A novel reverse colorimetric immunoassay (RCIA) strategy was for the first time designed and utilized for sensitive detection of low-abundance protein (prostate-specific antigen, PSA, used in this case) in biological fluids by coupling highly catalytic efficient catalase with magnetic bead-based peroxidase mimics. To construct such a RCIA system, two nanostructures including magnetic beads and gold nanoparticles were first synthesized and functionalized with anti-PSA capture antibody and catalase/anti-PSA detection antibody, respectively. Thereafter, a specific sandwich-type immunoassay format was employed for determination of PSA by using functional gold nanoparticles as enzymatic bioreactors and anti-PSA-conjugated magnetic beads as a colorimetric developer. The carried catalase, followed by the sandwiched immunocomplex, partially consumed the added hydrogen peroxide in the detection solution, which slowed down the catalytic efficiency of magnetic bead-based peroxidase mimics toward TMB/H2O2, thereby weakening the visible color and decreasing the colorimetric density. Different from conventional colorimetric immunoassay, the RCIA method determined the residual hydrogen peroxide in the substrate after consumption. Under the optimal conditions, the developed RCIA exhibited a wide dynamic range of 0.05-20 ng mL(-1) toward PSA with a detection limit of 0.03 ng mL(-1) at the 3Sblank level. Intra- and interassay coefficients of variation were below 6.1% and 9.3%, respectively. Additionally, the methodology was further validated for the analysis of 12 PSA clinical serum specimens, giving results in good accordance with those obtained by the commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method.

Methods based on enzyme labels have been developed for colorimetric immunoassays, but most involve poor sensitivity and are unsuitable for routine use. Herein, we design an enhanced colorimetric immunoassay for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) coupling with an enzyme-cascade-amplification strategy (ECAS-CIA). In the presence of target PSA, the labeled alkaline phosphatase on secondary antibody catalyzes the formation of palladium nanostructures, which catalyze 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine-H2O2 system to produce the colored products, thus resulting in the signal cascade amplification. Results indicated that the ECAS-CIA presents good responses toward PSA, and allows detection of PSA at a concentration as low as 0.05 ng mL−1. Intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation are below 9.5% and 10.7%, respectively. Additionally, the methodology is validated for analysis of clinical serum specimens with consistent results obtained by PSA ELISA kit. Importantly, the ECAS-CIA opens a new horizon for protein diagnostics and biosecurity.

A convenient and feasible photoelectrochemical (PEC) sensing platform based on gold nanoparticles-decorated g-C3N4 nanosheets (AuNP/g-C3N4) was designed for highly sensitive monitoring of T4 polynucleotide kinase (PNK) activity, using DNAzyme-mediated catalytic precipitation amplification. To realize our design, the AuNP/g-C3N4 nanohybrid was initially synthesized through in situ reduction of Au(III) on the g-C3N4 nanosheets, which was utilized for the immobilization of hairpin DNA1 (HP1) on the sensing interface. Thereafter, a target-induced isothermal amplification was automatically carried out on hairpin DNA2 (HP2) in the solution phase through PNK-catalyzed 5'-phosphorylation accompanying formation of numerous trigger DNA fragments, which could induce generation of hemin/G-quadruplex-based DNAzyme on hairpin DNA1. Subsequently, the DNAzyme could catalyze the 4-chloro-1-naphthol (4-CN) oxidation to produce an insoluble precipitation on the AuNP/g-C3N4 surface, thereby resulting in the local alternation of the photocurrent. Experimental results revealed that introduction of AuNP on the g-C3N4 could cause a ∼100% increase in the photocurrent because of surface plasmon resonance-enhanced light harvesting and separation of photogenerated e-/h+ pairs. Under the optimal conditions, the percentage of photocurrent decrement (ΔI/I0, relative to background signal) increased with the increasing PNK activity in a dynamic working range from 2 to 100 mU mL(-1) with a low detection limit (LOD) of 1.0 mU mL(-1). The inhibition effect of adenosine diphosphate also received a good performance in PNK inhibitor screening research, thereby providing a useful scheme for practical use in quantitative PNK activity assay for life science and biological research.

