Alkaline Phosphatase-based Electrochemical Analysis for Point-of-Care Testing

Point-of-care testing (POCT) devices have evolved to provide beneficial information about an individual's health whenever needed. Enzyme-based analytical devices have facilitated the highly selective detection of numerous biological molecules and ions. Enzymes are commonly used as the tags of recognition components, such as antibodies, to generate and amplify detection signals. Particularly, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is one of the most widely used enzymes because of its high turnover number and low cost. Rapid response time and the incorporation of many sensors fabricated by micro/nano processing technologies are the advantages in using electrochemical devices as analytical tools. Therefore, ALP-based electrochemical devices have potential applications for more practical POCT platforms. This review summarizes recent research progress of ALP-based electrochemical devices for POCT. In addition to ALP substrates, the application of ALP-based immunosensors, aptasensors, and DNAzyme sensors are discussed.     

An Overview of Wearable and Implantable Electrochemical Glucose Sensors

Electrochemical glucose sensors have garnered considerable attention because of their attractive prospect in point-of-care testing (POCT). In this review, we firstly introduce the principles and challenges of electrochemical glucose sensors. Subsequently, we present an overview of the application of electrochemical glucose sensors and discuss their advantages and drawbacks. Wearable and implantable devices based on diverse target biofluid and platforms provide a considerable prospect of accurate and continuous monitoring. Thus, we believe that the future development direction of electrochemical glucose sensors is non-invasive, wearable devices and implantable devices with minimally invasive for continuous glucose monitoring in real time.     

丝网印刷电极在食品安全检测中的应用进展

食品安全问题一直以来都是被广泛关注的热点,选择成本低、使用方便、灵敏度高的检测手段也就成为了食品安全检测领域中研究的焦点。丝网印刷电极因具有可批量生产、成本低、灵敏度高和一次性可抛等特点,已被广泛应用到食品安全检测中。因此,近年来,关于丝网印刷电极在食品安全检测中的应用研究日益增多,建立了多种类型的电化学传感器。依据电化学传感器的不同类型,综述了丝网印刷电极在食品安全检测中的应用,并对丝网印刷电极的应用前景进行了展望。     

Review: Carbon nanotube based electrochemical sensors for biomolecules

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been incorporated in electrochemical sensors to decrease overpotential and improve sensitivity. In this review, we focus on recent literature that describes how CNT-based electrochemical sensors are being developed to detect neurotransmitters, proteins, small molecules such as glucose, and DNA. Different types of electrochemical methods are used in these sensors including direct electrochemical detection with amperometry or voltammetry, indirect detection of an oxidation product using enzyme sensors, and detection of conductivity changes using CNT-field effect transistors (FETs). Future challenges for the field include miniaturizing sensors, developing methods to use only a specific nanotube allotrope, and simplifying manufacturing.     

Paper-based Wearable Electrochemical Sensors: A New Generation of Analytical Devices

Over the past few years, the emergence of electrochemical wearable sensors has attracted considerable attention because of their promising application in point-of-care testing due to some features such as high sensitivity, simplicity, miniaturization, and low fabrication cost. Recent developments in new fabrication approaches and innovative substrates have resulted in sensors able to real-time and on-body measurements. Wearable electrochemical sensors have also been combined with paper-based substrates and directly used on human skin for different applications for non-invasive analyses. Furthermore, wearable electrochemical sensors enable monitoring analytes in different biofluids without complex procedures, such as pre-treatment or sample manipulation. The coupling of IoT to various wearable sensors has also attracted attention due to real-time data collection and handling in remote and resource-limited conditions. This mini-review presents the significant advances in developing wearable electrochemical devices, such as sampling, data collection, connection protocols, and power sources, and discusses some critical challenges for higher performance in this field. We also present an overview of the application of paper as an intelligent substrate for electrochemical wearable sensors and discuss their advantages and drawbacks. Lastly, conclude by highlighting the future advances in wearable sensors and diagnostics by coupling real-time and on-body measurements to multiplexed detection of different biomarkers simultaneously, reducing the cost and time of classical analysis to provide fast and complete overall physiological conditions to the wearer.     

Controlled‐Potential‐Based Electrochemical Sulfide Sensors: A Review

Due to their potential applications in industry and potent toxicity to the environment, sulfides and their detection have attracted the attention of researchers. To date, a large number of controlled‐potential techniques for electrochemical sulfide sensors have been developed, thanks to their simplicity, reasonable limit of detection (LOD), and good selectivity. Different researchers have applied different strategies for developing selective and sensitive sulfide sensors. However, there has been no systematic review on controlled‐potential techniques for sulfide sensing. In light of this absence, the main aim of this review article is to summarize various strategies for detecting sulfide in different media. The efficiencies of the developed sulfide sensors for detecting sulfide in its various forms are determined, and the essential parameters, including sensing strategies, working electrodes, detection media, pH, LOD, sensitivity, and linear detection range, are emphasized in particular. Future research in this area is also recommended. It is expected that this review will act as a basis for further research on the fabrication of sulfide sensors for practical applications.     

