Flexible plastic, paper and textile lab-on-a chip platforms for electrochemical biosensing

Nanopaper Integrated Smart Device: An Opto-Electrochemical Biosensor for Real-Time Dual On-Field Detection of Organophosphorus Pesticides

The frequent and excessive use of organophosphorus pesticides in the agriculture industry raises persistent concerns regarding their environmental protection and public health implications. Addressing these issues requires the development of affordable and reliable sensing platforms for on-field monitoring to mitigate their adverse impacts promptly. This study utilizes nanocellulose papers (bacterial and TEMPO-oxidized) combined with butyrylcholinesterase to create a novel reagent-free and orthogonal nanobioplatform featuring smart opto-electrochemical dual outputs. An integrated nano-PAD, preloaded with enzymes and enzymatic substrates, is fabricated using wax-printing and screen-printing technologies. The nano-PAD measures opto-electroactive products, specifically indoxyl and thiocholine, whose concentrations correlate directly with the enzymatic inhibition caused by paraoxon, used as the organophosphate model. To enhance user convenience and meet the requirements for smart real-time point-of-need detection, integration of the nano-PAD with a smartphone-operated miniaturized potentiostat and a self-developed portable smart optical reader is achieved. The developed bioanalytical platform, further supported by a self-developed Android application, enables accurate and efficient quantification of dual signals in real time. The system covers a wide detection range of paraoxon (20-100 ppb) and demonstrates reliable recovery levels (ranging from 98 to 107%) in a real matrix, specifically wastewater. Given these demonstrated capabilities, this innovative biosensing strategy holds substantial potential for practical application in environmental surveillance, facilitating timely and informed environmental management decisions, particularly in resource-limited settings where traditional analytical tools are inaccessible.

Eco-sustainable point-of-care devices: Progress in paper and fabric based electrochemical and colorimetric biosensors

Monitoring real-time health conditions is a rinsing demand in a pandemic prone era. Wearable Point-of-Care (POC) devices with paper and fabric-based sensors are emerging as simple, low-cost, portable, and disposable analytical tools for development of green POC devices (GPOCDs). Capabilities of passive fluid transportation, compatibility with biochemical analytes, disposability and high degree of tunability using vivid device fabrication strategies enables development of highly sensitive and economically feasible POC sensors in particularly post COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. Herein we focus mainly on development of biosensors for testing body fluids in the last 5 years using microfluidic technique through electrochemical and colorimetric principle which forms the two most competing sensing techniques providing quantitative and qualitative assessment modalities respectively and forms almost 80 % of the diagnostic platform worldwide. Present review highlights use of these popular substrates as well as various fabrication strategies for realization of GPOCDs ranging from costly and highly sophisticated photolithography to low cost, non conventional techniques like use of correction ink or marker based devices to even novel pop-up/origami induced patterning techniques. Insights into the advancements in colorimetric technique like distance, count or even text based semi-quantitative read-out modality as a on-hand diagnostic information has also been provided. Finally, future outlooks with other interdisciplinary modalities like use of novel materials, incorporation of digital tools like artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML) and strategies for sensitivity and reliability improvement of future GPOCDs have also been discussed.

Wearable electrochemical device based on butterfly-like paper-based microfluidics for pH and Na+ monitoring in sweat

A wearable potentiometric device is reported based on an innovative butterfly-like paper-based microfluidic system, allowing for continuous monitoring of pH and Na+ levels in sweat during physical activity. Specifically, the use of the butterfly-like configuration avoids evaporation phenomena and memory effects, enabling precise and timely biomarker determination in sweat. Two ad hoc modified screen-printed electrodes were embedded in the butterfly-like paper-based microfluidics, and the sensing device was further integrated with a portable and miniaturized potentiostat, leveraging Bluetooth technology for efficient data transmission. First, the paper-based microfluidic configuration was tested for optimal fluidic management to obtain optimized performance of the device. Subsequently, the two electrodes were individually tested to detect the two biomarkers, namely pH and Na+. The results demonstrated highly promising near-Nernstian (0.056 ± 0.002 V/dec) and super-Nernstian (- 0.080 ± 0.003 V/pH) responses, for Na+ and pH detection, respectively. Additionally, several important parameters such as storage stability, interferents, and memory effect by hysteresis study were also investigated. Finally, the butterfly-like paper-based microfluidic wearable device was tested for Na+ and pH monitoring during the physical activity of three volunteers engaged in different exercises, obtaining a good correlation between Na+ increase and dehydration phenomena. Furthermore, one volunteer was tested through a cardiopulmonary test, demonstrating a correlation between sodium Na+ increase and the energetic effort by the volunteer. Our wearable device highlights the high potential to enable early evaluation of dehydration and open up new opportunities in sports activity monitoring.

Microfluidic finger-actuated mixer for ultrasensitive electrochemical measurements of protein biomarkers for point-of-care testing

Current diagnostic tests for high sensitivity detection of protein biomarkers involve long incubation times or require bulky/expensive instrumentation, hindering their use for point-of-care testing. Here, we report a microfluidic electrochemical immunosensor that employs a unique finger-actuated mixer for rapid, ultrasensitive measurements of protein biomarkers. Mixing was implemented during the incubation steps, which accelerated biomolecular transport and promoted immunocomplex formation, leading to enhanced analytical sensitivity and a shortened detection time. Electrochemical measurements were performed using a handheld diagnostic device consisting of a smartphone and miniature potentiostat. Proof of principle was demonstrated by using this platform for quantitative measurements of C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 9 (CXCL9), a serological biomarker for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, which could be detected in human plasma at concentrations as low as 4.7 pg mL-1 in <25 min. The ability to rapidly detect protein biomarkers with high sensitivity in a point-of-care format makes this device a promising tool for diagnostic testing, particularly in resource-limited settings.

Flexible and Disposable Hafnium Nitride Extended Gates Fabricated by Low-Temperature High-Power Impulse Magnetron Sputtering

To obtain a high-performance extended gate field-effect transistor for pH detection, hafnium nitride (HfN) was first fabricated on an indium tin oxide on polyethylene terephthalate (ITO/PET) substrate using a high-power impulse magnetron sputter system (HiPIMS) in this study. It can be easily applied in biomedical diagnostic and environmental monitoring applications with the advantages of flexible, disposable, cost-effective, and reliable components. Various duty cycle conditions in HiPIMSs were designed to investigate the corresponding sensing performance and material properties including surface morphology and composition. As the duty cycle increased, the grain size of HfN increased. Additionally, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis illustrated the presence of HfOxNy on the deposited HfN surface. Both behaviors could result in a better pH sensing performance based on the theory of the site-binding model. Subsequently, HfN with a 15% duty cycle exhibited excellent pH sensitivity and linearity, with values of 59.3 mV/pH and 99.8%, respectively; its hysteresis width and drift coefficient were -1 mV and 0.5 mV/h, respectively. Furthermore, this pH-sensing performance remained stable even after 2000 repeated bending cycles. These results indicate the potential and feasibility of this HiPIMS-deposited HfN for future wearable chemical applications.

