Após setenta anos de sua descoberta, o vírus da zika surgiu no Brasil, espalhou-se rapidamente pelas Américas e trouxe complicações incomuns em doenças causadas por Flavivirus, como a microcefalia. A Organização Mundial da Saúde classifica a zika como a doença viral mais preocupante da atualidade e considera urgente desenvolver novos métodos de diagnóstico para ela e doenças correlatas como a dengue. Embora existam exames para identificar infecções pelos vírus dessas duas doenças, ainda não há um método rápido, específico e de baixo custo para o diagnóstico precoce. Visando preencher essa lacuna, este trabalho teve como objetivo construir dois tipos de biossensores eletroquímicos de DNA para detecção label-free desses dois vírus. Foram fabricados eletrodos descartáveis em substrato de politereftalato de etileno metalizado com filme fino de ouro nas configurações com um e três contatos. As sequências genéticas de iniciadores e sondas de captura foram desenhadas especialmente para este trabalho com base na análise dos genomas dos vírus. O primeiro biossensor utilizou o eletrodo em uma célula eletroquímica e foi capaz de identificar sequências de DNA da zika ou da dengue. As análises por espectroscopia de impedância eletroquímica mostraram que o biossensor é seletivo à sequência alvo com limite de detecção de (9,86 ± 0,89) nmol L-1. O segundo biossensor utilizou um eletrodo de três contatos para identificação de sequências de DNA em uma gota da amostra. No contato central, usado como eletrodo de trabalho, foi imobilizada a sequência de captura e os contatos laterais funcionaram como eletrodos de referência e auxiliar. Nesse sistema as medidas de impedância indicaram limite de detecção de (25,0 ± 1,7) nmol L-1. Os biossensores desenvolvidos mostraram seletividade para identificar o material genético dos vírus da zika e da dengue nos ensaios com DNA sintético e, portanto, são promissores para a análise de amostras reais, principalmente de produtos da polimerase da cadeia reversa. / After seventy years of its discovery, zika virus has emerged in Brazil, spread rapidly throughout the Americas, bringing unusual complications in diseases caused by flaviviruses, such as microcephaly. The World Health Organization classifies zika as the most harmful viral disease today and considers urgent the development of new diagnostic methods for zika and related diseases, such as dengue. Although there are tests to identify both infections, no current diagnostic method is rapid, specific and cost-efective. This thesis describes two types of electrochemical DNA biosensors for label-free detection of these zika and dengue. Disposable electrodes were fabricated on polyethylene terephthalate substrates covered with a nanometric gold layer by thermal evaporation, manufactured in one- and three-contact configurations. Genetic sequences of primers and complementary capture probes were designed based on the analysis of the virus genomes. The first biosensor we developed used the new electrode in an electrochemical cell and was able to identify zika or dengue DNA sequences. Analyses by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy showed that these biosensors are selective for zika or dengue with a detection limit of (9.86 ± 0.89) nmol L-1. A second type of biosensor used a three-contact electrode to identify DNA sequences in a drop of sample. In the central contact, used as a working electrode, the capture sequence was immobilized and the lateral contacts acted as reference and auxiliary electrodes. In this system the impedance measurements indicated a limit of detection of (25.0 ± 1.7) nmol L-1. The developed biosensors showed selectivity for zika and dengue in the synthetic DNA assays, and therefore are promising for the analysis of real samples, especially the polymerase chain reaction amplicon.

