Electrochemical Signal Amplification Strategies and Their Use in Olfactory and Taste Evaluation

Biosensors are powerful analytical tools used to identify and detect target molecules. Electrochemical biosensors, which combine biosensing with electrochemical analysis techniques, are efficient analytical instruments that translate concentration signals into electrical signals, enabling the quantitative and qualitative analysis of target molecules. Electrochemical biosensors have been widely used in various fields of detection and analysis due to their high sensitivity, superior selectivity, quick reaction time, and inexpensive cost. However, the signal changes caused by interactions between a biological probe and a target molecule are very weak and difficult to capture directly by using detection instruments. Therefore, various signal amplification strategies have been proposed and developed to increase the accuracy and sensitivity of detection systems. This review serves as a reference for biosensor and detector research, as it introduces the research progress of electrochemical signal amplification strategies in olfactory and taste evaluation. It also discusses the latest signal amplification strategies currently being employed in electrochemical biosensors for nanomaterial development, enzyme labeling, and nucleic acid amplification techniques, and highlights the most recent work in using cell tissues as biosensitive elements.

Catalytic hairpin assembly-based electrochemical biosensor with tandem signal amplification for sensitive microRNA assay

We demonstrate for the first time the construction of a low background electrochemical biosensor with tandem signal amplification for sensitive microRNA assay based on target-activated catalytic hairpin assembly (CHA) of heteroduplex-templated copper nanoparticles. This electrochemical biosensor exhibits high sensitivity, good specificity, single-base mismatch discrimination capability, excellent stability and reproducibility, and it can sensitively detect microRNA in cancer cells.

Copper nanoclusters: designed synthesis, structural diversity, and multiplatform applications

Atomically precise metal nanoclusters (MNCs) have gained tremendous research interest in recent years due to their extraordinary properties. The molecular-like properties that originate from the quantized electronic states provide novel opportunities for the construction of unique nanomaterials possessing rich molecular-like absorption, luminescence, and magnetic properties. The field of monolayer-protected metal nanoclusters, especially copper, with well-defined molecular structures and compositions, is relatively new, about two to three decades old. Nevertheless, the massive progress in the field illustrates the importance of such nanoobjects as promising materials for various applications. In this respect, nanocluster-based catalysts have become very popular, showing high efficiencies and activities for the catalytic conversion of chemical compounds. Biomedical applications of clusters are an active research field aimed at finding better fluorescent contrast agents, therapeutic pharmaceuticals for the treatment and prevention of diseases, the early diagnosis of cancers and other potent diseases, especially at early stages. A huge library of structures and the compositions of copper nanoclusters (CuNCs) with atomic precisions have already been discovered during last few decades; however, there are many concerns to be addressed and questions to be answered. Hopefully, in future, with the combined efforts of material scientists, inorganic chemists, and computational scientists, a thorough understanding of the unique molecular-like properties of metal nanoclusters will be achieved. This, on the other hand, will allow the interdisciplinary researchers to design novel catalysts, biosensors, or therapeutic agents using highly structured, atomically precise, and stable CuNCs. Thus, we hope this review will guide the reader through the field of CuNCs, while discussing the main achievements and improvements, along with challenges and drawbacks that one needs to face and overcome.

Electrochemical detection of microRNA-21 based on a Au nanoparticle functionalized g-C3N4 nanosheet nanohybrid as a sensing platform and a hybridization chain reaction amplification strategy

Here, a sensitive sandwich-type electrochemical biosensor for microRNA-21 detection was reported. It was based on the use of a Au NP functionalized graphite-like carbon nitride nanosheet (g-C₃N₄ NS) nanohybrid (Au NPs-g-C₃N₄ NS) as a sensing platform and DNA concatemers containing methylene blue (MB) as a signal probe. The signal probe was prepared by using two different single strand DNAs with a complementary sequence (one of them labeled with MB at the 3' end) to form long concatemers via continuous hybridization chain reaction (HCR); thus numerous MB signal molecules were loaded on long concatemers. The biosensor was fabricated following the next step: a thiolated hairpin probe (HP) was first immobilized on the surface of the glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with a Au NPs-g-C₃N₄ NS nanohybrid. After it was blocked with MCH, the modified electrode was sequentially hybridized with microRNA-21 and a signal probe, respectively. As a result, a sandwich structure of HP-microRNA-signal probe covered the surface of the modified electrode. Differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) was employed to measure the sensing signal in phosphate buffered solution (0.10 M PBS, pH 7.4). The experimental conditions were optimized such as the hybridization time and the amount of g-C₃N₄ NS. The proposed biosensor exhibited a wide linear response range (1.0 fM to 500 nM) and a low limit of detection (0.33 fM; at S/N = 3) under the optimal conditions. Meanwhile, the biosensor could discriminate single base mismatched microRNA-21, indicating that the biosensor possessed high selectivity.