Soft Epidermal Paperfluidics for Sweat Analysis by Ratiometric Raman Spectroscopy

The expanding interest in digital biomarker analysis focused on non-invasive human bodily fluids, such as sweat, highlights the pressing need for easily manufactured and highly efficient soft lab-on-skin solutions. Here, we report, for the first time, the integration of microfluidic paper-based devices (μPAD) and non-enhanced Raman-scattering-enabled optical biochemical sensing (Raman biosensing). Their integration merges the enormous benefits of μPAD, with high potential for commercialization and use in resource-limited settings, with biorecognition-element-free (but highly selective) optical Raman biosensing. The introduced thin (0.36 mm), ultra-lightweight (0.19 g), and compact footprint (3 cm2) opto-paperfluidic sweat patch is flexible, stretchable, and conforms, irritation-free, to hairless or minimally haired body regions to enable swift sweat collection. As a great advantage, this new bio-chemical sensory system excels through its absence of onboard biorecognition elements (bioreceptor-free) and omission of plasmonic nanomaterials. The proposed easy fabrication process is adaptable to mass production by following a fully sustainable and cost-effective process utilizing only basic tools by avoiding typically employed printing or laser patterning. Furthermore, efficient collection and transportation of precise sweat volumes, driven exclusively by the wicking properties of porous materials, shows high efficiency in liquid transportation and reduces biosensing latency by a factor of 5 compared to state-of-the-art epidermal microfluidics. The proposed unit enables electronic chip-free and imaging-less visual sweat loss quantification as well as optical biochemical analysis when coupled with Raman spectroscopy. We investigated the multimodal quantification of sweat urea and lactate levels ex vivo (with syntactic sweat including +30 sweat analytes on porcine skin) and achieved a linear dynamic range from 0 to 100 mmol/L during fully dynamic continuous flow characterization.

Applications of flexible electronics related to cardiocerebral vascular system

Ensuring accessible and high-quality healthcare worldwide requires field-deployable and affordable clinical diagnostic tools with high performance. In recent years, flexible electronics with wearable and implantable capabilities have garnered significant attention from researchers, which functioned as vital clinical diagnostic-assisted tools by real-time signal transmission from interested targets in vivo. As the most crucial and complex system of human body, cardiocerebral vascular system together with heart-brain network attracts researchers inputting profuse and indefatigable efforts on proper flexible electronics design and materials selection, trying to overcome the impassable gulf between vivid organisms and rigid inorganic units. This article reviews recent breakthroughs in flexible electronics specifically applied to cardiocerebral vascular system and heart-brain network. Relevant sensor types and working principles, electronics materials selection and treatment methods are expounded. Applications of flexible electronics related to these interested organs and systems are specially highlighted. Through precedent great working studies, we conclude their merits and point out some limitations in this emerging field, thus will help to pave the way for revolutionary flexible electronics and diagnosis assisted tools development.

Lab-on-a-Drone: remote voltammetric analysis of lead in water with real-time data transmission

The present work describes a laboratory-on-a-drone (Lab-on-a-Drone) developed to perform in situ detection of contaminants in environmental water samples. Toward this goal, the system was mounted on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) (drone) and remotely controlled via Wi-Fi to acquire a water sample, perform the electrochemical detection step, and then send the voltammetry data to a smartphone. This Lab-on-a-Drone system was also able to recharge its battery using a solar cell, greatly increasing the autonomy of the system, even in the absence of a power line. As a proof of concept, the Lab-on-a-Drone was employed for the detection of Pb2+ in environmental waters, using a simple electrochemical cell containing a miniaturized screen-printed boron-doped diamond electrode (SP-BDDE) as a working electrode, an Ag/AgCl as a reference electrode, and a graphite ink as a counter electrode. For quantification purposes, analytical curves were constructed covering a concentration range from 1.0 μg L-1 (4.83 nmol L-1) to 80.0 μg L-1 (386.10 nmol L-1), featuring a detection limit of 0.062 μg L-1 (0.30 nmol L-1). The Lab-on-a-Drone was applied to monitor a water reservoir in the Metropolitan Region of Recife, Brazil. To evaluate its performance regarding accuracy and precision, a reference method based on inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) was applied, and the results obtained by both methods showed no statistical differences (t-test at 95% confidence level, n = 3). These results represent the first demonstration of the capabilities of an adapted UAV for the quantification of electroactive environmental contaminant using voltammetry, with real-time data transmission. Thus, the Lab-on-a-Drone makes it possible to reach difficult-to-access environmental reserves and to monitor potentially polluting activity in distant water bodies. Thus, this tool can be used by governments and non-profit organizations to monitor environmental waters using fast, low-cost, process autonomy with accurate and precise data useful to decision making.

Tremella polysaccharide-based conductive hydrogel with anti-freezing and self-healing ability for motion monitoring and intelligent interaction

The application of conductive hydrogels in flexible wearable devices has garnered significant attention. In this study, a self-healing, anti-freezing, and fire-resistant hydrogel strain sensor is successfully synthesized by incorporating sustainable natural biological materials, viz. Tremella polysaccharide and silk fiber, into a polyvinyl alcohol matrix with borax cross-linking. The resulting hydrogel exhibits excellent transparency, thermoplasticity, and remarkable mechanical properties, including a notable elongation (1107.3 %) and high self-healing rate (91.11 %) within 5 min, attributed to the dynamic cross-linking effect of hydrogen bonds and borax. A strain sensor based on the prepared hydrogel sensor can be used to accurately monitor diverse human movements, while maintaining exceptional sensing stability and durability under repeated strain cycles. Additionally, a hydrogel touch component is designed that can successfully interact with intelligent electronic devices, encompassing functions like clicking, writing, and drawing. These inherent advantages make the prepared hydrogel a promising candidate for applications in human health monitoring and intelligent electronic device interaction.

