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.

The graphene/nucleic acid nanobiointerface

In this critical review, we present the recent advances in the design and fabrication of graphene/nucleic acid nanobiointerfaces, as well as the fundamental understanding of their interfacial properties and various nanobiotechnological applications.

Recent advances in aptasensors based on graphene and graphene-like nanomaterials

Graphene and graphene-like two-dimensional nanomaterials have aroused tremendous research interest in recent years due to their unique electronic, optical, and mechanical properties associated with their planar structure. Aptamers have exhibited many advantages as molecular recognition elements for sensing devices compared to traditional antibodies. The marriage of two-dimensional nanomaterials and aptamers has emerged many ingenious aptasensing strategies for applications in the fields of clinical diagnosis and food safety. This review highlights current advances in the development and application of two-dimensional nanomaterials-based aptasensors with the focus on two main signal-transducing mechanisms, i.e. electrochemical and optical. A special attention is paid to graphene, a one-atom thick layer of graphite with exceptional properties, representing a fastgrowing field of research. In view of the unique properties of two-dimensional nanostructures and their inherent advantages of synthetic aptamers, we expect that high-performance two-dimensional nanomaterials-based aptasensing devices will find extensive applications in environmental monitoring, biomedical diagnostics, and food safety.

Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles/reduced graphene oxide nanosheets as a novel electrochemical and bioeletrochemical sensing platform

We have developed Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles/reduced graphene oxide nanosheets modified glassy carbon (Fe3O4/r-GO/GC) electrode as a novel system for the preparation of electrochemical sensing platform. Decorating Fe3O4 nanoparticles on graphene sheets was performed via a facile one-step chemical reaction strategy, where the reduction of GO and the in-situ generation of Fe3O4 nanoparticles occurred simultaneously. Characterization of as-made nanocomposite using X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and alternative gradient force magnetometry (AGFM) clearly demonstrate the successful attachment of monodisperse Fe3O4 nanoparticles to graphene sheets. Electrochemical studies revealed that the Fe3O4/r-GO/GC electrode possess excellent electrocatalytic activities toward the low potential oxidation of NADH (0.05 V vs. Ag/AgCl) as well as the catalytic reduction of O2 and H2O2 at reduced overpotentials. Via immobilization of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) as a model dehydrogenase enzyme onto the Fe3O4/r-GO/GC electrode surface, the ability of modified electrode for biosensing lactate was demonstrated. In addition, using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) to investigate the electrochemical oxidation behavior of ascorbic acid (AA), dopamine (DA) and uric acid (UA) at Fe3O4/r-GO/GC electrode, the high electrocatalytic activity of the modified electrode toward simultaneous detection of these compounds was indicated. Finally, based on the strong electrocatalytic action of Fe3O4/r-GO/GC electrode toward both oxidation and reduction of nitrite, a sensitive amperometric sensor for nitrite determination was proposed. The Fe3O4/r-GO hybrid presented here showing favorable electrochemical features may hold great promise to the development of electrochemical sensors, molecular bioelectronic devices, biosensors and biofuel cells.

Prospects and challenges of graphene in biomedical applications

Graphene materials have entered a phase of maturity in their development that is characterized by their explorative utilization in various types of applications and fields from electronics to biomedicine. Herein, we describe the recent advances made with graphene-related materials in the biomedical field and the challenges facing these exciting new tools both in terms of biological activity and toxicological profiling in vitro and in vivo. Graphene materials today have mainly been explored as components of biosensors and for construction of matrices in tissue engineering. Their antimicrobial activity and their capacity to act as drug delivery platforms have also been reported, however, not as coherently. This report will attempt to offer some perspective as to which areas of biomedical applications can expect graphene-related materials to constitute a tool offering improved functionality and previously unavailable options.

Graphene and other nanomaterial-based electrochemical aptasensors

Electrochemical aptasensors, which are based on the specificity of aptamer-target recognition, with electrochemical transduction for analytical purposes have received particular attention due to their high sensitivity and selectivity, simple instrumentation, as well as low production cost. Aptamers are functional nucleic acids with specific and high affinity to their targets, similar to antibodies. However, they are completely selected in vitro in contrast to antibodies. Due to their stability, easy chemical modifications and proneness to nanostructured device construction, aptamer-based sensors have been incorporated in a variety of applications including electrochemical sensing devices. In recent years, the performance of aptasensors has been augmented by incorporating novel nanomaterials in the preparation of better electrochemical sensors. In this review, we summarize the recent trends in the use of nanomaterials for developing electrochemical aptasensors.