An Overview of Antifouling Strategies for Electrochemical Analysis

Fouling is a key issue which limits the practical applications of electrochemical sensors (ECSens) in both in vitro and in vivo analysis. The analytical sensitivity, limit of detection (LOD), selectivity, reproducibility and life-time of ECSens are all greatly affected by fouling. Although numerous methods and materials have been developed to minimize the fouling effect in past several decades, not all of them are suitable for constructing antifouling ECSens. In this paper we present an overview of surface antifouling strategies for ECSens. We begin with a short summary of sources and impacts of fouling under both in vitro and in vivo environments. Then the current surface antifouling strategies for ECSens are discussed, including self-assembled monolayers (SAMs), antifouling polymers, porous coating, in-situ electrochemical and photocatalytic cleaning. The antifouling mechanisms, advantages and challenges of each strategy are briefly summarized. The article ends up with a short conclusion and perspectives. We hope this article is helpful for constructing and designing ECSens with both outstanding antifouling performance and electrochemical activity for electrochemical analysis.     

Recent Advances in Electrochemical Sensors for Detecting Weapons of Mass Destruction. A Review

The detection of chemical warfare agents (CWA) has become a worldwide security concern in light of the many recent international threats utilizing nerve agents. Among a variety of detection methods that have been developed for CWA, electrochemical sensors offer the unrivaled merits of high sensitivity, specificity and operational simplicity. Recent insights into novel fabrication methodologies and electrochemical techniques have resulted in the demonstration of electrochemical sensors able to address many of the limitations of conventional methodologies. This article reviews recent advances and developments in the field of electrochemical biosensors based detection of nerve agent and their utility for decentralized threat detection. With continued innovations and attention to key challenges, it is expected that electrochemical sensors will play a pivotal role in the CWA detection scenario. This review concludes with the implications of the electrochemical sensing platforms along with future prospects and challenges.     

Significance of nanomaterials in electrochemical sensors for nitrate detection: A review

Nanomaterial-enabled electrochemical sensors are designed as an economical, efficient, and user-friendly analytical tool for on-site and routine nitrate analysis over a wide range of environmental samples. The remarkable advances and tunable attributes of nanomaterials have greatly improved the analytical performance of electrochemical nitrate sensors. In this review, a comprehensive elucidation of the recent advances in nanomaterial-based electrochemical nitrate sensors is presented. The review firstly provides a general introduction, followed by typical electrochemical sensing methods. The next two sections detail various nanomaterials, including graphene derivatives, carbon nanotubes/fibers, metal/bimetal/metal oxide nanoparticles, and conducting polymers for modifying electrodes in enzymatic and non-enzymatic electrochemical nitrate sensors. Finally, the perspectives and current challenges in achieving real-world applications of nanomaterial-based electrochemical nitrate sensors are outlined.     

Point-of-care testing of proteins

Point-of-care testing (POCT) is a fast developing area in clinical diagnostics that is considered to be one of the main driving forces for the future in vitro diagnostic market. POCT means decentralized testing at the site of patient care. The most important POCT devices are handheld blood glucose sensors. In some of these sensors, after the application of less than 1 μl whole blood, the results are displayed in less than 10 s. For protein determination, the most commonly used devices are based on lateral flow technology. Although these devices are convenient to use, the results are often only qualitative or semiquantitative. The review will illuminate some of the current methods employed in POCT for proteins and will discuss the outlook for techniques (e.g., electrochemical immunosensors) that could have a great impact on future POCT of proteins.     

Recent advances in electrochemical sensors for antibiotics and their applications

The abuse of antibiotics will cause an increase of drug-resistant strains and environmental pollution,which in turn will affect human health.Therefore,it is important to develop effective detection techniques to determine the level of antibiotics contamination in various fields.Compared with traditional detection methods,electrochemical sensors have received extensive attention due to their advantages such as high sensitivity,low detection limit,and good selectivity.In this mini review,we summarized the latest developments and new trends in electrochemical sensors for antibiotics.Here,modification methods and materials of electrode are discussed.We also pay more attention to the practical applications of antibiotics electrochemical sensors in different fields.In addition,the existing problems and the future challenges ahead have been proposed.We hope that this review can provide new ideas for the development of electrochemical sensors for antibiotics in the future.     

