Rapid and label-free detection of Brucella melitensis in milk and milk products using an aptasensor

A multimetallic nanozyme enhanced colorimetric biosensor for Salmonella detection on finger-actuated microfluidic chip

Salmonella screening is essential to avoid food poisoning. A simple, fast and sensitive colorimetric biosensor was elaborately developed for Salmonella detection on a microfluidic chip through limiting air chambers for precise air control, switching rotary valves for accurate fluid selection, a convergence-and-divergence passive micromixer and an extrusion-and-suction active micromixer for efficient fluid mixing, and immune gold@platinum palladium nanocatalysts for effective signal amplification. The mixture of bacteria, immune magnetic nanobeads and nanocatalysts was first rapidly mixed to form nanobead-bacteria-nanocatalyst conjugates and magnetically separated for enrichment. After washing with water, the conjugates were used to catalyze colorless substrate and blue product was finally analyzed using ImageJ for quantifying bacterial concentration. The finger-actuated microfluidic chip enabled designated control of designated fluids in designated places towards designated directions by simple press-release operations on designated air chambers without any external power. Under optimal conditions, this sensor could detect Salmonella at 45 CFU/mL in 25 min.

Bioreceptor modified electrochemical biosensors for the detection of life threating pathogenic bacteria: a review

The lack of reliable and efficient techniques for early monitoring to stop long-term effects on human health is an increasing problem as the pathogenesis effect of infectious bacteria is growing continuously. Therefore, developing an effective early detection technique coupled with efficient and continuous monitoring of pathogenic bacteria is increasingly becoming a global public health prime target. Electrochemical biosensors are among the strategies that can be utilized for accomplishing that goal with promising potential. In recent years, identifying target biological analytes by interacting with bioreceptors modified electrodes is among the most commonly used detection techniques in electrochemical biosensing strategies. The commonly employed bioreceptors are nucleic acid molecules (DNA or RNA), proteins, antibodies, enzymes, organisms, tissues, and biomimetic components such as molecularly imprinted polymers. Despite the advancement in electrochemical biosensing, developing a reliable and effective biosensor for detecting pathogenic bacteria is still in the infancy stage with so much room for growth. A major milestone in addressing some of the issues and improving the detection pathway is the investigation of specific bacterial detection techniques. The present study covers the fundamental concepts of electrochemical biosensors, human PB illnesses, and the latest electrochemical biosensors based on bioreceptor elements that are designed to detect specific pathogenic bacteria. This study aims to assist researchers with the most up-to-date research work in the field of bio-electrochemical pathogenic bacteria detection and monitoring.

An overview of signal amplification strategies and construction methods on phage-based biosensors

Phages are a class of viruses that specifically infect host bacteria. Compared to other recognition elements, phages offer several advantages such as high specificity, easy to obtain and good environmental tolerance, etc. These advantages underscore the potential of phages as recognition elements in the construction of biosensors. Therefore, the phage-based biosensors are currently garnering widespread attention for detecting pathogens in recent years. However, the test performance such as detection limit, sensitivity and stability of exicting phage-based biosensors require enhancement. In the design of sensors, the selection of various materials and construction methods significantly influences the test performance of the sensor, and employing appropriate signal amplification strategies and construction methods to devise biosensors based on different principles is an effective strategy to enhance sensor performance. The manuscript primarily focuses on the signal amplification strategies and construction methods employed in phage-based biosensors recent ten years, and summarizes the advantages and disadvantages of different signal amplification strategies and construction methods. Meanwhile, the manuscript discusses the relationship between sensor performance and various materials and construction methods, and reviews the application progress of phage-based electrochemical biosensors in the detection of foodborne bacteria. Furthermore, the manuscript points out the present limitations and the future research direction for the field of phage-based biosensors, so as to provide the reference for developing high-performance phage-based biosensors.

Advances in Aptamer-Based Biosensors for the Detection of Foodborne Mycotoxins

Foodborne mycotoxins (FBMTs) are toxins produced by food itself or during processing and transportation that pose an enormous threat to public health security. However, traditional instrumental and chemical methods for detecting toxins have shortcomings, such as high operational difficulty, time consumption, and high cost, that limit their large-scale applications. In recent years, aptamer-based biosensors have become a new tool for food safety risk assessment and monitoring due to their high affinity, good specificity, and fast response. In this review, we focus on the progress of single-mode and dual-mode aptasensors in basic research and device applications over recent years. Furthermore, we also point out some problems in the current detection strategies, with the aim of stimulating future toxin detection systems for a transition toward ease of operation and rapid detection.

New Insights into Aptamers: An Alternative to Antibodies in the Detection of Molecular Biomarkers

Aptamers are short oligonucleotides with single-stranded regions or peptides that recently started to transform the field of diagnostics. Their unique ability to bind to specific target molecules with high affinity and specificity is at least comparable to many traditional biorecognition elements. Aptamers are synthetically produced, with a compact size that facilitates deeper tissue penetration and improved cellular targeting. Furthermore, they can be easily modified with various labels or functional groups, tailoring them for diverse applications. Even more uniquely, aptamers can be regenerated after use, making aptasensors a cost-effective and sustainable alternative compared to disposable biosensors. This review delves into the inherent properties of aptamers that make them advantageous in established diagnostic methods. Furthermore, we will examine some of the limitations of aptamers, such as the need to engage in bioinformatics procedures in order to understand the relationship between the structure of the aptamer and its binding abilities. The objective is to develop a targeted design for specific targets. We analyse the process of aptamer selection and design by exploring the current landscape of aptamer utilisation across various industries. Here, we illuminate the potential advantages and applications of aptamers in a range of diagnostic techniques, with a specific focus on quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) aptasensors and their integration into the well-established ELISA method. This review serves as a comprehensive resource, summarising the latest knowledge and applications of aptamers, particularly highlighting their potential to revolutionise diagnostic approaches.

