Green CoNi₂S₄/porphyrin decorated carbon-based nanocomposites for genetic materials detection

A one-pot synthesis method was conceptualized and implemented to develop green carbon-based nanocomposites working as biosensors. Porphyrin was synthesized to adorn the surface of nanocomposites making them highly sensitive for giving rise to π-π interactions between the genetic materials, proteins and porphyrin rings. The hydrogen bond formed between the proteins (analytes) and the nitrogen in the porphyrin structure as well as the surface hydroxyl groups was equally probable. In this context, different forms of porphyrins were incorporated to explore the interrelationship between the surface morphology and the ability of detection of genetic material and/or proteins by the aid of the synthesized structures. This phenomenon was conceptualized to optimize the interactions between the biomolecules and the substrate by reaching significant biosensor application in the presence of Anti-cas9 protein and sgRNA (concentration changed between 10 and 500 n mol/L). Almost full quenching of fluorescence emission was observed after addition of 300 n mol/L of Anti-cas9 protein and 250 n mol/L of sgRNA. Surprisingly, CoNi₂S₄ provided 12%–29% cytotoxicity in both HEK-293 and PC12 cell lines.