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September 8, 2023
Journal Article
Title
Carbon nanotubes as powerful platform for optical biosensing
Title Supplement
Abstract
Abstract
Introduction:
Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are an emerging material for chemical imaging, stand-off in-situ diagnostics, and process control. This is due to their near-infrared (NIR, 870 – 1700 nm) fluorescence emission, which offers extremely low background in biological samples. Chemical modification of the SWCNTs enables molecular recognition of target analytes with high sensitivity and selectivity by a fluorescence change upon analyte interaction. Powerful SWCNT-based sensors have been developed for bacterial motifs, signalling molecules like neurotransmitters or H2O2, lipids and proteins. However, so far, SWCNT sensors have mainly been processed from mixtures of different chiralities, because SWCNT growth cannot be adequately controlled during fabrication. Since the emission wavelength depends on the respective SWCNT chirality, this means a spectral overlap and congestion. At the same time, the emission in the NIR makes detection with typically used silicon-based cameras difficult due to decreasing sensitivity in the NIR (around 5% at 1000nm).
Methods:
Therefore, we developed an efficient separation approach to obtain (6,4)-SWCNT species (emission at 880 nm) from commercial SWCNT mixtures and tailored them exemplarily as sensors for the important neurotransmitter dopamine using specific DNA sequences.
Results:
It enabled us fast imaging (< 50 ms) with high-resolution standard cameras (> 50x more pixels compared to expensive InGaAs detectors actually designed for the NIR range and typically used). In addition, these sensors are 1.7-fold brighter and 7.5x more sensitive for dopamine. Furthermore, we show high-resolution imaging of dopamine release from cells.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, this approach provides fluorescent sensors that enable NIR biosensing and imaging of these nanomaterials in any conventional microscope or camera. Thus, the assembly of biosensors from (6,4)-SWCNTs combines the advantages of nanosensors working in the NIR with the sensitivity and low cost of standard cameras. This advance will make these powerful molecular sensors available to a broad community.
Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are an emerging material for chemical imaging, stand-off in-situ diagnostics, and process control. This is due to their near-infrared (NIR, 870 – 1700 nm) fluorescence emission, which offers extremely low background in biological samples. Chemical modification of the SWCNTs enables molecular recognition of target analytes with high sensitivity and selectivity by a fluorescence change upon analyte interaction. Powerful SWCNT-based sensors have been developed for bacterial motifs, signalling molecules like neurotransmitters or H2O2, lipids and proteins. However, so far, SWCNT sensors have mainly been processed from mixtures of different chiralities, because SWCNT growth cannot be adequately controlled during fabrication. Since the emission wavelength depends on the respective SWCNT chirality, this means a spectral overlap and congestion. At the same time, the emission in the NIR makes detection with typically used silicon-based cameras difficult due to decreasing sensitivity in the NIR (around 5% at 1000nm).
Methods:
Therefore, we developed an efficient separation approach to obtain (6,4)-SWCNT species (emission at 880 nm) from commercial SWCNT mixtures and tailored them exemplarily as sensors for the important neurotransmitter dopamine using specific DNA sequences.
Results:
It enabled us fast imaging (< 50 ms) with high-resolution standard cameras (> 50x more pixels compared to expensive InGaAs detectors actually designed for the NIR range and typically used). In addition, these sensors are 1.7-fold brighter and 7.5x more sensitive for dopamine. Furthermore, we show high-resolution imaging of dopamine release from cells.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, this approach provides fluorescent sensors that enable NIR biosensing and imaging of these nanomaterials in any conventional microscope or camera. Thus, the assembly of biosensors from (6,4)-SWCNTs combines the advantages of nanosensors working in the NIR with the sensitivity and low cost of standard cameras. This advance will make these powerful molecular sensors available to a broad community.
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Language
English