1
|
Ye C, Lukas H, Wang M, Lee Y, Gao W. Nucleic acid-based wearable and implantable electrochemical sensors. Chem Soc Rev 2024. [PMID: 38985007 DOI: 10.1039/d4cs00001c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/11/2024]
Abstract
The rapid advancements in nucleic acid-based electrochemical sensors for implantable and wearable applications have marked a significant leap forward in the domain of personal healthcare over the last decade. This technology promises to revolutionize personalized healthcare by facilitating the early diagnosis of diseases, monitoring of disease progression, and tailoring of individual treatment plans. This review navigates through the latest developments in this field, focusing on the strategies for nucleic acid sensing that enable real-time and continuous biomarker analysis directly in various biofluids, such as blood, interstitial fluid, sweat, and saliva. The review delves into various nucleic acid sensing strategies, emphasizing the innovative designs of biorecognition elements and signal transduction mechanisms that enable implantable and wearable applications. Special perspective is given to enhance nucleic acid-based sensor selectivity and sensitivity, which are crucial for the accurate detection of low-level biomarkers. The integration of such sensors into implantable and wearable platforms, including microneedle arrays and flexible electronic systems, actualizes their use in on-body devices for health monitoring. We also tackle the technical challenges encountered in the development of these sensors, such as ensuring long-term stability, managing the complexity of biofluid dynamics, and fulfilling the need for real-time, continuous, and reagentless detection. In conclusion, the review highlights the importance of these sensors in the future of medical engineering, offering insights into design considerations and future research directions to overcome existing limitations and fully realize the potential of nucleic acid-based electrochemical sensors for healthcare applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cui Ye
- Andrew and Peggy Cherng Department of Medical Engineering, Division of Engineering and Applied Science, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA.
| | - Heather Lukas
- Andrew and Peggy Cherng Department of Medical Engineering, Division of Engineering and Applied Science, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA.
| | - Minqiang Wang
- Andrew and Peggy Cherng Department of Medical Engineering, Division of Engineering and Applied Science, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA.
| | - Yerim Lee
- Andrew and Peggy Cherng Department of Medical Engineering, Division of Engineering and Applied Science, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA.
| | - Wei Gao
- Andrew and Peggy Cherng Department of Medical Engineering, Division of Engineering and Applied Science, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Son K, Uzawa T, Ito Y, Kippin T, Plaxco KW, Fujie T. Survey of oligoethylene glycol-based self-assembled monolayers on electrochemical aptamer-based sensor in biological fluids. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2023; 668:1-7. [PMID: 37230045 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2023.05.032] [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: 04/26/2023] [Revised: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The ability to monitor levels of endogenous markers and clearance profiles of drugs and their metabolites can improve the quality of biomedical research and precision with which therapies are individualized. Towards this end, electrochemical aptamer-based (EAB) sensors have been developed that support the real-time monitoring of specific analytes in vivo with clinically relevant specificity and sensitivity. A challenge associated with the in vivo deployment of EAB sensors, however, is how to manage the signal drift which, although correctable, ultimately leads to unacceptably low signal-to-noise ratios, limiting the measurement duration. Motivated by the correction of signal drift, in this paper, we have explored the use of oligoethylene glycol (OEG), a widely employed antifouling coating, to reduce the signal drift in EAB sensors. Counter to expectations, however, when challenged in 37 °C whole blood in vitro, EAB sensors employing OEG-modified self-assembled monolayers exhibit both greater drift and reduced signal gain, compared with those employ a simple, hydroxyl-terminated monolayer. On the other hand, when EAB sensor was prepared with a mix monolayer using MCH and lipoamido OEG 2 alcohol, reduced signal noise was observed compared to the same sensor prepared with MCH presumably due to improved SAM construction. These results suggest broader exploration of antifouling materials will be required to improve the signal drift of EAB sensors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kon Son
- School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, B-50, Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama, 226-8501, Japan; RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama, 351-0198, Japan
| | - Takanori Uzawa
- RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama, 351-0198, Japan; RIKEN Cluster for Pioneering Research, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama, 351-0198, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Ito
- RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama, 351-0198, Japan; RIKEN Cluster for Pioneering Research, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama, 351-0198, Japan
| | - Tod Kippin
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, UCSB, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106, USA
| | - Kevin W Plaxco
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCSB, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106, USA
| | - Toshinori Fujie
