Large‐Scale Synthesis of Functionalized Nanowires to Construct Nanoelectrodes for Intracellular Sensing

Abstract

A strategy for one‐pot and large‐scale synthesis of functionalized core–shell nanowires (NWs) to high‐efficiently construct single nanowire electrodes is proposed. Based on the polymerization reaction between 3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) and noble metal cations, manifold noble metal nanoparticles‐polyEDOT (PEDOT) nanocomposites can be uniformly modified on the surface of any nonconductive NWs. This provides a facile and versatile approach to produce massive number of core–shell NWs with excellent conductivity, adjustable size, and well‐designed properties. Nanoelectrodes manufactured with such core–shell NWs exhibit excellent electrochemical performance and mechanical stability as well as favorable antifouling properties, which are demonstrated by in situ intracellular monitoring of biological molecules (nitric oxide) and unraveling its relevant unclear signaling pathway inside single living cells.

Versatile Construction of Biomimetic Nanosensors for Electrochemical Monitoring of Intracellular Glutathione

“…Hence, encouraged by the remarkable GSH detection capability of CoPcS‐NWEs, we applied the nanosensors for intracellular monitoring of single living cells. The nano‐sized CoPcS‐NWE with outstanding mechanical performance could easily penetrate through the cell membrane, with the latter resealing tightly around the NW [5d, 13] . This was tested by adding Ru(NH 3 ) 6 3+ to a PBS cell bath and checking the change in reduction current, since the positively charged Ru III complex cannot cross over intact cell membranes.…”

“…The general synthetic process for preparing BMCs functionalized NWs was illustrated in Scheme 1. Taking CoPcS functionalized NWs (CoPcS‐NWs) as a model system, SiC@Au‐PEDOT NWs were first synthesized as conductive nano‐substrates according to the method described in our previous paper [13] . Following the successive addition of CoPcS and EDOT to the SiC@Au‐PEDOT NWs dispersion, polymerization occurred on addition of HAuCl 4 .…”

“…Taking CoPcS functionalized NWs (CoPcS-NWs) as a model system, SiC@Au-PEDOT NWs were first synthesized as conductive nano-substrates according to the method described in our previous paper. [13] Following the successive addition of CoPcS and EDOT to the SiC@Au-PEDOT NWs dispersion, polymerization occurred on addition of HAuCl 4 . During the reaction, the CoPcS catalysts were incorporated into the generated PEDOT matrix to form PEDOT-CoPcS composites.…”

Optically Triggering and Monitoring Single-Cell-Level Metabolism Using Ormosil-Decorated Ultrathin Fibers

“…To this end, the bio−electronic interface consisting of micro-/nanoscale electrodes has been developed to trigger and monitor electronic signals from tissues/cells with engineered surface compatibility. 5−7 It provides the possibilities to achieve real-time information exchange with biosystems, 8,9 although the electric signals of physiological processes usually accompany ion current interference arising from the antistress mechanism. 10 As an alternative route to the bio−machine interface, optical means of bioimaging and biosensing is ideally suitable for profiling the interactions between bio and nonbio elements benefiting from the low noise level and the capability of acquiring massive data.…”

“… − The bio–machine interface is considered as a bridge between tissues/cells and manmade machines, which is able to trigger and monitor the activities of biosystems simultaneously. To this end, the bio–electronic interface consisting of micro-/nanoscale electrodes has been developed to trigger and monitor electronic signals from tissues/cells with engineered surface compatibility. − It provides the possibilities to achieve real-time information exchange with biosystems, , although the electric signals of physiological processes usually accompany ion current interference arising from the antistress mechanism . As an alternative route to the bio–machine interface, optical means of bioimaging and biosensing is ideally suitable for profiling the interactions between bio and nonbio elements benefiting from the low noise level and the capability of acquiring massive data. − For instance, aerobic metabolism is an energy-generating system in organisms under the presence of oxygen, in which reactive oxygen species (ROS) is a common byproduct playing important roles in pathological pathways .…”