<p>In this thesis, I present the electrochemical studies of three dendrimeric polypropylene imine (PPI) nanomaterials and their applications as a platform in the development of a novel label free DNA nanobiosensor based on electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Cyclic voltammetry (CV), differentia pulse voltammetry (DPV), square wave voltammetry (SWV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) techniques were used to study and model the electrochemical reactivities of the nanomaterials on glassy carbon electrode (GCE) as the working electrode.</p>

<p>In this thesis, I present the electrochemical studies of three dendrimeric polypropylene imine (PPI) nanomaterials and their applications as a platform in the development of a novel label free DNA nanobiosensor based on electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Cyclic voltammetry (CV), differentia pulse voltammetry (DPV), square wave voltammetry (SWV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) techniques were used to study and model the electrochemical reactivities of the nanomaterials on glassy carbon electrode (GCE) as the working electrode.</p>

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / In this thesis, I present the electrochemical studies of three dendrimeric polypropylene imine (PPI) nanomaterials and their applications as a platform in the development of a novel label free DNA nanobiosensor based on electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Cyclic voltammetry (CV), differentia pulse voltammetry (DPV), square wave voltammetry (SWV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) techniques were used to study and model the electrochemical reactivities of the nanomaterials on glassy carbon electrode (GCE) as the working electrode. / South Africa

Dans le domaine stratégique des biocapteurs sans marquage, la détection de l'élément biologique est directement liée à la variation d'un paramètre physique donné du composé sensible (transducteur). Dans le cas de la détection de l'hybridation de l'ADN par spectroscopie d'impédance électrochimique non faradique (sans label redox), la détection se base sur le changement de conductivité de l'élément sensible. Celui-ci est généralement un matériau semi-conducteur. La présence sur sa surface, de charges électriques amenées par des biomolécules chargées, comme les brins d'ADN, induit, par un phénomène connu d' »effet de champ électrique », la création d'une zone de charge d'espace subsurfacique. Celle-ci se caractérise par la courbure vers la surface des niveaux énergétiques. En conséquence de quoi, l'impédance de l'interface électrolyte/ADN/semi-conducteur varie. Antérieurement, nous avions démontré la faisabilité de l'utilisation de films d'oxydes semi conducteurs, tels CdIn204, SnO2 pur ou dopé, présentant des surfaces denses 2D en tant qu'éléments sensibles dans des capteurs à ADN basés sur la détection par spectroscopie d'impédance électrochimique non faradique. Les résultats avaient montré que, si CdIn204 présentait une sensibilité supérieure à celle de SnO2, cet oxyde était en revanche très fragilisé durant les étapes de fonctionnalisation, ce qui n'est pas le cas de SnO2 qui est un oxyde stable et robuste chimiquement. L'objectif du présent travail a été (i) d'améliorer les performances des capteurs à base de SnO2 en utilisant cette fois des films nanostructurés (1 ou 3D) afin de développer la surface spécifique, et (ii) d'étudier comment la topologie de surface influe sur le signal de détection de l'hybridation de l'ADN. Dans un premier temps, différentes nanostructures de SnO2 ont été élaborées par la technique d'électrodéposition que nous avons montée et mise au point de façon à obtenir des films reproductibles. La morphologie désirée des films –nanofils 1D ou matrice nanoporeuse 3D- a été obtenue en modifiant la procédure et les paramètres de dépôt. Leurs caractéristiques microstructurales, morphologiques, chimiques et électriques ont été déterminées par DRX, MEB, XPS et spectroscopie d'impédance. Puis, en vue du greffage covalent d'ADN, un procédé de fonctionnalisation multi-étape a été réalisé. Enfin, dans un troisième temps, la détection de l'hybridation d'ADN sans marquage, réalisée par spectroscopie d'impédance électrochimique sur les deux types de films nanostructurés, a été réalisée. En parallèle, afin de valider l'hybridation de l'ADN, la détection par microscopie à fluorescence, soit en mode épifluorescence, soit en mode confocal, a été menée. En comparaison des surfaces denses 2D de SnO2 (étude antérieure), les résultats ont montré une sensibilité supérieure, avec une limite de détection observée d'ADN de 2 nM, montrant l'importance d'avoir une surface développée. La structuration en nanofils est plus favorable que la matrice nanoporeuse en terme de sensibilité. Par ailleurs, en utilisant des ADN cibles, soit non complémentaires, soit possédant une ou deux mutations, nous avons pu montrer le caractère hautement sélectif de notre capteur dans le cas des deux types de nanostructures. Ce travail fortement expérimental a aussi permis de montrer l'importance de l'organisation structurale et morphologique du matériau sensible sur la réponse du signal à l'hybridation d'ADN. En effet, dans le cas des nanofils, comme dans celui des films denses avec surface 2D, le signal de réponse donne systématiquement une augmentation d'impédance. Cela s'explique par le phénomène d'effet de champ explicité plus haut. En revanche, dans le cas de la matrice naporeuse de SnO2, l'hybridation d'ADN entraine une diminution de l'impédance ... / For environmental in situ diagnostic, as well as for medical point of care diagnostic, quick andaffordable sensing devices are of importance. Label-free biosensors based on electrical orelectrochemical detection methods can provide such features. In previous studies, we havedemonstrated for the first time the feasibility of using semiconductive SnO2 2D dense films fornon-faradic electrochemical impedance DNA detection. The aim of the present study is (i) toimprove the sensing performances by using SnO2 nanostructures in order to benefit from highspecific surface, and (ii) to study the influence of the morphology and microstructure on theimpedimetric DNA detection signal.We performed the cathodic electrodeposition of SnO2 nanostructures. By changing relevantprocessing parameters, two kinds of nanostructures were deposited: 3D nanoporous films and 1Dnanowires. Both nanostructures have been characterized in terms of morphology, microstructureand electrochemical properties.Our results emphasize the importance of both the microstructural and morphological organizationson the impedimetric signal upon DNA hybridization. Opposite tendencies are found. DNAhybridization induces a decrease of the impedance in the case of 3D-nanoporous films, whereasan increase of impedance is obtained in the case of 1D NWs. Indeed, following the dimensionalityof the nanostructures, either external cause - ion transport - or internal cause - field effectphenomenon - can contribute to the impedance variation.The performances of the sensors have also been analyzed, namely: sensitivity, selectivity andreusability. Compared to the 2D dense and 3D nanoporous films, the 1D SnO2 nanowires are morefavorable in term of sensitivity, showing a detection limit of 2 nM.

