Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 11, 2025

Phthalic Acid Ester-Binding DNA Aptamer Selection, Characterization, and Application to an Electrochemical Aptasensor
Published on: March 21, 2018
Electroactive and SERS-Active Ag@Cu2O NP-Programed Aptasensor for Dual-Mode Detection of Tetrodotoxin
Jie Yao1, Zhao Jin1, Yuan Zhao1
1Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Biological Colloids, Ministry of Education, International Joint Research Center for Photoresponsive Molecules and Materials, School of Chemical and Material Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China.
A novel dual-mode aptasensor using silver-copper oxide nanoparticles (Ag@Cu2O NPs) enhances tetrodotoxin (TTX) detection accuracy. This noninterference sensing platform offers improved sensitivity for monitoring TTX in complex systems.
Area of Science:
- Nanotechnology
- Analytical Chemistry
- Materials Science
Background:
- Tetrodotoxin (TTX) is a potent neurotoxin requiring sensitive detection methods.
- Existing detection methods for TTX may lack sufficient accuracy and sensitivity.
- Nanomaterials offer unique properties for developing advanced biosensing platforms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a dual-mode aptasensor for highly accurate and sensitive tetrodotoxin (TTX) detection.
- To fabricate novel electroactive and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-active Ag@Cu2O nanoparticles (NPs).
- To integrate Ag@Cu2O NPs with MXene nanosheets (NSs) for a synergistic sensing effect.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of Ag@Cu2O NPs with dual electrooxidation signals and enhanced SERS activity.
- Modification of Ag@Cu2O NPs with TTX aptamers and assembly with MXene NSs.
- Development of a dual-mode aptasensor utilizing electrochemical and ratiometric SERS detection strategies.
Main Results:
- The Ag@Cu2O NPs exhibited enhanced SERS performance due to the dielectric Cu2O shell and electron transfer.
- The dual-mode aptasensor demonstrated noninterference sensing signals for improved accuracy.
- Achieved limits of detection of 31.6 pg/mL (electrochemical) and 38.3 pg/mL (SERS) for TTX.
Conclusions:
- The developed dual-mode aptasensor provides a sensitive and accurate platform for TTX detection.
- Plasmonic metal-semiconductor heterogeneous nanocomposites show promise for multimodal biosensing.
- This approach has significant potential for analyte detection in complex biological and environmental systems.

