Single-chain polymer-based target receptors for use in electrochemical detection of target analytes
The present disclosure provides new approaches in developing templated polymer-based chemical receptors. At least some embodiments of the invention use a stimuli-responsive polymer [e.g., poly-Nisopropylacrylamide (pNIPAM)] as a polymer backbone with the incorporation of functional monomers (for analyte recognition). In at least some embodiments of the invention, vinylferrocene may be used as a redox-active label for electrochemical transduction.
1. An electrochemical sensor, comprising:
a single-chain polymer attached to a surface, wherein the single-chain polymer is capable of selectively binding a target analyte, wherein the selective binding detectably alters the conformation of the single-chain polymer.
2. The electrochemical sensor of claim 1 , wherein the single-chain polymer further comprises one or more functional monomers.
3. The electrochemical sensor of claim 2 , wherein the one or more functional monomers is one or more of a carboxylic acid and a pyridine derivative.
4. The electrochemical sensor of claim 3 , wherein the carboxylic acid is methacrylic acid (MAA).
5. The electrochemical sensor of claim 3 , wherein the pyridine derivative comprises 4-vinylpyridine (4-VP).
6. The electrochemical sensor of claim 1 , wherein the single-chain polymer further comprises a redox reporter.
7. The electrochemical sensor of claim 6 , wherein the redox reporter comprises an organometallic compound.
8. The electrochemical sensor of claim 7 , wherein the organometallic compound comprises a transition metal.
9. The electrochemical sensor of claim 7 , wherein the organometallic compound comprises vinylferrocene.
10. The electrochemical sensor of claim 7 , wherein the organometallic compound is a terminal monomer of the single-chain polymer.
11. The electrochemical sensor of claim 1 , wherein the surface comprises a metal.
12. The electrochemical sensor of claim 1 , wherein the target analyte comprises glutamate.
13. The electrochemical sensor of claim 1 , wherein the single-chain polymer comprises an N-isopropaylcrylamide (NIPAM) backbone.
14. A single-chain polymer for use in electrochemical sensing, comprising:
a carboxylic acid monomer;
a monomer comprising a derivative of pyridine with a vinyl group;
an organometallic compound; and
an N-isopropaylcrylamide (NIPAM) backbone.
15. The single-chain polymer of claim 14 , wherein the carboxylic acid comprises methacrylic acid (MAA).
16. The single-chain polymer of claim 14 , wherein the organometallic compound comprises a transition metal.
17. A method for electrochemical sensing, comprising:
contacting a sample with an electrochemical sensor comprising a surface modified with a covalently attached single-chain polymer comprising an N-isopropaylcrylamide (NIPAM) backbone, wherein the single-chain polymer is capable of selectively binding a target analyte, wherein the selective binding detectably alters the conformation of the single-chain polymer; and
monitoring attachment of the target analyte to the single-chain polymer.
18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
releasing the target analyte from the single-chain polymer.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the releasing comprises:
rinsing the single-chain polymer, having the target analyte bound thereto, with a solvent capable of binding the target analyte.
20. The method of claim 17 , wherein the target analyte comprises glutamate.