G-quadruplex-hemin DNAzyme functionalized nanopipettes: Fabrication and sensing application

Solid-nanopores/nanopipettes have the exquisite ability to reveal the changes in molecular volume due to the advantages of adjustable size, good rigidity and low noise. Herein, a new platform for sensing application was established based on G-quadruplex-hemin DNAzyme (GQH) functionalized gold-coated nanopipettes. In this method, GQH was immobilized on gold-coated nanopipette, which could be used as a catalyst for the reaction of H2O2 with 2,2 '-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) to promote the conversion of ABTS to ABTS+ ions inside gold-coated nanopipette, and the change of transmembrane ion current could be monitored in real time. At the optimal conditions, there was a correlation between the ion current and the concentration of H2O2 in a certain range, which could be used for the hydrogen peroxide sensing. The GQH immobilized nanopipette provides a useful platform to investigate enzymatic catalysis in confined environment, which can be used in electrocatalysis, sensing and fundamental electrochemistry.

Automated summary

A new sensing platform based on G-quadruplex-hemin DNAzyme (GQH) functionalized gold-coated nanopipettes was established. GQH was immobilized on the gold-coated nanopipette and acted as a catalyst for the reaction of H2O2 with ABTS to promote the conversion of ABTS to ABTS+ ions inside the nanopipette, allowing real-time monitoring of transmembrane ion current changes. The correlation between ion current and H2O2 concentration in a certain range enables the use of this immobilized nanopipette for hydrogen peroxide sensing.