Reduced Graphene Oxide Nanocomposite Modified Electrodes for Sensitive Detection of Ciprofloxacin

The synthesis of novel nanocomposites with great sensing enhancement has played an important role in analytical chemistry, especially in the electrochemical detection of drug molecules. In this work, we report a wet chemical method for the preparation of a gold nanoparticle coated β‐cyclodextrin functionalized reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite. A number of different analytical techniques including ultraviolet‐visible spectroscopy, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope and energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy were employed to characterize the as‐synthesized nanocomposite. With excellent electrocatalytic properties and high supramolecular recognition ability, the as‐synthesized nanocomposite was used to modify a glassy carbon electrode surface for the sensitive determination of ciprofloxacin using voltammetric technique. The current response of ciprofloxacin on the nanocomposite modified electrode was greatly enhanced compared to that on the bare and other modified electrodes. Using differential pulse voltammetry, the oxidation peak currents increased linearly with the ciprofloxacin concentrations in the range between 0.01 to 120 μM with a detection limit of 2.7 nM. The electrochemical testing results showed good stability and reproducibility. Therefore, the nanocomposite could be a potential candidate for the development of electrochemical sensors for sensitive and selective determination of ciprofloxacin or similar drugs in the future.     

基于纳米材料的电化学免疫传感器在传染性病原体POCT中的应用

传染性病原体POCT对于及时有效控制传染病尤为关键。相比于传统检测方法,基于电化学免疫传感器的传染性病原体检测具有快速、灵敏、准确、易于小型化和集成化等优势,尤其适用于传染病POCT。新兴的纳米材料因其独特的理化性质可用于修饰传感器界面或作为生物分子的固载基质以及信号标记物等,有助于构建出高选择性和高灵敏度的电化学免疫传感器。在本文中,我们着重阐述了不同结构的纳米材料修饰的电化学免疫传感器在传染性病原体POCT检测中的应用,进一步介绍了基于纳米材料的电化学免疫传感器与不同检测技术联用在传染性病原体POCT中的应用,并对其发展前景做出了展望。     

Cardiac markers: a clear cause for point-of-care testing

Point-of-care testing (POCT) in patients with ischemic heart disease is driven by the time-critical need for fast, specific, and accurate results to initiate therapy instantly. According to current guidelines, the results of the cardiac marker testing should be available to the physician within 30 min (“vein-to-brain” time) to initiate therapy within 60–90 min (“door-to-needle” time) after the patient has arrived at the emergency room or intensive care unit. This article reviews the current efforts to meet this goal (1) by implementing POCT of established biochemical markers such as cardiac troponins, creatine kinase MB, and myoglobin, in accelerated diagnosis and management workflow schemes, (2) by improving current POCT methods to obtain more accurate, more specific, and even faster tests through the integration of optical and electrochemical sensor technology, and (3) by identifying new markers for the very early and sensitive detection of myocardial ischemia and necrosis. Furthermore, the specific requirements for cardiac POCT in regard to analytical performance, comparability, and diagnostic sensitivity/specificity are discussed. For the future, the integration of new immunooptical and electrochemical chip technology might speed up diagnosis even further. However, every new development will have to meet the stringent method validation criteria set for corresponding central laboratory testing.     

微纳电化学传感界面的构建及其用于单细胞实时监测

细胞是生物体形态结构和生命活动的基本单位.常规检测群体细胞的方法往往会掩盖细胞间的个体差异,因此亟需发展高效的单细胞分析策略,深入研究细胞生命活动过程,揭示疾病发生发展机制,推动个体化诊疗.超微电化学传感器具有尺寸小、灵敏度高、时空分辨率高等特点,在单细胞实时动态监测方面发挥了非常重要的作用.目前,微纳电化学传感器在电极制备、高性能传感界面构建、理论分析等方面已取得重要进展,且在单细胞实时监测及相关细胞机制研究方面取得突破.然而,单细胞内环境复杂、活性分子浓度低且随时空高度动态变化,这对微纳电化学传感器的灵敏度和选择性等综合性能提出了更高要求.我们课题组长期从事基于微纳电化学传感的单细胞与亚细胞实时动态监测研究,本文主要介绍了我们近10年来在该领域的研究进展,并对未来的挑战与机遇进行了探讨.     