Quartz crystal microbalance-based aptasensor integrated with magnetic pre-concentration system for detection of Listeria monocytogenes in food samples

A fast and accurate identification of Listeria monocytogenes. A new quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) aptasensor was designed for the specific and rapid detection of L. monocytogenes. Before detection of the target bacterium from samples in the QCM aptasensor, a magnetic pre-enrichment system was used to eliminate any contaminant in the samples. The prepared magnetic system was characterized using ATR-FTIR, SEM, VSM, BET, and analytical methods. The saturation magnetization values of the Fe3O4, Fe3O4@PDA, and Fe3O4@PDA@DAPEG particles were 57.2, 40.8, and 36.4 emu/g, respectively. The same aptamer was also immobilized on the QCM crystal integrated into QCM flow cell and utilized to quantitatively detect L. monocytogenes cells from the samples. It was found that a specific aptamer-magnetic pre-concentration system efficiently captured L. monocytogenes cells in a short time (approximately 10 min). The Fe3O4@PDA@DA-PEG-Apt particles provided selective isolation of L. monocytogenes from the bacteria-spiked media up to 91.8%. The immobilized aptamer content of the magnetic particles was 5834 µg/g using 500 ng Apt/mL. The QCM aptasensor showed a very high range of analytical performance to the target bacterium from 1.0 × 102 and 1.0 × 107 CFU/mL. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantitation (LOQ) were 148 and 448 CFU/mL, respectively, from the feeding of the QCM aptasensor flow cell with the eluent of the magnetic pre-concentration system. The reproducibility of the aptasensor was more than 95%. The aptasensor was very specific to L. monocytogenes compared to the other Listeria species (i.e., L. ivanovii, L. innocua, and L. seeligeri) or other tested bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Bacillus subtilis. The QCM aptasensor was regenerated with NaOH solution, and the system was reused many times.

Immuno-SPR biosensor for the detection of Brucella abortus

A proof of principle biosensor for the Brucella abortus recognition onsite is presented. The system is based on a plasmonic optical fiber probe functionalized with an oriented antibody layer immobilized on a short polyethyleneglycol (PEG) interface through carbodiimide chemistry and protein G as an intermediate layer. The biosensor is inserted in a holder built in 3D printing technology, obtaining a custom holder useful for housing the sample to be measured and the equipment. The removable sensor chip is a low-cost Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) platform based on D-shaped plastic optical fibers (POFs), built-in in 3D printed connectors, used here for the first time to detect bacteria via a bio-receptor layer specific for its membrane protein. The performances of the biosensor in Brucella abortus recognition are tested by using two different SPR-POF probes combined with the same bio-receptor layer. The best sensor configuration has presented a sensitivity at low concentrations of one order of magnitude greater than the other. A limit of detection (LoD) of 2.8 bacteria/mL is achieved well competitive with other systems but without the need for amplification or special sample treatments. Specificity has been tested using Salmonella bacteria, and reproducibility, regenerability and stability are moreover evaluated. These experimental results pave the way for building an efficient and specific biosensor system for Brucella abortus detection onsite and in a few minutes. Moreover, the proposed POF-based SPR biosensor device, with respect to the already available technologies, could be a Point-of-care-test (POCT), simple to use, small-size and portable, low-cost, don't necessary of a microfluidic system, and can be connected to the Internet (IoT).

Optimization of the immunorecognition layer towards Brucella sp. on gold surface for SPR platform

A successful immunosensor is characterized by a proper antibody immobilization and orientation in order to enhance the antigen recognition. In this work, a thorough characterization of the antibody functionalized gold surface is performed to set up the best conditions to implement in an optical platform for the detection of Brucella sp. Two different strategies are evaluated, based on a random immobilization and on an oriented one: a direct antibody immobilization on carboxylic mixed polyethylene (PEG) self-assembled monolayer (SAM) or only carboxylic PEG SAM interface is compared to an oriented immobilization on a layer of protein G on the same PEG SAM interfaces. X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Time of Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) and contact angle (CA) are used to chemically characterize the gold functionalized surface and ToF-SIMS is also used to confirm the right antibody orientation. Optical characterization is applied to monitor the functionalization steps and fluorescence measurements are used to set up the proper experimental conditions and also to detect Brucella bacteria on the surface. Best results are obtained with a 10 ng/μl incubation solution of antibody immobilized, in an oriented way, on a mixed PEG SAM interface.

Brucellae as resilient intracellular pathogens: epidemiology, host-pathogen interaction, recent genomics and proteomics approaches, and future perspectives

Brucellosis is considered one of the most hazardous zoonotic diseases all over the world. It causes formidable economic losses in developed and developing countries. Despite the significant attempts to get rid of Brucella pathogens in many parts of the world, the disease continues to spread widely. Recently, many attempts proved to be effective for the prevention and control of highly contagious bovine brucellosis, which could be followed by others to achieve a prosperous future without rampant Brucella pathogens. In this study, the updated view for worldwide Brucella distribution, possible predisposing factors for emerging Brucella pathogens, immune response and different types of Brucella vaccines, genomics and proteomics approaches incorporated recently in the field of brucellosis, and future perspectives for prevention and control of bovine brucellosis have been discussed comprehensively. So, the current study will be used as a guide for researchers in planning their future work, which will pave the way for a new world without these highly contagious pathogens that have been infecting and threatening the health of humans and terrestrial animals.