- School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, B-50, Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama, 226-8501, Japan; RIKEN Cluster for Pioneering Research, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama, 351-0198, Japan; Living Systems Materialogy (LiSM) Research Group, International Research Frontiers Initiative (IRFI), Tokyo Institute of Technology, B-50, Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama, 226-8501, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Pellitero M, Jensen IM, Dominique NL, Ekowo LC, Camden JP, Jenkins DM, Arroyo-Currás N. Stability of N-Heterocyclic Carbene Monolayers under Continuous Voltammetric Interrogation. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2023; 15:35701-35709. [PMID: 37449918 PMCID: PMC10377464 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c06148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
N-Heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) are promising monolayer-forming ligands that can overcome limitations of thiol-based monolayers in terms of stability, surface functionality, and reactivity across a variety of transition-metal surfaces. Recent publications have reported the ability of NHCs to support biomolecular receptors on gold substrates for sensing applications and improved tolerance to prolonged biofluid exposure relative to thiols. However, important questions remain regarding the stability of these monolayers when subjected to voltage perturbations, which is needed for applications with electrochemical platforms. Here, we investigate the ability of two NHCs, 1,3-diisopropylbenzimidazole and 5-(ethoxycarbonyl)-1,3-diisopropylbenzimidazole, to form monolayers via self-assembly from methanolic solutions of their trifluoromethanesulfonate salts. We compare the electrochemical behavior of the resulting monolayers relative to that of benchmark mercaptohexanol monolayers in phosphate-buffered saline. Within the -0.15 to 0.25 V vs Ag|AgCl voltage window, NHC monolayers are stable on gold surfaces, wherein they electrochemically perform like thiol-based monolayers and undergo similar reorganization kinetics, displaying long-term stability under incubation in buffered media and under continuous voltammetric interrogation. At negative voltages, NHC monolayers cathodically desorb from the electrode surface at lower bias (-0.1 V) than thiol-based monolayers (-0.5 V). At voltages more positive than 0.25 V, NHC monolayers anodically desorb from electrode surfaces at similar voltages to thiol-based monolayers. These results highlight new limitations to NHC monolayer stability imposed by electrochemical interrogation of the underlying gold electrodes. Our results serve as a framework for future optimization of NHC monolayers on gold for electrochemical applications, as well as structure-functionality studies of NHCs on gold.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Miguel
Aller Pellitero
- Department
of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
| | - Isabel M. Jensen
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
| | - Nathaniel L. Dominique
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of Notre Dame, Notre
Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
| | - Lilian Chinenye Ekowo
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of Notre Dame, Notre
Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
| | - Jon P. Camden
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of Notre Dame, Notre
Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
| | - David M. Jenkins
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
| | - Netzahualcóyotl Arroyo-Currás
- Department
of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Li S, Zhang H, Zhu M, Kuang Z, Li X, Xu F, Miao S, Zhang Z, Lou X, Li H, Xia F. Electrochemical Biosensors for Whole Blood Analysis: Recent Progress, Challenges, and Future Perspectives. Chem Rev 2023. [PMID: 37262362 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.1c00759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Whole blood, as one of the most significant biological fluids, provides critical information for health management and disease monitoring. Over the past 10 years, advances in nanotechnology, microfluidics, and biomarker research have spurred the development of powerful miniaturized diagnostic systems for whole blood testing toward the goal of disease monitoring and treatment. Among the techniques employed for whole-blood diagnostics, electrochemical biosensors, as known to be rapid, sensitive, capable of miniaturization, reagentless and washing free, become a class of emerging technology to achieve the target detection specifically and directly in complex media, e.g., whole blood or even in the living body. Here we are aiming to provide a comprehensive review to summarize advances over the past decade in the development of electrochemical sensors for whole blood analysis. Further, we address the remaining challenges and opportunities to integrate electrochemical sensing platforms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shaoguang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, Engineering Research Center of Nano-Geomaterials of Ministry of Education, Faculty of Materials Science and Chemistry, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Hongyuan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, Engineering Research Center of Nano-Geomaterials of Ministry of Education, Faculty of Materials Science and Chemistry, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Man Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, Engineering Research Center of Nano-Geomaterials of Ministry of Education, Faculty of Materials Science and Chemistry, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Zhujun Kuang
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, Engineering Research Center of Nano-Geomaterials of Ministry of Education, Faculty of Materials Science and Chemistry, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Xun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, Engineering Research Center of Nano-Geomaterials of Ministry of Education, Faculty of Materials Science and Chemistry, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Fan Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, Engineering Research Center of Nano-Geomaterials of Ministry of Education, Faculty of Materials Science and Chemistry, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Siyuan Miao
