA), an active metabolite from lichens, can provide valuable information on how to prepare stable liposomes that could serve as carriers of UA for therapeutic proposes. The present paper is concerned with the thermodynamic analysis of the behavior of Langmuir monolayers formed by mixing different phospholipids (dibehenoylphosphatidylcholine, DBPC, dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine, DPPC, and dioleoylphosphatidylcholine, DOPC) and UA at varied molar fractions. Relevant thermodynamic parameters such as excess areas, excess free energies and free energy of mixing were derived from the surface pressure data obtained from compression measurements performed in a Langmuir trough.

Dielectric properties of Bauhinia monandra and concanavalin A lectin monolayers, part I.

The dielectric properties of the galactose-binding lectins Bauhinia monandra (BmoLL) and Concanavalin A (Con A) were assessed by surface potential measurements of their spread monolayers on an aqueous subphase containing a monovalent electrolyte. For both lectins the curves of surface potential versus mean molecular area (DeltaV-A) and the independently recorded isotherms of surface pressure versus mean molecular area (Pi-A) were shown to be pH-dependent. As the subphase pH changed from 2 to 9, a noticeable trend to higher surface pressures accompanied the compression of the monolayers.

Mixed monolayers of Bauhinia monandra and concanavalin A lectins with phospholipids, part II.

Isotherms of surface pressure and surface potential versus mean molecular area for dibehenoylphosphatidylcholine (DBPC), dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC), dipalmitoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DPPE), and dioleoylphosphatidylcholine (DOPC) monolayers were shown to be greatly modified when these lipids were cospread with either Bauhinia monandra (BmoLL) or Concanavalin A (Con A) lectins. For the binary films of DBPC, DPPC, and DPPE cospread with each of these two lectins, there was both a displacement of the Pi-A and DeltaV-A isotherms toward higher molecular areas relative to pure lipids and an increase in the maximum surface potential values relative to the DeltaV-A relationships observed for the corresponding single-lectin systems. Both effects can be understood in terms of the occurrence of an explicit interaction between the lipids and the lectins.