Nanomechanical Cantilever-Based Sensor: An Efficient Tool to Measure the Binding Between the Herbicide Mesotrione and 4-Hydroxyphenylpyruvate Dioxygenase

Abstract

Nanomechanical biosensors based on atomic force microscopy (AFM) cantilevers have garnered considerable attention. AFM cantilevers are devices that can detect a target either via a surface functionalization process based on immobilization through molecular adsorption, or through the selective chemical binding of a speci¯c molecule, transforming the device into a speci¯c biosensor. In this study, we demonstrate that functionalized AFM cantilevers could be used, in a process involving self-assembling layers, to create a homogeneous surface layer of the widely used herbicide mesotrione. Controlled experiments to evaluate its detection were performed, and binding between mesotrione and its target molecule, 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD), was evaluated using de°ection curves of functionalized cantilevers interacting with mesotrione. The cantilevers worked as nanomechanical sensors inside a°uid cell device, under di®erent ¶ Corresponding author. 1750079-1NANO: Brief Reports and Reviews Vol. 12, No. 7 (2017) concentrations of HPPD diluted in PBS. After evaluating increasing concentrations of HPPD, the de°ection curves showed a clear, dose-dependent pattern. The homogeneous dispersion of mesotrione on the cantilevers was assessed by confocal microscopy, and this corroborated the functionalization method. Thus, the results obtained by this functionalized cantilever presented a high e±ciency in detecting binding between HPPD and mesotrione molecules at concentrations as low as 17 ng mL À1 . In this way, as a preliminary step for a future environmental contaminants nanosensor development, the described detection method showed a suitable capability for molecular recognition at the nanoscale.

Antibody-mediated biorecognition of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein: computational evidence of demyelination-related epitopes

“…The SMD detachment force for the complex was successfully confirmed by AFM and suggests an important role for the MOG 92–106 in the MOG recognition process, holding the entire complex. Further studies involving sample analysis of patients with demyelinating diseases using the sensor device described here could be interesting to confirm the computational results of this paper, as performed in similar studies in our research group 15,37–39 . Significant MOG descriptive data were generated and complied with several decades of MOG research, especially using animal models as EAE 11,13 .…”

Optical Fiber Probe Microcantilever Sensor Based on Fabry–Perot Interferometer

“…At present, an obvious development trend for optical fiber microcantilever is to replace the traditional MEMS-based cantilever in biomolecule detection [ 97 , 98 , 99 ]. The functional coating technique of MEMS-based cantilevers can also be used in optical fiber microcantilever sensors.…”

A highly specific and sensitive nanoimmunosensor for the diagnosis of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders

“…AFM rectangular cantilevers of silicon nitride (AC40, Bruker, Nano Inc., Billerica, USA) were used with spring constant ( k ) of 0.02 N.m −1 and tip radius of 8 nm, suitable for force curve measurements 41 , and mica sheets (TedPella Inc., Redding, USA) of 15 × 15 mm 2 were cleaned in UV/Ozone radiation (ProCleaner TM , UV.PC.220, Bioforce Nanosciences, Ames, USA) during 20 min. Both surfaces were aminated with 3-aminopropyltrietoxisilane (APTES) and triethylamine (Sigma-Aldrich®, St. Louis, USA), following an established protocol 13,42,43 .…”