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, Engineering Research Center of Nano-Geomaterials of Ministry of Education, Faculty of Materials Science and Chemistry, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Zishuo Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, Engineering Research Center of Nano-Geomaterials of Ministry of Education, Faculty of Materials Science and Chemistry, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Xiaoding Lou
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, Engineering Research Center of Nano-Geomaterials of Ministry of Education, Faculty of Materials Science and Chemistry, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Hui Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, Engineering Research Center of Nano-Geomaterials of Ministry of Education, Faculty of Materials Science and Chemistry, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Fan Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, Engineering Research Center of Nano-Geomaterials of Ministry of Education, Faculty of Materials Science and Chemistry, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Kar P, Wang CM, Liao CL, Chang TS, Liao WS. Guiding Metal Organic Framework Morphology via Monolayer Artificial Defect-Induced Preferential Facet Selection. JACS AU 2023; 3:1118-1130. [PMID: 37124286 PMCID: PMC10131197 DOI: 10.1021/jacsau.2c00692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Guiding metal organic framework (MOF) morphology, especially without the need for chemical additives, still remains a challenge. For the first time, we report a unique surface guiding approach in controlling the crystal morphology formation of zeolitic imidazole framework-8 (ZIF-8) and HKUST-1 MOFs on disrupted alkanethiol self-assembled monolayer (SAM)-covered Au substrates. Selective molecule removal is applied to generate diverse SAM matrices rich in artificial molecular defects in a monolayer to direct the dynamic crystal growth process. When a 11-mercaptoundecanol alkanethiol monolayer is ruptured, the hydroxyl tail groups of surface residue molecules act as nucleating sites by coordination with precursor metal ions. Meanwhile, the exposed alkane chain backbones stabilize a particular facet of MOF nuclei in the dynamic growth by slowing down their crystal growth rates along a specific direction. The competitive formation between the [110] and [100] planes of ZIF-8 ultimately regulates the crystal shapes from rhombic dodecahedron, truncated rhombic dodecahedron, and truncated cube to cube. Similarly, changeable morphologies of HKUST-1 crystals are also achieved from cube and tetrakaidekahedron to octahedron, originating from the competitive selection between the [100] and [111] planes. In addition to the artificial matrix preferred orientation of initial nucleation, parameters such as temperature also play a crucial role in the resulting crystal morphology. Standing on the additive-free MOF crystal morphology growth control, porous architectures prepared in this approach can act as templates for ligand-free metal (Au, Ag, and Cu) nanocluster synthesis. The nanocluster-embedded MOF structures represent distinct crystal morphology-dependent optical properties, and interestingly, their fluorescence emission can be highly enhanced by facet-induced nanocluster packing alignments. These findings not only provide a unique thought on MOF crystal morphology guidance but also pave a new route for the accompanied property investigation and further application.
Collapse
|
6
|
Zhu M, Kuang Z, Xu F, Li S, Li H, Xia F. Employing a Redox Reporter-Modified Self-Assembly Monolayer in Electrochemical Aptamer-Based Sensors to Enable Calibration-Free Measurements. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2023; 6:1586-1593. [PMID: 36926799 DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.3c00001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
Electrochemical aptamer-based (E-AB) sensors suffer from sensor-to-sensor signal variations due to the variation in the total number of probes immobilized on the sensor surface, the effective working area, and the heterogeneity properties of the electrode surface, thus requiring a calibration step prior to each measurement. This is impractical, if not possible, for some cases, e.g., in a complex matrix including blood samples. In response, we propose a calibration-free approach to achieve the measurement of biorelevant small-molecule and protein analytes. Specifically, we employed one reporter labeled onto an aptamer (e.g., methylene blue) for redox signaling, and the other reporter (e.g., ferrocene) was modified onto a self-assembly monolayer as a reference signal. By taking the ratio of the two signals, we achieved a much improved baseline stability and sensor-to-sensor reproducibility, which allows the calibration-free measurement of the analysis of the respective targets, including doxorubicin, vancomycin, and thrombin in both simple buffer and even directly complex samples including serum and whole blood.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Man Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, Engineering Research Center of Nano-Geomaterials of Ministry of Education, Faculty of Materials Science and Chemistry, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Zhujun Kuang
