Although gold is the subject of one of the most ancient themes of investigation in science, its renaissance now leads to an exponentially increasing number of publications, especially in the context of emerging nanoscience and nanotechnology with nanoparticles and self-assembled monolayers (SAMs). We will limit the present review to gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), also called gold colloids. AuNPs are the most stable metal nanoparticles, and they present fascinating aspects such as their assembly of multiple types involving materials science, the behavior of the individual particles, size-related electronic, magnetic and optical properties (quantum size effect), and their applications to catalysis and biology. Their promises are in these fields as well as in the bottom-up approach of nanotechnology, and they will be key materials and building block in the 21st century. Whereas the extraction of gold started in the 5th millennium B.C. near Varna (Bulgaria) and reached 10 tons per year in Egypt around 1200-1300 B.C. when the marvelous statue of Touthankamon was constructed, it is probable that “soluble” gold appeared around the 5th or 4th century B.C. in Egypt and China. In antiquity, materials were used in an ecological sense for both aesthetic and curative purposes. Colloidal gold was used to make ruby glass 293 Chem. Rev. 2004, 104, 293−346

Gold nanoparticles: assembly, supramolecular chemistry, quantum-size-related properties, and applications toward biology, catalysis, and nanotechnology.

Detection of chemical and biological agents plays a fundamental role in biomedical, forensic and environmental sciences1–4 as well as in anti bioterrorism applications.5–7 The development of highly sensitive, cost effective, miniature sensors is therefore in high demand which requires advanced technology coupled with fundamental knowledge in chemistry, biology and material sciences.8–13

In general, sensors feature two functional components: a recognition element to provide selective/specific binding with the target analytes and a transducer component for signaling the binding event. An efficient sensor relies heavily on these two essential components for the recognition process in terms of response time, signal to noise (S/N) ratio, selectivity and limits of detection (LOD).14,15 Therefore, designing sensors with higher efficacy depends on the development of novel materials to improve both the recognition and transduction processes. Nanomaterials feature unique physicochemical properties that can be of great utility in creating new recognition and transduction processes for chemical and biological sensors15–27 as well as improving the S/N ratio by miniaturization of the sensor elements.28

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) possess distinct physical and chemical attributes that make them excellent scaffolds for the fabrication of novel chemical and biological sensors (Figure 1).29–36 First, AuNPs can be synthesized in a straightforward manner and can be made highly stable. Second, they possess unique optoelectronic properties. Third, they provide high surface-to-volume ratio with excellent biocompatibility using appropriate ligands.30 Fourth, these properties of AuNPs can be readily tuned varying their size, shape and the surrounding chemical environment. For example, the binding event between recognition element and the analyte can alter physicochemical properties of transducer AuNPs, such as plasmon resonance absorption, conductivity, redox behavior, etc. that in turn can generate a detectable response signal. Finally, AuNPs offer a suitable platform for multi-functionalization with a wide range of organic or biological ligands for the selective binding and detection of small molecules and biological targets.30–32,36 Each of these attributes of AuNPs has allowed researchers to develop novel sensing strategies with improved sensitivity, stability and selectivity. In the last decade of research, the advent of AuNP as a sensory element provided us a broad spectrum of innovative approaches for the detection of metal ions, small molecules, proteins, nucleic acids, malignant cells, etc. in a rapid and efficient manner.37



Figure 1

Physical properties of AuNPs and schematic illustration of an AuNP-based detection system.



In this current review, we have highlighted the several synthetic routes and properties of AuNPs that make them excellent probes for different sensing strategies. Furthermore, we will discuss various sensing strategies and major advances in the last two decades of research utilizing AuNPs in the detection of variety of target analytes including metal ions, organic molecules, proteins, nucleic acids, and microorganisms.

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Gold nanoparticles in chemical and biological sensing.

Nanomaterials, such as metal or semiconductor nanoparticles and nanorods, exhibit similar dimensions to those of biomolecules, such as proteins (enzymes, antigens, antibodies) or DNA. The integration of nanoparticles, which exhibit unique electronic, photonic, and catalytic properties, with biomaterials, which display unique recognition, catalytic, and inhibition properties, yields novel hybrid nanobiomaterials of synergetic properties and functions. This review describes recent advances in the synthesis of biomolecule-nanoparticle/nanorod hybrid systems and the application of such assemblies in the generation of 2D and 3D ordered structures in solutions and on surfaces. Particular emphasis is directed to the use of biomolecule-nanoparticle (metallic or semiconductive) assemblies for bioanalytical applications and for the fabrication of bioelectronic devices.

