Gold surface patterned with cyclodextrin-based molecular nanopores for electrochemical assay of transglutaminase activity

•Electrochemical method for transglutaminase activity•Cyclic voltammetry for non-redox enzyme assay•Gold patterned with molecular nanopores for the enzyme-controlled diffusion of Fe(CN)63 −/4 −•Mixed monolayer of aminated β-cyclodextrin/1-octanethiol as substrate for transglutaminase

A novel electrochemical method for measuring transglutaminase activity was reported. This approach was based on the patterning of gold electrodes with a mixed self-assembled monolayer of perthiolated β-cyclodextrin and 1-octanethiol. The proper functionalization of β-cyclodextrin with primary amino groups allowed it to act as amino-donor substrates for transglutaminase and molecular nanopores for the enzyme-controlled diffusion of Fe(CN)63 −/4 − to the electrode surface. Voltamperometric measurements allowed detection of transglutaminase in the range of 1.9–37 mU/mL with a sensitivity of 1.42 nA μL U− 1 s− 1.

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