Sustainable DNA Data Storage on Cellulose Paper

DNA is a promising material for high density and long-term archival data storage. In addition to algorithms for encoding digital information into DNA sequences, the DNA writing (chemical synthesis) and reading (DNA sequencing), the preservation of DNA mixtures with high sequence diversity is another critical issue for sustainable, long-term, and large-scale DNA data storage. Here, this work demonstrates a method for low-cost, convenient and sustainable DNA data storage on cellulose paper. A DNA pool comprising thousands of sequences, in which archival data are encoded, is conveniently stored on a cellulose paper with a calculated density as high as 15 TB per mm3 through electrostatic adsorption. This work demonstrates that these digitally encoded DNA pools can be stable for years on the cellulose paper after drying even when directly exposed to air. Furthermore, the reversible electrostatic adsorption enables repeated loading/retrieval of DNA on/off cellulose paper. Therefore, this sustainable DNA preservation on cellulose paper through the convenient electrostatic adsorption exhibits a great advantage in terms of storage capacity and cost that is crucial for practical systems to achieve large-scale and long-time data storage.

Nucleotide-selective amplification and array-based detection for identifying multiple somatic mutations

In the context of personalized and cost-effective treatment, knowledge of the mutational status of specific genes is advantageous to predict which patients are responsive to therapies. As an alternative to one-by-one detection or massive sequencing, the presented genotyping tool determines multiple polymorphic sequences that vary a single nucleotide. The biosensing method includes an effective enrichment of mutant variants and selective recognition by colorimetric DNA arrays. The proposed approach is the hybridization between sequence-tailored probes and products from PCR with SuperSelective primers to discriminate specific variants in a single locus. A fluorescence scanner, a documental scanner, or a smartphone captured the chip images to obtain spot intensities. Hence, specific recognition patterns identified any single-nucleotide change in the wild-type sequence overcoming qPCR methods and other array-based approaches. Studied mutational analyses applied to human cell lines provided high discrimination factors, the precision was 95%, and the sensitivity was 1% mutant of total DNA. Also, the methods showed a selective genotyping of the KRAS gene from tumorous samples (tissue and liquid biopsy), corroborating results by NGS. The developed technology supported on low-cost robust chips and optical reading provides an attractive pathway toward implementing fast, cheap, reproducible discrimination of oncological patients.

Advances in Integration, Wearable Applications, and Artificial Intelligence of Biomedical Microfluidics Systems

Microfluidics attracts much attention due to its multiple advantages such as high throughput, rapid analysis, low sample volume, and high sensitivity. Microfluidics has profoundly influenced many fields including chemistry, biology, medicine, information technology, and other disciplines. However, some stumbling stones (miniaturization, integration, and intelligence) strain the development of industrialization and commercialization of microchips. The miniaturization of microfluidics means fewer samples and reagents, shorter times to results, and less footprint space consumption, enabling a high throughput and parallelism of sample analysis. Additionally, micro-size channels tend to produce laminar flow, which probably permits some creative applications that are not accessible to traditional fluid-processing platforms. The reasonable integration of biomedical/physical biosensors, semiconductor microelectronics, communications, and other cutting-edge technologies should greatly expand the applications of current microfluidic devices and help develop the next generation of lab-on-a-chip (LOC). At the same time, the evolution of artificial intelligence also gives another strong impetus to the rapid development of microfluidics. Biomedical applications based on microfluidics normally bring a large amount of complex data, so it is a big challenge for researchers and technicians to analyze those huge and complicated data accurately and quickly. To address this problem, machine learning is viewed as an indispensable and powerful tool in processing the data collected from micro-devices. In this review, we mainly focus on discussing the integration, miniaturization, portability, and intelligence of microfluidics technology.

Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy—A Tutorial

This tutorial provides the theoretical background, the principles, and applications of Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) in various research and technological sectors. The text has been organized in 17 sections starting with basic knowledge on sinusoidal signals, complex numbers, phasor notation, and transfer functions, continuing with the definition of impedance in electrical circuits, the principles of EIS, the validation of the experimental data, their simulation to equivalent electrical circuits, and ending with practical considerations and selected examples on the utility of EIS to corrosion, energy related applications, and biosensing. A user interactive excel file showing the Nyquist and Bode plots of some model circuits is provided in the Supporting Information. This tutorial aspires to provide the essential background to graduate students working on EIS, as well as to endow the knowledge of senior researchers on various fields where EIS is involved. We also believe that the content of this tutorial will be a useful educational tool for EIS instructors.

Microfluidic solutions for biofluids handling in on-skin wearable systems

On-skin wearable systems for biofluid sampling and biomarker sensing can revolutionize the current practices in healthcare monitoring and personalized medicine. However, there is still a long path toward complete market adoption and acceptance of this fascinating technology. Accordingly, microfluidic science and technology can provide excellent solutions for bridging the gap between basic research and clinical research. The research gap has led to the emerging field of epidermal microfluidics. Moreover, recent advances in the fabrication of highly flexible and stretchable microfluidic systems have revived the concept of micro elastofluidics, which can provide viable solutions for on-skin wearable biofluid handling. In this context, this review highlights the current state-of-the-art platforms in this field and discusses the potential technologies that can be used for on-skin wearable devices. Toward this aim, we first compare various microfluidic platforms that could be used for on-skin wearable devices. These platforms include semiconductor-based, polymer-based, liquid metal-based, paper-based, and textile-based microfluidics. Next, we discuss how these platforms can enhance the stretchability of on-skin wearable biosensors at the device level. Next, potential microfluidic solutions for collecting, transporting, and controlling the biofluids are discussed. The application of finger-powered micropumps as a viable solution for precise and on-demand biofluid pumping is highlighted. Finally, we present the future directions of this field by emphasizing the applications of droplet-based microfluidics, stretchable continuous-flow micro elastofluidics, stretchable superhydrophobic surfaces, liquid beads as a form of digital micro elastofluidics, and topological liquid diodes that received less attention but have enormous potential to be integrated into on-skin wearable devices.

Miniaturized 3D printed electrochemical platform with optimized Fibrous carbon electrode for non-interfering hypochlorite sensing

3D printing technology based electrochemical device can provide ease of fabrication, cost effectiveness, rapid detection and lower limit of detection. Herein, a novel, customized, portable and inexpensive 3D printed electrochemical device, has been presented. Fibrous carbon Toray paper, deposited with gold nanoparticles through electrodeposition, used as a working electrode which Further device was tested with 1 mM sodium hypochlorite using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and square wave voltammetry (SWV) in 0.1 M PBS. Hypochlorite has a pivotal role in supporting the growing chemical and paper industries and finds diverse uses in several clinical applications. It is primarily used for disinfecting food, water and surfaces. The scan rate study was carried out from 20 mVs^-1 to 250 mVs^-1 using cyclic voltammetry technique. The diffusion coefficient obtained from scan rate effect was 1.39 × 10^-6 cm²s^-1. The concentration range was evaluated with SWV technique, in a linear range of 0.6 μM-40 μM, with a detection limit of 0.7 μM. The device was further analyzed to ensure non-interference from co-existing chemicals like sodium chloride, potassium nitrate, sodium carbonate, sodium nitrite. Real sample analysis was done with sea, artificial sea and tap water with impressive recovery values. In summary, the developed working electrode can be customized and modified based on testing analyte; thus, the proposed device can be used for various other biochemical analytes.

