The development of rapid and precise methods for detecting metal ions has emerged as a critical concern. In this study, we present a novel and highly miniaturized glass capillary system designed for the specific, rapid, and cost-effective detection of heavy metal ions, focusing on chromium (Cr3+) as a representative example.
Applied capillaries were made of fused silica (tailored and drawn in-house), and their used pieces accommodated volumes as low as 2.9 µL. The measurement setup consisted of the laser source and optical detector collecting spectra in the wavelength range of 200-900 nm. The specificity of the detection in the system was provided by the engineered green fluorescent protein (eGFP, developed in-house), which undergoes conformational changes upon interaction between its engineered metal-binding loop - and specific metal ion. Consequently, the fluorescence emission of eGFP is either emitted or enhanced.
The obtained results clearly demonstrate distinct changes in fluorescence intensity corresponding to varying concentrations (50 pM to 50 µM) of metal ions. Detection of 500 pM was feasible even with the mere presence of ng of the receptor protein - eGFP.
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