Chemosensing via Chemoenzymatic Signal Amplification

Abstract

Specific detection of scarce analytes is extremely important, and many tools such as chemosensors and chemodosimeters have been developed. However, most of classical chemosensors and chemodosimeters are based on stoichiometric molecular recognition or chemical reaction, and are therefore conceptually limited in terms of enhancing the sensitivity. Hence, generation of super-stoichiometric amount signals from small amount of analytes can significantly improve the detection limit of current technologies, with possibilities of naked-eye detection. Herein we describe our design of a signal amplification system for chemodosimeters, based on chemoenzymatic reactions. This system combines chemodosimeters with enzymatic reactions to produce amplified signals. It consists of a sensing module based on classical stoichiometric chemodosimeters and a signal production module based on enzymes to generate amplified output signal. We will also discuss an exponential signal amplification system based on enzymatic autocatalysis.