An Electroanalytical Flexible Biosensor Based on Reduced Graphene Oxide-DNA Hybrids for the Early Detection of Human Papillomavirus-16

Human Papilloma Virus 16 (HPV 16) is the well-known causative species responsible for triggering cervical cancer. When left undiagnosed and untreated, this disease leads to life-threatening events among the female populace, especially in developing nations where healthcare resources are already being stretched to their limits. Considering various drawbacks of conventional techniques for diagnosing this highly malignant cancer, it becomes imperative to develop miniaturized biosensing platforms which can aid in early detection of cervical cancer for enhanced patient outcomes. The current study reports on the development of an electrochemical biosensor based on reduced graphene oxide (rGO)/DNA hybrid modified flexible carbon screen-printed electrode (CSPE) for the detection of HPV 16. The carbon-coated SPEs were initially coated with rGO followed by probe DNA (PDNA) immobilization. The nanostructure characterization was performed using UV-Vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were employed to study the electrochemical characterization of the nano-biohybrid sensor surface. The optimization studies and analytical performance were assessed using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), eventually exhibiting a limit of detection (LoD) ~2 pM. The developed sensor was found to be selective solely to HPV 16 target DNA and exhibited a shelf life of 1 month. The performance of the developed flexible sensor further exhibited a promising response in spiked serum samples, which validates its application in future point-of-care scenarios.

Research Progress and Future Trends of Microfluidic Paper-Based Analytical Devices in In-Vitro Diagnosis

In vitro diagnosis (IVD) has become a hot topic in laboratory research and achievement transformation. However, due to the high cost, and time-consuming and complex operation of traditional technologies, some new technologies are being introduced into IVD, to solve the existing problems. As a result, IVD has begun to develop toward point-of-care testing (POCT), a subdivision field of IVD. The pandemic has made governments and health institutions realize the urgency of accelerating the development of POCT. Microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (μPADs), a low-cost, high-efficiency, and easy-to-operate detection platform, have played a significant role in advancing the development of IVD. μPADs are composed of paper as the core material, certain unique substances as reagents for processing the paper, and sensing devices, as auxiliary equipment. The published reviews on the same topic lack a comprehensive and systematic introduction to μPAD classification and research progress in IVD segmentation. In this paper, we first briefly introduce the origin of μPADs and their role in promoting IVD, in the introduction section. Then, processing and detection methods for μPADs are summarized, and the innovative achievements of μPADs in IVD are reviewed. Finally, we discuss and prospect the upgrade and improvement directions of μPADs, in terms of portability, sensitivity, and automation, to help researchers clarify the progress and overcome the difficulties in subsequent μPAD research.

Surface Functionalization of Enzyme-Coronated Gold Nanoparticles with an Erythrocyte Membrane for Highly Selective Glucose Assays

Colorimetric glucose sensors using enzyme-coronated gold nanoparticles have been developed for high-throughput assays to monitor the blood glucose levels of diabetic patients. Although those sensors have shown sensitivity and wide linear detection ranges, they suffer from poor selectivity and stability in detecting blood glucose, which has limited their practical use. To address this limitation, herein, we functionalized glucose-oxidase-coronated gold nanoparticles with an erythrocyte membrane (EM-GOx-GNPs). Because the erythrocyte membrane (EM) selectively facilitates the permeation of glucose via glucose transporter-1 (GLUT1), the functionalization of GOx-GNPs with EM improved the stability, selectivity (3.3- to 15.8-fold higher), and limit of detection (LOD). Both membrane proteins, GLUT1 and aquaporin-1 (AQP1), on EM were shown to be key components for selective glucose detection by treatment with their inhibitors. Moreover, we demonstrated the stability of EM-GOx-GNPs in high-antioxidant-concentration conditions, under long-term storage (∼4 weeks) and a freeze-thaw cycle. Selectivity of the EM-GOx-GNPs against other saccharides was increased, which improved the LOD in phosphate-buffered saline and human serum. Our results indicated that the functionalization of colorimetric glucose sensors with EM is beneficial for improving selectivity and stability, which may make them candidates for use in a practical glucose sensor.

Microfluidics and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy, a win-win combination?

With the continuous development in nanoscience and nanotechnology, analytical techniques like surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) render structural and chemical information of a variety of analyte molecules in ultra-low concentration. Although this technique is making significant progress in various fields, the reproducibility of SERS measurements and sensitivity towards small molecules are still daunting challenges. In this regard, microfluidic surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (MF-SERS) is well on its way to join the toolbox of analytical chemists. This review article explains how MF-SERS is becoming a powerful tool in analytical chemistry. We critically present the developments in SERS substrates for microfluidic devices and how these substrates in microfluidic channels can improve the SERS sensitivity, reproducibility, and detection limit. We then introduce the building materials for microfluidic platforms and their types such as droplet, centrifugal, and digital microfluidics. Finally, we enumerate some challenges and future directions in microfluidic SERS. Overall, this article showcases the potential and versatility of microfluidic SERS in overcoming the inherent issues in the SERS technique and also discusses the advantage of adding SERS to the arsenal of microfluidics.

Lab on a body for biomedical electrochemical sensing applications: The next generation of microfluidic devices

This chapter highlights applications of microfluidic devices toward on-body biosensors. The emerging application of microfluidics to on-body bioanalysis is a new strategy to establish systems for the continuous, real-time, and on-site determination of informative markers present in biofluids, such as sweat, interstitial fluid, blood, saliva, and tear. Electrochemical sensors are attractive to integrate with such microfluidics due to the possibility to be miniaturized. Moreover, on-body microfluidics coupled with bioelectronics enable smart integration with modern information and communication technology. This chapter discusses requirements and several challenges when developing on-body microfluidics such as difficulties in manipulating small sample volumes while maintaining mechanical flexibility, power-consumption efficiency, and simplicity of total automated systems. We describe key components, e.g., microchannels, microvalves, and electrochemical detectors, used in microfluidics. We also introduce representatives of advanced lab-on-a-body microfluidics combined with electrochemical sensors for biomedical applications. The chapter ends with a discussion of the potential trends of research in this field and opportunities. On-body microfluidics as modern total analysis devices will continue to bring several fascinating opportunities to the field of biomedical and translational research applications.