Electrochemical Biosensors for Detection of MicroRNA as a Cancer Biomarker: Pros and Cons

Cancer is the second most fatal disease in the world and an early diagnosis is important for a successful treatment. Thus, it is necessary to develop fast, sensitive, simple, and inexpensive analytical tools for cancer biomarker detection. MicroRNA (miRNA) is an RNA cancer biomarker where the expression level in body fluid is strongly correlated to cancer. Various biosensors involving the detection of miRNA for cancer diagnosis were developed. The present review offers a comprehensive overview of the recent developments in electrochemical biosensor for miRNA cancer marker detection from 2015 to 2020. The review focuses on the approaches to direct miRNA detection based on the electrochemical signal. It includes a RedOx-labeled probe with different designs, RedOx DNA-intercalating agents, various kinds of RedOx catalysts used to produce a signal response, and finally a free RedOx indicator. Furthermore, the advantages and drawbacks of these approaches are highlighted.

A colorimetric detection of microRNA-148a in gastric cancer by gold nanoparticle-RNA conjugates

For the early diagnosis of gastric cancer, microRNA-148a (miRNA-148a) as a promising biomarker is measured by a simple colorimetric biosensor due to its unique surface plasmon resonance (SPR) absorption of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). In the assay system, the sensing probes are facilitated by the conjugation of AuNPs with RNA probes (RNA_P) via Au-S bonds, which align in a tail-to-tail fashion onto the target RNA. When miRNA-148a is introduced, a sandwich hybridization reaction is triggered between the AuNP-RNA_P conjugates and targets, resulting in changes in the SPR absorption band, microscopic distribution and macroscopic color of the AuNP solution. Following this principle, this colorimetric method is able to quantitatively detect miRNA-148a at nanomolar level with a limit of ∼1.9 nM, and exhibits high sensitivity and selectivity by a low-cost UV-vis spectrometer or even the naked eye. Moreover, the AuNP network materials with a characteristic sharp 'melting transition' provide significant guidance for the reusability of DNA or RNA biosensors.

Progress in biosensor based on DNA-templated copper nanoparticles

During the last decades, by virtue of their unique physicochemical properties and potential application in microelectronics, biosensing and biomedicine, metal nanomaterials (MNs) have attracted great research interest and been highly developed. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is a particularly interesting ligand for templating bottom-up nanopreparation, by virtue of its excellent properties including nanosized geometry structure, programmable and artificial synthesis, DNA-metal ion interaction and powerful molecular recognition. DNA-templated copper nanoparticles (DNA-CuNPs) has been developed in recent years. Because of its advantages including simple and rapid preparation, high efficiency, MegaStokes shifting and low biological toxicity, DNA-CuNPs has been highly exploited for biochemical sensing from 2010, especially as a label-free detection manner, holding advantages in multiple analytical technologies including fluorescence, electrochemistry, surface plasmon resonance, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy. This review comprehensively tracks the preparation of DNA-CuNPs and its application in biosensing, and highlights the potential development and challenges regarding this field, aiming to promote the advance of this fertile research area.

Recent advances in the synthesis and application of copper nanomaterials based on various DNA scaffolds

Fluorescent copper nanomaterials (CuNMs), including copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) and copper nanoclusters (CuNCs), become more and more popular with the abundant raw materials and low cost. A wide range of applications has been explored due to their fascinating properties such as low toxicity, remarkable water solubility, facile synthesis, large Stokes shifts, and good biocompatibility. As a kind of genetic material, DNA exhibits its molecular recognition function and diversity. The marriage between CuNMs and DNA endows DNA-templated CuNMs (DNA-CuNMs) with unique properties such as fluorescence, electrochemiluminescence and catalytic features. In this review, we summarize the synthesis and recent applications of DNA-CuNMs. Fluorescent CuNMs can be grown on various DNA scaffolds with special sequence design. T base plays an important role in the formation of CuNMs on DNA templates. These fluorescent DNA-CuNMs hold great prospect in logic gate construction, staining and biosensing of DNAs and RNAs, ions, proteins and enzymes, small molecules and so on.

