Enzyme-modified indium tin oxide microelectrode array-based electrochemical uric acid biosensor

Reactive Amine Functionalized Microelectrode Arrays Provide Short-Term Benefit but Long-Term Detriment to In Vivo Recording Performance

Intracortical microelectrode arrays (MEAs) are used for recording neural signals. However, indwelling devices result in chronic neuroinflammation, which leads to decreased recording performance through degradation of the device and surrounding tissue. Coating the MEAs with bioactive molecules is being explored to mitigate neuroinflammation. Such approaches often require an intermediate functionalization step such as (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES), which serves as a linker. However, the standalone effect of this intermediate step has not been previously characterized. Here, we investigated the effect of coating MEAs with APTES by comparing APTES-coated to uncoated controls in vivo and ex vivo. First, we measured water contact angles between silicon uncoated and APTES-coated substrates to verify the hydrophilic characteristics of the APTES coating. Next, we implanted MEAs in the motor cortex (M1) of Sprague-Dawley rats with uncoated or APTES-coated devices. We assessed changes in the electrochemical impedance and neural recording performance over a chronic implantation period of 16 weeks. Additionally, histology and bulk gene expression were analyzed to understand further the reactive tissue changes arising from the coating. Results showed that APTES increased the hydrophilicity of the devices and decreased electrochemical impedance at 1 kHz. APTES coatings proved detrimental to the recording performance, as shown by a constant decay up to 16 weeks postimplantation. Bulk gene analysis showed differential changes in gene expression between groups that were inconclusive with regard to the long-term effect on neuronal tissue. Together, these results suggest that APTES coatings are ultimately detrimental to chronic neural recordings. Furthermore, interpretations of studies using APTES as a functionalization step should consider the potential consequences if the final functionalization step is incomplete.

Recent Advances in 3D Printing of Biomedical Sensing Devices

Additive manufacturing, also called 3D printing, is a rapidly evolving technique that allows for the fabrication of functional materials with complex architectures, controlled microstructures, and material combinations. This capability has influenced the field of biomedical sensing devices by enabling the trends of device miniaturization, customization, and elasticity (i.e., having mechanical properties that match with the biological tissue). In this paper, the current state-of-the-art knowledge of biomedical sensors with the unique and unusual properties enabled by 3D printing is reviewed. The review encompasses clinically important areas involving the quantification of biomarkers (neurotransmitters, metabolites, and proteins), soft and implantable sensors, microfluidic biosensors, and wearable haptic sensors. In addition, the rapid sensing of pathogens and pathogen biomarkers enabled by 3D printing, an area of significant interest considering the recent worldwide pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus, is also discussed. It is also described how 3D printing enables critical sensor advantages including lower limit-of-detection, sensitivity, greater sensing range, and the ability for point-of-care diagnostics. Further, manufacturing itself benefits from 3D printing via rapid prototyping, improved resolution, and lower cost. This review provides researchers in academia and industry a comprehensive summary of the novel possibilities opened by the progress in 3D printing technology for a variety of biomedical applications.

A robust electrochemical immunosensor based on core-shell nanostructured silica-coated silver for cancer (carcinoembryonic-antigen-CEA) diagnosis

This work addresses the fabrication of an efficient, novel, and economically viable immunosensing armamentarium that will detect the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) typically associated with solid tumors (sarcomas, carcinomas, and lymphomas) and is used as a clinical tumor marker for all these malignancies. We synthesized silver nanoparticles by single-step chemical reduction and coated with silica using a modified Stober method to fabricate silica-coated silver core-shell nanoparticles. The morphologies, structure, and size of the nanoparticles were characterized by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), UV-Visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infra-Red Spectroscopy (FTIR), and Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), respectively. The results indicated that the average size of Ag nanoparticles and silica-coated Ag nanoparticles is 50 nm and 80 nm, respectively. Our TEM results indicate that the silica-shell uniformly encapsulates silver core particles. Further, a disposable electrochemical immunosensor for carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) was proposed based on the antigen immobilized in a silica-coated silver core-shell nanoparticle film on the surface of an indium-tin-oxide (ITO) flat substrate. The morphological characteristics of the constructed biosensor were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electrochemical methods. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and cyclic voltammetry (CV) were employed for the characterization of the proposed bioelectrode. The cyclic voltammogram appears to be more irreversible on silica coated silver core-shell nanoparticles. It is found that the fabricated immunosensor shows fast potentiometric response under the optimized conditions. The CEA could be determined in the linear range from 0.5 to 10 ng mL-1 with a detection limit of 0.01 ng mL-1 using the interface. The developed flat substrate of ITO for CEA detection (the model reagent) is a potentially promising immunosensing system, manifests good stability, and allows batch fabrication because of its economic feasibility.

