Ultrasensitive Plasmonic Biosensors for Real-Time Parallel Detection of Alpha-L-Fucosidase and Cardiac-Troponin-I in Whole Human Blood

Recent Advances in Biosensor Technology for Early-Stage Detection of Hepatocellular Carcinoma-Specific Biomarkers: An Overview

Hepatocellular carcinoma is currently the most common malignancy of the liver. It typically occurs due to a series of oncogenic mutations that lead to aberrant cell replication. Most commonly, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) occurs as a result of pre-occurring liver diseases, such as hepatitis and cirrhosis. Given its aggressive nature and poor prognosis, the early screening and diagnosis of HCC are crucial. However, due to its plethora of underlying risk factors and pathophysiologies, patient presentation often varies in the early stages, with many patients presenting with few, if any, specific symptoms in the early stages. Conventionally, screening and diagnosis are performed through radiological examination, with diagnosis confirmed by biopsy. Imaging modalities tend to be limited by their requirement of large, expensive equipment; time-consuming operation; and a lack of accurate diagnosis, whereas a biopsy's invasive nature makes it unappealing for repetitive use. Recently, biosensors have gained attention for their potential to detect numerous conditions rapidly, cheaply, accurately, and without complex equipment and training. Through their sensing platforms, they aim to detect various biomarkers, such as nucleic acids, proteins, and even whole cells extracted by a liquid biopsy. Numerous biosensors have been developed that may detect HCC in its early stages. We discuss the recent updates in biosensing technology, highlighting its competitive potential compared to conventional methodology and its prospects as a tool for screening and diagnosis.

Clinical Biochemistry of Serum Troponin

Accurate measurement and interpretation of serum levels of troponin (Tn) is a central part of the clinical workup of a patient presenting with chest pain suspicious for acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Knowledge of the molecular characteristics of the troponin complex and test characteristics of troponin measurement assays allows for a deeper understanding of causes of false positive and false negative test results in myocardial injury. In this review, we discuss the molecular structure and functions of the constituent proteins of the troponin complex (TnT, TnC, and TnI); review the different isoforms of Tn and where they are from; survey the evolution of clinical Tn assays, ranging from first-generation to high-sensitivity (hs); provide a primer on statistical interpretation of assay results based on different clinical settings; and discuss potential causes of false results. We also summarize the advances in technologies that may lead to the development of future Tn assays, including the development of point of care assays and wearable Tn sensors for real-time continuous measurement.

Label-free detection of cardiac troponin-I with packaged thin-walled microbubble resonators

The measurement of cardiac troponin-I (cTnI) is widely used for diagnosing acute myocardial infarction (AMI) diseases because of its myocardial specificity. Packaged microbubble resonators with thin wall are utilized for label-free and specific detection of cTnI based on whispering gallery mode (WGM). This packaged structure can provide a good protection for the biosensor, improve the anti-interference ability of the sensor and reduce the system noise. The theoretical detection limit of the biosensors for cTnI in phosphate buffer saline (PBS) is 0.4 ag mL^-1 (0.02 a_M ). Furthermore, we demonstrated that the biosensors can be used to detect cTnI molecules in simulated serum and the theoretical detection limit is also 0.4 ag mL^-1 (0.02 a_M ). These results are much far below the clinical cut-off value and show a huge application potential for the detection of cardiac biomarkers of AMI.

The Challenges of Developing Biosensors for Clinical Assessment: A Review

Emerging research in biosensors has attracted much attention worldwide, particularly in response to the recent pandemic outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Nevertheless, initiating research in biosensing applied to the diagnosis of diseases is still challenging for researchers, be it in the preferences of biosensor platforms, selection of biomarkers, detection strategies, or other aspects (e.g., cutoff values) to fulfill the clinical purpose. There are two sides to the development of a diagnostic tool: the biosensor development side and the clinical side. From the development side, the research engineers seek the typical characteristics of a biosensor: sensitivity, selectivity, linearity, stability, and reproducibility. On the other side are the physicians that expect a diagnostic tool that provides fast acquisition of patient information to obtain an early diagnosis or an efficient patient stratification, which consequently allows for making assertive and efficient clinical decisions. The development of diagnostic devices always involves assay developer researchers working as pivots to bridge both sides whose role is to find detection strategies suitable to the clinical needs by understanding (1) the intended use of the technology and its basic principle and (2) the preferable type of test: qualitative or quantitative, sample matrix challenges, biomarker(s) threshold (cutoff value), and if the system requires a mono- or multiplex assay format. This review highlights the challenges for the development of biosensors for clinical assessment and its broad application in multidisciplinary fields. This review paper highlights the following biosensor technologies: magnetoresistive (MR)-based, transistor-based, quartz crystal microbalance (QCM), and optical-based biosensors. Its working mechanisms are discussed with their pros and cons. The article also gives an overview of the most critical parameters that are optimized by developing a diagnostic tool.