Continuous monitoring of molecular biomarkers in microfluidic devices

The ability to monitor molecular targets is crucial in fields ranging from healthcare to industrial processing to environmental protection. Devices employing biomolecules to achieve this goal are called biosensors. Over the last half century researchers have developed dozens of different biosensor approaches. In this chapter we analyze recent advances in the biosensing field aiming at adapting these to the problem of continuous molecular monitoring in complex sample streams, and how the merging of these sensors with lab-on-a-chip technologies would be beneficial to both. To do so we discuss (1) the components that comprise a biosensor, (2) the challenges associated with continuous molecular monitoring in complex sample streams, (3) how different sensing strategies deal with (or fail to deal with) these challenges, and (4) the implementation of these technologies into lab-on-a-chip architectures.

Thin flexible lab-on-a-film for impedimetric sensing in biomedical applications

Microfluidic cytometers based on coulter principle have recently shown a great potential for point of care biosensors for medical diagnostics. Here, we explore the design of an impedimetric microfluidic cytometer on flexible substrate. Two coplanar microfluidic geometries are compared to highlight the sensitivity of the device to the microelectrode positions relative to the detection volume. We show that the microelectrodes surface area and the geometry of the sensing volume for the cells strongly influence the output response of the sensor. Reducing the sensing volume decreases the pulse width but increases the overall pulse amplitude with an enhanced signal-to-noise ratio (~ max. SNR = 38.78 dB). For the proposed design, the SNR was adequate to enable good detection and differentiation of 10 µm diameter polystyrene beads and leukemia cells (~ 6–21 µm). Also, a systematic approach for irreversible & strong bond strength between the thin flexible surfaces that make up the biochip is explored in this work. We observed the changes in surface wettability due to various methods of surface treatment can be a valuable metric for determining bond strength. We observed permanent bonding between microelectrode defined polypropylene surface and microchannel carved PDMS due to polar/silanol groups formed by plasma treatment and consequent covalent crosslinking by amine groups. These experimental insights provide valuable design guidelines for enhancing the sensitivity of coulter based flexible lab-on-a-chip devices which have a wide range of applications in point of care diagnostics.

Diagnostic biosensors for coronaviruses and recent developments

Coronaviruses are well known airborne viruses that infect humans, other mammals, and birds. COVID-19 is the disease caused by the last emerging type of corona viruses; SARS-CoV-2 which resulted in the ongoing pandemic. Since its first identification, SARS-CoV-2 has spread globally causing significant morbidity and mortality. Fast and reliable diagnostic methods are crucial to control the virus outbreak. In this chapter, we summarize the traditional methods used to detect corona viruses. Various biosensors used for the detection of the virus antibodies and antigens were briefly discussed. Different biosensing approaches for the detection of corona viruses were presented with special emphasis on the reported biosensors for the detection of SARS-CoV-2. Major advancements in the biosensors area for corona viruses such as the use of cotton, magnetic nanoparticles, graphene, gold nanoparticles, and portable devices are highlighted. The challenges and future perspectives in the biosensors for the detection of corona viruses are discussed.

Reliable recognition of DNA methylation using bioanalysis of hybridization on the surface of Ag/GQD nanocomposite stabilized on poly (β-cyclodextrin): A new platform for DNA damage studies using genosensor technology

Due to the role of DNA methylation in causing cancer in the present study, an innovative and inexpensive method was designed for the sensitive detection of DNA methylation. The silver-graphene quantum dots (Ag/GQDs) nano ink with high electrical conductivity was used as a substrate for genosensor fabrication toward identification of DNA hybridization. Also, poly (β-cyclodextrin) (p[β-CD]) has been used as a biointerface for the stabilization of Ag/GQD nano ink. The thiolated pDNA strand (5'-SH-TCCGCTTCCCGACCCGCACTCCGC-3') (as bioreceptor element) was fixed on the substrate and hybridized with methylated (5'-GC(M)GGAGTGC(M)GGGTC(M)GGGAAGC(M)GGA-3') and unmethylated (5'-GCGGAGTGCGGGTCGGGAAGCGGA-3') cDNAs, as target sequences were studied using electroanalysis methods. Under optimal conditions and using electrochemical techniques, the linear range was 1 am to 1 pm with LLOQ of 1aM. Finally, the designed DNA genosensor was used for detection of DNA methylation in human plasma samples and can be used to detect methylation in patient samples. It is expected that the designed DNA-based biodevice will be used to early stage diagnosis of cancer using monitoring of DNA methylation. Also, this type of genosensor can be used for epigenetic studies in the near future.

An Enzymatic Multiplexed Impedimetric Sensor Based on α-MnO2/GQD Nano-Composite for the Detection of Diabetes and Diabetic Foot Ulcer Using Micro-Fluidic Platform

Diabetes is widely considered as a silent killer which affects the internal organs and ultimately has drastic impacts on our day-to-day activities. One of the fatal outcomes of diabetes is diabetic foot ulcer (DFU); which, when becomes chronic, may lead to amputation. The incorporation of nanotechnology in developing bio-sensors enables the detection of desired biomarkers, which in our study are glucose and L-tyrosine; which gets elevated in patients suffering from diabetes and DFUs, respectively. Herein, we report the development of an enzymatic impedimetric sensor for the multi-detection of these biomarkers using an electrochemical paper-based analytical device (µ-EPADs). The structure consists of two working electrodes and a counter electrode. One working electrode is modified with α-MnO2-GQD/tyrosinase hybrid to aid L-tyrosine detection, while the other electrode is coated with α-MnO2-GQD/glucose oxidase hybrid for glucose monitoring. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy has been employed for the quantification of glucose and L-tyrosine, within a concentration range of 50–800 mg/dL and 1–500 µmol/L, respectively, using a sample volume of approximately 200 µL. The impedance response exhibited a linear relationship over the analyte concentration range with detection limits of ~58 mg/dL and ~0.3 µmol/L for glucose and tyrosine respectively, with shelf life ~1 month. The sensing strategy was also translated to Arduino-based device applications by interfacing the µ-EPADs with miniaturized electronics.

Combination of Carbon Nanofiber-Based Electrochemical Biosensor and Cotton Fiber: A Device for the Detection of the Middle-East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus

The miniaturization of biosensors for point-of-care diagnosis is highly important in infection control. Electrochemical biosensors offer several advantages in diagnosis in terms of cost, disposability, portability, and sensitivity. Here, a miniaturized electrochemical immunosensor combined with cotton fiber for the detection of the Middle-East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is described. Taking advantage of the absorption capability of cotton, the nasal and saliva samples can be collected and directly transferred to the immunosensor surface for detection using a single tool. The immunosensor was fabricated on a disposable screen-printed electrode precoated with carbon nanofibers. The electrodes were functionalized with carboxyphenyl groups that were used for the immobilization of the spike protein of the MERS-CoV. A competitive detection scheme was employed using the antibody for the MERS-CoV spike protein, and the square-wave voltammetry technique was used for measurements. The biosensor tested after the cotton coating of the electrode exhibited excellent performance. The biosensor was capable of detecting the MERS-CoV spike protein within a concentration range from 0.1 pg·mL^-1 to 1 μg·mL^-1 with a limit of detection of 0.07 pg·mL, implying the high sensitivity of the method. The immunosensor did not exhibit any cross-reactivity against proteins from HCoV and Influenza A, indicating the excellent selectivity of this approach. Testing of the biosensor in nasal samples showed very high recovery percentages. This disposable biosensor can be used as a miniaturized device for the collection of samples and detection of the virus using a portable potentiostat connected to a smartphone.

