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Milne SA, Lasserre P, Corrigan DK. Fabrication of a graphite-paraffin carbon paste electrode and demonstration of its use in electrochemical detection strategies. Analyst 2024; 149:4736-4746. [PMID: 39114971 DOI: 10.1039/d4an00392f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/10/2024]
Abstract
Electrochemical detection methods hold many advantages over their optical counterparts, such as operation in complex sample matrices, low-cost and high volume manufacture and possible equipment miniaturisation. Despite these advantages, the use of electrochemical detection is currently limited in the clinical setting. There is a wide range of potential electrode materials, selected for optimal signal-to-noise ratios and reproducibility when detecting target analytes. The use of carbon paste electrodes (CPEs) for electrochemical detection can be limited by their analytical performance, however they remain very attractive due to their low cost and biocompatibility. This paper presents the fabrication of an easy-to-make and use graphite powder/paraffin wax paste combined with a substrate produced via additive manufacturing and confirms its functionality for both direct and indirect electrochemical measurements. The produced CPEs enable the direct voltammetric detection of hexaammineruthenium(III) chloride and dopamine at an experimental limit of detection (ELoD) of 62.5 μM. The key inflammatory biomarker Interleukin-6 through an enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) was also quantified, yielding a clinically-relevant ELoD of 150 pg ml-1 in 10% human serum. The performance of low-cost and easy-to-use CPEs obtained in 0.5 hours is showcased in this study, demonstrating the platform's potential uses for point-of-need electroanalytical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stuart A Milne
- University of Strathclyde, Biomedical Engineering, Wolfson Centre, 106 Richmond St, Glasgow G1 1XQ, UK.
| | - Perrine Lasserre
- University of Strathclyde, Pure and Applied Chemistry, Thomas Graham Building, 295 Cathedral St, Glasgow G1 1XL, UK
| | - Damion K Corrigan
- University of Strathclyde, Pure and Applied Chemistry, Thomas Graham Building, 295 Cathedral St, Glasgow G1 1XL, UK
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2
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Hang Z, Zhou L, Bian X, Liu G, Cui F, Du H, Wen Y. Potential application of aptamers combined with DNA nanoflowers in neurodegenerative diseases. Ageing Res Rev 2024; 100:102444. [PMID: 39084322 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2024.102444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2024] [Revised: 07/09/2024] [Accepted: 07/28/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024]
Abstract
The efficacy of neurotherapeutic drugs hinges on their ability to traverse the blood-brain barrier and access the brain, which is crucial for treating or alleviating neurodegenerative diseases (NDs). Given the absence of definitive cures for NDs, early diagnosis and intervention become paramount in impeding disease progression. However, conventional therapeutic drugs and existing diagnostic approaches must meet clinical demands. Consequently, there is a pressing need to advance drug delivery systems and early diagnostic methods tailored for NDs. Certain aptamers endowed with specific functionalities find widespread utility in the targeted therapy and diagnosis of NDs. DNA nanoflowers (DNFs), distinctive flower-shaped DNA nanomaterials, are intricately self-assembled through rolling ring amplification (RCA) of circular DNA templates. Notably, imbuing DNFs with diverse functionalities becomes seamlessly achievable by integrating aptamer sequences with specific functions into RCA templates, resulting in a novel nanomaterial, aptamer-bound DNFs (ADNFs) that amalgamates the advantageous features of both components. This article delves into the characteristics and applications of aptamers and DNFs, exploring the potential or application of ADNFs in drug-targeted delivery, direct treatment, early diagnosis, etc. The objective is to offer prospective ideas for the clinical treatment or diagnosis of NDs, thereby contributing to the ongoing efforts in this critical field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongci Hang
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Bioengineering and Sensing Technology, Daxing Research Institute, School of Chemistry and Biological Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Liping Zhou
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Bioengineering and Sensing Technology, Daxing Research Institute, School of Chemistry and Biological Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China.