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, Engineering Research Center of Nano-Geomaterials of Ministry of Education, Faculty of Materials Science and Chemistry, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Fan Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, Engineering Research Center of Nano-Geomaterials of Ministry of Education, Faculty of Materials Science and Chemistry, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Shaoguang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, Engineering Research Center of Nano-Geomaterials of Ministry of Education, Faculty of Materials Science and Chemistry, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Hui Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, Engineering Research Center of Nano-Geomaterials of Ministry of Education, Faculty of Materials Science and Chemistry, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Fan Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, Engineering Research Center of Nano-Geomaterials of Ministry of Education, Faculty of Materials Science and Chemistry, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Williamson P, Piskunen P, Ijäs H, Butterworth A, Linko V, Corrigan DK. Signal Amplification in Electrochemical DNA Biosensors Using Target-Capturing DNA Origami Tiles. ACS Sens 2023; 8:1471-1480. [PMID: 36914224 PMCID: PMC10152479 DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.2c02469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
Abstract
Electrochemical DNA (e-DNA) biosensors are feasible tools for disease monitoring, with their ability to translate hybridization events between a desired nucleic acid target and a functionalized transducer, into recordable electrical signals. Such an approach provides a powerful method of sample analysis, with a strong potential to generate a rapid time to result in response to low analyte concentrations. Here, we report a strategy for the amplification of electrochemical signals associated with DNA hybridization, by harnessing the programmability of the DNA origami method to construct a sandwich assay to boost charge transfer resistance (RCT) associated with target detection. This allowed for an improvement in the sensor limit of detection by two orders of magnitude compared to a conventional label-free e-DNA biosensor design and linearity for target concentrations between 10 pM and 1 nM without the requirement for probe labeling or enzymatic support. Additionally, this sensor design proved capable of achieving a high degree of strand selectivity in a challenging DNA-rich environment. This approach serves as a practical method for addressing strict sensitivity requirements necessary for a low-cost point-of-care device.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paul Williamson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G1 1QE, United Kingdom
| | - Petteri Piskunen
- Biohybrid Materials, Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, Aalto University, 00076 Aalto, Finland
| | - Heini Ijäs
- Biohybrid Materials, Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, Aalto University, 00076 Aalto, Finland.,Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Geschwister-Scholl-Platz 1, 80539 Munich, Germany
| | - Adrian Butterworth
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G1 1QE, United Kingdom
| | - Veikko Linko
- Biohybrid Materials, Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, Aalto University, 00076 Aalto, Finland.,LIBER Center of Excellence, Aalto University, 00076 Aalto, Finland.,Institute of Technology, University of Tartu, Nooruse 1, 50411 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Damion K Corrigan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G1 1QE, United Kingdom.,Department of Pure & Applied Chemistry, Thomas Graham Building, University of Strathclyde, 295 Cathedral Street, Glasgow G1 1XL, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Pan J, Xu W, Li W, Chen S, Dai Y, Yu S, Zhou Q, Xia F. Electrochemical Aptamer-Based Sensors with Tunable Detection Range. Anal Chem 2023; 95:420-432. [PMID: 36625123 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.2c04498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jing Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, Faculty of Materials Science and Chemistry, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Wenxia Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, Faculty of Materials Science and Chemistry, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Wanlu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, Faculty of Materials Science and Chemistry, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Shuwen Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, Faculty of Materials Science and Chemistry, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Yu Dai
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, Faculty of Materials Science and Chemistry, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Shanwu Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, Faculty of Materials Science and Chemistry, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Qitao Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, Faculty of Materials Science and Chemistry, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Fan Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, Faculty of Materials Science and Chemistry, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Downs AM, Plaxco KW. Real-Time, In Vivo Molecular Monitoring Using Electrochemical Aptamer Based Sensors: Opportunities and Challenges. ACS Sens 2022; 7:2823-2832. [PMID: 36205360 PMCID: PMC9840907 DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.2c01428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
The continuous, real-time measurement of specific molecules in situ in the body would greatly improve our ability to understand, diagnose, and treat disease. The vast majority of continuous molecular sensing technologies, however, either (1) rely on the chemical or enzymatic reactivity of their targets, sharply limiting their scope, or (2) have never been shown (and likely will never be shown) to operate in the complex environments found in vivo. Against this background, here we review electrochemical aptamer-based (EAB) sensors, an electrochemical approach to real-time molecular monitoring that has now seen 15 years of academic development. The strengths of the EAB platform are significant: to date it is the only molecular measurement technology that (1) functions independently of the chemical reactivity of its targets, and is thus general, and (2) supports in vivo measurements. Specifically, using EAB sensors we, and others, have already reported the real-time, seconds-resolved measurements of multiple, unrelated drugs and metabolites in situ in the veins and tissues of live animals. Against these strengths, we detail the platform's remaining weaknesses, which include still limited measurement duration (hours, rather than the more desirable days) and the difficulty in obtaining sufficiently high performance aptamers against new targets, before then detailing promising approaches overcoming these hurdles. Finally, we close by exploring the opportunities we believe this potentially revolutionary technology (as well as a few, possibly competing, technologies) will create for both researchers and clinicians.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alex M. Downs
- Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM 87106, USA
| | - Kevin W. Plaxco
- Center for Bioengineering, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA,Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA,Corresponding author:
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Zhang Z, Wang Y, Mei Z, Wang Y, Li H, Li S, Xia F. Incorporating Hydrophobic Moieties into Self-Assembled Monolayers to Enable Electrochemical Aptamer-Based Sensors Deployed Directly in a Complex Matrix. ACS Sens 2022; 7:2615-2624. [PMID: 35998663 DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.2c00995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Continuous real-time measurement of specific targets in complex biological samples is of great significance for early diagnosis and treatment of diseases and thus enables achievement of personalized medicine. Electrochemical aptamer-based (E-AB) sensors are good candidates to fill this role due to their high specificity, sensitivity, rapid detection, and simple preparation. However, this sensor class suffers from severe baseline drift in the complex matrix probably due to the nonspecific adsorption of components. Here, we introduce a series of self-assembled monolayers with a variety of hydrophobic functional groups into an E-AB sensor platform, achieving enhancement of the antifouling performance and thus the detection performance (e.g., stability, sensitivity, and specificity). We reveal that the antifouling performance enhanced by such hydrophobic SAMs is probably due to its instant adsorption of components onto the surface, rather than the repelling of these components by hydrophilic SAMs in previous reports.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zishuo Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, Engineering Research Center of Nano-Geomaterials of Ministry of Education, Faculty of Materials Science and Chemistry, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Yuanyuan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, Engineering Research Center of Nano-Geomaterials of Ministry of Education, Faculty of Materials Science and Chemistry, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Ziyin Mei
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, Engineering Research Center of Nano-Geomaterials of Ministry of Education, Faculty of Materials Science and Chemistry, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Yiming Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, Engineering Research Center of Nano-Geomaterials of Ministry of Education, Faculty of Materials Science and Chemistry, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Hui Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, Engineering Research Center of Nano-Geomaterials of Ministry of Education, Faculty of Materials Science and Chemistry, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Shaoguang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, Engineering Research Center of Nano-Geomaterials of Ministry of Education, Faculty of Materials Science and Chemistry, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Fan Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, Engineering Research Center of Nano-Geomaterials of Ministry of Education, Faculty of Materials Science and Chemistry, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Li X, Jin Y, Zhu F, Liu R, Jiang Y, Jiang Y, Mao L. Electrochemical Conjugation of Aptamers on a Carbon Fiber Microelectrode Enables Highly Stable and Selective In Vivo Neurosensing. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2022; 61:e202208121. [DOI: 10.1002/anie.202208121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Xin Li
- College of Chemistry Beijing Normal University Beijing 100875 China
| | - Ying Jin
- College of Chemistry Beijing Normal University Beijing 100875 China
| | - Fenghui Zhu
- College of Chemistry Beijing Normal University Beijing 100875 China
| | - Ran Liu
- College of Chemistry Beijing Normal University Beijing 100875 China
| | - Yan Jiang
- College of Chemistry Beijing Normal University Beijing 100875 China
| | - Ying Jiang
- College of Chemistry Beijing Normal University Beijing 100875 China
| | - Lanqun Mao
- College of Chemistry Beijing Normal University Beijing 100875 China
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Li X, Jin Y, Zhu F, Liu R, Jiang Y, Jiang Y, Mao L. Electrochemical Conjugation of Aptamers on Carbon Fiber Microelectrode Enables Highly Stable and Selective In Vivo Neurosensing. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202208121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Xin Li
- Beijing Normal University College of Chemistry CHINA
| | - Ying Jin
- Beijing Normal University College of Chemistry CHINA
| | - Fenghui Zhu
- Beijing Normal University College of Chemistry CHINA
| | - Ran Liu
- Beijing Normal University College of Chemistry CHINA
| | - Yan Jiang
- Beijing Normal University College of Chemistry CHINA
| | - Ying Jiang
- Beijing Normal University College of Chemistry CHINA
| | - Lanqun Mao
- Beijing Normal University College of Chemistry No.19, Xinjiekouwai St, Haidian District 100875 Beijing CHINA