Concurrent and Selective Determination of Dopamine and Serotonin with Flexible WS2 /Graphene/Polyimide Electrode Using Cold Plasma

Makers of point-of-care devices and wearable diagnostics prefer flexible electrodes over conventional electrodes. In this study, a flexible electrode platform is introduced with a WS₂ /graphene heterostructure on polyimide (WGP) for the concurrent and selective determination of dopamine and serotonin. The WGP is fabricated directly via plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) at 150 °C on a flexible polyimide substrate. Owing to the limitations of existing fabrication methods from physical transfer or hydrothermal methods, many studies are not conducted despite excellent graphene-based heterostructures. The PECVD synthesis method can provide an innovative WS₂ /graphene heterostructure of uniform quality and sufficient size (4 in.). This unique heterostructure affords excellent electrical conductivity in graphene and numerous electrochemically active sites in WS₂ . A large number of uniform qualities of WGP electrodes show reproducible and highly sensitive electrochemical results. The synergistic effect enabled well-separated voltammetric signals for dopamine and serotonin with a potential gap of 188 mV. Moreover, the practical application of the flexible sensor is successfully evaluated by using artificial cerebrospinal fluid.

Flexible Biosensors Based on Colorimetry, Fluorescence, and Electrochemistry for Point-of-Care Testing

With the outbreak and pandemic of COVID-19, point-of-care testing (POCT) systems have been attracted much attention due to their significant advantages of small batches of samples, user-friendliness, easy-to-use and simple detection. Among them, flexible biosensors show practical significance as their outstanding properties in terms of flexibility, portability, and high efficiency, which provide great convenience for users. To construct highly functional flexible biosensors, abundant kinds of polymers substrates have been modified with sufficient properties to address certain needs. Paper-based biosensors gain considerable attention as well, owing to their foldability, lightweight and adaptability. The other important flexible biosensor employs textiles as substrate materials, which has a promising prospect in the area of intelligent wearable devices. In this feature article, we performed a comprehensive review about the applications of flexible biosensors based on the classification of substrate materials (polymers, paper and textiles), and illustrated the strategies to design effective and artificial sensing platforms, including colorimetry, fluorescence, and electrochemistry. It is demonstrated that flexible biosensors play a prominent role in medical diagnosis, prognosis, and healthcare.

Recent Advancement in Disposable Electrode Modified with Nanomaterials for Electrochemical Heavy Metal Sensors

Heavy metal pollution has gained global attention due to its high toxicity and non-biodegradability, even at a low level of exposure. Therefore, the development of a disposable electrode that is sensitive, simple, portable, rapid, and cost-effective as the sensor platform in electrochemical heavy metal detection is vital. Disposable electrodes have been modified with nanomaterials so that excellent electrochemical properties can be obtained. This review highlights the recent progress in the development of numerous types of disposable electrodes modified with nanomaterials for electrochemical heavy metal detection. The disposable electrodes made from carbon-based, glass-based, and paper-based electrodes are reviewed. In particular, the analytical performance, fabrication technique, and integration design of disposable electrodes modified with metal (such as gold, tin and bismuth), carbon (such as carbon nanotube and graphene), and metal oxide (such as iron oxide and zinc oxide) nanomaterials are summarized. In addition, the role of the nanomaterials in improving the electrochemical performance of the modified disposable electrodes is discussed. Finally, the current challenges and future prospect of the disposable electrode modified with nanomaterials are summarized.

Flexible Wearable Sensors for Cardiovascular Health Monitoring

Cardiovascular diseases account for the highest mortality globally, but recent advances in wearable technologies may potentially change how these illnesses are diagnosed and managed. In particular, continuous monitoring of cardiovascular vital signs for early intervention is highly desired. To this end, flexible wearable sensors that can be comfortably worn over long durations are gaining significant attention. In this review, advanced flexible wearable sensors for monitoring cardiovascular vital signals are outlined and discussed. Specifically, the functional materials, configurations, mechanisms, and recent advances of these flexible sensors for heart rate, blood pressure, blood oxygen saturation, and blood glucose monitoring are highlighted. Different mechanisms in bioelectric, mechano-electric, optoelectric, and ultrasonic wearable sensors are presented to monitor cardiovascular vital signs from different body locations. Present challenges, possible strategies, and future directions of these wearable sensors are also discussed. With rapid development, these flexible wearable sensors will potentially be applicable for both medical diagnosis and daily healthcare use in tackling cardiovascular diseases.

Nanomaterials-patterned flexible electrodes for wearable health monitoring: a review

ABSTRACT

Electrodes fabricated on a flexible substrate are a revolutionary development in wearable health monitoring due to their lightweight, breathability, comfort, and flexibility to conform to the curvilinear body shape. Different metallic thin-film and plastic-based substrates lack comfort for long-term monitoring applications. However, the insulating nature of different polymer, fiber, and textile substrates requires the deposition of conductive materials to render interactive functionality to substrates. Besides, the high porosity and flexibility of fiber and textile substrates pose a great challenge for the homogenous deposition of active materials. Printing is an excellent process to produce a flexible conductive textile electrode for wearable health monitoring applications due to its low cost and scalability. This article critically reviews the current state of the art of different textile architectures as a substrate for the deposition of conductive nanomaterials. Furthermore, recent progress in various printing processes of nanomaterials, challenges of printing nanomaterials on textiles, and their health monitoring applications are described systematically.

Curved-Mechanical Characteristic Measurements of Transparent Conductive Film-Coated Polymer Substrates Using Common-Path Optical Interferometry

This study proposes a method for measuring curved-mechanical characteristics based on a whole-folding test for transparent conductive film-coated polymer substrates using common-path optical interferometry. Accordingly, 80-, 160-, and 230-nm indium tin oxide films coated on 40 × 40 mm 125-μm-thick polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrates, and monolayer graphene films coated on 40 × 40 mm 250-μm-thick PET substrates are inspected and analyzed under the curving conditions of 50-, 30-, 20-, and 10-mm radii before and after an 11,000 whole-folding cycle test based on a 10-mm folding radius. This study utilizes the changes in the phase retardations of transparent conductive film-coated polymer substrates under different curving conditions before and after 11,000 whole-folding cycles to analyze the substrates’ residual stress characteristics that were the direct result of manufacturing process parameters. The results from this study of curved-mechanical characteristic measurements of flexible transparent conductive substrates can provide designers with improved product development and can assist manufacturers in improving the manufacturing design of enhanced coating processes.