In Situ Real-Time Monitoring of ITO Film under a Chemical Etching Process Using Fourier Transform Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy

As a novel approach to the in situ real-time investigation of an ITO electrode during the wet etching process, step-excitation Fourier-transform electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (FT-EIS) was implemented. The equivalent circuit parameters (e.g., R_ct, C_dl) continuously obtained by the FT-EIS measurements during the entire etching process showed an electrode activation at the initial period as well as the completion of etching. The FT-EIS results were further validated by cyclic voltammograms and impedance measurements of partially etched ITO films using ferri- and ferrocyanide solution in combination with FESEM imaging, EDS, XRD analyses, and COMSOL simulation. We also demonstrated that this technique can be further utilized to obtain intact interdigitated array (IDA) electrodes in a reproducible manner, which is generally considered to be quite tricky due to delicacy of the pattern. Given that the FT-EIS allows for instantaneous snapshots of the electrode at every moment, this work may hold promise for in situ real-time examination of structural, electrokinetic, or mass transfer-related information on electrochemical systems undergoing constantly changing, transient processes including etching, which would be impossible with conventional electroanalytical techniques.

Physical Structure and Electrochemical Response of Diamond-Graphite Nanoplatelets: From CVD Synthesis to Label-Free Biosensors

Hybrid diamond-graphite nanoplatelet (DGNP) thin films are produced and applied to label-free impedimetric biosensors for the first time, using avidin detection as a proof of concept. The DGNPs are synthesized by microwave plasma chemical vapor deposition through H₂/CH₄/N₂ gas mixtures in a reproducible and rapid single-step process. The material building unit consists of an inner two-dimensional-like nanodiamond with preferential vertical alignment covered by and covalently bound to nanocrystalline graphite grains, exhibiting {111}_diamond||{0002}_graphite epitaxy. The DGNP films' morphostructural aspects are of interest for electrochemical transduction, in general, and for Faradaic impedimetric biosensors, in particular, combining enhanced surface area for biorecognition element loading and facile Faradaic charge transfer. Charge transfer rate constants in phosphate buffer saline/[Fe(CN)₆]^4- solution are shown to increase up to 5.6 × 10^-3 cm s^-1 upon N₂ addition to DGNP synthesis. For the impedimetric detection of avidin, biotin molecules are covalently bound as avidin specific recognition elements on (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane-functionalized DGNP surfaces. Avidin quantification is attained within the 10-1000 μg mL^-1 range following a logarithmic dependency. The limits of detection and of quantitation are 1.3 and 6.4 μg mL^-1 (19 and 93 nM), respectively, and 2.3 and 13.8 μg mL^-1 (33 and 200 nM) when considering the nonspecific response of the sensors.

Advances in the design of nanomaterial-based electrochemical affinity and enzymatic biosensors for metabolic biomarkers: A review

This review (with 340 refs) focuses on methods for specific and sensitive detection of metabolites for diagnostic purposes, with particular emphasis on electrochemical nanomaterial-based sensors. It also covers novel candidate metabolites as potential biomarkers for diseases such as neurodegenerative diseases, autism spectrum disorder and hepatitis. Following an introduction into the field of metabolic biomarkers, a first major section classifies electrochemical biosensors according to the bioreceptor type (enzymatic, immuno, apta and peptide based sensors). A next section covers applications of nanomaterials in electrochemical biosensing (with subsections on the classification of nanomaterials, electrochemical approaches for signal generation and amplification using nanomaterials, and on nanomaterials as tags). A next large sections treats candidate metabolic biomarkers for diagnosis of diseases (in the context with metabolomics), with subsections on biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases, autism spectrum disorder and hepatitis. The Conclusion addresses current challenges and future perspectives. Graphical abstract This review focuses on the recent developments in electrochemical biosensors based on the use of nanomaterials for the detection of metabolic biomarkers. It covers the critical metabolites for some diseases such as neurodegenerative diseases, autism spectrum disorder and hepatitis.

A portable SERS method for the determination of uric acid using a paper-based substrate and multivariate curve resolution

This paper presents a portable quantitative method for the on-site determination of uric acid in urine using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and gold nanoparticle-coated paper as a substrate. A procedure was developed for the rapid preparation of cost-effective SERS substrates that enabled the adequate control of a homogeneous active area and the use of small quantities of gold nanoparticles per substrate. The standard addition method and multivariate curve resolution-alternating least squares (MCR-ALS) were applied to compensate for the matrix effect and to address overlapping bands between uric acid and interference SERS spectra. The proposed methodology demonstrated better performance than conventional univariate methods (in terms of linearity, accuracy and precision), a wide linear range (0-3.5 mmol L(-1)) and an adequate limit of detection (0.11 mmol L(-1)). For the first time, a portable SERS method coupled with chemometrics was developed for the routine analysis of uric acid at clinically relevant concentrations with minimal sample preparation and easy extension for the on-site determination of other biomarkers in complex sample matrices.

Silicon nanowire field-effect-transistor based biosensors: from sensitive to ultra-sensitive

Silicon nanowire field effect transistors (SiNW-FETs) have shown great promise as biosensors in highly sensitive, selective, real-time and label-free measurements. While applications of SiNW-FETs for detection of biological species have been described in several publications, less attention has been devoted to summarize the conjugating methods involved in linking organic bio-receptors with the inorganic transducer and the strategies of improving the sensitivity of devices. This article attempts to focus on summarizing the various organic immobilization approaches and discussing various sensitivity improving strategies, that include (I) reducing non-specific binding, (II) alignment of the probes, (III) enhancing signals by charge reporter, (IV) novel architecture structures, and (V) sensing in the sub-threshold regime.