Dual-mode biosensor platform based on synergistic effects of dual-functional hybrid nanomaterials

A Dual-Mode Spectrophotometric and Fluorescent Probe Based on Lignin-Derived Carbon Dots for the Detection of Atorvastatin Calcium in a Bulk Powder and a Commercial Product

Recently, dual-mode techniques have garnered considerable attention and have been shown to be effective approaches for biomedical analysis and environmental monitoring. A novel and simple dual-mode spectrophotometric and fluorometric probe based on lignin-derived carbon dots (LCDs) was developed to detect atorvastatin calcium (ATS) in a bulk powder and its commercial product. The synthesized LCDs exhibit exceptional fluorescence characteristics and are highly soluble in water while maintaining reasonable stability. The average particle size of the LCDs was 3.42 ± 1.03 nm. The characterization of the produced LCDs indicated a structure resembling graphene oxide with the presence of several functional groups. The developed LCDs show a good fluorescence quantum yield of 32.2%. The fluorescence of the LCDs is quenched by ATS at an emission wavelength of 315 nm after excitation at 275 nm through dynamic and static quenching mechanisms. The optimal reaction conditions for the dual-mode reaction were a pH of 9 and 0.05 mL of the LCDs, which were measured after 3 min at 30 °C by spectrophotometry, followed by 7 min at 20 °C by fluorometric methods. According to the spectrophotometric results, the response of ATS was linear in the range of 4.0-100.0 µg/mL, while according to the fluorometric results, the dynamic range was 3.0-50.0 µg/mL. The limits of detection (LODs) and the limits of quantification (LOQs) were 0.97 µg/mL and 2.95 µg/mL for the fluorometric method, respectively. The nanoprobe effectively analyzed ATS in medication samples and yielded good results.

Electro-Optical Multiclassification Platform for Minimizing Occasional Inaccuracy in Point-of-Care Biomarker Detection

On-site diagnostic tests that accurately identify disease biomarkers lay the foundation for self-healthcare applications. However, these tests routinely rely on single-mode signals and suffer from insufficient accuracy, especially for multiplexed point-of-care tests (POCTs) within a few minutes. Here, this work develops a dual-mode multiclassification diagnostic platform that integrates an electrochemiluminescence sensor and a field-effect transistor sensor in a microfluidic chip. The microfluidic channel guides the testing samples to flow across electro-optical sensor units, which produce dual-mode readouts by detecting infectious biomarkers of tuberculosis (TB), human rhinovirus (HRV), and group B streptococcus (GBS). Then, machine-learning classifiers generate three-dimensional (3D) hyperplanes to diagnose different diseases. Dual-mode readouts derived from distinct mechanisms enhance the anti-interference ability physically, and machine-learning-aided diagnosis in high-dimensional space reduces the occasional inaccuracy mathematically. Clinical validation studies with 501 unprocessed samples indicate that the platform has an accuracy approaching 99%, higher than the 77%-93% accuracy of rapid point-of-care testing technologies at 100% statistical power (>150 clinical tests). Moreover, the diagnosis time is 5 min without a trade-off of accuracy. This work solves the occasional inaccuracy issue of rapid on-site diagnosis, endowing POCT systems with the same accuracy as laboratory tests and holding unique prospects for complicated scenes of personalized healthcare.

Advances in electrochemical-optical dual-mode biosensors for detection of environmental pathogens

Electrochemical techniques are commonly used to analyze and screen various environmental pathogens. When used in conjunction with other optical recognition methods, it can extend the sensing range, lower the detection limit, and offer mutual validation. Nowadays, electrochemical-optical dual-mode biosensors have ensured the accuracy of test results by integrating two signals into one, indicating their potential use in primary food safety quantitative assays and screening tests. Particularly, visible optical signals from electrochemical/colorimetric dual-mode biosensors could meet the demand for real-time screening of microbial pathogens. While electrochemical-optical dual-mode probes have been receiving increasing attention, there is limited emphasis on the design approaches for sensors intended for microbial pathogens. Here, we review the recent progress in the merging of optical and electrochemical techniques, including fluorescence, colorimetry, surface plasmon resonance (SPR), and surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). This study particularly emphasizes the reporting of various sensing performances, including sensing principles, types, cutting-edge design approaches, and applications. Finally, some concerns and upcoming advancements in dual-mode probes are briefly outlined.

Bio-conjugated carbon dots for the bimodal detection of prostate cancer biomarkers via sandwich fluorescence and electrochemical immunoassays

Bimodal detection facilitates the accurate and reliable detection of cancer biomarkers, which can assist in the early diagnosis of cancer. Herein, S-doped carbon dots (OCDs) with a size of 3 nm and blue emission were synthesized by the hydrothermal treatment of onion extract. The S-doped carbon dots were bioconjugated with an antibody (OCDs@PSAAbHRP) to design a nanoprobe for the detection of prostate specific antigen (PSA), an important serum based prostate cancer biomarker. The detection probe enabled the biomodal assay of PSA via fluorescence immunoassay (FIA) and electrochemical immunoassay (ECIA). In both assays, polyethylenimine stabilized polyaniline nanoparticles (PNPs) were used as the immobilization matrix, which played a major role in widening the linear range of biosensors (0.1 to 100 ng ml-1 for ECIA and 5 to 120 ng ml-1 for FIA). Paper-based and smartphone-integrated fluorescence immuno-array developed using the OCDs@PSAAbHRP detection probe provided cost-effective and rapid detection, while the electrochemical immunoassay provided a high sensitivity (7.8 μA ng-1 ml-1 cm-2) and low detection limit (38 pg ml-1) for PSA detection. The role of OCDs in enhancing the sensor performance was deciphered by carrying out detailed electrochemical studies with HRP enzyme-loaded OCDs. The biosensor was used to detect PSA in human blood serum samples and the results were consistent with conventional techniques. Owing to its analytical properties coupled with simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and portability, the bimodal sensor system has potential for application in clinical analysis.