Detection of trace concentrations of S-nitrosothiols by means of a capacitive sensor

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 12; no. 10; p. e0187149
• Main Authors: Seckler, James M, Meyer, Nikki M, Burton, Spencer T, Bates, James N, Gaston, Benjamin, Lewis, Stephen J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 26.10.2017; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Biology and Life Sciences; Biosensors; Chemical properties; Cystic fibrosis; Dopamine - chemistry; Engineering and Technology; Humans; Limit of Detection; Mass Spectrometry; Measurement; Nitric oxide; Nitrogen dioxide; Pediatrics; Physical Sciences; Proteins; Research and Analysis Methods; S-Nitrosothiols - analysis; S-Nitrosothiols - chemistry; Sensors; Thiols; Transistors; United States; Cleveland Ohio; Ohio; Iowa City Iowa
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0187149

Small molecule S-nitrosothiols are a class of endogenous chemicals in the body, which have been implicated in a variety of biological functions. However, the labile nature of NO and the limits of current detection assays have made studying these molecules difficult. Here we present a method for detecting trace concentrations of S-nitrosothiols in biological fluids. Capacitive sensors when coupled to a semiconducting material represent a method for detecting trace quantities of a chemical in complex solutions. We have taken advantage of the semiconducting and chemical properties of polydopamine to construct a capacitive sensor and associated method of use, which specifically senses S-nitrosothiols in complex biological solutions.