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Herein, gold-silver bimetallic nanoclusters (Au-Ag NCs) with the high fluorescent intensity were first synthesized successfully and utilized for the fabrication of sensitive and specific sensing probes toward inorganic pyrophosphatase (PPase) activity with the help of copper ion (Cu(2+)) and inorganic pyrophosphate ion (PPi). Cu(2+) was used as the quencher of fluorescent Au-Ag NC, while PPi was employed as the hydrolytic substrate of PPase. The system consisted of PPi, Cu(2+) ion, and bovine serum albumin (BSA)-stabilized Au-Ag NC. The detection was carried out by enzyme-induced hydrolysis of PPi to liberate copper ion from the Cu(2+)-PPi complex. In the absence of target PPase, free copper ions were initially chelated with inorganic pyrophosphate ions to form the Cu(2+)-PPi complexes via the coordination chemistry, thus preserving the natural fluorescent intensity of the Au-Ag NCs. Upon addition of target PPase into the detection system, the analyte hydrolyzed PPi into phosphate ions and released Cu(2+) ion from the Cu(2+)-PPi complex. The dissociated copper ions readily quenched the fluorescent signal of Au-Ag NCs, thereby resulting in the decrease of fluorescent intensity. Under optimal conditions, the detectable fluorescent intensity of the as-prepared Au-Ag NCs was linearly dependent on the activity of PPase within a dynamic linear range of 0.1-30 mU/mL and allowed the detection at a concentration as low as 0.03 mU/mL at the 3sblank criterion. Good reproducibility (CV < 8.5% for the intra-assay and interassay), high specificity, and long-term stability (90.1% of the initial signal after a storage period of 48 days) were also received by using our system toward target PPase activity. In addition, good results with the inhibition efficiency of sodium fluoride were obtained in the inhibitor screening research of pyrophosphatase. Importantly, this system based on highly enhanced fluorescent Au-Ag NCs offer promise for simple and cost-effective screening of target PPase activity without the needs of sample separation and multiple washing steps.

A new colorimetric immunosensing platform accompanying enzyme cascade amplification strategy was fabricated for quantitative screening of small-molecular mycotoxins (aflatoxin B, AFB used in this case) coupling with enzyme-controlled dissolution of MnO nanoflakes. The visual colored assay was executed by high-efficient MnO-3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) system (blue). In the presence of ascorbic acid, MnO nanoflakes were dissolved into Mn ions, thus resulting in a perceptible color change from blue to colorless. The reaction could be weakened through ascorbate oxidase to catalyze ascorbic acid into dehydroascorbic acid, which indirectly depended on the concentration of ascorbate oxidase. By using ascorbate oxidase/ anti-AFB antibody-labeled gold nanoparticles, a novel competitive-type colorimetric enzyme immunoassay was developed for detection of AFB on AFB-bovine serum albumin (BSA)-conjugated magnetic beads. Upon addition of target AFB, the analyte competed with the conjugated AFB-BSA on the magnetic beads for the labeled anti-AFB antibody on the gold nanoparticles. Under optimal conditions, the absorbance decreased with increasing target AFB within the dynamic range of 0.05-150ngmL with a detection limit of 6.5pgmL at the 3S level. The precision and specificity of the MnO-TMB-based immunosensing system were acceptable. In addition, method accuracy was further validated for monitoring spiked peanut samples, giving results matched well with those obtained from commercialized AFB ELISA kit.

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A new impedimetric immunoassay protocol based on enzyme-triggered formation of tyramine-enzyme repeats on gold nanoparticle (AuNP) was designed for highly sensitive detection of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA, as a model) by virtue of utilizing enzymatic biocatalytic precipitation toward 4-chloro-1-naphthol (4-CN) on anti-CEA antibody (Ab1)-modified immunosensor. Initially, AuNP was functionalized with horseradish peroxidase and detection antibody (HRP-AuNP-Ab2), and then HRP-tyramine conjugate was utilized for the formation of tyramine-HRP repeats through the triggering of the immobilized HRP on the AuNP with the aid of H2O2. In the presence of target CEA, the carried HRP-tyramine repeats accompanying the sandwiched immunocomplex catalyzed the 4-CN oxidation to produce an insoluble precipitation on the immunosensor, thus causing a local alteration of the conductivity. Three signal-transduction tags including HRP-Ab2, HRP-AuNP-Ab2, and HRP-AuNP-Ab2 with HRP-tyramine repeats were employed for target CEA evaluation, and improved analytical properties were achieved by HRP-AuNP-Ab2 with HRP-tyramine repeats. Using the unique signal-transduction tag, the analytical performance of the impedimetric immunoassay was studied in detail. Under the optimal conditions, the impedimetric immunosensor displayed a wide dynamic working range of between 0.5 pg mL(-1) and 40 ng mL(-1) with a detection limit (LOD) of 0.38 pg mL(-1) relative to target CEA. The coefficients of variation (CVs) were ≤9.3% and 13.3% for the intra-assay and interassay, respectively. The levels of CEA in eight clinical serum specimens were measured by using the developed impedimetric immunosensor. The obtained results correlated well with those from the electrochemiluminescent (ECL)-based immunoassay with a correlation coefficient of 0.998.