Layer-by-layer assembly of gold nanoparticles and cysteamine on gold electrode for immunosensing of human chorionic gonadotropin at picogram levels

Electrochemical biosensors for monitoring of selected pregnancy hormones during the first trimester: A systematic review

The hormones human chorionic gonadotropin, progesterone, estrogen and four of its metabolites (estradiol, estrone, estriol, estetrol), as well as relaxin play an essential role in the development of the fetus during the first trimester. Imbalances in these hormones during the first trimester have been directly linked to miscarriages. However, frequent monitoring of the hormones is limited by the current conventional centralized analytical tools that do not allow a rapid response time. Electrochemical sensing is considered an ideal tool to detect hormones owing to its advantages such as quick response, user-friendliness, low economic costs, and possibility of use in point-of-care settings. Electrochemical detection of pregnancy hormones is an emerging field that has been demonstrated primarily at research level. Thus, it is timely with a comprehensive overview of the characteristics of the reported detection techniques. This is the first extensive review focusing on the advances related to electrochemical detection of hormones linked to the first trimester of pregnancy. Additionally, this review offers insights into the main challenges that must be addressed imminently to ensure progress from research to clinical applications.

Advances on Hormones and Steroids Determination: A Review of Voltammetric Methods since 2000

This article presents advances in the electrochemical determination of hormones and steroids since 2000. A wide spectrum of techniques and working electrodes have been involved in the reported measurements in order to obtain the lowest possible limits of detection. The voltammetric and polarographic techniques, due to their sensitivity and easiness, could be used as alternatives to other, more complicated, analytical assays. Still, growing interest in designing a new construction of the working electrodes enables us to prepare new measurement procedures and obtain lower limits of detection. A brief description of the measured compounds has been presented, along with a comparison of the obtained results.

Electrochemiluminescence immunoassay of human chorionic gonadotropin using silver carbon quantum dots and functionalized polymer nanospheres

A composite, reduced graphene oxide (rGO) doped with silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs), was prepared by using binary reductants of sodium citrate and hydrazine hydrate. Carbon quantum dots (CQDs) synthesized by papaya peel combined with silver ions to form a CQDs-loaded silver nanoparticle (AgCQDs) nanocomposite. Polymer nanospheres (PNS) were generated via the infinite coordination polymer of ferrocene dicarboxylic acid and employed as carriers to load AgCQDs. The prepared AgCQDs@PNS-PEI has good biocompatibility and electrical conductivity and can be used as a matrix for the immobilization of a secondary antibody (Ab2). A sandwich-type electrochemiluminescence (ECL) immunosensor using AgCQDs@PNS-PEI nanocomposite as probe has been developed for the detection of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). The proposed immunosensor exhibits a linear range from 0.00100 to 500 mIU mL^-1 and the detection limit is 0.33 μIU mL^-1 (S/N = 3) under optimal conditions. The sensor exhibits excellent selectivity, good reproducibility, and high stability. These features demonstrate that the proposed method has promising potential for clinical protein detection and displays a new strategy to fabricate an immunosensor. Graphical abstract.

An electrochemical sensor based on chitosan capped with gold nanoparticles combined with a voltammetric electronic tongue for quantitative aspirin detection in human physiological fluids and tablets

Inflammatory diseases increase has recently sparked the research interest for drugs diagnostic tools development. At therapeutic doses, acetylsalicylic acid (ASA or aspirin) is widely used for these diseases' treatment. ASA overdoses can however give rise to adverse side effects including ulcers, gastric damage. Hence, development of simple, portable and sensitive methods for ASA detection is desirable. This paper reports aspirin analysis in urine, saliva and pharmaceutical tablet using an electrochemical sensor and a voltammetric electronic tongue (VE-Tongue). The electrochemical sensor was fabricated by self-assembling chitosan capped with gold nanoparticles (Cs + AuNPs) on a screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE). It exhibits a logarithmic-linear relationship between its response and the ASA concentration in the range between 1 pg/mL and 1 μg/mL. A low detection limit (0.03 pg/mL), good selectivity against phenol and benzoic acid interference, and successful practical application were demonstrated. Qualitative analysis was performed using the VE-Tongue based unmodified metal electrodes combined with two chemometric approaches to classify urine samples spiked with different aspirin concentrations. Partial least squares (PLS) method provided prediction models obtained from the data of both devices with a regression correlation coefficient R² = 0.99. Correspondingly, the SPCE/(Cs + AuNPs) electrochemical sensor and VE-Tongue could be viable tools for biological analysis of drugs.

