Characterization of a label system formed by large unilamellar vesicles for its potential use in the design of electrochemical biosensors

FARÍAS, MARCOS E.; ALEJANDRA LUNA, M.; NIEBYLSKI, ANA M.; CORREA N.M.; MOLINA, PATRICIA G.

MICROCHEMICAL JOURNAL

ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

Año: 2018 vol. 140 p. 105 - 113

0026-265X

In this contribution a new electrochemical label system formed by DOPC/palmitic acid/cholesterol/sucrose largeunilamellar vesicles (LUVs) with K4(Fe(CN)6) encapsulated is described and, characterized by using electrochemicaltechniques, dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Results indicatesthat incorporation of cholesterol to the membrane promote a meaningful reduction in the loss of theencapsulated electroactive molecu1le. On the other hand, the addition of sucrose allows a successful lyophilizationprocess, and confers stability to the system over long periods of time, remaining unchanged even for tenmonths after being formed. These properties make this system a very stable label that could be linked to anantibody, antigen or DNA strain; after the specific interaction with the analyte, LUVs rupture can be induced andthe electroactive molecule encapsulated can be released and electrochemically detected by using square wavevoltammetry. These characteristics make this new system into a signal amplifier that can be used to replacetraditional enzyme-labels in electrochemical biosensors design.