Real-Time Biosensing Bacteria and Virus with Quartz Crystal Microbalance: Recent Advances, Opportunities, and Challenges

Continuous monitoring of pathogens finds applications in environmental, medical, and food industry settings. Quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) is one of the promising methods for real-time detection of bacteria and viruses. QCM is a technology that utilizes piezoelectric principles to measure mass and is commonly used in detecting the mass of chemicals adhering to a surface. Due to its high sensitivity and rapid detection times, QCM biosensors have attracted considerable attention as a potential method for detecting infections early and tracking the course of diseases, making it a promising tool for global public health professionals in the fight against infectious diseases. This review first provides an overview of the QCM biosensing method, including its principle of operation, various recognition elements used in biosensor creation, and its limitations and then summarizes notable examples of QCM biosensors for pathogens, focusing on microfluidic magnetic separation techniques as a promising tool in the pretreatment of samples. The review explores the use of QCM sensors in detecting pathogens in various samples, such as food, wastewater, and biological samples. The review also discusses the use of magnetic nanoparticles for sample preparation in QCM biosensors and their integration into microfluidic devices for automated detection of pathogens and highlights the importance of accurate and sensitive detection methods for early diagnosis of infections and the need for point-of-care approaches to simplify and reduce the cost of operation.

Separation and colorimetric detection of Escherichia coli by phage tail fiber protein combined with nano-magnetic beads

A colorimetric detection method for Escherichia coli (E. coli) in water was established based on a T7 phage tail fiber protein-magnetic separation. Firstly, the tail fiber protein (TFP) was expressed and purified to specifically recognize E. coli, which was verified by using fusion protein GFP-tagged TFP (GFP-TFP) and fluorescence microscopy. Then TFP conjugated with magnetic beads were applied to capture and separate E. coli. The TFP was covalently immobilized on the surface of magnetic beads and captured E. coli as verified by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Finally, polymyxin B was used to lyse E. coli in solution and the released intracellular β-galactosidase (β-gal) could hydrolyze the colorimetric substrate chlorophenol red-β-D-galactopyranoside (CPRG), causing color change from yellow to purple. The high capture efficiencies of E. coli ranged from 88.70% to 95.65% and E. coli could be detected at a concentration of 10² CFU/mL by naked eyes. The specificity of the chromogenic substrate was evaluated using five different pathogen strains as competitors and tests with four kinds of real water samples showed recoveries of 86.00% to 92.25%. The colorimetric changes determined by visual inspection can be developed as an efficient platform for point-of-care detection of E. coli in resource-limited regions.

Aptamer-based rapid diagnosis for point-of-care application

Aptasensors have attracted considerable interest and widespread application in point-of-care testing worldwide. One of the biggest challenges of a point-of-care (POC) is the reduction of treatment time compared to central facilities that diagnose and monitor the applications. Over the past decades, biosensors have been introduced that offer more reliable, cost-effective, and accurate detection methods. Aptamer-based biosensors have unprecedented advantages over biosensors that use natural receptors such as antibodies and enzymes. In the current epidemic, point-of-care testing (POCT) is advantageous because it is easy to use, more accessible, faster to detect, and has high accuracy and sensitivity, reducing the burden of testing on healthcare systems. POCT is beneficial for daily epidemic control as well as early detection and treatment. This review provides detailed information on the various design strategies and virus detection methods using aptamer-based sensors. In addition, we discussed the importance of different aptamers and their detection principles. Aptasensors with higher sensitivity, specificity, and flexibility are critically discussed to establish simple, cost-effective, and rapid detection methods. POC-based aptasensors' diagnostic applications are classified and summarised based on infectious and infectious diseases. Finally, the design factors to be considered are outlined to meet the future of rapid POC-based sensors.

Advanced nano biosensors for rapid detection of zoonotic bacteria

An infectious disease that is transmitted from animals to humans and vice-versa is called zoonosis. Bacterial zoonotic diseases can re-emerge after they have been eradicated or controlled and are among the world's major health problems which inflict tremendous burden on healthcare systems. The first step to encounter such illnesses can be early and precise detection of bacterial pathogens to further prevent the following losses due to their infections. Although conventional methods for diagnosing pathogens, including culture-based, polymerase chain reaction-based, and immunological-based techniques, benefit from their advantages, they also have their own drawbacks, for example, taking long time to provide results, and requiring laborious work, expensive materials, and special equipment in certain conditions. Consequently, there is a greater tendency to introduce simple, innovative, quicker, accurate, and low-cost detection methods to effectively characterize the causative agents of infectious diseases. Biosensors, therefore, seem to practically be one of those novel promising diagnostic tools on this aim. These are effective and reliable elements with high sensitivity and specificity, that their usability can even be improved in medical diagnostic systems when empowered by nanoparticles. In the present review, recent advances in the development of several bio and nano biosensors, for rapid detection of zoonotic bacteria, have been discussed in details.

Magnetic Nanoseparation Technology for Efficient Control of Microorganisms and Toxins in Foods: A Review

Outbreaks of foodborne diseases mediated by food microorganisms and toxins remain one of the leading causes of disease and death worldwide. It not only poses a serious threat to human health and safety but also imposes a huge burden on health care and socioeconomics. Traditional methods for the removal and detection of pathogenic bacteria and toxins in various samples such as food and drinking water have certain limitations, requiring a rapid and sensitive strategy for the enrichment and separation of target analytes. Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) exhibit excellent performance in this field due to their fascinating properties. The strategy of combining biorecognition elements with MNPs can be used for fast and efficient enrichment and isolation of pathogens. In this review, we describe new trends and practical applications of magnetic nanoseparation technology in the detection of foodborne microorganisms and toxins. We mainly summarize the biochemical modification and functionalization methods of commonly used magnetic nanomaterial carriers and discuss the application of magnetic separation combined with other instrumental analysis techniques. Combined with various detection techniques, it will increase the efficiency of detection and identification of microorganisms and toxins in rapid assays.