| | - Xiaochun Bian
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Bioengineering and Sensing Technology, Daxing Research Institute, School of Chemistry and Biological Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Guotao Liu
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Bioengineering and Sensing Technology, Daxing Research Institute, School of Chemistry and Biological Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Fenghe Cui
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Affiliated Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital of Qingdao University, No. 20 Yuhuangdingdong Road, Zhifu District, Yantai, Shandong 264000, China.
| | - Hongwu Du
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Bioengineering and Sensing Technology, Daxing Research Institute, School of Chemistry and Biological Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China.
| | - Yongqiang Wen
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Bioengineering and Sensing Technology, Daxing Research Institute, School of Chemistry and Biological Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China.
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Dobrea A, Hall N, Milne S, Corrigan DK, Jimenez M. A plug-and-play, easy-to-manufacture fluidic accessory to significantly enhance the sensitivity of electrochemical immunoassays. Sci Rep 2024; 14:14154. [PMID: 38898088 PMCID: PMC11187161 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-64852-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Earlier access to patients' biomarker status could transform disease management. However, gold-standard techniques such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) are typically not deployed at the point-of-care due to their cumbersome instrumentation and complexity. Electrochemical immunosensors can be disruptive in this sector with their small size and lower cost but, without further modifications, the performance of these sensors in complex media (e.g., blood) has been limited. This paper presents a low-cost fluidic accessory fabricated using widely accessible materials and processes for boosting sensor sensitivity through confinement of the detection media next to the electrode surface. Liquid confinement first highlighted a spontaneous reaction between the pseudoreference electrode and ELISA detection substrate 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) that decreases the amount of oxTMB available for detection. Different strategies are investigated to limit this and maximize reliability. Next, flow cell integration during the signal amplification step of sensor preparation was shown to substantially enhance the detection of cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) with the best sensitivity boost recorded for fresh human plasma (x7 increase compared to x5.8 in purified serum and x5.5 in PBS). The flow cell requires no specialized equipment and can be seamlessly integrated with commercial sensors, making an ideal companion for electrochemical signal enhancement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Dobrea
- Biomedical Engineering Department, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, G4 0NW, UK.
- James Watt School of Engineering, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK.
| | - Nicole Hall
- Biomedical Engineering Department, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, G4 0NW, UK
| | - Stuart Milne
- Biomedical Engineering Department, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, G4 0NW, UK
- Pure and Applied Chemistry Department, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, G4 0NW, UK
| | - Damion K Corrigan
- Pure and Applied Chemistry Department, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, G4 0NW, UK
| | - Melanie Jimenez
- Biomedical Engineering Department, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, G4 0NW, UK
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4
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Kumar DR, Banaś A, Krukiewicz K. Challenges and Advances in Biomarker Detection for Rapid and Accurate Sepsis Diagnosis: An Electrochemical Approach. BIOSENSORS 2024; 14:309. [PMID: 38920613 PMCID: PMC11202072 DOI: 10.3390/bios14060309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2024] [Revised: 06/09/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024]
Abstract
Sepsis is a life-threatening condition with high mortality rates due to delayed treatment of patients. The conventional methodology for blood diagnosis takes several hours, which suspends treatment, limits early drug administration, and affects the patient's recovery. Thus, rapid, accurate, bedside (onsite), economical, and reliable sepsis biomarker reading of the clinical sample is an emergent need for patient lifesaving. Electrochemical label-free biosensors are specific and rapid devices that are able to perform analysis at the patient's bedside; thus, they are considered an attractive methodology in a clinical setting. To reveal their full diagnostic potential, electrode architecture strategies of fabrication are highly desirable, particularly those able to preserve specific antibody-antigen attraction, restrict non-specific adsorption, and exhibit high sensitivity with a low detection limit for a target biomarker. The aim of this review is to provide state-of-the-art methodologies allowing the fabrication of ultrasensitive and highly selective electrochemical sensors for sepsis biomarkers. This review focuses on different methods of label-free biomarker sensors and discusses their advantages and disadvantages. Then, it highlights effective ways of avoiding false results and the role of molecular labels and functionalization. Recent literature on electrode materials and antibody grafting strategies is discussed, and the most efficient methodology for overcoming the non-specific attraction issues is listed. Finally, we discuss the existing electrode architecture for specific biomarker readers and promising tactics for achieving quick and low detection limits for sepsis biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deivasigamani Ranjith Kumar