Após setenta anos de sua descoberta, o vírus da zika surgiu no Brasil, espalhou-se rapidamente pelas Américas e trouxe complicações incomuns em doenças causadas por Flavivirus, como a microcefalia. A Organização Mundial da Saúde classifica a zika como a doença viral mais preocupante da atualidade e considera urgente desenvolver novos métodos de diagnóstico para ela e doenças correlatas como a dengue. Embora existam exames para identificar infecções pelos vírus dessas duas doenças, ainda não há um método rápido, específico e de baixo custo para o diagnóstico precoce. Visando preencher essa lacuna, este trabalho teve como objetivo construir dois tipos de biossensores eletroquímicos de DNA para detecção label-free desses dois vírus. Foram fabricados eletrodos descartáveis em substrato de politereftalato de etileno metalizado com filme fino de ouro nas configurações com um e três contatos. As sequências genéticas de iniciadores e sondas de captura foram desenhadas especialmente para este trabalho com base na análise dos genomas dos vírus. O primeiro biossensor utilizou o eletrodo em uma célula eletroquímica e foi capaz de identificar sequências de DNA da zika ou da dengue. As análises por espectroscopia de impedância eletroquímica mostraram que o biossensor é seletivo à sequência alvo com limite de detecção de (9,86 &plusmn; 0,89) nmol L-1. O segundo biossensor utilizou um eletrodo de três contatos para identificação de sequências de DNA em uma gota da amostra. No contato central, usado como eletrodo de trabalho, foi imobilizada a sequência de captura e os contatos laterais funcionaram como eletrodos de referência e auxiliar. Nesse sistema as medidas de impedância indicaram limite de detecção de (25,0 &plusmn; 1,7) nmol L-1. Os biossensores desenvolvidos mostraram seletividade para identificar o material genético dos vírus da zika e da dengue nos ensaios com DNA sintético e, portanto, são promissores para a análise de amostras reais, principalmente de produtos da polimerase da cadeia reversa. / After seventy years of its discovery, zika virus has emerged in Brazil, spread rapidly throughout the Americas, bringing unusual complications in diseases caused by flaviviruses, such as microcephaly. The World Health Organization classifies zika as the most harmful viral disease today and considers urgent the development of new diagnostic methods for zika and related diseases, such as dengue. Although there are tests to identify both infections, no current diagnostic method is rapid, specific and cost-efective. This thesis describes two types of electrochemical DNA biosensors for label-free detection of these zika and dengue. Disposable electrodes were fabricated on polyethylene terephthalate substrates covered with a nanometric gold layer by thermal evaporation, manufactured in one- and three-contact configurations. Genetic sequences of primers and complementary capture probes were designed based on the analysis of the virus genomes. The first biosensor we developed used the new electrode in an electrochemical cell and was able to identify zika or dengue DNA sequences. Analyses by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy showed that these biosensors are selective for zika or dengue with a detection limit of (9.86 &plusmn; 0.89) nmol L-1. A second type of biosensor used a three-contact electrode to identify DNA sequences in a drop of sample. In the central contact, used as a working electrode, the capture sequence was immobilized and the lateral contacts acted as reference and auxiliary electrodes. In this system the impedance measurements indicated a limit of detection of (25.0 &plusmn; 1.7) nmol L-1. The developed biosensors showed selectivity for zika and dengue in the synthetic DNA assays, and therefore are promising for the analysis of real samples, especially the polymerase chain reaction amplicon.

