Modeling the microscopic electrical properties of thrombin binding aptamer (TBA) for label-free biosensors

Aptamers are chemically produced oligonucleotides, able to bind a variety of targets such as drugs, proteins and pathogens with high sensitivity and selectivity. Therefore, aptamers are largely employed for producing label-free biosensors, with significant applications in diagnostics and drug delivery. In particular, the anti-thrombin aptamers are biomolecules of high interest for clinical use, because of their ability to recognize and bind the thrombin enzyme. Among them, the DNA 15-mer thrombin-binding aptamer (TBA), has been widely explored concerning both its structure, which was resolved with different techniques, and its function, especially about the possibility of using it as the active part of biosensors. This paper proposes a microscopic model of the electrical properties of TBA and the aptamer-thrombin complex, combining information from both structure and function. The novelty consists in describing both the aptamer alone and the complex as an impedance network, thus going deeper inside the issues addressed in an emerging electronics branch known as proteotronics. The theoretical results are compared and validated with Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy measurements reported in the literature. Finally, the model suggests resistance measurements as a novel tool for testing aptamer-target affinity.Comment: 5 figures, 1 tabl

Selective targeting of proteins by hybrid polyoxometalates: Interaction between a bis-biotinylated hybrid conjugate and avidin

The Keggin-type polyoxometalate [\u3b3-SiW10O36]8 12 was covalently modified to obtain a bis-biotinylated conjugate able to bind avidin. Spectroscopic studies such as UV-vis, fluorimetry, circular dichroism, coupled to surface plasmon resonance technique were used to highlight the unique interplay of supramolecular interactions between the homotetrameric protein and the bis-functionalized polyanion. In particular, the dual recognition mechanism of the avidin encompasses (i) a complementary electrostatic association between the anionic surface of the polyoxotungstate and each positively charged avidin subunit and (ii) specific host-guest interactions between each biotinylated arm and a corresponding pocket on the tetramer subunits. The assembly exhibits peroxidase-like reactivity and it was used in aqueous solution for L-methionine methyl ester oxidation by H2O2. The recognition phenomenon was then exploited for the preparation of layer-by-layer films, whose structural evolution was monitored in situ by ATR-FTIR spectroscopy. Finally, cell tracking studies were performed by exploiting the specific interactions with a labeled streptavidin

Nanocellulose/Fullerene Hybrid Films Assembled at the Air/Water Interface as Promising Functional Materials for Photo-Electrocatalysis

Cellulose nanomaterials have been widely investigated in the last decade, unveiling attractive properties for emerging applications. The ability of sulfated cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) to guide the supramolecular organization of amphiphilic fullerene derivatives at the air/water interface has been recently highlighted. Here, we further investigated the assembly of Langmuir hybrid films that are based on the electrostatic interaction between cationic fulleropyrrolidines deposited at the air/water interface and anionic CNCs dispersed in the subphase, assessing the influence of additional negatively charged species that are dissolved in the water phase. By means of isotherm acquisition and spectroscopic measurements, we demonstrated that a tetra-sulfonated porphyrin, which was introduced in the subphase as anionic competitor, strongly inhibited the binding of CNCs to the floating fullerene layer. Nevertheless, despite the strong inhibition by anionic molecules, the mutual interaction between fulleropyrrolidines at the interface and the CNCs led to the assembly of robust hybrid films, which could be efficiently transferred onto solid substrates. Interestingly, ITO-electrodes that were modified with five-layer hybrid films exhibited enhanced electrical capacitance and produced anodic photocurrents at 0.4 V vs Ag/AgCl, whose intensity (230 nA/cm2) proved to be four times higher than the one that was observed with the sole fullerene derivative (60 nA/cm2)

Polymer Encapsulated Liposomes for Oral Co-Delivery of Curcumin and Hydroxytyrosol

Curcumin (Cur) is a hydrophobic polyphenol from the rhizome of Curcuma spp., while hydroxytyrosol (HT) is a water-soluble polyphenol from Olea europaea. Both show outstanding antioxidant properties but suffer from scarce bioavailability and low stability in biological fluids. In this work, the co-encapsulation of Cur and HT into liposomes was realized, and the liposomal formulation was improved using polymers to increase their survival in the gastrointestinal tract. Liposomes with different compositions were formulated: Type 1, composed of phospholipids and cholesterol; Type 2, also with a PEG coating; and Type 3 providing an additional shell of Eudragit® S100, a gastro-resistant polymer. Samples were characterized in terms of size, morphology, ζ-potential, encapsulation efficiency, and loading capacity. All samples were subjected to a simulated in vitro digestion and their stability was investigated. The Eudragit®S100 coating demonstrated prevention of early releases of HT in the mouth and gastric phases, while the PEG shell reduced bile salts and pancreatin effects during the intestinal digestion. In vitro antioxidant activity showed a cumulative effect for Cur and HT loaded in vesicles. Finally, liposomes with HT concentrations up to 40 μM and Cur up to 4.7 μM, alone or in combination, did not show cytotoxicity against Caco-2 cells

Tips for a (simple) interpretation of the impedance response of an electrochemical cell

In electrochemical experiments much of information is enclosed in the impedance response. It is usually represented by means of an equivalent electrical circuit, whose elements are able to describe the most general physico-chemical phenomena which characterize the system. To this aim, some standard circuits have been designed and commercial software is available to perform the best fit of the experimental data. However, the search of the most appropriate equivalent circuit is sometimes not a simple task due to experimental constraints and also due to a limited knowledge of the phenomenon. Therefore, a blind fitting procedure could give unsatisfactory results. Graphical representations of impedance, in particular the phase plot, offer useful tips in guessing the most appropriate equivalent circuit and estimating the values of the circuit parameters. Here we present a procedure in three steps: a. the analysis of some graphical representations of impedance for the selection of a suitable equivalent circuit, b. the formulation of a minimal set of equations useful for guessing the circuit parameters; c. a numerical test. An application to a set of data referring to quite different experimental conditions complete the study