- Centre for Organic and Nanohybrid Electronics, Silesian University of Technology, Konarskiego 22B, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland;
| | - Angelika Banaś
- Department of Physical Chemistry and Technology of Polymers, Silesian University of Technology, M. Strzody 9, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland;
| | - Katarzyna Krukiewicz
- Centre for Organic and Nanohybrid Electronics, Silesian University of Technology, Konarskiego 22B, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland;
- Department of Physical Chemistry and Technology of Polymers, Silesian University of Technology, M. Strzody 9, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland;
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Whitehouse WL, Lo LHY, Kinghorn AB, Shiu SCC, Tanner JA. Structure-Switching Electrochemical Aptasensor for Rapid, Reagentless, and Single-Step Nanomolar Detection of C-Reactive Protein. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2024; 7:3721-3730. [PMID: 38485932 DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.4c00061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
C-reactive protein (CRP) is an acute-phase reactant and sensitive indicator for sepsis and other life-threatening pathologies, including systemic inflammatory response syndrome. Currently, clinical turn-around times for established CRP detection methods take between 30 min to hours or even days from centralized laboratories. Here, we report the development of an electrochemical biosensor using redox probe-tagged DNA aptamers, functionalized onto inexpensive, commercially available screen-printed electrodes. Binding-induced conformational switching of the CRP-targeting aptamer induces a specific and selective signal-ON event, which enables single-step and reagentless detection of CRP in as little as 1 min. The aptasensor limit of detection spans approximately 20-60 nM in 50% human serum with dynamic response windows spanning 1-200 or 1-500 nM (R = 0.97/R = 0.98 respectively). The sensor is stable for at least 1 week and can be reused numerous times, as judged from repeated real-time dosing and dose-response assays. By decoupling binding events from the signal induction mechanism, structure-switching electrochemical aptamer-based sensors provide considerable advantages over their adsorption-based counterparts. Our work expands on the retinue of such sensors reported in the literature and is the first instance of structure-switching electrochemical aptamer-based sensors (SS-EABs) for reagentless, voltammetric CRP detection. We hope this study inspires further investigations into the suitability of SS-EABs for diagnostics, which will aid translational R&D toward fully realized devices aimed at point-of-care applications or for broader use by the public.
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Affiliation(s)
- William L Whitehouse
- Advanced Biomedical Instrumentation Center, Hong Kong Science Park, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China
| | - Louisa H Y Lo
- Advanced Biomedical Instrumentation Center, Hong Kong Science Park, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China
| | - Andrew B Kinghorn
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Simon C C Shiu
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Julian A Tanner
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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Díaz-Fernández A, de-Los-Santos-Álvarez N, Lobo-Castañón MJ. Capacitive spectroscopy as transduction mechanism for wearable biosensors: opportunities and challenges. Anal Bioanal Chem 2024; 416:2089-2095. [PMID: 38093115 PMCID: PMC10950950 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-023-05066-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
Wearable sensors would revolutionize healthcare and personalized medicine by providing individuals with continuous and real-time data about their bodies and environments. Their integration into everyday life has the potential to enhance well-being, improve healthcare outcomes, and offer new opportunities for research. Capacitive sensors technology has great potential to enrich wearable devices, extending their use to more accurate physiological indicators. On the basis of capacitive sensors developed so far to monitor physical parameters, and taking into account the advances in capacitive biosensors, this work discusses the benefits of this type of transduction to design wearables for the monitoring of biomolecules. Moreover, it provides insights into the challenges that must be overcome to take advantage of capacitive transduction in wearable sensors for health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Díaz-Fernández
- Departamento de Química Física y Analítica, Universidad de Oviedo, Av. Julián Clavería 8, 33006, Oviedo, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias, Avenida de Roma, 33011, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Noemí de-Los-Santos-Álvarez
- Departamento de Química Física y Analítica, Universidad de Oviedo, Av. Julián Clavería 8, 33006, Oviedo, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias, Avenida de Roma, 33011, Oviedo, Spain
| | - María Jesús Lobo-Castañón
- Departamento de Química Física y Analítica, Universidad de Oviedo, Av. Julián Clavería 8, 33006, Oviedo, Spain.
