A sensitive and low background fluorescent sensing strategy based on g-C3N4-MnO2 sandwich nanocomposite and liposome amplification for ricin detection

Analyst. 2018 Nov 19;143(23):5764-5770. doi: 10.1039/c8an01217b.

Abstract

Ricin is an extremely potent ribosome-inactivating protein and serves as a likely food biocontaminant or biological weapon. Thus, simple, sensitive and accurate analytical assays capable of detecting ricin are urgently needed to be established. Herein, we present a novel method for ricin B-chain (RTB) detection by using two materials: (a) a highly efficient hybrid probe that was formed by linking a glucose oxidase (GOD)-encapsulated liposome (GOD-L) to magnetic beads (MBs) through hybridization between an aptamer and a blocker and (b) a new low-background g-C3N4-MnO2 sandwich nanocomposite that exhibits fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between the g-C3N4 nanosheet and MnO2. In the presence of RTB, the strong binding between RTB and the aptamer can release the blocker-linked liposome from the surface of the MBs. After magnetic separation, the decomposed liposome can release GOD to catalyze the oxidation of glucose, generating a certain amount of H2O2. Then, H2O2 can reduce MnO2 of the g-C3N4-MnO2 nanocomposite to Mn2+, which leads to the elimination of FRET. Thus, the fluorescence of the g-C3N4 nanosheet will be turned on. Because of the excellent signal amplification ability of liposome and the characteristic highly sensitive response of the g-C3N4-MnO2 nanocomposite toward H2O2, RTB could be detected sensitively based on the significantly enhanced fluorescent intensity. The linear range of detection was from 0.25 μg mL-1 to 50 μg mL-1 and the limit of detection (LOD) was 190 ng mL-1. Moreover, the proposed assay was successfully applied in the detection of the entire ricin toxin content in a castor seed.

MeSH terms

  • Aptamers, Nucleotide / chemistry
  • Fluorescence
  • Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer / methods
  • Food Contamination / analysis
  • Glucose Oxidase / chemistry
  • Hydrogen Peroxide / chemistry
  • Limit of Detection
  • Liposomes
  • Manganese Compounds / chemistry*
  • Nanocomposites / chemistry*
  • Oligodeoxyribonucleotides / chemistry
  • Oxides / chemistry*
  • Ricin / analysis*
  • Ricinus communis / chemistry
  • Seeds / chemistry

Substances

  • Aptamers, Nucleotide
  • Liposomes
  • Manganese Compounds
  • Oligodeoxyribonucleotides
  • Oxides
  • Ricin
  • Hydrogen Peroxide
  • Glucose Oxidase
  • manganese dioxide