Recombinant protein G/Au nanoparticles/graphene oxide modified electrodes used as an electrochemical biosensor for Brucella Testing in milk

In this study, a simple label-free biosensor for Brucella was constructed, which based on the screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE) modified by Recombinant protein G/gold nanoparticles/graphene oxide (RpG/Au/GO). The impedance responses of the proposed biosensor were measured by electrochemical AC impedance method in Brucella antigen gradient concentration solutions. The results showed that the linear range of this biosensor was from 1.6 × 102 CFU/mL to 1.6 × 108 CFU/mL with the minimum detection limit of 3.2 × 102 CFU/mL (S/N = 3). Moreover, the biosensor for Brucella detection possessed acceptable reproducibility with a relative standard deviation of 5.15% and acceptable stability with a relative standard deviation of 4.68%. The spiked recovery rate in actual pasteurized milk samples was more than 92%. Therefore, the developed biosensor exhibits excellent prospects in the selective quantification detection of Brucella abortus.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13197-022-05544-8.

A novel metal-organic frameworks composite-based label-free point-of-care quartz crystal microbalance aptasensing platform for tetracycline detection

A novel label-free point-of-care quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) aptasensing platform based on metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) was fabricated for tetracycline (TC) detection. MOFs (HKUST-1) and AuNPs were modified onto the sensing interface of QCM sensor to enhance the sensing performance of the QCM aptasensor. TC aptamer with sulfhydryl group was fixed through Au-S bond. The recognition performance of the aptasensor was predicted and verified by the computer simulation. At the optimal conditions, the frequency change of the sensor was adopted for quantitative detection of TC. The prepared QCM aptasensor exhibited a wide linear range from 1 × 10^-10 g mL^-1 to 1 × 10^-5 g mL^-1 with low limit of detection (0.8 × 10^-11 g mL^-1). High sensitivity, good selectivity, acceptable recoveries (87.6-91.4%) in real samples were obtained. For the first time, MOFs were utilized in the construction of QCM aptasensing platform, providing a promising application way of MOFs in the QCM sensing.

Advances in magnetic nanoparticles for the separation of foodborne pathogens: Recognition, separation strategy, and application

Foodborne pathogens contamination is one of the main sources of food safety problems. Although the existing detection methods have been developed for a long time, the complexity of food samples is still the main factor affecting the detection time and sensitivity, and the rapid separation and enrichment of pathogens is still an objective to be studied. Magnetic separation strategy based on magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) is considered to be an effective tool for rapid separation and enrichment of foodborne pathogens in food. Therefore, this study comprehensively reviews the development of MNPs in the separation of foodborne pathogens over the past decade. First, various biorecognition reagents for identification of foodborne pathogens and their modifications on the surface of MNPs are introduced. Then, the factors affecting the separation of foodborne pathogens, including the size of MNPs, modification methods, separation strategies and separation forms are discussed. Finally, the application of MNPs in integrated detection methods is reviewed. Moreover, current challenges and prospects of MNPs for the analysis of foodborne pathogens are discussed. Further research should focus on the design of multifunctional MNPs, the processing of large-scale samples, the simultaneous analysis of multiple targets, and the development of all-in-one small analytical device with separation and detection.

Quartz Crystal Microbalance-Based Aptasensors for Medical Diagnosis

Aptamers are important materials for the specific determination of different disease-related biomarkers. Several methods have been enhanced to transform selected target molecule-specific aptamer bindings into measurable signals. A number of specific aptamer-based biosensors have been designed for potential applications in clinical diagnostics. Various methods in combination with a wide variety of nano-scale materials have been employed to develop aptamer-based biosensors to further increase sensitivity and detection limit for related target molecules. In this critical review, we highlight the advantages of aptamers as biorecognition elements in biosensors for target biomolecules. In recent years, it has been demonstrated that electrode material plays an important role in obtaining quick, label-free, simple, stable, and sensitive detection in biological analysis using piezoelectric devices. For this reason, we review the recent progress in growth of aptamer-based QCM biosensors for medical diagnoses, including virus, bacteria, cell, protein, and disease biomarker detection.

Bulk and Surface Acoustic Wave Biosensors for Milk Analysis

Milk and dairy products are common foods and, therefore, are subject to regular controls. Such controls cover both the identification and quantification of specific components and the determination of physical parameters. Components include the usual milk ingredients, mainly carbohydrates, proteins, and fat, and any impurities that may be present. The latter range from small molecules, such as drug residues, to large molecules, e.g., protein-based toxins, to pathogenic microorganisms. Physical parameters of interest include viscosity as an indicator of milk gelation. Bulk and surface acoustic wave sensors, such as quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) and surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices, can principally be used for both types of analysis, with the actual application mainly depending on the device coating and the test format. This review summarizes the achievements of acoustic sensor devices used for milk analysis applications, including the determination of physical liquid parameters and the detection of low- and high-molecular-weight analytes and microorganisms. It is shown how the various requirements resulting from the respective analytes and the complex sample matrix are addressed, and to what extent the analytical demands, e.g., with regard to legal limits, are met.