分子印迹电化学传感器敏感膜体系的构建及其研究进展

分子印迹技术具有构效预定性、特异识别性和广泛应用性的特点,在色谱分离、固相萃取、仿生传感器、模拟酶催化和膜分离等方面得到了广泛应用。近年来,分子印迹电化学传感器(MIECS)的研究日益受到人们的重视。在MIECS设计过程中,分子印迹敏感膜体系的构建非常关键,它直接影响着传感器的性能。该文简要介绍了MIECS的分类及其检测原理,对传统体系、自组装体系、分子印迹聚合物粒子镶嵌体系、电聚合体系和溶胶-凝胶体系等5种MIECS敏感膜体系的构建方法、特点及其研究进展进行综述,并展望了MIECS的发展方向。     

水热法合成过渡金属氧化物纳米材料及其在食品安全检测传感器中的应用进展

以Fe,Co,Mn,Zn等过渡金属制备的氧化物纳米材料具有制备简单、形貌可控以及电化学活性高等特点,且可以固定在电极表面,在电化学传感器的应用中显示了广阔前景。该文重点介绍了过渡金属氧化物水热合成方法的研究进展,并简要阐述了基于过渡金属氧化物纳米材料的新型电化学传感器在食品安全快速检测领域的应用进展。     

Monitoring of vesicular exocytosis from single cells using micrometer and nanometer-sized electrochemical sensors

Communication between cells by release of specific chemical messengers via exocytosis plays crucial roles in biological process. Electrochemical detection based on ultramicroelectrodes (UMEs) has become one of the most powerful techniques in real-time monitoring of an extremely small number of released molecules during very short time scales, owing to its intrinsic advantages such as fast response, excellent sensitivity, and high spatiotemporal resolution. Great successes have been achieved in the use of UME methods to obtain quantitative and kinetic information about released chemical messengers and to reveal the molecular mechanism in vesicular exocytosis. In this paper, we review recent developments in monitoring exocytosis by use of UMEs-electrochemical-based techniques including electrochemical detection using micrometer and nanometer-sized sensors, scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM), and UMEs implemented in lab-on-a-chip (LOC) microsystems. These advances are of great significance in obtaining a better understanding of vesicular exocytosis and chemical communications between cells, and will facilitate developments in many fields, including analytical chemistry, biological science, and medicine. Furthermore, future developments in electrochemical probing of exocytosis are also proposed. Figure In this paper, we review recent developments in monitoring the exocytosis by use of UMEs-electrochemical-based techniques including electrochemical detection using micrometer and nanometer-sized sensors, Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy (SECM) and UMEs implemented in lab-on-a-chip (LOC) microsystems. These advances are of great significance in obtaining a better understanding of vesicular exocytosis and chemical communications between cells, and will facilitate developments in many fields including analytical chemistry, biological science and medicine. Furthermore, future developments in electrochemical probing of exocytosis are proposed.

Nanostructured metal particlemodified electrodes for electrocatalytic and sensor applications

Nanotechnology has become one of the most exciting frontier fields in analytical chemistry. The huge interest in nanomaterials, for example in chemical sensors and catalysis, is driven by their many desirable properties. Although metal is a poor catalyst in bulk form, nanometre-sized particles can exhibit excellent catalytic activity due to their relative high surface area-to-volume ratio and their interface-dominated properties, which significantly differ from those of the bulk material. The integration of metal nanoparticles into thin film of permselective membrane is particularly important for various applications, for example in biological sensing and in electrocatalysis. We have already established different techniques to design permselective membrane-coated chemically modified electrodes with incorporated redox molecules for electrocatalytic, electrochromic and sensor applications. Recently, we have prepared nanostructured platinum and copper (represented M_nano, M = Pt and Cu) modified GC/Nafion electrodes (GC/Nf/M_nano) and characterized by using AFM, XPS, XRD and electrochemical techniques. The nanostructured M_nano modified electrodes were utilized for efficient electrocatalytic selective oxidation of neurotransmitter molecules in the presence of interfering species such as ascorbic acid (AA) and uric acid (UA). It has been also shown that the modified electrodes could be used as sensors for the detection of submicromolar concentrations of biomolecules with practical applications to real samples such as blood plasma and dopamine hydrochloride injection solution. The GC/Cu_nano electrode has been used for catalytic reduction of oxygen.     

MOFs传感器在癌症及其生物标志物检测中的应用

癌症是世界上最致命的疾病之一,因此癌细胞的有效捕获和敏感检测对基础研究以及临床诊断和治疗都具有重要意义。基于金属有机骨架(MOFs)的催化活性和固有的发光性能等特点,MOFs已被成功地开发为传感平台实现对癌症及其标志物的检测。综述了基于MOFs的电化学、荧光、电化学发光、比色传感器在癌细胞及核酸、蛋白质等生物标志物检测中近3年的研究进展,从MOFs材料,检测物类型,检测方法、检测能力等方面进行了综述,并对各自的特点进行了讨论,对以后MOFs纳米材料在癌症检测中的应用进行了展望。