epiglucan and thionine

Early diagnosis of fungal infection plays an important role in increasing antifungal therapeutic response, but meaningful tests such as microbiological cultures and histopathological diagnosis are usually insensitive and time-consuming. A sensitive amperometric biosensor for beta-glucans was fabricated by immobilizing Dectin-1 onto Nafion-thionine-gold nanoparticle-chitosan multilayer films to trap its corresponding ligand from sample solution. On formation of ligand-receptor complex, detection of beta-glucans was accomplished by monitoring the decrease of the electrochemical signal of the modified electrode due to the inhibition of the transmission of electrons. Dectin-1 was constructed by cloning the extracellular carbohydrate recognition domain of the mouse Dectin gene into the pET28a(+) prokaryotic expression vector. Optimal conditions and analytical performances of the described biosensor were investigated. Under the optimal conditions, the biosensor response for beta-glucans presented good accuracy, stability, and reproducibility. The proposed biosensor not only could be used for rapid analysis of serum beta-glucans but also provided a screening procedure for the determination of fungal infections.

Topics: Animals; beta-Glucans; Biosensing Techniques; Chitosan; Electrochemical Techniques; Electrodes; Fluorocarbon Polymers; Gold; Lectins, C-Type; Membrane Proteins; Metal Nanoparticles; Mice; Mycoses; Nerve Tissue Proteins; Phenothiazines