Giant Magnetoresistance Biosensors for Food Safety Applications

Nowadays, the increasing number of foodborne disease outbreaks around the globe has aroused the wide attention of the food industry and regulators. During food production, processing, storage, and transportation, microorganisms may grow and secrete toxins as well as other harmful substances. These kinds of food contamination from microbiological and chemical sources can seriously endanger human health. The traditional detection methods such as cell culture and colony counting cannot meet the requirements of rapid detection due to some intrinsic shortcomings, such as being time-consuming, laborious, and requiring expensive instrumentation or a central laboratory. In the past decade, efforts have been made to develop rapid, sensitive, and easy-to-use detection platforms for on-site food safety regulation. Herein, we review one type of promising biosensing platform that may revolutionize the current food surveillance approaches, the giant magnetoresistance (GMR) biosensors. Benefiting from the advances of nanotechnology, hundreds to thousands of GMR biosensors can be integrated into a fingernail-sized area, allowing the higher throughput screening of food samples at a lower cost. In addition, combined with on-chip microfluidic channels and filtration function, this type of GMR biosensing system can be fully automatic, and less operator training is required. Furthermore, the compact-sized GMR biosensor platforms could be further extended to related food contamination and the field screening of other pathogen targets.

Determination of aflatoxin B1 in Pixian Douban based on aptamer magnetic solid-phase extraction

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB₁) is considered as the most prevalent and toxic mycotoxin in food, and is the indispensable index in the monitoring of Pixian Douban, a traditional chinese fermented bean paste from Sichuan. However, the effeciency of AFB₁ detection in Pixian Douban is influenced by the traditional extraction, which is usually complex and time consuming. Therefore, an aptamer-based magnetic solid-phase extraction method was designed for the pretreatment of AFB₁ in this sample, for which Fe₃O₄ was synthesized via the solvothermal method and then a Fe₃O₄@SiO₂–NH₂ with a core–shell structure was prepared, followed by an AFB₁-aptamer attachment. The validation was performed via an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and compared with HPLC-MS/MS. The linearity range of this method was 0.5–2.0 ng mL ⁻¹ with R² of 0.981, and recoveries of AFB₁ ranged from 80.19% to 113.92% with RSDs below 7.28% with no significant differences compared to HPLC-MS/MS. The three-time reusability efficiencies of aptamer-MNPs were averaged at 78.24%. The results proved that aptamer-MNPs were high-performance adsorbents for extracting and enriching AFB₁, facilitating quick and effective detection of AFB₁ in Pixian DouBan samples.

An aptamer-based magnetic solid-phase extraction method was designed for the pretreatment of AFB1 from a Pixian Douban sample. It was developed based on aptamer–Fe₃O₄@SiO₂–NH₂ with subsequent ELISA validation, showing an efficient result.

Point-of-Care Diagnostics for Farm Animal Diseases: From Biosensors to Integrated Lab-on-Chip Devices

Zoonoses and animal diseases threaten human health and livestock biosecurity and productivity. Currently, laboratory confirmation of animal disease outbreaks requires centralized laboratories and trained personnel; it is expensive and time-consuming, and it often does not coincide with the onset or progress of diseases. Point-of-care (POC) diagnostics are rapid, simple, and cost-effective devices and tests, that can be directly applied on field for the detection of animal pathogens. The development of POC diagnostics for use in human medicine has displayed remarkable progress. Nevertheless, animal POC testing has not yet unfolded its full potential. POC devices and tests for animal diseases face many challenges, such as insufficient validation, simplicity, and portability. Emerging technologies and advanced materials are expected to overcome some of these challenges and could popularize animal POC testing. This review aims to: (i) present the main concepts and formats of POC devices and tests, such as lateral flow assays and lab-on-chip devices; (ii) summarize the mode of operation and recent advances in biosensor and POC devices for the detection of farm animal diseases; (iii) present some of the regulatory aspects of POC commercialization in the EU, USA, and Japan; and (iv) summarize the challenges and future perspectives of animal POC testing.

Impedance Technique-Based Label-Free Electrochemical Aptasensor for Thrombin Using Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes-Casted Screen-Printed Carbon Electrode

An impedance technique-based aptasensor for the detection of thrombin was developed using a single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT)-modified screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE). In this work, a thrombin-binding aptamer (TBA) as probe was used for the determination of thrombin, and that was immobilized on SWCNT through π-π interaction. In the presence of thrombin, the TBA on SWCNT binds with target thrombin, and the amount of TBA on the SWCNT surface decreases. The detachment of TBA from SWCNT will be affected by the concentration of thrombin and the remaining TBA on the SWCNT surface can be monitored by electrochemical methods. The TBA-modified SWCNT/SPCE sensing layer was characterized by cyclic voltammetry (CV). For the measurement of thrombin, the change in charge-transfer resistance (R_ct) of the sensing interface was investigated using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) with a target thrombin and [Fe(CN)₆]^3- as redox maker. Upon incubation with thrombin, a decrease of R_ct change was observed due to the decrease in the repulsive interaction between the redox marker and the electrode surface without any label. A plot of R_ct changes vs. the logarithm of thrombin concentration provides the linear detection ranges from 0.1 nM to 1 µM, with a ~0.02 nM detection limit.

