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Title: Graphene/gold nanoparticle composites for ultrasensitive and versatile biomarker assay using single-particle inductively-coupled plasma/mass spectrometry
An ultrasensitive and versatile assay for biomarkers has been developed using graphene/gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) composites and single-particle inductively-coupled plasma/mass spectrometry (spICP-MS). Thrombin was chosen as a model biomarker for this study. AuNPs modified with thrombin aptamers were first non-selectively adsorbed onto the surface of graphene oxide (GO) to form GO/AuNPs composites. In the presence of thrombin, the AuNPs desorbed from the GO/AuNPs composites due to a conformation change of the thrombin aptamer after binding with thrombin. The desorbed AuNPs were proportional to the concentration of thrombin and could be quantified by spICP-MS. By counting the individual AuNPs in the spICP-MS measurement, the concentration of thrombin could be determined. This assay achieved an ultralow detection limit of 4.5 fM with a broad linear range from 10 fM to 100 pM. The method also showed excellent selectivity and reproducibility when a complex protein matrix was evaluated. Furthermore, the diversity and ready availability of ssDNA ligands make this method a versatile new technique for ultrasensitive detection of a wide variety of biomarkers in clinical diagnostics.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
1709160
NSF-PAR ID:
10251656
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ; ;
Date Published:
Journal Name:
The Analyst
Volume:
145
Issue:
24
ISSN:
0003-2654
Page Range / eLocation ID:
7932 to 7940
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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