Browsing by Author "Hendricks, Nicolette"

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    An electrochemical DNA biosensor developed on a nanocomposite platform of gold and poly(propyleneimine) dendrimer
    (MDPI, 2008) Arotiba, Omotayo A.; Owino, Joseph; Songa, Everlyne; Hendricks, Nicolette; Waryo, Tesfaye T.; Jahed, Nazeem; Baker, Priscilla; Iwuoha, Emmanuel I.
    An electrochemical DNA nanobiosensor was prepared by immobilization of a 20mer thiolated probe DNA on electro-deposited generation 4 (G4) poly(propyleneimine) dendrimer (PPI) doped with gold nanoparticles (AuNP) as platform, on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE). Field emission scanning electron microscopy results confirmed the codeposition of PPI (which was linked to the carbon electrode surface by C-N covalent bonds) and AuNP ca 60 nm. Voltammetric interrogations showed that the platform (GCE/PPI-AuNP) was conducting and exhibited reversible electrochemistry (E°′ = 235 mV) in pH 7.2 phosphate buffer saline solution (PBS) due to the PPI component. The redox chemistry of PPI was pH dependent and involves a two electron, one proton process, as interpreted from a 28 mV/pH value obtained from pH studies. The charge transfer resistance (Rct) from the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) profiles of GCE/PPI-AuNP monitored with ferro/ferricyanide (Fe(CN)6 3-/4-) redox probe, decreased by 81% compared to bare GCE. The conductivity (in PBS) and reduced Rct (in Fe(CN)6 3-/4-) values confirmed PPI-AuNP as a suitable electron transfer mediator platform for voltammetric and impedimetric DNA biosensor. The DNA probe was effectively wired onto the GCE/PPI-AuNP via Au-S linkage and electrostatic interactions. The nanobiosensor responses to target DNA which gave a dynamic linear range of 0.01 - 5 nM in PBS was based on the changes in Rct values using Fe(CN)6 3-/4- redox probe.
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    Electrochemical immunosensor based on polythionine/gold nanoparticles for the determination of Aflatoxin B1
    (MDPI, 2008) Owino, Joseph H.O.; Arotiba, Omotayo A.; Hendricks, Nicolette; Songa, Everlyne; Jahed, Nazeem; Waryo, Tesfaye T.; Ngece, Rachel F.; Baker, Priscilla; Iwuoha, Emmanuel I.
    An aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) electrochemical immunosensor was developed by the immobilisation of aflatoxin B1-bovine serum albumin (AFB1-BSA) conjugate on a polythionine (PTH)/gold nanoparticles (AuNP)-modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The surface of the AFB1-BSA conjugate was covered with horseradish peroxidase (HRP), in order to prevent non-specific binding of the immunosensors with ions in the test solution. The AFB1 immunosensor exhibited a quasi-reversible electrochemistry as indicated by a cyclic voltammetric (CV) peak separation (ΔEp) value of 62 mV. The experimental procedure for the detection of AFB1 involved the setting up of a competition between free AFB1 and the immobilised AFB1-BSA conjugate for the binding sites of free anti-aflatoxin B1 (anti-AFB1) antibody. The immunosensor’s differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) responses (peak currents) decreased as the concentration of free AFB1 increased within a dynamic linear range (DLR) of 0.6 - 2.4 ng/mL AFB1 and a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.07 ng/mL AFB1. This immunosensing procedure eliminates the need for enzyme-labeled secondary antibodies normally used in conventional ELISA–based immunosensors.