The electrochemical behavior of the herbicide trifluralin (TRF), used in the weed control, was investigated in the present study by using a vitreous carbon electrode (VCE). The reduction mechanism as well as the interaction of this herbicide with the biopolymer chitosan was determined by electrochemical techniques through adsorption isotherms to evaluate the potential application of a chitosan-based biosensor to quantify it. The TRF electrochemical behavior in a VCE lead to two reduction peaks of diffusional nature related to the reduction of the two nitro group and an anodic wave correspondent to the oxidation of the group hydroxylamine generated in the cathodic sweep. A consumption of 7,75 F mol L-1 and the complete disappearance of the two reduction waves were observed during the preparative electrolysis, while the electron-Fenton reaction gave possibly dimeric structures due to the coupling between TRF radicals produced after hydroxyl radical attack. The TRF is adsorbed in chitosan by electrostatics interaction between the biopolymer ammonium ion and the dipoles in the herbicide molecule through a spontaneous and thermodynamically favorable process. The electrode modified with chitosan can be used to analyze TRF once the detection limit was ten times slower than that unmodified electrode. Some previous studies showed that TRF is toxic to the periwinkle Biomphalaria Glabrata and interacts with the DNA macromolecule. / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / O presente estudo aborda a investigação do comportamento eletroquímico do herbicida Trifluralina (TRF), umas das substâncias mais aplicadas para o controle de gramíneas, em eletrodo de carbono vítreo, através do uso de técnicas eletroquímicas visando estabelecer o mecanismo de redução, bem como verificar a interação deste herbicida com o biopolímero quitosana através das isotermas de adsorção e avaliar a possibilidade de aplicação do biossensor à base de quitosana para a sua quantificação. O comportamento eletroquímico da TRF em eletrodo de CV apresentou dois picos de redução, ambos de natureza difusional, referentes à redução dos grupos nitro, e uma onda anódica correspondente à oxidação do grupo hidroxilamínico gerado na varredura catódica. A eletrólise preparativa levou ao consumo de 7,75 F mol L-1 e ao completo desaparecimento das duas ondas de redução e a reação de eletron-fenton levou a formação de possíveis estruturas diméricas resultantes do acoplamento entre os radicais da TRF obtidos a partir do ataque da hidroxila radicalar. A TRF adsorve em quitosana mediante interação eletrostática entre o íon amônio do biopolímero e o dipolo da molécula do herbicida por um processo espontâneo e termodinamicamente favorável e o eletrodo modificado com quitosana pode ser utilizado para a detecção da TRF onde o limite de detecção foi na ordem de 7,45 x 10-8 mol L-1 dez vezes menor do que em eletrodo de CV, mostrando assim uma maior sensibilidade. O estudo eletroquímico da TRF em biossensor de dsDNA, tanto em solução como incorporado na superfície do eletrodo de CV, mostrou que a TRF interage com o dsDNA tanto na sua forma não reduzida quanto após a eletrorredução in situ. Ensaios moluscicidas mostraram que a TRF apresenta toxicidade frente ao caramujo Biomphalaria Glabrata.

