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Aptasensor for lead(II) based on the use of a quartz crystal microbalance modified with gold nanoparticles

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Abstract

The authors describe a quartz crystal microbalance based aptasensor for the determination of Pb2+. In order to enhance its response, oligonucleotide-embellished gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were used to amplify the frequency changes. The method is based on the use of specific aptamers immobilized on the surface of the quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) and the binding of Pb2+, which prevents the self-assembly of the AuNPs on the QCM. Trace concentrations of Pb2+ can be determined by monitoring the change in the response frequency of the QCM. The method has a 4 nmol∙L−1 detection limit and works in the 5 to 200 nmol∙L−1 Pb2+ concentration range. This aptasensor also shows adequate selectivity for Pb2+ over potentially interfering metal ions.

Schematic of the assay. The specific aptamer SAP does not readily combine with its partial complementary strand CSAP in the presence of Pb(II) ion. Thus, the mass change on the crystal is inversely proportional to the concentration of Pb(II).

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 61501295 and No. 31671934), Shanghai Committee of Science and Technology (Grant No.15YF1408000).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Food Quality and Safety, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200093, People’s Republic of China

    Min Yuan, Zhihong Song, Jiayu Fei, Xinglong Wang, Fei Xu, Hui Cao & Jinsong Yu

  2. Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Food Microbiology, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200093, People’s Republic of China

    Min Yuan

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  1. Min Yuan
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  2. Zhihong Song
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  3. Jiayu Fei
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  4. Xinglong Wang
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  5. Fei Xu
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  6. Hui Cao
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  7. Jinsong Yu
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Correspondence to Min Yuan or Fei Xu.

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Yuan, M., Song, Z., Fei, J. et al. Aptasensor for lead(II) based on the use of a quartz crystal microbalance modified with gold nanoparticles. Microchim Acta 184, 1397–1403 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-017-2135-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-017-2135-1

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