Dual-Signaling Amplification Electrochemical Aptasensor Based on Hollow Polymeric Nanospheres for Acetamiprid Detection

In this work, we first reported a dual-signaling electrochemical aptasensor based on layer-by-layer template technology and catalytic amplification for acetamiprid detection. Herein, the signal probe of the ferrocene (Fc)-based hollow polymeric nanospheres (Fc-HPNs) were prepared with repeated electrostatic adsorption between anionic poly(acrylic acid) and hyperbranched cationic polyethylenimine. In addition, ascorbic acid (AA) as an enhancer can catalyze the reduction of Fc-HPNs, which results in significant enhancement of the oxidation peak current of Fc-HPNs. Remarkably, the Fc-HPNs played dual roles: as nanocarriers to significantly increase the load amount of Fc and as nanoreducers to effectively catalyze reduction by AA for further signal amplification. Therefore, because of the special nanostructures of Fc-HPNs and the effective catalytic effect of AA, a dual-signaling electrochemical aptasensor was proposed. Surprisingly, this proposed assay for trace amounts of target detection exhibits excellent sensitivity with a linear range from 10 nM to 1 fM and a limit of detection down to 0.33 fM (S/N = 3), which opened a novel avenue and versatile strategy for monitoring of acetamiprid.

An impedimetric biosensor for DNA damage detection and study of the protective effect of deferoxamine against DNA damage

The detection and inhibition of DNA damage are of great importance in the prevention and treatment of diseases. Developing a simple and sensitive tool for this purpose would be a chance to monitor the DNA damage and could be helpful in introducing some drugs which can prevent this phenomenon. Here, we report a novel and sensitive electrochemical biosensor based on DNA/Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) modified screen printed gold electrode (DNA/AuNPs/SPGE) to investigate the DNA damage process and also to study the protective behavior of deferoxamine (DFO). The proposed biosensor was fabricated by electrodeposition of AuNPs onto SPGE, followed by chemical immobilisation of thiol-terminated DNA. Cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) have been used to characterise this biosensor. Hydroxyl radical (OH), which is generated during the Fenton reaction, is responsible for the induced damage to DNA. EIS technique was applied to monitor the DNA damage, and the increase in charge transfer resistance (R_ct) following the DNA damage, was considered as an indicator. Furthermore, the ability of the electrochemical screening system was proved by the investigation of the antioxidant effect of DFO in prohibiting the DNA damage.

A novel electrochemical aptasensor for highly sensitive and quantitative detection of the streptomycin antibiotic

In the present study, we report a facile approach to employ gold nanoparticle (AuNPs) and thiol graphene quantum dots (GQD-SH) as the nanomaterial for ultrasensitive detection of streptomycin (STR). Based on this strategy, a GQD-SH was immobilized onto the surface of a glassy carbon electrode (GCE). AuNPs have been immobilized on SH groups of GQDs through bonding formation of AuS and Apt have been loaded on the electrode surface through the interaction between thiol group of aptamer. By incubating STR as a target onto the surface of the prepared Apt/AuNPs/GQD-SH/GCE as a proposed nanoaptasensor, the Apt/STR complex was formed and the changes of the electrochemical signal were evaluated with the EIS technique. The proposed nanoaptasensor showed wide linear range from 0.1 to 700pgml^-1. Finally, the proposed nanoaptasensor was successfully applied for the determination of STR in real samples and satisfactory results were obtained.

Advances in human chorionic gonadotropin detection technologies: a review

Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) is a glycoprotein secreted by placental trophoblast cells in pregnancy. HCG is a heterodimer composed of two different α- and β-subunits, with the latter being unique to HCG. As well as being the most important diagnostic markers for pregnancy, HCG is also a tumor marker, therefore, quantitative detection of HCG is of great value. Numerous advanced technologies have been developed for HCG concentration detection including electrochemical immunoassay, chemiluminescent immunoassay, fluorescence immunoassay, resonance scattering spectrometry, atomic emission spectrometry, radioimmunoassay, MS and so on. Some have pursued simple and easy operation, while others have emphasized on accuracy and applications in clinical medicine. This review provides a comprehensive summary of various methods of detecting HCG.