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a common DNA damaging agent. Major DNA lesions, such as cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs) and pyrimidine-(6-4)-pyrimidone (6-4PPs) photoproducts, are carcinogenic and mutagenic. UV induced DNA damage was investigated using a simple electrochemical DNA biosensor based on an ultra-trace graphite electrode (UTGE) and low molecular weight doble-stranded DNA (dsDNA) from salmon sperm. Biosensor was prepared using adsorption of dsDNA on a surface of the UTGE and then used to detect UV-induced DNA damage. Effects of UV radiation were investigated using a combination of several electrochemical technics: square-wave voltammetry (SWV) for direct monitoring of DNA base oxidation and cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), as non-direct methods, using redox-active indicator [Fe(CN)6]4-/3- . CV and EIS, which allow characterization of electrode surface, were used to optimize preparation of the dsDNA/UTGE biosensor. Prepared dsDNA/UTGE biosensor was exposed to UV radiation using UV lamp with two set wavelengths: UVC of 254 nm and UVA of 365 nm. UVC radiation was used to damage DNA. Relative signal decrease was 50% after 20 minutes of exposure to UVC radiation. UVA radiation was used to compare effects of different types of UV radiation. Obtained...

The interaction between three selected representatives of environmental pollutants - naphthalene, anthracene, and 2-aminoanthracene - and DNA was investigated using an electrochemical DNA biosensor based on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) and low molecular weight DNA from salmon sperm (DNA/GCE). The interactions with DNA were monitored using square wave voltammetry (SWV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). For naphthalene, there was no DNA damaging interaction observed. In the case of anthracene, the formation of an intercalation complex [DNA-anthracene] was observed. However, its formation does not cause DNA strand breaks. The formation of similar intercalation complex was observed for 2-aminoanthracene [DNA-2-aminoanthracene], where we suppose on the basis of the results obtained that the intercalation of 2-aminoanthracene into the DNA double helix induces a tension and subsequent formation of single-strand breaks, which cause that the fragments of DNA fall away from the electrode surface. The intercalative interaction of DNA with anthracene a 2-aminoanthracene was used in the development of electrochemical methods for determination of these compounds at the GCE and DNA/GCE. At the development of the methods, DC voltammetry (DCV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) were used....

Presented Diploma Thesis is focused on the development, characterization, and utilization of simple and inexpensive electrochemical DNA biosensor for the detection of DNA damage caused by oxidative stress. The initial part of the work is devoted to preparation and characterization of a large-surface carbon film electrode (ls-CFE) modified with carbon nanotubes (CNT/ls-CFE). Carbon nanotubes improve electrochemical properties of the transducer and increase the amount of adsorbed DNA on the electrode surface. Testing of the electrode surface modified with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) was performed using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) using a redox system [Fe(CN)6]4-/3- and using square wave voltammetry without any redox indicator. Carbon nanotubes have proved to be unsuitable material for our type of biosensor, but it can be used inanalytical chemistry for the determination of electroactive substances. The second part of this Thesis deals with the application of the prepared DNA biosensor for the detection of DNA damage by oxidative stress. The biosensor based on the ls-CFE was chosen for this purpose, having several advantages, such as its fast preparation, a simple mechanical renewal of the electrode surface, a good reproducibility of measurements,...