Evolutionary Screening of Biomimetic Coatings for Selective Detection of Explosives

Abstract

Susceptibility of chemical sensors to false positive signals remains a common drawback due to insufficient sensor coating selectivity. By mimicking biology, we have demonstrated the use of sequence-specific biopolymers to generate highly selective receptors for trinitrotoluene and 2,4-dinitrotoluene. Using mutational analysis, we show that the identified binding peptides recognize the target substrate through multivalent binding with key side chain amino acid elements. Additionally, our peptide-based receptors embedded in a hydrogel show selective binding to target molecules in the gas phase. These experiments demonstrate the technique of receptor screening in liquid to be translated to selective gas-phase target binding, potentially impacting the design of a new class of sensor coatings.

Biomimetic virus-based colourimetric sensors

“…The M13 phage proved useful in detecting target materials with high selectivity and sensitivity, because target-specific phage can be identified through well-established phage display techniques [36][37][38] . 4a) 39 .…”

“…Our group identified a consensus TNT-binding peptide sequence (WHWQ) using phage display with a commercially available ARTICLE 12mer linear peptide library (Ph.D.-12) 37,39 . To incorporate the TNT-binding peptide, we genetically engineered the M13 phage's major coat proteins (pVIII).…”

Biomimicry as a route to new materials: what kinds of lessons are useful?

“…Another aspect of molecular biomimicry using phage display has been demonstrated in the form of phage that was decorated with protein capable of selective binding to trinitrotoluene and 2,4-dinitrotoluene (Jaworski et al 2008). Thin layers of the modified phage mimic receptors in the olfactory system of animals such as bloodhounds, with respect to both selectivity and sensitivity.…”

“…Thin layers of the modified phage mimic receptors in the olfactory system of animals such as bloodhounds, with respect to both selectivity and sensitivity. It can be anticipated (Jaworski et al 2008) that a similar approach will be useful in the production of substrates to detect other volatile organic compounds, including pesticides, food aromas and disease markers.…”

Orientation and Incorporation of Photosystem I in Bioelectronics Devices Enabled by Phage Display

“…Small peptide binders were evolved against natural polymers such as chitin,7 synthetic macromolecules including isotactic poly(methyl methacrylate),8 and the conjugated fluorescent polymer poly(p‐phenylene vinylene) 9. PD even enabled the identification of binders of small organic molecules, ranging from fluorescent dyes10 to volatile explosives such as trinitrotoluene 11. Besides biomolecular substrates, organic small molecule, and macromolecule targets, PD has been used to find binders against inorganic materials, for example, different allotropes of carbon including graphene12 and carbon nanotubes,13 metals such as silver,14 and semiconductors such as GaAs15 or ZnS 16.…”