State-of-the-art Hepatocellular Carcinoma Biomarker Detection by Biosensor Technology-a Review

Biosensors have become a very interesting field in recent years, thanks to their potential to be converted into self-diagnostic technologies. Being able to analyze a biomarker with different biosensor systems has great potential. This potential is important in terms of time, cost, and practicality with its use in the analysis of difficult-to-diagnose diseases in clinical studies. In this review, the biosensors used in the determination of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) biomarkers were compiled. Electrochemical, optical, and piezoelectric biosensors used in the analysis of proteins, DNA, RNA, and cells with varying concentrations in HCC can be designed based on antibodies, nanocomposites, DNA, and aptamers.

The value of anti-rods and rings antibodies in patients with nonhepatitis virus infection: A single-center retrospective study from Southwest China

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to retrospectively investigate the clinical significance of anti-rods and rings (anti-RR) antibodies in nonhepatitis virus infection patients from Southwest China.Anti-RR antibodies were determined by indirect immunofluorescence assay in a group of 19,935 individuals with antinuclear antibodies test from January 2017 to December 2019. The laboratory and clinical data were collected. Finally, 66 samples with anti-RR antibodies (0.33%) were detected.In Wilcoxon rank sum test, gamma glutamyl transferase (Z = -3.364, P = .001), alpha-l-fucosidase (AFU) (Z = -2.312, P = .021), uric acid (Z = -1.634, P = .047) and red blood cell distribution width (Z = -2.285, P = .022) were higher in metabolic disease group than nonmetabolic disease group. In independent-samples t test, endogenous creatinine clearance was higher in metabolic disease group than nonmetabolic disease group (t = 2.061, P = .045). During the follow-up period of 37 patients with anti-RR antibodies for 1 to 60 months, the titers of anti-RR were significantly increased in the metabolic disease group (Z = -2.346, P = .019). In binary logistic regression analysis, triglycerides (odds ratio 3.679, 95% confidence interval 1.467-24.779, P = .048) was associated with elevated titers of anti-RR antibodies.In summary, anti-RR in non-hepatitis patients may be a manifestation of metabolic disorders, and has a certain correlation with routine laboratory indicators, which is worthy of the attention from clinicians.

A novel, fast, high sensitivity biosensor for supporting therapeutic decisions and onset actions for chest pain cases

In this work, a novel and promising organic nano linker (NL) was prepared via refluxing 5-aminoisophthalic acid and 1,2-phenylenediamine at 80 °C for 48 h. After that, this linker was reacted with manganese chloride to afford a novel manganese metal–organic framework (Mn–MOF). The produced materials were characterized using 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, mass spectrometry, elemental analysis, UV, IR, FE-SEM, EDX, TEM, and thermal study. In addition to X-ray diffraction, XPS, magnetic properties and photoluminescence investigation for Mn–MOF. The study was extended to apply Mn–MOF as electroactive material for the preparation of a novel cardiac troponin I (cTn) potentiometric membrane biosensor. The biosensor, based on Mn–MOF with an optimized membrane composition, exhibits a fast, stable and linear-Nernstian response to cTn in the concentration range between 0.01 and 30.0 ng mL⁻¹ with a pH range between 5.6 and 10.1 and a fast response time of 20 ± 5 s. The detection and quantification limits are 0.055 and, 0.168 ng mL⁻¹, respectively. The lifetime of the electrode is between 3–12 week without a significant change in the membrane compositions and the performance characteristics based on the storage conditions. The electrode shows high selectivity towards cTn with respect to common interfering analytes. This approach of Mn–MOF-electrode could be addressed, facilitated and helped an emergency departments (EDs) decision-making in patients with chest pain and early myocardial infarction diagnosis. The future vision is converting the present approach to a small device with satisfactory results which will be used in term of point-of-care testing (POCT) for measuring the most important cardiac blood biomarkers.

A novel organic nano linker (NL) and manganese metal–organic framework (Mn–MOF) were synthesized and fully characterized. A promising cardiac troponin-I potentiometric biosensor based on Mn–MOF could be used for early myocardial infarction diagnosis.