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Electrochemical quantification of Ag2S quantum dots: evaluation of different surface coating ligands for bacteria determination

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Abstract

In this work, novel silver sulphide quantum dots (Ag2S QD) are electrochemically quantified for the first time. The method is based on the electrochemical reduction of Ag+ to Ag0 at −0.3 V on screen-printed carbon electrodes (SPCEs), followed by anodic stripping voltammetric oxidation that gives a peak of currents at +0.06 V which represents the analytical signal. The optimized methodology allows the quantification of water-stabilized Ag2S QD in the range of approximately 2 × 109–2 × 1012 QD·mL−1 with a good reproducibility (RSD: 5%). Moreover, as proof-of-concept of relevant biosensing application, Ag2S QD are evaluated as tags for Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria determination. Bacteria tagged with QD are separated by centrifugation from the sample solution and placed on the SPCE surface for quantitative analysis. The effect of two different Ag2S QD surface coating/stabilizing agents on both the voltammetric response and the bacteria sensing is also evaluated. 3-mercaptopropionic acid (3-MPA) is studied as model of short length coating ligand with no affinity for the bacteria, while boronic acid (BA) is evaluated as longer length ligand with chemical affinity for the polysaccharides present in the peptidoglycan layer on the bacteria cells surface. The biosensing system allows to detect bacteria in the range 10−1-103 bacteria·mL−1 with a limit of detection as low as 1 bacteria·mL−1. This methodology is a promising proof-of-concept alternative to traditional laboratory-based tests, with good sensitivity and short time and low cost of analysis.

Novel silver sulphide quantum dots (Ag2S QD) are electrochemically quantified for the first time. Moreover, Ag2S QD are evaluated as tags for Escherichia coli bacteria determination. The effect of two different QD surface coating ligands is also evaluated.

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Acknowledgements

This work has been supported by the FC-GRUPIN-ID/2018/000166 project from the Asturias Regional Government and the CTQ2017–86994-Rand CTQ2016–79412-P projects from the MINECO (Spain). O. Amor-Gutiérrez thanks the University of Oviedo for the award of a grant “Ayudas para la realización de tesis doctorales” (PAPI-18-PF-13). A. Iglesias-Mayor thanks the MECD (Spain) for the award of a FPU Grant (FPU2014/04686). P. Llano-Suárez thanks the University of Oviedo for the award of a grant "Ayudas para la realización de tesis doctorales" (PAPI-18-PF-08). A. de la Escosura-Muñiz acknowledges the MICINN (Spain) for the “Ramón y Cajal” Research Fellow (RyC-2016-20299) and the University of Oviedo for the “Ayudas Proyectos Emergentes 2019” project (PAPI-19-EMERG-17). F. Parra laboratory was funded by the Municipality of Ribera de Arriba/La Ribera (Asturias, Spain). Authors would like to acknowledge the technical support provided by Servicios Científico-Técnicos de la Universidad de Oviedo (Alaa Adawy at the laboratory of HR-TEM).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. NanoBioAnalysis Group-Department of Physical and Analytical Chemistry, University of Oviedo, Julián Clavería 8, 33006, Oviedo, Spain

    Olaya Amor-Gutiérrez, Alba Iglesias-Mayor, Agustín Costa-García & Alfredo de la Escosura-Muñiz

  2. Department of Physical and Analytical Chemistry, University of Oviedo, Julián Clavería 8, 33006, Oviedo, Spain

    Pablo Llano-Suárez & José M. Costa-Fernández

  3. Department of Animal Nutrition, Grassland and Forages, Regional Institute for Research and Agro-Food Development (SERIDA), Villaviciosa, Asturias, Spain

    Ana Soldado

  4. Instituto Universitario de Biotecnología de Asturias, Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Edificio Santiago Gascón, Universidad de Oviedo, Campus El Cristo, 33006, Oviedo, Spain

    Ana Podadera & Francisco Parra

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  1. Olaya Amor-Gutiérrez
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In memoriam to Prof. Agustín Costa-García.

This article is part of the Topical Collection on IX NyNA 2019. International Congress on Analytical Nanoscience and Nanotechnology

This work was presented at the IX NyNA 2019, International Congress on Analytical Nanoscience and Nanotechnology at Zaragoza (Spain) from 2–4 July, 2019. Chairman: Dr. Juan R. Castillo.

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Amor-Gutiérrez, O., Iglesias-Mayor, A., Llano-Suárez, P. et al. Electrochemical quantification of Ag2S quantum dots: evaluation of different surface coating ligands for bacteria determination. Microchim Acta 187, 169 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-020-4140-z

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