Naked eye Y amelogenin gene fragment detection using DNAzymes on a paper-based device.

Nowadays, great efforts are made in developing new technology for rapid detection of specific DNA sequences, for environmental monitoring, forensic analysis and rapid biomedical diagnosis applications. Microfluidic paper-based analytical devices are suitable platforms for the development of point of care devices, due to their simple fabrication protocols, ease of use and low cost. Herein, a methodology for in situ detection of single strand DNA by using a colorimetric assay based on the formation of a DNAzyme within a paper substrate was developed.

Application of photocatalytic cadmium sulfide nanoparticles to detection of enzymatic activities of glucose oxidase and glutathione reductase using oxidation of 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine.

It was found out that semiconductor CdS nanoparticles (NPs) are able to catalyze photooxidation of the well known chromogenic enzymatic substrate 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) by oxygen. The photocatalytical oxidation of TMB does not require hydrogen peroxide and its rate is directly proportional to the quantity of CdS NPs produced in situ through the interaction of Cd(2+) and S(2-) ions in an aqueous medium. This phenomenon was applied to development of colorimetric sensitive assays for glucose oxidase and glutathione reductase based on enzymatic generation of CdS NPs acting as light-powered catalysts.

Peroxidase-mimicking DNAzyme modulated growth of CdS nanocrystalline structures in situ through redox reaction: application to development of genosensors and aptasensors.

This work demonstrates the use of the peroxidase-mimicking DNAzyme (peroxidase-DNAzyme) as general and inexpensive platform for development of fluorogenic assays that do not require organic fluorophores. The system is based on the affinity interaction between the peroxidase-DNAzyme bearing hairpin sequence and the analyte (DNA or low molecular weight molecule), which changes the folding of the hairpin structure and consequently the activity of peroxidase-DNAzyme. Hence, in the presence of the analyte the peroxidase-DNAzyme structure is disrupted and does not catalyze the aerobic oxidation of l-cysteine to cystine.

Thiocholine mediated stabilization of in situ produced CdS quantum dots: application for the detection of acetylcholinesterase activity and inhibitors.

The use of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors as chemical warfare agents or pesticides represents a strong hazard against human health. The high toxicity of these compounds arises from their ability to inhibit acetylcholinesterase from degrading acetylcholine (ACh), which could affect the physiology of the nervous system with serious or fatal consequences. Here we report a simple and fluorimetric system for a highly sensitive detection of AChE activity and inhibitors.

Unconventional application of conventional enzymatic substrate: first fluorogenic immunoassay based on enzymatic formation of quantum dots.

In this study, a simple fluorogenic immunoassay based on in situ formation of semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) is described. We discovered that alkaline phosphatase (ALP), the enzyme broadly used in enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assay (ELISA), is able to trigger formation of fluorescent CdS QDs. ALP-catalyzed hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl phosphate (pNPP) leads to the formation of p-nitrophenol and inorganic phosphate.

Enzymatic product-mediated stabilization of CdS quantum dots produced in situ: application for detection of reduced glutathione, NADPH, and glutathione reductase activity.

Glutathione is the most abundant nonprotein molecule in the cell and plays an important role in many biological processes, including the maintenance of intracellular redox states, detoxification, and metabolism. Furthermore, glutathione levels have been linked to several human diseases, such as AIDS, Alzheimer disease, alcoholic liver disease, cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, and cancer. A novel concept in bioanalysis is introduced and applied to the highly sensitive and inexpensive detection of reduced glutathione (GSH), over its oxidized form (GSSG), and glutathione reductase (GR) in human serum.

Ultrasensitive assay for detection of serum paraoxonase by modulating the growth of fluorescent semiconductor nanoparticles.

Serum paraoxonase (PON1) is an enzyme associated exclusively with high-density lipoproteins and seems to be an antiatherogenic agent that prevents initiation and progression of atherosclerosis. PON1 also hydrolyzes organophosphates, protecting the nervous system from those neurotoxic compounds. Furthermore, PON1 could be a potential indicator for predicting and preventing other diseases, such as coronary artery disease, different kinds of cancers, diabetes mellitus type 2, metabolic syndrome, neurological disorders, liver disorders, etc.

Homogeneous assay for detection of active Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen 1 by thrombin activity modulation.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has been associated with several malignancies as Burkitt's lymphoma, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and Hodgkin's disease. In those diseases, Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen 1 (EBNA-1) is constitutively expressed. Here, we reported an innovative system to detect active EBNA-1 protein in a homogeneous assay.

Label free and amplified detection of cancer marker EBNA-1 by DNA probe based biosensors.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a human herpes virus that has been associated with several malignancies as Burkitt's lymphoma, nasopharyngeal carcinoma and Hodgkin's disease. All EBV associated malignancies showed a distinct viral gene expression pattern, while Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen 1 (EBNA-1) is constitutively expressed in all such disorders. Here, the development of a biosensor to detect EBNA-1 protein is reported, which was based on a nucleic acid bioreceptor and a quartz crystal microbalance with a dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) transducer.

Screening and selection of 2-branched (1,3)-beta-D-glucan producing lactic acid bacteria and exopolysaccharide characterization.

The ability to produce a 2-branched (1,3)-beta-D-glucan was screened in 147 lactic acid bacteria strains recovered from cider. Among them, 32 identified as Pediococcus parvulus exhibited a ropy character and were PCR positive for the presence of the gtf gene, related to the synthesis of the beta-glucan. Half of the strains produced more than 100 mg L(-1) of exopolysaccharide (EPS).