Issue 2, 2015

Siderophore-inspired nanoparticle-based biosensor for the selective detection of Fe3+

Abstract

Inspired by nature's exploitation of the 1,2-dihydroxybenzene unit (or catechol) in mammalian and bacterial siderophores, we report the first example of a nanoparticle sensing system that utilises the strong catechol–Fe3+ binding motif to trigger nanoparticle aggregation, promoting a powerful optical response. Gold nanoparticles are functionalised with RAFT polymerisation-prepared water-soluble poly(N-hydroxyethyl acrylamide) containing a catechol moiety at the α-chain-end. A strong red-to-purple colorimetric response occurs in the presence of Fe3+ at serum concentrations (8–25 μM) in saline solution. Sodium chloride is critical in generating a strong optical output, as is the length of polymer used to coat the AuNPs. This behaviour is also demonstrated to be selective for Fe3+ over a host of other biologically relevant ions.

Graphical abstract: Siderophore-inspired nanoparticle-based biosensor for the selective detection of Fe3+

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
10 Sep 2014
Accepted
05 Nov 2014
First published
07 Nov 2014

J. Mater. Chem. B, 2015,3, 270-275

Siderophore-inspired nanoparticle-based biosensor for the selective detection of Fe3+

D. J. Phillips, G. Davies and M. I. Gibson, J. Mater. Chem. B, 2015, 3, 270 DOI: 10.1039/C4TB01501K

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