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias, Avenida de Roma, 33011, Oviedo, Spain.
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Sitkov N, Ryabko A, Moshnikov V, Aleshin A, Kaplun D, Zimina T. Hybrid Impedimetric Biosensors for Express Protein Markers Detection. MICROMACHINES 2024; 15:181. [PMID: 38398911 PMCID: PMC10890403 DOI: 10.3390/mi15020181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
Impedimetric biosensors represent a powerful and promising tool for studying and monitoring biological processes associated with proteins and can contribute to the development of new approaches in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. The basic principles, analytical methods, and applications of hybrid impedimetric biosensors for express protein detection in biological fluids are described. The advantages of this type of biosensors, such as simplicity and speed of operation, sensitivity and selectivity of analysis, cost-effectiveness, and an ability to be integrated into hybrid microfluidic systems, are demonstrated. Current challenges and development prospects in this area are analyzed. They include (a) the selection of materials for electrodes and formation of nanostructures on their surface; (b) the development of efficient methods for biorecognition elements' deposition on the electrodes' surface, providing the specificity and sensitivity of biosensing; (c) the reducing of nonspecific binding and interference, which could affect specificity; (d) adapting biosensors to real samples and conditions of operation; (e) expanding the range of detected proteins; and, finally, (f) the development of biosensor integration into large microanalytical system technologies. This review could be useful for researchers working in the field of impedimetric biosensors for protein detection, as well as for those interested in the application of this type of biosensor in biomedical diagnostics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikita Sitkov
- Department of Micro and Nanoelectronics, Saint Petersburg Electrotechnical University “LETI”, 197022 Saint Petersburg, Russia; (V.M.); (T.Z.)
- Engineering Centre for Microtechnology and Diagnostics, Saint Petersburg Electrotechnical University “LETI”, 197022 Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Andrey Ryabko
- Laboratory of Nonequilibrium Processes in Semiconductors, Ioffe Institute, 26 Politekhnicheskaya, 194021 Saint Petersburg, Russia;
| | - Vyacheslav Moshnikov
- Department of Micro and Nanoelectronics, Saint Petersburg Electrotechnical University “LETI”, 197022 Saint Petersburg, Russia; (V.M.); (T.Z.)
| | - Andrey Aleshin
- Laboratory of Nonequilibrium Processes in Semiconductors, Ioffe Institute, 26 Politekhnicheskaya, 194021 Saint Petersburg, Russia;
| | - Dmitry Kaplun
- Artificial Intelligence Research Institute, China University of Mining and Technology, 1 Daxue Road, Xuzhou 221116, China;
- Department of Automation and Control Processes, Saint Petersburg Electrotechnical University “LETI”, 197022 Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Tatiana Zimina
- Department of Micro and Nanoelectronics, Saint Petersburg Electrotechnical University “LETI”, 197022 Saint Petersburg, Russia; (V.M.); (T.Z.)
- Engineering Centre for Microtechnology and Diagnostics, Saint Petersburg Electrotechnical University “LETI”, 197022 Saint Petersburg, Russia
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