Functionalized xenon as a biosensor

TLDR

Detection of biological molecules is a key component of biomedical research, yet current biosensors can simultaneously detect only a few analytes due to spectral overlap. The authors developed an NMR‑based xenon biosensor that uses laser‑polarized xenon to detect specific biomolecules at tens of nanomoles and can be extended to multiplex assays. The biosensor employs laser‑polarized xenon functionalized with a biotin‑modified supramolecular cage to probe biotin–avidin interactions via NMR. The system successfully detected biotin–avidin binding, demonstrating the feasibility of xenon functionalization for specific biomolecule sensing.

Abstract

The detection of biological molecules and their interactions is a significant component of modern biomedical research. In current biosensor technologies, simultaneous detection is limited to a small number of analytes by the spectral overlap of their signals. We have developed an NMR-based xenon biosensor that capitalizes on the enhanced signal-to-noise, spectral simplicity, and chemical-shift sensitivity of laser-polarized xenon to detect specific biomolecules at the level of tens of nanomoles. We present results using xenon “functionalized” by a biotin-modified supramolecular cage to detect biotin–avidin binding. This biosensor methodology can be extended to a multiplexing assay for multiple analytes.