The meticulous analysis of protein kinase activity assumes a pivotal role in the comprehensive understanding of intricate cellular processes. Its significance reverberates through multiple domains, encompassing drug development, disease diagnosis, and the burgeoning field of personalized medicine. Traditional methods for protein kinase activity analysis often involve complex and time-consuming procedures. However, recent advancements in biosensor technology have revolutionized the field, providing rapid, sensitive, and cost-effective solutions.
Nanomaterials in Electrochemical Biosensors
Electrochemical biosensors stand as invaluable tools in the realm of protein kinase activity analysis, distinguished by their exceptional sensitivity and specificity. Nanomaterials have significantly enhanced their performance. Nanoparticles like gold, silver, and platinum have been widely employed as electrode modifiers, increasing the electroactive surface area, and facilitating electron transfer reactions.
Furthermore, carbon-based nanomaterials, notably graphene and carbon nanotubes, have captured widespread attention due to their remarkable attributes: outstanding electrical conductivity, expansive surface area, and inherent biocompatibility. These qualities render them as prime candidates for integration into biosensors, where they wield their transformative influence, elevating sensitivity, and selectivity to unprecedented levels.
Electrochemiluminescence (ECL) Biosensors
Electrochemiluminescence (ECL) stands as an advanced electrochemical technique that seamlessly amalgamates the principles of electrochemistry and chemiluminescence for in-depth analysis of protein kinase activity. Within the domain of ECL biosensors, the incorporation of cutting-edge nanomaterials, such as quantum dots and metallic nanoparticles, emerges as a pivotal strategy for the enhancement of the ECL signal. When a specific protein kinase interacts with its substrate, it generates a chemiluminescent signal, which is further enhanced by the nanomaterials, resulting in highly sensitive detection.
One significant advantage of ECL biosensors is their low background noise, leading to superior signal-to-noise ratios. This property is especially valuable when analyzing protein kinase activity in complex biological samples. ECL biosensors have been used successfully in drug screening and disease diagnostics, demonstrating their potential for clinical applications.
Photoelectrochemical (PEC) Biosensors
Photoelectrochemical (PEC) biosensors represent an emerging category of biosensors that blend light-induced processes with electrochemical detection. These biosensors exhibit considerable promise for the analysis of protein kinase activity owing to their innate sensitivity and compatibility with nanomaterials.
In PEC biosensors, nanomaterials such as metal oxides, semiconductor nanoparticles, and 2D materials are used as photoactive components. When exposed to light, these materials generate electron-hole pairs, initiating electrochemical reactions that can be correlated with the presence and activity of protein kinases. Through the strategic functionalization of these nanomaterials with kinase-specific ligands, PEC biosensors can deliver selective and highly sensitive detection of protein kinase activity.
Table 1. Recent typical applications of nanomaterial-based electrochemical biosensors for protein kinase activity analysis. (Yan Z, et al.,2019)
| Nanoparticles |
Roles |
Phosphate Group Recognition |
Targets |
Detection Limit |
| AuNPs |
Enlarge electrode surface/Carriers/Signal amplification |
Specific binding |
Protein tyrosine kinase-7 |
372 fM |
| AuNPs |
Carriers/catalyst |
Zr4+ coordination |
PKA |
0.09 UmL−1 |
| GQDs/Graphene Oxide (GO) |
Donor and acceptor |
Antibody-antigen interaction |
CK2 |
0.023 UmL−1 |
| Graphite-like C3N4/AuNPs |
Carriers/photoactive materials |
Phos-tag-biotin |
PKA |
0.01502 UmL−1 |
| MOFs |
Carriers/surface defect recognition |
Zr-O-P bonds |
PKA |
0.0049 UmL−1 |
| Bi2S3/AuNPs |
Carriers/photoactive materials |
Biotinylated Phos-tag |
PKA |
0.017 UmL−1 |
| phosphorylated-g-C3N4 |
Photoactive materials/signal transduction |
Zr4+ coordination |
PKA |
0.077 UmL−1 |
| Au and Pt nanoparticles loaded MOFs |
Enlarge electrode surface/Catalyst/surface defect recognition |
Zr-O-P bonds |
PKA |
0.009 UmL−1 |
As technology continues to advance, we can expect even more innovative biosensors to emerge, further enhancing our ability to understand and manipulate protein kinase activity. These developments are a testament to the power of nanomaterials in driving progress in biosensing technologies, ultimately benefiting healthcare and biotechnology industries.
Reference
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Yan Z, Deng P, Liu Y. Recent Advances in Protein Kinase Activity Analysis Based on Nanomaterials. Int J Mol Sci. 2019;20(6):1440.
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