Nanoreactors based on DNAzyme-functionalized magnetic nanoparticles activated by magnetic field.

A new biomimetic nanoreactor design, MaBiDz, is presented based on a copolymer brush in combination with superparamagnetic nanoparticles. This cellular nanoreactor features two species of magnetic particles, each functionalized with two components of a binary deoxyribozyme system. In the presence of a target mRNA analyte and a magnetic field, the nanoreactor is assembled to form a biocompartment enclosed by the polymeric brush that enables catalytic function of the binary deoxyribozyme with enhanced kinetics.

Magnetic Field-Activated Sensing of mRNA in Living Cells.

Detection of specific mRNA in living cells has attracted significant attention in the past decade. Probes that can be easily delivered into cells and activated at the desired time can contribute to understanding translation, trafficking and degradation of mRNA. Here we report a new strategy termed magnetic field-activated binary deoxyribozyme (MaBiDZ) sensor that enables both efficient delivery and temporal control of mRNA sensing by magnetic field.

DNA Release from Fe -Cross-Linked Alginate Films Triggered by Logically Processed Biomolecular Signals: Integration of Biomolecular Computing and Actuation.

Signal-controlled release of DNA from Fe -cross-linked alginate hydrogel electrochemically deposited on an electrode surface was studied. The multiple input signals were logically processed with the help of the enzyme-biocatalyzed reactions. Boolean logic gates, OR, AND, INH, were realized with the biocatalytic reactions performed by the enzymes entrapped in the alginate film.

Biocatalytic analysis of biomarkers for forensic identification of gender.

A new biocatalytic assay analyzing the simultaneous presence of creatine kinase (CK) and alanine transaminase (ALT) was developed aiming at the recognition of biofluids of different gender for forensic applications. Knowing the difference in the concentrations of CK and ALT enzymes in the blood of healthy adults of male and female groups we mimicked the samples of different gender with various CK-ALT concentrations. The analysis was performed using a multi-enzyme/multi-step biocatalytic cascade where the differences in both included enzymes resulted in an amplified difference in the final analytical response.

Modularity of biochemical filtering for inducing sigmoid response in both inputs in an enzymatic AND gate.

We report the first systematic study of designed two-input biochemical systems as information processing gates with favorable noise transmission properties accomplished by modifying the gate's response from a convex shape to sigmoid in both inputs. This is realized by an added chemical "filter" process, which recycles some of the output back into one of the inputs. We study a system involving the biocatalytic function of the enzyme horseradish peroxidase, functioning as an AND gate.