Woven Electroanalytical Biosensor for Nucleic Acid Amplification Tests

Fiber-based biosensors enable a new approach in analytical diagnostic devices. The majority of textile-based biosensors, however, rely on colorimetric detection. Here a woven biosensor that integrates microfluidics structures in combination with an electroanalytical readout based on a thiol-self-assembled monolayer (SAM) for Nucleic Acid Amplification Testing, NAATs is shown. Two types of fiber-based electrodes are systematically characterized: pure gold microwires (bond wire) and off-the-shelf plasma gold-coated polyester multifilament threads to evaluate their potential to form SAMs on their surface and their electrochemical performance in woven textile. A woven electrochemical DNA (E-DNA) sensor using a SAM-based stem-loop probe-modified gold microwire is fabricated. These sensors can specifically detect unpurified, isothermally amplified genomic DNA of Staphylococcus epidermidis (10 copies/µL) by recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA). This work demonstrates that textile-based biosensors have the potential for integrating and being employed as automated, sample-to-answer analytical devices for point-of-care (POC) diagnostics.

Functional Fibers and Fabrics for Soft Robotics, Wearables, and Human-Robot Interface

Soft robotics inspired by the movement of living organisms, with excellent adaptability and accuracy for accomplishing tasks, are highly desirable for efficient operations and safe interactions with human. With the emerging wearable electronics, higher tactility and skin affinity are pursued for safe and user-friendly human-robot interactions. Fabrics interlocked by fibers perform traditional static functions such as warming, protection, and fashion. Recently, dynamic fibers and fabrics are favorable to deliver active stimulus responses such as sensing and actuating abilities for soft-robots and wearables. First, the responsive mechanisms of fiber/fabric actuators and their performances under various external stimuli are reviewed. Fiber/yarn-based artificial muscles for soft-robots manipulation and assistance in human motion are discussed, as well as smart clothes for improving human perception. Second, the geometric designs, fabrications, mechanisms, and functions of fibers/fabrics for sensing and energy harvesting from the human body and environments are summarized. Effective integration between the electronic components with garments, human skin, and living organisms is illustrated, presenting multifunctional platforms with self-powered potential for human-robot interactions and biomedicine. Lastly, the relationships between robotic/wearable fibers/fabrics and the external stimuli, together with the challenges and possible routes for revolutionizing the robotic fibers/fabrics and wearables in this new era are proposed.

Flexible sensor based on conducting polymer and gold nanoparticles for electrochemical screening of HPV families in cervical specimens

Considering the low sensitivity of cytological exams and high costs of the molecular methods, the development of diagnostic tests for effective diagnosis of HPV infections is a priority. In this work, biosensor composed of polypyrrole (PPy) films and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) was obtained for specific detection of HPV genotypes. The biosensor was developed by using flexible electrodes based on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) strips coated with indium tin oxide (ITO). Polymeric films and AuNPs were obtained by electrosynthesis. Oligonucleotides sequences modified with functional amino groups were designed to recognize HPV gene families strictly. The modified oligonucleotides were chemically immobilized on the nanostructured platform. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were used for the analysis of the electrode modification and monitoring of molecular hybridization. Electrochemical changes were observed after exposure of the biosensors to plasmid samples and cervical specimens. The biosensor based on the BSH16 probe showed a linear concentration range for target HPV16 gene detection of 100 pg μL^-1 to 1 fg μL^-1. A limit of detection (LOD) of 0.89 pg μL^-1 and limit of quantification (LOQ) of 2.70 pg μL^-1 were obtained, with a regression coefficient of 0.98. Screening tests on cervical specimens were performed to evaluate the sensibility and specificity for HPV and its viral family. The expression of a biomarker for tumorigenesis (p53 gene) was also monitored. In this work, a flexible system has been successfully developed for label-free detection of HPV families and p53 gene monitoring with high specificity, selectivity, and sensitivity.

Understanding the plasmon-enhanced photothermal effect of a polarized laser on metal nanowires

Improving photothermal efficiency can reduce the melting threshold of metal nanowires. The photothermal efficiency of a polarized laser to Cu nanowires was investigated by numerical simulation and experiment. Our simulation results reveal that the photothermal efficiency of a polarized laser depends on the intensity and distribution area of surface plasmons excited by the laser. As the angle between the polarization direction of the incident laser and the long axis of the Cu nanowire increases, the laser-excited surface plasmons shift from both ends to the sidewall of the Cu nanowire. Such a distribution of surface plasmons was confirmed by the melting behavior of Cu nanowires irradiated by a 450 nm polarized laser. Increasing the laser wavelength will enhance the intensity of the surface plasmons but reduce the distribution area of the surface plasmons. As a result, a higher photothermal efficiency was achieved using a laser with a polarization direction perpendicular to the long axis of the Cu nanowire and a wavelength less than 550 nm. Due to the higher photothermal efficiency, the melting threshold of Cu nanowire irradiated by a laser with polarization perpendicular to the long axis of the Cu nanowire is 32 mW, which is around 20% lower that of Cu nanowire irradiated by a laser with polarization parallel to the long axis of the Cu nanowire.

Fabrication Methods for Microfluidic Devices: An Overview

Microfluidic devices offer the potential to automate a wide variety of chemical and biological operations that are applicable for diagnostic and therapeutic operations with higher efficiency as well as higher repeatability and reproducibility. Polymer based microfluidic devices offer particular advantages including those of cost and biocompatibility. Here, we describe direct and replication approaches for manufacturing of polymer microfluidic devices. Replications approaches require fabrication of mould or master and we describe different methods of mould manufacture, including mechanical (micro-cutting; ultrasonic machining), energy-assisted methods (electrodischarge machining, micro-electrochemical machining, laser ablation, electron beam machining, focused ion beam (FIB) machining), traditional micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) processes, as well as mould fabrication approaches for curved surfaces. The approaches for microfluidic device fabrications are described in terms of low volume production (casting, lamination, laser ablation, 3D printing) and high-volume production (hot embossing, injection moulding, and film or sheet operations).

