Fluorescence-based analytical methods have limitations in sensitivity when analyzing intracellular proteolytic enzymes involved in cell apoptosis related to cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. To address this, researchers have developed a highly sensitive biosensor using metal-enhanced fluorescence (MEF) for detecting proteolytic enzymes. This novel biosensor employs bifunctional gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) connected to a fluorophore by single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) and a peptide. When caspase-3, a proteolytic enzyme, cleaves the peptide, the fluorescence signal significantly increases due to the optimal distance maintained by ssDNA for MEF. This method enables the sensitive detection of caspase-3 within just 1 hour through a simple enzymatic reaction and has successfully detected preapoptotic cells with high sensitivity. The technique offers a rapid, simple, one-step process for real-time monitoring of intracellular proteolytic enzymes and can be applied to the early diagnosis of cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. -Scientific Journal cover design by scapiens
[Scientific Journal cover design] Low-Thermal-Budget Fluorite-Structure Ferroelectrics for Future Electronic Device Applications
In article number 2100028, Jiyoung Kim, Si Joon Kim, and their team review key factors involved in developing fluorite-structure ferroelectrics