Review of Label-Free Monitoring of Bacteria: From Challenging Practical Applications to Basic Research Perspectives

Novel biosensors already provide a fast way to detect the adhesion of whole bacteria (or parts of them), biofilm formation, and the effect of antibiotics. Moreover, the detection sensitivities of recent sensor technologies are large enough to investigate molecular-scale biological processes. Usually, these measurements can be performed in real time without using labeling. Despite these excellent capabilities summarized in the present work, the application of novel, label-free sensor technologies in basic biological research is still rare; the literature is dominated by heuristic work, mostly monitoring the presence and amount of a given analyte. The aims of this review are (i) to give an overview of the present status of label-free biosensors in bacteria monitoring, and (ii) to summarize potential novel directions with biological relevancies to initiate future development. Optical, mechanical, and electrical sensing technologies are all discussed with their detailed capabilities in bacteria monitoring. In order to review potential future applications of the outlined techniques in bacteria research, we summarize the most important kinetic processes relevant to the adhesion and survival of bacterial cells. These processes are potential targets of kinetic investigations employing modern label-free technologies in order to reveal new fundamental aspects. Resistance to antibacterials and to other antimicrobial agents, the most important biological mechanisms in bacterial adhesion and strategies to control adhesion, as well as bacteria-mammalian host cell interactions are all discussed with key relevancies to the future development and applications of biosensors.

Aptasensors for the detection of infectious pathogens: design strategies and point-of-care testing

The epidemic of infectious diseases caused by contagious pathogens is a life-threatening hazard to the entire human population worldwide. A timely and accurate diagnosis is the critical link in the fight against infectious diseases. Aptamer-based biosensors, the so-called aptasensors, employ nucleic acid aptamers as bio-receptors for the recognition of target pathogens of interest. This review focuses on the design strategies as well as state-of-the-art technologies of aptasensor-based diagnostics for infectious pathogens (mainly bacteria and viruses), covering the utilization of three major signal transducers, the employment of aptamers as recognition moieties, the construction of versatile biosensing platforms (mostly micro and nanomaterial-based), innovated reporting mechanisms, and signal enhancement approaches. Advanced point-of-care testing (POCT) for infectious disease diagnostics are also discussed highlighting some representative ready-to-use devices to address the urgent needs of currently prevalent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Pressing issues in aptamer-based technology and some future perspectives of aptasensors are provided for the implementation of aptasensor-based diagnostics into practical application.

Surface plasmon resonance aptasensor for Brucella detection in milk

A Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) aptasensor was developed for the detection of Brucella melitensis (B. melitensis) in milk samples. Brucellosis is a bacterial zoonotic disease with global distribution caused mostly by contaminated milk or their products. Aptamers recognizing B. melitensis were selected following a whole bacteria-SELEX procedure. Two aptamers were chosen for high affinity and high specificity. The high affinity aptamer (B70 aptamer) was immobilized on the surface of magnetic silica core-shell nanoparticles for initial purification of the target bacteria cells from milk matrix. Another aptamer, highly specific for B. melitensis cells (B46 aptamer), was used to prepare SPR sensor chips for sensitive determination of Brucella in eluted samples from magnetic purification since direct injection of milk samples to SPR sensor chips is known for a high background unspecific signal. Thus, we integrated a quick and efficient magnetic isolation step for subsequent instant detection of B. melitensis contamination in one ml of milk sample by SPR with a LOD value as low as 27 ± 11 cells.

Oligonucleotide aptamers for pathogen detection and infectious disease control

During an epidemic or pandemic, the primary task is to rapidly develop precise diagnostic approaches and effective therapeutics. Oligonucleotide aptamer-based pathogen detection assays and control therapeutics are promising, as aptamers that specifically recognize and block pathogens can be quickly developed and produced through simple chemical synthesis. This work reviews common aptamer-based diagnostic techniques for communicable diseases and summarizes currently available aptamers that target various pathogens, including the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Moreover, this review discusses how oligonucleotide aptamers might be leveraged to control pathogen propagation and improve host immune system responses. This review offers a comprehensive data source to the further develop aptamer-based diagnostics and therapeutics specific for infectious diseases.

Changes of Viscoelastic Properties of Aptamer-Based Sensing Layers Following Interaction with Listeria innocua

A multiharmonic quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) has been applied to study the viscoelastic properties of the aptamer-based sensing layers at the surface of a QCM transducer covered by neutravidin following interaction with bacteria Listeria innocua. Addition of bacteria in the concentration range 5 × 103-106 CFU/mL resulted in a decrease of resonant frequency and in an increase of dissipation. The frequency decrease has been lower than one would expect considering the dimension of the bacteria. This can be caused by lower penetration depth of the acoustics wave (approximately 120 nm) in comparison with the thickness of the bacterial layer (approximately 500 nm). Addition of E. coli at the surface of neutravidin as well as aptamer layers did not result in significant changes in frequency and dissipation. Using the Kelvin-Voight model the analysis of the viscoelastic properties of the sensing layers was performed and several parameters such as penetration depth, Γ, viscosity coefficient, η, and shear modulus, μ, were determined following various modifications of QCM transducer. The penetration depth decreased following adsorption of the neutravidin layer, which is evidence of the formation of a rigid protein structure. This value did not change significantly following adsorption of aptamers and Listeria innocua. Viscosity coefficient was higher for the neutravidin layer in comparison with the naked QCM transducer in a buffer. However, a further increase of viscosity coefficient took place following attachment of aptamers suggesting their softer structure. The interaction of Listeria innocua with the aptamer layer resulted in slight decrease of viscosity coefficient. The shearing modulus increased for the neutravidin layer and decreased following aptamer adsorption, while a slight increase of µ was observed after the addition of Listeria innocua.

Recent Advances in the Synthesis of Polymer-Grafted Low-K and High-K Nanoparticles for Dielectric and Electronic Applications

The synthesis of polymer-grafted nanoparticles (PGNPs) or hairy nanoparticles (HNPs) by tethering of polymer chains to the surface of nanoparticles is an important technique to obtain nanostructured hybrid materials that have been widely used in the formulation of advanced polymer nanocomposites. Ceramic-based polymer nanocomposites integrate key attributes of polymer and ceramic nanomaterial to improve the dielectric properties such as breakdown strength, energy density and dielectric loss. This review describes the "grafting from" and "grafting to" approaches commonly adopted to graft polymer chains on NPs pertaining to nano-dielectrics. The article also covers various surface initiated controlled radical polymerization techniques, along with templated approaches for grafting of polymer chains onto SiO2, TiO2, BaTiO3, and Al2O3 nanomaterials. As a look towards applications, an outlook on high-performance polymer nanocomposite capacitors for the design of high energy density pulsed power thin-film capacitors is also presented.