Integrated Nanoparticle–Biomolecule Hybrid Systems: Synthesis, Properties, and Applications

Electrochemistry-based sensors offer sensitivity, selectivity and low cost for the detection of selected DNA sequences or mutated genes associated with human disease. DNA-based electrochemical sensors exploit a range of different chemistries, but all take advantage of nanoscale interactions between the target in solution, the recognition layer and a solid electrode surface. Numerous approaches to electrochemical detection have been developed, including direct electrochemistry of DNA, electrochemistry at polymer-modified electrodes, electrochemistry of DNA-specific redox reporters, electrochemical amplifications with nanoparticles, and electrochemical devices based on DNA-mediated charge transport chemistry.

/pdf/electrochemical-dna-sensors-4ft4krws65.pdf

Electrochemical DNA sensors

Laboratoire de Génie Enzymatique et Biomoléculaire, Institut de Chimie et Biochimie Moléculaires et Supramoléculaires, 43 Boulevard du 11 Novembre 1918, Villeurbanne F-69622, France, UMR5246, Centre National de La Recherche Scientifque, Villeurbanne F-69622, France, Université de Lyon, Lyon F-69622, France, Université Lyon 1, Lyon F-69622, France, Institut National des Sciences Appliquées de Lyon, EÄ cole d’Ingénieurs, Villeurbanne F-69621, France, and EÄ cole Supérieure Chimie Physique EÄ lectronique de Lyon, Villeurbanne F-69616, France

DNA biosensors and microarrays.

Electrochemical genosensors for the detection of the Factor V Leiden mutation from polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplicons using the oxidation signal of colloidal gold (Au) is described. A pencil graphite electrode (PGE) modified with target DNA, when hybridized with complementary probes conjugated to Au nanoparticles, responded with the appearance of a Au oxide wave at ∼+1.20 V. Specific probes were immobilized onto the Au nanoparticles in two different modes:  (a) Inosine-substituted probes were covalently attached from their amino groups at the 5‘ end using N-(3-dimethylamino)propyl)-N‘-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) and N-hydroxysulfosuccinimide (NHS) as a coupling agent onto a carboxylate-terminated l-cysteine self-assembled monolayer (SAM) preformed on the Au nanoparticles, and (b) probes with a hexanethiol group at their 5‘ phosphate end formed a SAM on Au nanoparticles. The genosensor relies on the hybridization of the probes with their complementary targets, which are covalently immobili...

Electrochemical genosensor based on colloidal gold nanoparticles for the detection of Factor V Leiden mutation using disposable pencil graphite electrodes.

Voltammetric determination of DNA hybridization using methylene blue and self-assembled alkanethiol monolayer on gold electrodes

Electrochemical genosensor for the detection of interaction between methylene blue and DNA

Electrochemical DNA biosensor for the detection of TT and Hepatitis B virus from PCR amplified real samples by using methylene blue

An electrochemical genosensor for the genotype detection of allele-specific factor V Leiden mutation from PCR amplicons using the intrinsic guanine signal is described The biosensor relies on the immobilization of the 21-mer inosine-substituted oligonucleotide capture probes related to the wild-type or mutant-type amplicons, and these probes are hybridized with their complementary DNA sequences at a carbon paste electrode (CPE) The extent of hybridization between the probe and target sequences was determined by using the oxidation signal of guanine in connection with differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) The guanine signal was monitored as a result of the specific hybridization between the probe and amplicon at the CPE surface No label-binding step was necessary, and the appearance of the guanine signal shortened the assay time and simplified the detection of the factor V Leiden mutation from polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-amplified amplicons The discrimination between the homozygous and heterozygous

Allele-specific genotype detection of factor V Leiden mutation from polymerase chain reaction amplicons based on label-free electrochemical genosensor.

Dilsat Ozkan

Papers

Electrochemical genosensor based on colloidal gold nanoparticles for the detection of Factor V Leiden mutation using disposable pencil graphite electrodes.

Voltammetric determination of DNA hybridization using methylene blue and self-assembled alkanethiol monolayer on gold electrodes

Electrochemical genosensor for the detection of interaction between methylene blue and DNA

Electrochemical DNA biosensor for the detection of TT and Hepatitis B virus from PCR amplified real samples by using methylene blue

Allele-specific genotype detection of factor V Leiden mutation from polymerase chain reaction amplicons based on label-free electrochemical genosensor.