Novel multifunctionalized peryleneteracarboxylic/amine supramolecules for electrochemical assay

Abstract

In this work, a series of novel multifunctionalized peryleneteracarboxylic supramolecules were synthesized based on hydrogen bonding interactions between 3,4,9,10-perylenetetracarboxylic acid (PTCA) and amines, which possess large specific surface area, good membrane-forming properties and high stability. Importantly, an interesting phenomenon was found in that these series of supramolecules could conciliate disorderly redox peaks of PTCA and result in a pair of well-defined redox peaks, which were able to act as redox carriers for charge-generation and electron-transportion. And the probable mechanism for this phenomenon was discussed for the first time in detail through the integration of theoretical with practical research. To further reveal the advantages of these novel multifunctionalized supramolecule nanomaterials, PTCA/triethylamine (PTCA/TEA) was chosen as the best candidate for a redox carrier to participate in a “signal-on” aptasensor for thrombin (TB) detection by employing Fe₃O₄ magnetic beads (MBs) as a good enzyme mimic to catalyze the PTCA/TEA for signal amplification. As a result, a wide linear detection range of 0.0001–50 nM is acquired with a relatively low detection limit of 0.05 pM. And the proposed aptasensor exhibited good specificity and acceptable reproducibility and stability. After all, the explorations between PTCA and amines would set up a meaningful basis in seeking multifunctionalized supramolecule nanomaterials based on PTCA for extending the application of PTCA in a wider range of fields, and exploring the essential reason for the referred peculiar phenomenon for PTCA.