Staff directory
Daniel Quesada González
Postdoctoral Researcher
daniel.quesada(ELIMINAR)@icn2.cat
Nanobioelectronics and Biosensors
- ORCID: 0000-0003-3064-2146
Publications
2023
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Toward Integrated Molecular Lateral Flow Diagnostic Tests Using Advanced Micro- and Nanotechnology
Rubio-Monterde, A; Quesada-Gonzalez, D; Merkoci, A Analytical Chemistry; 95 (1): 468 - 489. 2023. 10.1021/acs.analchem.2c04529.
2021
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Integrating gold nanoclusters, folic acid and reduced graphene oxide for nanosensing of glutathione based on “turn-off” fluorescence
Wong X.Y., Quesada-González D., Manickam S., New S.Y., Muthoosamy K., Merkoçi A. Scientific Reports; 11 (1, 2375) 2021. 10.1038/s41598-021-81677-8. IF: 4.380
Glutathione (GSH) is a useful biomarker in the development, diagnosis and treatment of cancer. However, most of the reported GSH biosensors are expensive, time-consuming and often require complex sample treatment, which limit its biological applications. Herein, a nanobiosensor for the detection of GSH using folic acid-functionalized reduced graphene oxide-modified BSA gold nanoclusters (FA-rGO-BSA/AuNCs) based on the fluorescence quenching interactions is presented. Firstly, a facile and optimized protocol for the fabrication of BSA/AuNCs is developed. Functionalization of rGO with folic acid is performed using EDC/NHS cross-linking reagents, and their interaction after loading with BSA/AuNCs is demonstrated. The formation of FA-rGO, BSA/AuNCs and FA-rGO-BSA/AuNCs are confirmed by the state-of-art characterization techniques. Finally, a fluorescence turn-off sensing strategy is developed using the as-synthesized FA-rGO-BSA/AuNCs for the detection of GSH. The nanobiosensor revealed an excellent sensing performance for the detection of GSH with high sensitivity and desirable selectivity over other potential interfering species. The fluorescence quenching is linearly proportional to the concentration of GSH between 0 and 1.75 µM, with a limit of detection of 0.1 µM under the physiological pH conditions (pH 7.4). Such a sensitive nanobiosensor paves the way to fabricate a “turn-on” or “turn-off” fluorescent sensor for important biomarkers in cancer cells, presenting potential nanotheranostic applications in biological detection and clinical diagnosis. © 2021, The Author(s).
2019
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Electrochemical detection of plant virus using gold nanoparticle-modified electrodes
Khater M., de la Escosura-Muñiz A., Quesada-González D., Merkoçi A. Analytica Chimica Acta; 1046: 123 - 131. 2019. 10.1016/j.aca.2018.09.031. IF: 5.256
Tristeza is one of the destructive diseases of citrus causing by citrus tristeza virus (CTV). Historically, CTV has been associated with serious outbreaks of quick decline of citrus, therefore CTV monitoring is important aspect for avoiding such re-emerging epidemics, which would threat citrus production through the world. In this context, we have designed for the first time a label-free impedimetric biosensor for the detection of nucleic acid of CTV. The sensing platform based on a screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE) was modified by electrodeposited gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), which allowed to efficiently immobilizing thiolated ssDNA probes as well to enhance the electrode conductivity. The growth of AuNPs was optimized and characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). We investigated the behavior of thiolated ssDNA probe layer and its hybridization with target DNA onto AuNP surfaces by EIS measurements in Fe(CN 6 ) 4- /Fe(CN 6 ) 3- red-ox system. The main sensor design aspects such as AuNPs size, probe DNA concentration and immobilization time together with DNA hybridization time were optimized so as to achieve the best performance. Impedance values of DNA hybridization increased with Citrus tristeza-related synthetic DNA concentration, showing a logarithmic relation in the range of 0.1–10 μM. The results also indicate that the biosensor was able to selectively detect CTV nucleic acids in the presence of other non-specific DNAs. Moreover, we have demonstrated the good performance of the system in a real plant sample matrix. In addition, the sensor reproducibility enhanced after the hybridization onto MCH/poly (AT) thiolated DNA probes which was confirmed by intra- and inter-day variability assays. © 2018 Elsevier B.V.
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Iridium oxide (IV) nanoparticle-based electrocatalytic detection of PBDE
Quesada-González D., Baiocco A., Martos A.A., de la Escosura-Muñiz A., Palleschi G., Merkoçi A. Biosensors and Bioelectronics; 127: 150 - 154. 2019. 10.1016/j.bios.2018.11.050. IF: 9.518
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are a type of flame retardants which are currently banned in EU and USA due their hazardousness for humans and mammals. However, these compounds were highly used during more than 30 years and still persist in the environment since they are resistant to degradation. Herein we present a biosensor for the detection of PBDEs using screen printed carbon electrodes (SPCEs) based on the electrochemical monitoring of water oxidation reaction (WOR) catalyzed by iridium oxide (IV) nanoparticles (IrO 2 NPs). Our assay shows a limit of detection of 21.5 ppb of PBDE in distilled water. We believe that such an IrO 2 NPs-based electrocatalytic sensing system can lead to a rapid, sensitive, low cost and miniaturizable device for the detection of PBDEs. © 2018 Elsevier B.V.
