Functional nucleic acid-based sensors for heavy metal ion assays

Abstract

Heavy metal contaminants such as lead ions (Pb(2+)), mercury ions (Hg(2+)) and silver ions (Ag(+)) can cause significant harm to humans and generate enduring bioaccumulation in ecological systems. Even though a variety of methods have been developed for Pb(2+), Hg(2+) and Ag(+) assays, most of them are usually laborious and time-consuming with poor sensitivity. Due to their unique advantages of excellent catalytic properties and high affinity for heavy metal ions, functional nucleic acids such as DNAzymes and aptamers show great promise in the development of novel sensors for heavy metal ion assays. In this review, we summarize the development of functional nucleic acid-based sensors for the detection of Pb(2+), Hg(2+) and Ag(+), and especially focus on two categories including the direct assay and the amplification-based assay. We highlight the emerging trends in the development of sensitive and selective sensors for heavy metal ion assays as well.

A mini-review on functional nucleic acids-based heavy metal ion detection

“…For example, Liu et al (2009b), Kim and Gu (2014), Palchetti and Mascini (2008), Hayat and Marty (2014) and Dorst et al (2010) reviewed the advances in the developments of nucleic acid-based biosensors for analytical/environmental applications with special emphasis on FNAs-based heavy metal ion detection. Besides these, several other groups summarized the progress in the design of DNAzyme/T-Hg 2+ -T or C-Ag + -C mismatches/G-quadruplex-based fluorescent, colorimetric, and electrochemical sensors for metal ions such as Pb 2+ , Cu 2+ , Hg 2+ , Ag + and UO 2 2+ in detail (Park and Park 2014;Sett et al, 2014;Xiang and Lu 2013a;Zhang et al, 2011;Zhou et al, 2016;Zhu and Zhang 2014). According to the classification carried out by Amaya-González et al (2013) that the aptamer-based analyses could be divided into three levels such as aptamer-based assay, aptasensor and lab-on-a-chip in view of their degree of automation and system integration (Fig.…”

Molecularly Imprinted Sensors — New Sensing Technologies

“…In brief, molecular imprinting is defined as the formation of artificial receptors for a specific target molecule on a polymer or on self-assembled materials. Natural receptors are widely used for sensor technology to target the analyte, leading to electrochemical, optical, and mass or magnetic changes on transducers [14][15][16][17][18]. MIPs are obtained by polymerization of a monomer and a cross-linker, which are located around the target molecule ( Fig.…”

A turn-on near-infrared fluorescent chemosensor for selective detection of lead ions based on a fluorophore–gold nanoparticle assembly

“…[1][2][3] The relevant studies have demonstrated that the long accumulation of Pb 2+ in the body is hazadous to both the central and peripheral nervous systems, and may cause many serious diseases such as muscle paralysis, memory loss, hepatic injury, lung damage, and hypertension, and so on. [1][2][3][4][5] For example, non-adults may suffer from permanent neurological damages, behavioral dysfunctions, and decreased IQs even at blood lead level as low as 100 ppb or 500 nM because of the non-degradation of lead ions.…”

“…DNAzymes, aptamers)-based sensors, 1,9 dynamic light scattering technique, 10,11 electrochemical methods, [12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19] and optical methods including fluorimetric methods, [20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33] visual detection, 34 UV-vis spectrophotometry, 35 chemiluminescence, 36 and photonic crystal optrode. 37 Among these developed approaches, fluorescence-based methods have shown great advantages such as high sensitivity, simple instrumentation, and easy operation.…”