Recent advances on aptamer-based biosensors for detection of pathogenic bacteria

As a significant constituent in biosphere, bacteria have a great influence on human activity. The detection of pathogen bacteria is closely related to the human health. However, the traditional methods for detection of pathogenic bacteria are time-consuming and difficult for quantification, although they are practical and reliable. Therefore, novel strategies for rapid, sensitive, and cost-effective detection are in great demand. Aptamer is a kind of oligonucleotide that selected by repeated screening in vitro or systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) technology. Over the past years, owing to high affinity and specificity of aptamers, a variety of aptamer-based biosensors have been designed and applied for pathogen detection. In this review, we have discussed the recent advances on the applications of aptamer-based biosensors in detection of pathogenic bacteria. In addition, we also point out some problems in current methods and look forward to the further development of aptamer-based biosensors for pathogen detection.

A split aptamer (SPA)-based sandwich-type biosensor for facile and rapid detection of streptomycin

As antibiotic pollution is gaining prominence as a global issue, the demand for detection of streptomycin (STR), which is a widely used antibiotic with potential human health and ecological risks, has attracted increasing attention. Aptamer-based biosensors have been developed for the detection of STR in buffers and samples, however, the non-target signals due to the conformational variation of free aptamers possibly affect their sensitivity and stability. In this study, by introducing the STR-specific split aptamer (SPA), a sensitive evanescent wave fluorescent (EWF) biosensor is developed for the sandwich-type based detection of STR. The standard calibration curve obtained for STR has a detection limit of 33 nM with a linear range of 60-526 nM. This biosensor exhibited good selectivity, reliable reusability for at least 100 times measurements, and high recovery rates for spiked water samples; moreover, all detection steps are easy-to-operate and can be completed in 5 min. Therefore, it exhibits great promise for actual on-site environmental monitoring. Additionally, without introducing any other oligonucleotides or auxiliary materials, this SPA-based biosensing method shows potential as a simple, sensitive, and low-cost manner for the detection of other small molecular targets.

The universal dual-mode aptasensor for simultaneous determination of different bacteria based on naked eyes and microfluidic-chip together with magnetic DNA encoded probes

It was critically important to develop some sensitive, convenient and on-site methods for simultaneous assay of different pathogenic bacteria in foods. In this work, a dual-mode aptasensor was established for fulfilling above aims combing colorimetry with microfluidic chip. This as-prepared dual-mode aptasensor not only realized rapid screening by naked eye on-site, but also the simultaneous quantification of multiple bacteria. Namely, the presence of pathogenic bacteria was firstly judged by naked eyes with Salmonella typhimurium (S.T) and Vibrio parahaemolyticus (V.P) as models. And then, S.T and V.P in positive samples were simultaneously quantified by microfluidic chip. In order to obtain the multiple signals, a series of magnetic DNA encoded-probes (MDEs) was fabricated containing rolling cycle amplified long DNA chain (RCA-DNA) rich in G-quadruplex sequences. They can combine with hemin as DNAzyme to catalyze 3,3'-5,5'-Tetramethyl benzidine (TMB)-H₂O₂ system for color development and be cleaved by EcoRV endonuclease to produce DNA fragments with different lengths. The microfluidic chip was employed to separate and quantify the fragments for quantifying S.T and V.P simultaneously. For this protocol, 100 CFU·mL^-1 of V.P or S.T could be observed by the naked eye and as low as 32 S.T and 30 CFU·mL^-1 V.P could be detected by the chip within 3 min. The dual-mode aptasensor could quickly screen positive samples, and simultaneously perform quantitative detection of the bacteria in positive samples. Our protocol demonstrated its potential in on-site qualification & simultaneous quantification of foodborne bacteria in foods.

Gold nanoparticle-engineered electrochemical aptamer biosensor for ultrasensitive detection of thrombin

In order to obtain a lower detection limit in electrochemical detection, the choice of signal amplification strategy is of great importance. In this work, we describe an electrochemical sandwich aptasensor based on a signal amplification system involving two thrombin (TB) aptamers (TBA1 and TBA2), gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) as aptamer carriers, and [Ru(NH₃)₆]³⁺ for signal conversion. In the presence of the target thrombin, TBA1 and TBA2 specifically bind to TB, and the TBA1-TB-TBA2 complexes cause the formation of a sandwich structure, meaning more [Ru(NH₃)₆]³⁺ can be adsorbed on the negatively charged phosphate backbone of the aptamers, resulting in an increase in the differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) current. Under optimal conditions, the aptasensor exhibited a linear range of 1 fM to 6 pM and a limit of detection of 0.1429 fM (S/N = 3) for TB. The proposed aptasensor displayed an excellent selectivity and reproducibility. Importantly, the aptasensor was capable of detecting TB in serum samples successfully.

