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Photon-upconversion nanoparticles for single-molecule immunosensing of cancer biomarkers and bacteria
Farka, Z. ; Mickert, M. J. ; Hlaváček, Antonín ; Poláchová, V. ; Kostiv, Uliana ; Pastucha, M. ; Horák, Daniel ; Gorris, H. H. ; Skládal, P.
The recent progress in the field of immunoassays has been driven by introduction of various kinds of nanomaterials. In particular, photon-upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) proved to be excellent immunoassay labels due to their ability to emit light of shorter wavelengths under near-infrared excitation (anti-Stokes emission), which prevents autofluorescence, minimizes light scattering, and thus reduces the optical background interference. These unique photoluminescent properties allow counting of individual biomolecules labeled with UCNPs by conventional wide-field epiluminescence microscopy and enable the development of single-molecule (digital) immunoassays. We have introduced a novel label based on UCNPs conjugated with streptavidin via poly(ethylene glycol) and applied it in a digital upconversion-linked immunosorbent assay (ULISA) for the detection of a cancer biomarker prostate specific antigen (PSA). The digital readout based on counting of individual immunocomplexes improved the sensitivity 16× compared to conventional analog readout and allowed to reach a limit of detection (LOD) of 23 fg·mL−1 (800 aM). Human serum samples were successfully analyzed achieving an excellent correlation with electrochemiluminescence reference method. The conjugates of UCNPs with streptavidin are also suitable for the detection of pathogenic bacterium Melissococcus plutonius, the causative agent of honeybee disease European foulbrood. The ULISA assay provided an LOD of 340 CFU·mL−1 and successfully analyzed real samples of bees, larvae and bottom hive debris. Due to the high reliability and relatively simple detection scheme, the digital ULISA can pave the way for a new generation of digital immunoassays with a strong potential for commercialization.
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DESIGN OF FIBER-OPTIC BIOSENSOR WITH NEAR-INFRARED SPECTRAL ANALYSIS
Křepelka, Pavel ; Jakubec,, Martin (referee) ; Skládal, Petr (referee) ; Mikulka, Jan (advisor)
This thesis deals with a measurement and interpretation of NIR spectra of bacterial cells and design of biosensor using this analytical technique. In the first chapter, there is introduction of current state of knowledge in the field of NIR spectroscopy in microbiology and technology of fiber optic biosensors. The summary of this chapter shows that NIR is a suitable technique for direct molecular analysis of bacteria, but it suffers from low sensitivity and insufficient interpretation of bacterial spectra. In the next part of the thesis, there is a theoretical background of spectral analysis techniques and technology of fiber optic sensors. In the practical part of this work, there is suggested the elimination of disadvantages of NIR spectroscopy in microbiology by a series of experiments used for interpretation of NIR spectra of bacteria and design of fiber optic sensor to increase sensitivity of this technique. In this work, spectral regions important for the identification of bacterial strains were determined and partially interpreted and the sensor for bacterial analysis capable of classifying strains based on 105 captured cells was designed. Therefore, the objectives of this work were fulfilled.
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Electronic effects at the interface between biomolecules, cells and diamond
Krátká, Marie ; Rezek, Bohuslav (advisor) ; Cifra, Michal (referee) ; Skládal, Petr (referee)
Understanding and control of interactions between biological environment (cells, proteins, tissues, membranes, electrolytes, etc.) and solid-state surfaces is fundamental for biomedical applications such as bio-sensors, bio-electronics, tissue engineering and implant materials as well as for environmental monitoring, security and other fields. Diamond can provide unique combination of semiconducting, chemical, optical, biocompatible and other properties for this purpose. In this thesis we characterize electronic properties of protein-diamond interface by employing a solution-gated field-effect transistor (SGFET) based on hydrogen-terminated diamond, surface of which is exposed to biological media. We elucidate the role of adsorbed protein layer on the electronic response of the diamond transistor. We investigate effects of cells (using mainly osteoblast cells as model) on diamond SGFETs transfer characteristics and gate currents. We employ nanocrystalline diamond (NCD) thin films of different grain sizes (80 - 250 nm) to characterize and discuss influence of grain boundaries and sp2 phase on bio- electronic function of SGFETs. We investigate effects of gamma irradiation on function and stability of hydrogen-terminated diamond SGFETs interfaced with proteins and cells, showing feasibility of...
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Photon-upconverting nanoparticles as a novel background-free label in immunoassays
Farka, Z. ; Hlaváček, Antonín ; Mickert, M. J. ; Skládal, P. ; Gorris, H. H.
