Clinical detection of human neutrophil elastase (HNE) as point of care biomarker or in situ colorimetric adjuvant to chronic wound dressings presents potential advantages in the management of chronic wounds.  A colorimetric approach to the detection of HNE using cotton cellulose nanocrystals (CCN) is reported here.  HNE tripeptide substrate n-Succinyl-Alanine-Alanine-Valine-para-nitroanilide was covalently attached to glycine esterified CCN and compared with tetrapeptide analog as a colorimetric HNE sensor.  Two color amplifying dyes which react with the released chromogen were compared for their ability to enhance the visual response to HNE activity.  The HNE sensor and dyes were interfaced tested with both a 50 and 10 kD dialysis cellulose membrane to model filtration of HNE and chromogen (pNA) from a putative wound dressing surface before and after biosensor reactivity, respectively.  Sensitivity of detection at 0.05 U/mL HNE was observed when interfaced with 10kD membrane.  The performance issues of design approaches are discussed.

Colorimetric elastase sensor with peptide conjugated cellulose nanocrystals is interfaced to dialysis membranes

245th National Meeting (2013)

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