Silica Microparticle Biosensor

Gene to Diagnostic: Self-immobilizing protein for silica microparticle biosensor, modeled with sarcosine oxidase.

-Monitoring Protein Expression with an increase in mCherry fluorescence -R5 Peptide -immobilized protein stable for more than 2 months at RTP -silica acts immobilization encapsulant while retaining the activity of biomolecules

Main Components 1) the central functional assay protein (enzyme e.g Monomeric Sarcosine Oxidase/mSox) 2) a visualizing protein ( fluorescent protein)

-they used mCherry
-GFP showed no significant absorption to silica nanoparticles unless denatured
- Red fluorescent protein slightly better than GFP but must also be denatured  

3)In-built immobilization peptide

4) possible platforms: sillica, paper, metals, carbon

- dependant on type of peptide chosen 

Process -They designed the visualizing proteins -Silica isolation (less than 5 g of sand needed)

requires centrifugation 
takes 5 days

-immobilization of Protein

 sonicated (1 hour)
 rotated (1 hour) 
 calculated % of immobilization through Bradford Assay and fluorescence intensity 

HourGlass Biosensor Method