Uric acid is a clinically relevant biomolecule and its detection is important due to its links to a myriad of diseases and medical concerns, including, but not limited to, gout and diabetes. Certain soluble, biocompatible self-assembling peptides have conductive properties that make them useful in electrochemical sensing schemes. We are studying the incorporation of synthesized self-assembling peptide structures in a layered electrochemical sensing scheme for uric acid. The scheme employs drop casting layers of self-assembling peptide nanostructures, β-cyclodextrin, and Nafion onto the surface of glassy carbon electrodes. Along with being biocompatible, peptides are highly modifiable biomolecules that can create self-assembling nanostructures from short sequences. Research in the field has focused on sequences that demonstrate π-bond stacking such as the diphenylalanine motif present in the Aβ-42 amyloid-beta sequence, as well as sequences that form α-helical superstructures. With this in mind, peptides were synthesized using the nucleating core of the Aβ-42 amyloid beta sequence in order to investigate the most effective short peptide sequence that can be used in a uric acid electrochemical sensor. The resulting structures and electronic properties associated with these modified peptide systems have promise as components in uric acid sensors.

Investigating the potential of self-assembling peptide systems for uric acid electrochemical sensing applications

2019 Spring National Meeting

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