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Iridium oxide (IV) nanoparticle-based lateral flow immunoassay
Quesada-González D., Sena-Torralba A., Wicaksono W.P., de la Escosura-Muñiz A., Ivandini T.A., Merkoçi A. Biosensors and Bioelectronics; 132: 132 - 135. 2019. 10.1016/j.bios.2019.02.049. IF: 9.518
Lateral flow biosensors are paper-based devices that allow the detection of different types of analytes with quickness, robustness and selectivity, without leaving behind paper sensors benefits as low-cost, recyclability and sustainability. Nanomaterials have been widely reported in lateral flow biosensors, offering new sensing strategies based on optical or electrical detection techniques. Looking for other advantageous nanomaterials, we propose for the first time the use of iridium oxide (IV) nanoparticles in lateral flow assays for the detection of human immunoglobulin as a model protein. These nanoparticles can be easily prepared and conjugated with biomarkers. Their dark blue color gives a high contrast against the white background of the strips being in this way excellent labels. © 2019 Elsevier B.V.
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Signal enhancement on gold nanoparticle-based lateral flow tests using cellulose nanofibers
Quesada-González D., Stefani C., González I., de la Escosura-Muñiz A., Domingo N., Mutjé P., Merkoçi A. Biosensors and Bioelectronics; 141 (111407) 2019. 10.1016/j.bios.2019.111407. IF: 9.518
Lateral flow paper-based biosensors merge as powerful tools in point-of-care diagnostics since they are cheap, portable, robust, selective, fast and easy to use. However, the sensitivity of this type of biosensors is not always as high as required, often not permitting a clear quantification. To improve the colorimetric response of standard lateral flow strips (LFs), we have applied a new enhancement strategy that increases the sensitivity of LFs based on the use of cellulose nanofibers (CNF). CNF penetrate inside the pores of LFs nitrocellulose paper, compacting the pore size only in the test line, particularly near the surface of the strip. This modification retains the bioreceptors (antibodies) close to the surface of the strips, and thus further increasing the density of selectively attached gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in the top part of the membrane, in the test line area, only when the sample is positive. This effect boosts in average a 36.6% the sensitivity of the LFs. The optical measurements of the LFs were carried out with a mobile phone camera whose imaging resolution was improved by attaching microscopic lens on the camera objective. The characterization of CNF into paper and their effect was analyzed using atomic force microscope (AFM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) imaging techniques. © 2019 Elsevier B.V.
2018
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Nanomaterial-based devices for point-of-care diagnostic applications
Quesada-González D., Merkoçi A. Chemical Society Reviews; 47 (13): 4697 - 4709. 2018. 10.1039/c7cs00837f. IF: 40.182
In this review, we have discussed the capabilities of nanomaterials for point-of-care (PoC) diagnostics and explained how these materials can help to strengthen, miniaturize and improve the quality of diagnostic devices. Since the optical, electrochemical and other physical properties of nanomaterials are dictated by their composition, size and shape, these factors are critical in the design and function of nanomaterial-based PoC diagnostics. © 2018 The Royal Society of Chemistry.
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Uranium (VI) detection in groundwater using a gold nanoparticle/paper-based lateral flow device
Quesada-González D., Jairo G.A., Blake R.C., II, Blake D.A., Merkoçi A. Scientific Reports; 8 (1, 16157) 2018. 10.1038/s41598-018-34610-5. IF: 4.122
The contamination in groundwater due to the presence of uranium is nowadays a subject of concern due to the severe health problems associated with renal failure, genotoxicity and cancer. The standard methods to detect uranium require time-consuming processes and expensive non-portable equipment, so these measurements are rarely performed in-field, which increases the time until water samples are analysed. Furthermore, the few portable methods available do not allow quantitative analysis and the detection limit is often not low enough to reach the recommendations for drinking water (30 ppb or 126 nM of uranium). For the first time, we propose a portable, fast, inexpensive and sensitive paper-based biosensor able to detect in situ U(VI) in water samples: U(VI) selective gold nanoparticle-based lateral flow strips. Antibody-coated gold nanoparticles are used as labels in the proposed lateral flow system because of their biocompatibility; in addition, these nanoparticles provide high sensitivity due to their intense plasmonic effect. The antibody used in the assay recognizes soluble U(VI) complexed to the chelator, 2,9-dicarboxyl-1,10-phenanthroline (DCP). Because of the small size of the U(VI)-DCP complex, this assay employs a competitive format that reaches a limit of detection of 36.38 nM, lower than the action level (126 nM) established by the World Health Organization and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for drinking waters. © 2018, The Author(s).