Photon-upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs) have become an attractive label in immunoassays because their anti-Stokes luminescence can be excited by the NIR laser and detected in the VIS region without optical background interference. Further advantages of UCNPs include good photostability, large anti-Stokes shifts, and multiple narrow emission bands that can be used for multiplexed detection. We have developed a competitive upconversion-linked immunosorbent assay (ULISA) for detection of the pharmaceutical diclofenac (DCF) in surface waters. Silica-coated UCNPs (50 nm in diameter) with carboxyl groups on the surface were synthesized and conjugated with the secondary anti-IgG antibody. The structure and monodispersity of the nanoconjugates was studied by TEM and agarose gel electrophoresis. Using a highly affine anti-DCF primary antibody, the optimized ULISA provided a detection limit of 50 pg·mL−1.
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Study of Biomolecular Interactions with Surface Plasmon Resonance Biosensors
Šípová, Hana ; Homola, Jiří (advisor) ; Houska, Milan (referee) ; Skládal, Petr (referee)
Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensors represent one of the most advanced sensing technologies for real-time studies of biomolecular interactions. In this thesis, methods for functionalization of SPR substrates were optimized and studied via spectroscopic methods. Effects related to the SPR sensor microfluidic interface on the measured biomolecular interactions were analyzed, and furthermore, means to decrease mass-transport limitations were proposed. Several SPR-based assays regarding the detection of nucleic acids were developed, which allow for the detection of physiologically relevant concentrations of nucleic acids as well as point mutations in a nucleic acid sequence. Assays for the determination of the enzymatic activity of HIV integrase and ribonuclease H were developed. These assays can be employed for the design and synthesis of molecules that function either as antiviral drugs or as gene-regulating agents.
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Application of metal and semiconductor nanostructures for biodetection
Kejík, Lukáš ; Skládal, Petr (referee) ; Kolíbal, Miroslav (advisor)
The master’s thesis deals with two applications of gold discoidal nanostructures exhibiting plasmon resonance for biodetection. The first approach considers the detection of changes in the phase on plasmonic antennas using coherence-controlled holography microscope. It was found that the steepness of the phase is increasing with the illumination wavelength when plasmon resonance is excited in larger antennas. The sensitivity of the phase to refractive-index changes of the surrounding media was observed when the largest response was given by antennas in resonance with wavelength of illumination. Next part deals with plasmon resonance detection by means of optical spectroscopy combined with voltametry which characterizes the electrochemical activity. Changes in resonance wavelength induced by the presence of SSC buffer were observed, although this influence seems to diminish in time. Conducted experiments have also shown that oxygen-plasma cleaning is not suitable for sample surface cleaning because of oxidation of metals including gold as well.
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Nanostructured gold electrodes for determination of glucose in blood
Farka, Z. ; Juřík, T. ; Kovář, D. ; Podešva, Pavel ; Foret, František ; Skladal, P.
Fast and sensitive devices for monitoring of glucose are crucial in today’s medicine. Most of the commercial glucometers are currently based on enzymatic catalysis which provides reasonable sensitivity but has a drawback in limited enzyme stability. With the development of novel surfaces, new generation of non-enzymatic sensors characterized by high sensitivity and stability is emerging. In this work, gelatin-templated nanostructured gold electrodes were developed and applied for non-enzymatic glucose determination. The analysis was done by direct electrochemical oxidation during cyclic voltammetry and amperometry with the limit of detection at 1.3 μM. The ability to detect physiological levels glucose in presence of interferents was demonstrated on deproteinized human blood serum.
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The Synthesis, Surface Modification and Stability of SPIO Nanoparticles for MRI Application
Kovář, D. ; Fohlerová, Z. ; Malá, A. ; Jiřík, Radovan ; Starčuk jr., Zenon ; Kalina, M. ; Skládal, P.
The biocompatibility and biodegradability of new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents is high-ly desired. The superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) nanoparticles are suitable candidates for these pur-poses. Here the co-precipitation technique for synthesis of monodispersed SPIO nanoparticles is pre-sented. The critical point of the synthesis is core formation and consequent crystal growth. The conditions for core formation (time, temperature, rate of base addition) were optimised. The nanoparticles were stabilised by either silanisation or polymer coating (cationic chitosan, poly-D-Arg, dextran, gelatine, hyaluronic acid). The stability was investigated in physiological pH, different ionic strength solutions, PBS-albumine solution or blood plasma. The biocompatibility was tested in vitro either in the presence of Saccharomyces cerevisiae or erythrocytes suspension. The size and shape was investigated by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The molecular structures of nanoparticles were investigated by FTIR (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy). The iron cations were determined using the Prussian blue staining test. The stability of nano-particles was investigated by the zeta potential using the method of electrophoretic light scattering (ELS).
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