Organophosphorus
pesticides (OPs) can inhibit the activity of acetylcholinesterase
(AChE) to induce neurological diseases. It is significant to exploit
a rapid and sensitive strategy to monitor OPs. Here, a metal–organic
framework (MOF) acted as a carrier to encapsulate AuNCs, which can
limit the molecular motion of AuNCs, trigger the aggregation-induced
emission (AIE) effect, and exhibit a strong fluorescence with a fluorescence
lifetime and quantum yield of 6.83 μs and 4.63%, respectively.
Then, the marriage of fluorescence and colorimetric signals was realized
on the basis of the dual function of the enzymolysis product from
AChE and choline oxidase (CHO) on AuNCs@ZIF-8. First, it can decompose
ZIF-8 to weaken the restraint on AuNCs, and thus the fluorescence
receded. Second, it can be used as a substrate for the peroxidase
mimics of the released AuNCs to oxidize 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine
(TMB) and a visible blue appeared. Thus, on the basis of the inhibition
of AChE activity by OPs, a fluorescence–colorimetric dual-signal
biosensor was established. In addition, colorimetric paper strips
were exploited to realize a visual semiquantitative detection, and
a smartphone APP was developed to make the visualization results more
precise and realize real-time supervision of pesticide contamination.
The abnormal expression of microRNA (miRNA) can affect the RNA transcription and protein translation, leading to tumor progression and metastasis. Currently, the accurate detection of aberrant expression of miRNA, particularly using a portable detection system, remains a great challenge. Herein, a novel dual-mode biosensor with high sensitivity and robustness for miR-21 detection was developed based on the cis-cleavage and trans-cleavage activities of Cas12a. miRNA can be combined with hairpin DNA-horseradish peroxidase anchored on a CdS/g-C 3 N 4 /B-TiO 2 photoelectrode, thus the nonenzymatic amplification was triggered to form numerous HRP-modified double-stranded DNA (HRP-dsDNA). Then, HRP-dsDNA can be specifically recognized and efficiently cis-cleaved by Cas12a nucleases to detach HRP from the substrate, while the remaining HRP on HRP-dsDNA can catalyze 4-chloro-1-naphthol (4-CN) to form biocatalytic precipitation (BCP) on the surface of the photoelectrode, and thus the photocurrent can be changed. Meanwhile, the trans-cleavage ability of Cas12a was activated, and nonspecifically degrade the FQ-reporter and a significant fluorescence signal can be generated. Such two different kinds of signals with independent transmission paths can mutually support to improve the performance of the detection platform. Besides, a portable device was constructed for the point-of-care (POC) detection of miR-21. Moreover, the dual-mode detection platform can be easily expanded for the specific detection of other types of biomarkers by changing the sequence of hairpin DNA, thereby promoting the establishment of POC detection for early cancer diagnosis.
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