A versatile fluorescent biosensor based on target-responsive graphene oxide hydrogel for antibiotic detection

• Published in: Biosensors & bioelectronics 2016-09, Vol.83, p.267-273
• Main Authors: Tan, Bing, Zhao, Huimin, Du, Lei, Gan, Xiaorong, Quan, Xie
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adenosines; Anti-Bacterial Agents - analysis; Antibiotic; Aptamer; Aptamers, Nucleotide - chemistry; Biosensing Techniques - methods; Biosensors; Design analysis; Drinking Water - analysis; Fluorescence; Fluorescent detection; Fluorescent Dyes - chemistry; GO hydrogel; Graphene; Graphite - chemistry; Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate - chemistry; Hydrogels; Limit of Detection; Oxides; Oxides - chemistry; Oxytetracycline; Oxytetracycline - analysis; Rivers - chemistry; Spectrometry, Fluorescence - methods; Sulfadimethoxine; Sulfadimethoxine - analysis; Three dimensional; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis
• ISSN: 0956-5663; 1873-4235
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2016.04.065

A fluorescent sensing platform based on graphene oxide (GO) hydrogel was developed through a fast and facile gelation, immersion and fluorescence determination process, in which the adenosine and aptamer worked as the co-crosslinkers to connect the GO sheets and then form the three-dimensional (3D) macrostructures. The as-prepared hydrogel showed high mechanical strength and thermal stability. The optimal hydrogel had a linear response for oxytetracycline (OTC) of 25–1000μg/L and a limit of quantitation (LOQ) of 25μg/L. Moreover, together with the high affinity of the aptamer for its target, this assay exhibited excellent sensitivity and selectivity. According to its design principle, the as-designed hydrogel was also tested to possess the generic detection function for other molecules by simply replacing its recognition element, which is expected to lay a foundation to realize the assembly of functionalized hierarchical graphene-based materials for practical applications in analytical field. •A fluorescent aptasensor based on target-responsive GO hydrogel was developed for the first time.•Adenosine and aptamer worked as the co-crosslinkers to connect the GO sheets and form the 3D macrostructure.•The detection process consisted of a simple hydrogel immersion and fluorescence determination in supernatant.•A linear range of 25-1000μg/L and a limit of quantitation of 25μg/L toward target oxytetracycline (OTC) could be achieved.•The aptasensor presents a generic detection approach for other molecules and the possibility for muti-targets.