Boolean-logic-based nano-platform for competitive detection of biomacromolecules, surfactants, and explosives

• The detection for heparin, sodium dodecyl sulfate, and picric acid is presented.
• The colorimetric assay is based on unmodified AuNPs.
• The proposed method is rapid to response, easy to operate and low-cost to detect.
• The dispersion-dominated method could effectively reduce false results.
• The proposed method is successfully applied in real sample assay.

We introduce a competitive strategy based on gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) to construct a nano-platform for sensing negatively charged analytes (NCA), including biomacromolecules, surfactants, and explosives. This approach is based on the competitive binding between NCA and AuNPs to positively charged coralyne. In the presence of NCA, the electrostatic attraction between NCA and coralyne is stronger than AuNPs binding to coralyne. The competitive interactions are programmable and can be utilized to regulate the absorbance and solution color of AuNPs via Boolean logic (such as YES, NOT, OR, INHIBIT, IMPLICATION logic gates). These integrated logic circuits are constructed based on dispersion-dominated AuNPs sensing progress, which avoids false results generated from the aggregation-dominated AuNPs sensor. The new concept of Boolean-logic-based nano-platform may find applications in a wide range of biological digital diagnosis and practical environmental applications and extend to further development of molecular computing circuits.

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