Search

Three approaches towards ion track-based biosensors appear to be feasible. The development of the first one began a decade ago [Siwy, Z.; Trofin, L.; Kohl, P.; Baker, L.A.; Martin, C.R.; Trautmann, C. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2005, 127, 5000–5001; Siwy, Z.S.; Harrell, C.C.; Heins, E.; Martin, C.R.; Schiedt, B.; Trautmann, C.; Trofin, L.; Polman, A. Presented at the 6th International Conference on Swift Heavy Ions in Matter, Aschaffenburg, Germany, May 28–31, 2005] and makes use of the concept that the presence of certain biomolecules within liquids can block the passage through narrow pores if being captured there, thus switching off the pore's electrical conductivity. The second, having been successfully tested half a year ago [Fink, D.; Klinkovich, I.; Bukelman, O.; Marks, R.S.; Fahrner, W.; Kiv, A.; Fuks, D.; Alfonta, L. Biosens. Bioelectron. 2009, 24, 2702–2706], is based on the accumulation of enzymatic reaction products within the confined volume of narrow etched ion tracks which modifies the pore's electr...

A novel concept for a glucose biosensor based on the enzyme glucose oxidase covalently linked to nanopores of etched nuclear track membranes is presented. This device can be used to detect physiologically relevant glucose concentrations between 10 microM and 1 M. The sensitive catalytic sensor can be made re-usable due to the production of diffusible products from the oxidative biomolecular recognition event. We have demonstrated both the simplicity with which this sensor can be produced and the stability of the enzyme embedded in the nanopores. We strongly believe that the approach could be expanded for different enzymes and variable configurations of sensing and catalysis using membranes with nanopores for biocatalysis and enrichment of substrates and products. This is the first time that such devices are being used for biocatalytic transformations.

A one-step label-free electrochemical assay for quorum sensing inhibition in Pseudomonas aeruginosa is presented.