Recent advances in nanomaterial-based electrochemical and optical sensing platforms for microRNA assays

This review describes recent efforts in the application of nanomaterials as sensing elements in electrochemical and optical miRNAs assays.

Laminated Copper Nanocluster Incorporated Antioxidative Paper Device with RGB System-Assisted Signal Improvement

Paper-based analytical devices are an emerging class of lightweight and simple-to-use analytical platform. However, challenges such as instrumental requirements and chemical reagents durability, represent a barrier for less-developed countries and markets. Herein, we report an advanced laminated device using red emitting copper nanocluster and RGB digital analysis for signal improvement. Upon RGB system assistance, the device signal-to-background ratio and the calibration sensitivity are highly enhanced under a filter-free setup. In addition, the calibration sensitivity, limit of detection, and coefficient of determination are on par with those determined by instrumental fluorescence analysis. Moreover, the limitation of using oxidation-susceptible fluorescent nanomaterials is overcome by the introduction of protecting tape barriers, antioxidative sheets, and lamination enclosing. The robustness of device is highly advanced, and the durability is prolonged to more than tenfold.

Surface plasmon resonance biosensor for sensitive detection of microRNA and cancer cell using multiple signal amplification strategy

A sensitive and versatile surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensor was proposed for the detection of microRNA (miRNA) and cancer cell based on multiple signal amplification strategy. Thiol-modified hairpin probe, including a sequence complementary to the target miRNA, was first immobilized on the Au film. In the presence of target miRNA, the stem-loop structure of hairpin probe was unfolded, and then DNA-linked Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) were hybridized with the terminus of the unfolded hairpin probe. Subsequently, DNA-linked AuNPs initiated the formation of DNA supersandwich structure through the addition of two report DNA sequences. Owing to the electronic coupling between localized plasmon of the AuNPs and the surface plasmon wave, as well as the enhancement of the refractive index of the medium over the Au film induced by DNA supersandwich structure, the SPR response was significantly enhanced. Next, numerous positively charged silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were absorbed onto the long-range DNA surpersandwich equably, resulting in a further increase of SPR response. Due to the enzyme-free multiple signal amplification strategy, as low as ca. 0.6 fM miRNA-21 could be detected. In addition, this biosensor showed high selectivity toward single-base mismatch. More importantly, this SPR biosensor was also used for cancer cell detection coupled with the cell-specific aptamer modified magnetic nanoparticles. Given that the biosensor avoided enzyme introduction, the limitation of the enzyme was overcome. The versatile biosensor has great potential for the broad applications in the field of clinical analysis.

In Situ Electrochemical Generation of Electrochemiluminescent Silver Naonoclusters on Target-Cycling Synchronized Rolling Circle Amplification Platform for MicroRNA Detection

On the basis of a novel target-cycling synchronized rolling circle amplification (RCA) as a signal amplification strategy and in situ electrochemical generation of silver nanoclusters (Ag NCs) as signal probes, an ultrasensitive and simple electrochemiluminescence (ECL) biosensor was proposed for microRNA (miRNA) detection. It was worth mentioning that the circular template was subtly designed to consist of a guanine-rich (G-rich) region and a binding region for realizing target-cycling synchronized RCA. In the presence of target miR-21, the binding region hybridized with the primer and the target miR-21 to form a ternary "P" junction structure, and then the RCA was triggered from the 3'-end of the primer. Along with the proceeding of RCA, the target miR-21 was released and participated into another trigger of the RCA. On account of the G-rich region in the circular template, the product DNA of the target-cycling synchronized RCA possessed tandem periodic cytosine-rich (C-rich) sequences, which acted as ligands to further in situ electrochemically generate silver nanoclusters (Ag NCs) as ECL signal probes. As expected, the obtained ECL intensity dependent on the amount of the Ag NCs, which was positively related to the concentration of the target miR-21. The ECL assay for miR-21 detection demonstrated excellent linear response to a concentration variation from 100 aM to 100 pM and limit of detection down to 22 aM.

d-Penicillamine and bovine serum albumin co-stabilized copper nanoclusters with remarkably enhanced fluorescence intensity and photostability for ultrasensitive detection of Ag+

This study reports the synthesis of d-penicillamine and bovine serum albumin co-stabilized copper nanoclusters. The nanoclusters show high fluorescence intensity, stability and response towards silver ion.

Glutathione-directed synthesis of luminescent Ag2S nanoclusters as nanosensors for copper(ii) ions and temperature

Highly red luminescent Ag₂S nanoclusters were synthesized and they show higher sensitivity as nanosensors for copper(ii) ion and temperature.