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Shaver A, Arroyo-Currás N. The challenge of long-term stability for nucleic acid-based electrochemical sensors. CURRENT OPINION IN ELECTROCHEMISTRY 2022; 32:100902. [PMID: 36092288 PMCID: PMC9455832 DOI: 10.1016/j.coelec.2021.100902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Nucleic acid-based electrochemical sensors are a versatile technology enabling affinity-based detection of a great variety of molecular targets, regardless of inherent electrochemical activity or enzymatic reactivity. Additionally, their modular interface and ease of fabrication enable rapid prototyping and sensor development. However, the technology has inhibiting limitations in terms of long-term stability that have precluded translation into clinically valuable platforms like continuous molecular monitors. In this opinion, we discuss published methods to address various aspects of sensor stability, including thiol-based monolayers and anti-biofouling capabilities. We hope the highlighted works will motivate the field to develop innovative strategies for extending the long-term operational life of nucleic acid-based electrochemical sensors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Shaver
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Netzahualcóyotl Arroyo-Currás
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Whiting School of Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA
- Institute for Nanobiotechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Chen G, Chen W, Xu L, Jin H, Sun W, Lan J, Wu F, Zhang X, Zhang J, Chen J. Sensitive, Highly Stable, and Anti-Fouling Electrode with Hexanethiol and Poly-A Modification for Exosomal microRNA Detection. Anal Chem 2022; 94:5382-5391. [PMID: 35323012 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.2c00069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
It remains a huge challenge to integrate the sensitivity, stability, reproducibility, and anti-fouling ability of electrochemical biosensors for practical applications. Herein, we propose a self-assembled electrode combining hexanethiol (HT), poly-adenine (poly-A), and cholesteryl-modified DNA to meet this challenge. HT can tightly pack at the electrode interface to form a hydrophobic self-assembled monolayer (SAM), effectively improving the stability and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of electrochemical detection. Cholesteryl-modified DNA was immobilized at the electrode through the hydrophobic interaction with HT to avoid the competition between the SAM and the DNA probe on the gold site. Thus, the assembly efficiency and uniformity of the DNA probe as well as the detection reproducibility were increased remarkedly. Poly-A was added on the HT assembled electrode to occupy the unreacted sites of gold to further enhance the anti-fouling ability. The combination of HT and poly-A allows the electrode to ensure favorable anti-fouling ability without sacrificing the detection performance. On this basis, we proposed a dual-signal amplification electrochemical biosensor for the detection of exosomal microRNAs, which showed excellent sensitivity with a detection limit down to 1.46 aM. Importantly, this method has been successfully applied to detect exosomal microRNA-21 in cells and human serum samples, proving its potential utility in cancer diagnosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Guanyu Chen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, The School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, Fujian Province, P.R. China.,Fujian Key Laboratory of Drug Target Discovery and Structural and Functional Research, The School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, Fujian Province, P.R. China
| | - Wenqian Chen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, The School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, Fujian Province, P.R. China.,Fujian Key Laboratory of Drug Target Discovery and Structural and Functional Research, The School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, Fujian Province, P.R. China
| | - Lilan Xu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, The School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, Fujian Province, P.R. China.,Fujian Key Laboratory of Drug Target Discovery and Structural and Functional Research, The School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, Fujian Province, P.R. China
| | - Huixuan Jin
- College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, Fujian Province, P.R. China
| | - Weiming Sun
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, The School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, Fujian Province, P.R. China.,Fujian Key Laboratory of Drug Target Discovery and Structural and Functional Research, The School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, Fujian Province, P.R. China
| | - Jianming Lan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, The School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, Fujian Province, P.R. China.,Fujian Key Laboratory of Drug Target Discovery and Structural and Functional Research, The School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, Fujian Province, P.R. China
| | - Fang Wu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, The School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, Fujian Province, P.R. China.,Fujian Key Laboratory of Drug Target Discovery and Structural and Functional Research, The School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, Fujian Province, P.R. China
| | - Xi Zhang
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, The School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, Fujian Province, P. R. China
| | - Jing Zhang
- College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, Fujian Province, P.R. China
| | - Jinghua Chen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, The School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, Fujian Province, P.R. China.,Fujian Key Laboratory of Drug Target Discovery and Structural and Functional Research, The School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, Fujian Province, P.R. China
| |
Collapse
|