10.1021/acssensors.7b00210.s001 Golbarg M. Roozbahani Golbarg M. Roozbahani Xiaohan Chen Xiaohan Chen Youwen Zhang Youwen Zhang Ruiqi Xie Ruiqi Xie Rui Ma Rui Ma Dien Li Dien Li Huazhong Li Huazhong Li Xiyun Guan Xiyun Guan Peptide-Mediated Nanopore Detection of Uranyl Ions in Aqueous Media American Chemical Society 2017 Peptide-Mediated Nanopore Detection peptide events water samples micromolar concentrations monitoring uranyl ions Aqueous Media Uranium nanomolar concentration peptide probe Uranyl Ions uranium production activity label-free method detection UO 2017-05-04 00:00:00 Journal contribution https://acs.figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Peptide-Mediated_Nanopore_Detection_of_Uranyl_Ions_in_Aqueous_Media/4996700 Uranium is one of the most common radioactive contaminants in the environment. As a major nuclear material in production, environmental samples (like soil and groundwater) can provide signatures on uranium production activity inside the facility. Thus, developing a new and portable analytical technology for uranium in aqueous media is significant not only for environmental monitoring, but also for nonproliferation. In this work, a label-free method for the detection of uranyl (UO<sub>2</sub><sup>2+</sup>) ions is developed by monitoring the translocation of a peptide probe in a nanopore. Based on the difference in the number of peptide events in the absence and presence of uranyl ions, nanomolar concentration of UO<sub>2</sub><sup>2+</sup> ions could be detected in minutes. The method is highly selective; micromolar concentrations of Cd<sup>2+</sup>, Cu<sup>2+</sup>, Zn<sup>2+</sup>, Ni<sup>2+</sup>, Pb<sup>2+</sup>, Hg<sup>2+</sup>, Th<sup>4+</sup>, Mg<sup>2+</sup>, and Ca<sup>2+</sup> would not interfere with the detection of UO<sub>2</sub><sup>2+</sup> ions. In addition, simulated water samples were successfully analyzed.