Magnetic Fe3O4-Based Sandwich-Type Biosensor Using Modified Gold Nanoparticles as Colorimetric Probes for the Detection of Dopamine

In this work, we designed a visual biosensor for dopamine (DA) detection using magnetic Fe₃O₄ particles and dithiobis(sulfosuccinimidylpropionate)-modified gold nanoparticles (DTSSP-AuNPs) as the recognition elements. Specifically, DA molecules were assembled onto the surface of DTSSP-AuNPs via the amine coupling reaction between the amino group of DA and activated carboxyl group of DTSSP. Accordingly, DA-anchored DTSSP-AuNPs were captured by Fe₃O₄ through the interaction of catechol and iron. In a magnetic field, the formed Fe₃O₄-DA-DTSSP-AuNPs conjugates were easily removed from the solution, leading to fading of the AuNPs suspension and decrease of the UV/Vis signal. As a result, a detection limit of 10 nM for DA was achieved. The theoretical simplicity and high selectivity demonstrated that the sandwich-type strategy based on Fe₃O₄ and AuNPs would lead to many colorimetric detection applications in clinical study by rationally designing the surface chemistry of AuNPs and Fe₃O₄.