Development of surface plasmon resonance-based sensor for detection of silver nanoparticles in food and the environment

• Published in: Analytical and bioanalytical chemistry Vol. 403; no. 10; pp. 2843 - 2850
• Main Authors: Rebe Raz, Sabina, Leontaridou, Maria, Bremer, Maria G. E. G., Peters, Ruud, Weigel, Stefan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 01.07.2012; Springer
• Subjects: Analytical Chemistry; Binding; Biochemistry; Biosensing Techniques; biosensor; Biosensors; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Cucumis sativus - chemistry; Detectors; Environmental Monitoring; Food Analysis - methods; Food packaging machinery; Food Safety; Food Science; heavy-metals; Human; Humans; immobilization; ions; Laboratory Medicine; Lycopersicon esculentum - chemistry; Metal Nanoparticles - analysis; Metallothionein; Metallothionein - chemistry; Monitoring/Environmental Analysis; Nanoparticles; nanosilver; Nanostructure; Original Paper; Plasmons; Protein binding; proteins; Rivers - chemistry; Sensors; Silver; Silver - analysis; Surface Plasmon Resonance; Water Pollutants, Chemical - chemistry; Environment; Surface plasmon resonance; Silver nanoparticles; Metallothionein; Food
• ISSN: 1618-2642; 1618-2650
• DOI: 10.1007/s00216-012-5920-z

Silver nanoparticles are recognized as effective antimicrobial agents and have been implemented in various consumer products including washing machines, refrigerators, clothing, medical devices, and food packaging. Alongside the silver nanoparticles benefits, their novel properties have raised concerns about possible adverse effects on biological systems. To protect consumer’s health and the environment, efficient monitoring of silver nanoparticles needs to be established. Here, we present the development of human metallothionein (MT) based surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor for rapid detection of nanosilver. Incorporation of human metallothionein 1A to the sensor surface enables screening for potentially biologically active silver nanoparticles at parts per billion sensitivity. Other protein ligands were also tested for binding capacity of the nanosilver and were found to be inferior to the metallothionein. The biosensor has been characterized in terms of selectivity and sensitivity towards different types of silver nanoparticles and applied in measurements of real-life samples—such as fresh vegetables and river water. Our findings suggest that human MT1-based SPR sensor has the potential to be utilized as a routine screening method for silver nanoparticles, that can provide rapid and automated analysis dedicated to environmental and food safety monitoring. Figure Surface plasmon resonance biosensor for rapid detection of silver nanoparticles was developed. Human metallothionein 1A (hMT1A) was immobilized on the sensor chip surface and showed dose dependent binding to the silver nanoparticles with part per billion sensitivity.