Advanced materials-integrated electrochemical sensors as promising medical diagnostics tools: A review

Electrochemical sensors have increasingly been linked with terms as modern biomedically effective highly selective and sensitive devices, wearable and wireless technology, portable electronics, smart textiles, energy storage, communication and user-friendly operating systems. The work brings the overview of the current advanced materials and their application strategies for improving performance, miniaturization and portability of sensing devices. It provides the extensive information on recently developed (bio)sensing platforms based on voltammetric, amperometric, potentiometric and impedimetric detection modes including portable, non-invasive, wireless, and self-driven miniaturized devices for monitoring human and animal health. Diagnostics of selected free radical precursors, low molecular biomarkers, nucleic acids and protein-based biomarkers, bacteria and viruses of today's interest is demonstrated.

Paper-based microfluidic aptasensors

For in-situ disease markers detection, point-of-care (POC) diagnosis has great advantages in speed and cost compared with traditional techniques. The rapid diagnosis, prognosis, and surveillance of diseases can significantly reduce disease-related mortality and trauma. Therefore, increasing attention has been paid to the POC diagnosis devices due to their excellent diagnosis speed and portability. Over the past ten years, paper-based microfluidic aptasensors have emerged as a class of critical POC diagnosis devices and various aptasensors have been proposed to detect various disease markers. However, most aptasensors need further improvement before they can actually enter the market and be widely used. There is thus an urgent need to sort out the key points of preparing the aptasensors and the direction that needs to be invested in. This review summarizes the representative articles in the development of paper-based microfluidic aptasensors. These works can be divided into paper-based optical aptasensors and paper-based electrochemical aptasensors according to their output signals. Significant focus is applied to these works according to the following three parts: (1) The ingenious design of device structure; (2) Application and synthesis of nanomaterial; (3) The detection principle of the proposed aptasensor. This is a detailed and comprehensive review of paper-based microfluidic aptasensors. The accomplishments and shortcomings of the current aptasensors are outlined, the development direction and the future prospective are given. It is hoped that the research in this review can provide a reference for further development of more advanced, more effective paper-based microfluidic aptasensors for POC disease markers diagnosis.

3D Layer-By-Layer Pd-Containing Nanocomposite Platforms for Enhancing the Performance of Hydrogen Sensors

Herein, a nanowelding technique is adopted to fabricate three-dimensional layer-by-layer Pd-containing nanocomposite structures with special properties. Nanowires fabricated from noble metals (Pd, Pt, Au, and Ag) were used to prepare Pd-Pd nanostructures and Pd-Au, Pd-Pt, Pd-Ag, and Pd-Pt-Au nanocomposite structures by controlling the welding temperature. The recrystallization behavior of the welded composite materials was observed and analyzed. In addition, their excellent mechanical and electrical properties were confirmed by performing 10,000 bending test cycles and measuring the resistances. Finally, flexible and wearable nanoheaters and gas sensors were fabricated using our proposed method. In comparison with conventional techniques, our proposed method can not only easily achieve sensors with a large surface area and flexibility but also improve their performance through the addition of catalyst metals. A gas sensor fabricated using the Pd-Au nanocomposites demonstrated 3.9-fold and 1.1-fold faster H₂ recovery and response, respectively, than a pure Pd-Pd gas sensor device. Moreover, the Pd-Ag nanocomposite exhibited a high sensitivity of 5.5% (better than that of other fabricated gas sensors) for 1.6% H₂ concentration. Therefore, we believe that the fabricated nanocomposites appear promising for wide applications in wearable gas sensors, flexible optical devices, and flexible catalytic devices.

Printable Nonenzymatic Glucose Biosensors Using Carbon Nanotube-PtNP Nanocomposites Modified with AuRu for Improved Selectivity

Nonenzymatic glucose biosensors have the potential for a more reliable in vivo functionality due to the reduced risk of biorecognition element degradation. However, these novel sensing mechanisms often are nanoparticle-based and have nonlinear responses, which makes it difficult to gauge their potential utility against more conventional enzymatic biosensors. Moreover, these nonenzymatic biosensors often suffer from poor selectivity that needs to be better addressed before being used in vivo. To address these problems, here we present an amperometric nonenzymatic glucose biosensor fabricated using one-step electrodeposition of Au and Ru nanoparticles on the surface of a carbon-nanotube-based platinum-nanoparticle hybrid in conductive polymer. Using benchtop evaluations, we demonstrate that the bimetallic catalyst of Au-Ru nanoparticles can enable the nonenzymatic detection of glucose with a superior performance and stability. Furthermore, our biosensor shows good selectivity against other interferents, with a nonlinear dynamic range of 1-19 mM glucose. The Au-Ru catalyst has a conventional linear range of 1-10 mM, with a sensitivity of 0.2347 nA/(μM mm²) ± 0.0198 (n = 3) and a limit of detection of 0.068 mM (signal-to-noise, S/N = 3). The biosensor also exhibits a good repeatability and stability at 37 °C over a 3 week incubation period. Finally, we use a modified Butler-Volmer nonlinear analytical model to evaluate the impact of geometrical and chemical design parameters on our nonenzymatic biosensor's performance, which may be used to help optimize the performance of this class of biosensors.

Electrochemical detection of viruses and antibodies: A mini review

Near patient detection of viral infection represents a powerful approach for the control of emerging threats to global health. Moreover, the ability to identify individuals who have contracted the disease and developed antibodies that confer immunity is central to a return to normal daily activities. This review presents some of the recent advances in electrochemical sensors for the detection of viruses and their associated antibody profiles. Given the speed, portability, sensitivity and selectivity achieved using electrochemical detection, these sensor systems hold the promise of transformative change in clinical practice.

A miniaturized electrochemical platform with an integrated PDMS reservoir for label-free DNA hybridization detection using nanostructured Au electrodes

We report the fabrication and characterization of a miniaturized electrochemical platform for the label-free detection of DNA hybridization. The proposed platform is fabricated using microfabrication and electrodeposition techniques. Comprising a Ti working electrode with electrodeposited Au nanostructures, and Pt/Au pseudo-reference and counter electrodes, the device accounts for a limit of detection of 0.97 fM and a sensitivity of 20.78 (μA μM-1) cm-2 with respect to Dengue virus specific consensus primer detection in the range of 10 fM-1 μM. Here, the incorporation of nanostructured Au in the active sensing area not only enhances the current response by increasing the overall surface area, but it also facilitates facile probe DNA immobilization by gold-thiol self-assembly. We have used differential pulse voltammetry analysis in this study to monitor the changes in reaction kinetics with respect to target hybridization. Furthermore, the evaluation of reproducibility of the biosensor and its selectivity against interference has yielded acceptable outcomes. Additionally, in order to evaluate the system's selectivity, we have successfully distinguished PCR amplified wild type and mutant target DNAs corresponding to the BRCA1 specific gene. Here, the mutant and the wild type target DNAs differ by a two base deletion, and the fact that the system is able to differentiate even such minute dissimilarities under hybridization conditions is indicative of its superior performance.