A metal-organic framework/aptamer system as a fluorescent biosensor for determination of aflatoxin B1 in food samples

The demand of simple, sensitive, selective and reliable assay for aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) detection is ubiquitous in food safety, due to its high toxic. Herein, a novel fluorescent aptasensor using metal-organic frameworks (UiO-66-NH₂) and TAMRA label aptamer as sensing platform for AFB1 detection was developed. The TAMRA aptamer adsorbed on the surface of UiO-66-NH₂ via van der Waals force and its fluorescence was quenched for the charge transfer from fluorescence dye TAMRA to metal ions of UiO-66-NH₂. After introducing AFB1 to the system, the TAMRA aptamer binded to AFB1 and formed TAMRA aptamer/AFB1complex, making its conformation change and resulting in fluorescence recovery. Thus, the quantity of AFB1 could be analyzed according to the fluorescence signal change. Under optimize experimental conditions, the assay exhibited high sensitivity toward AFB1 in range of 0-180 ng mL^-1 with low limit of detection of 0.35 ng mL^-1 and good specificity against other toxins. Moreover, the aptamer/metal-organic frameworks sensing platform could be utilized to determine AFB1 content in food samples such as corn, rice and milk. It provided a reasonable method for other mycotoxin detection by changing the sequence of aptamer.

Application of Biosensors for Detection of Pathogenic Food Bacteria: A Review

The use of biosensors is considered a novel approach for the rapid detection of foodborne pathogens in food products. Biosensors, which can convert biological, chemical, or biochemical signals into measurable electrical signals, are systems containing a biological detection material combined with a chemical or physical transducer. The objective of this review was to present the effectiveness of various forms of sensing technologies for the detection of foodborne pathogens in food products, as well as the criteria for industrial use of this technology. In this article, the principle components and requirements for an ideal biosensor, types, and their applications in the food industry are summarized. This review also focuses in detail on the application of the most widely used biosensor types in food safety.

Electrochemical CYFRA21-1 DNA sensor with PCR-like sensitivity based on AgNPs and cascade polymerization

In this work, a new method of CYFRA21-1 DNA (tDNA) detection based on electrochemically mediated atom transfer radical polymerization (e-ATRP) and surface-initiated reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization (SI-RAFT) cascade polymerization and AgNP deposition is proposed. Firstly, the peptide nucleic acid (PNA) probe is captured on a gold electrode by Au-S bonds for specific recognition of tDNA. After hybridization, PNA/DNA strands provide high-density phosphate groups for the subsequent ATRP initiator by the identified carboxylate-Zr⁴⁺-phosphate chemistry. Then, a large number of monomers are successfully grafted from the DNA through the e-ATRP reaction. After that, the chain transfer agent of SI-RAFT and methacrylic acid (MAA) are connected by recognized carboxylate-Zr⁴⁺-carboxylate chemistry. Subsequently, through SI-RAFT, the resulting polymer introduces numerous aldehyde groups, which could deposit many AgNPs on tDNA through silver mirror reaction, causing significant amplification of the electrochemical signal. Under optimal conditions, this designed method exhibits a low detection limit of 0.487 aM. Moreover, the method enables us to detect DNA at the level of PCR-like and shows high selectivity and strong anti-interference ability in the presence of serum. It suggests that this new sensing signal amplification technology exhibits excellent potential of application in the early diagnosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Graphical abstract Electrochemical detection principle for CYFRA21-1 DNA based on e-ATRP and SI-RAFT signal amplification technology.

Directing a rational design of aptamer-based fluorescence anisotropy assay for sensitive detection of immunoglobulin E by site-specific binding study

Mapping aptamer-protein interactions is important for characterization and applications of aptamers against proteins. We describe here probing affinity interactions between aptamer and immunoglobulin E (IgE) with a fluorescence anisotropy (FA) approach using a series of aptamer probes having single fluorescein (FAM) label at individual nucleotide (A, C, T). Studies of binding between IgE and aptamer probes revealed several possible close-contact sites, e.g., T9, T10, T11, T13, C15, and T17 of a 37-nt aptamer with a stem-loop secondary structure. FAM labeling on these sites resulted in much higher FA values (higher than 0.230 for T10, T11, T13 and C15) of aptamer-IgE complexes than the distant sites (e.g., terminals) of aptamer probably because the bound IgE close to these sites significantly restricted local rotation of FAM. Close-contact site labeled aptamer probes with high affinity allowed to develop a more sensitive FA assay for IgE than distant site labeled aptamers. The FA assay using T10-labeled aptamer with a dissociation constant (K_d) about 0.8 nM enabled selective detection of IgE at 20 pM and large FA increase upon IgE addition. We also found A12, C14, A25, and T27 were important for IgE-aptamer binding as FAM labeling at these sites significantly reduced aptamer affinity. FA study showed the loop region of this stem-loop aptamer was crucial for affinity binding, and IgE bound to the loop. This FA method will be helpful for understanding aptamer-protein binding and making a rational design of aptamer affinity assays for proteins.

A review: Recent advances in ultrasensitive and highly specific recognition aptasensors with various detection strategies

One of the most studied topics in analytical chemistry and physics is to develop bio-sensors. Aptamers are small single-stranded RNA or DNA oligonucleotides (5-25 kDa), which have advantages in comparison to their antibodies such as physicochemical stability and high binding specificity. They are able to integrate with proteins or small molecules, including intact viral particles, plant lectins, gene-regulation factor, growth factors, antibodies and enzymes. The aptamers have reportedly shown some unique characteristics, including long shelf-life, simple modification to provide covalent bonds to material surfaces, minor batch variation, cost-effectiveness and slight denaturation susceptibility. These features led important efforts toward the development of aptamer-based sensors, known as apta-sensors classified into optical, electrical and mass-sensitive based on the signal transduction mode. This review provided a number of current advancements in selecting, development criteria, and aptamers application with the focus on the effect of apta-sensors, specifically for disease-associated analyses. The review concentrated on the current reports of apta-sensors that are used for evaluating different food and environmental pollutants.