Utilization of nanoparticle labels for signal amplification in ultrasensitive electrochemical affinity biosensors: A review

Nanoparticles with desirable properties not exhibited by the bulk material can be readily synthesized because of rapid technological developments in the fields of materials science and nanotechnology. In particular their highly attractive electrochemical properties and electrocatalytic activity have facilitated achievement of the high level of signal amplification needed for the development of ultrasensitive electrochemical affinity biosensors for the detection of proteins and DNA. This review article explains the basic principles of nanoparticle based electrochemical biosensors, highlights the recent advances in the development of nanoparticle based signal amplification strategies, and provides a critical assessment of the likely drawbacks associated with each strategy. Finally, future perspectives for achieving advanced signal simplification in nanoparticles based biosensors are considered.     

Recent trends in carbon nanomaterial-based electrochemical sensors for biomolecules: A review

Carbon nanomaterials are advantageous for electrochemical sensors because they increase the electroactive surface area, enhance electron transfer, and promote adsorption of molecules. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been incorporated into electrochemical sensors for biomolecules and strategies have included the traditional dip coating and drop casting methods, direct growth of CNTs on electrodes and the use of CNT fibers and yarns made exclusively of CNTs. Recent research has also focused on utilizing many new types of carbon nanomaterials beyond CNTs. Forms of graphene are now increasingly popular for sensors including reduced graphene oxide, carbon nanohorns, graphene nanofoams, graphene nanorods, and graphene nanoflowers. In this review, we compare different carbon nanomaterial strategies for creating electrochemical sensors for biomolecules. Analytes covered include neurotransmitters and neurochemicals, such as dopamine, ascorbic acid, and serotonin; hydrogen peroxide; proteins, such as biomarkers; and DNA. The review also addresses enzyme-based electrodes that are used to detect non-electroactive species such as glucose, alcohols, and proteins. Finally, we analyze some of the future directions for the field, pointing out gaps in fundamental understanding of electron transfer to carbon nanomaterials and the need for more practical implementation of sensors.     

用于半胱氨酸检测的电化学生物传感器研究进展

半胱氨酸(Cys)作为人体重要的非必需氨基酸之一,对蛋白质合成、渗透调节、解毒过程、神经系统功能和抗氧化过程均发挥着重要作用,近年来广泛应用于医学临床、食品加工和生化研究领域。因此,发展快速、准确检测半胱氨酸浓度的方法具有重要意义。本文简要介绍了半胱氨酸的基本知识以及半胱氨酸的传统检测方法,对半胱氨酸定量检测的电化学传感器的研制与应用进行了重点阐述,并对其发展前景进行了展望。     

用于褪黑素检测的电化学生物传感器研究进展

褪黑素是人体松果体分泌的一种重要的神经递质,近年来其在控制昼夜节律和提供免疫抗炎特性等生理调节作用方面备受关注。因此,发展可靠、快速检测体内和体外样本中褪黑素浓度的方法,对于探索褪黑素的临床应用和生物学特性具有重要的意义。本文对褪黑素及其传统检测方法进行简要介绍,重点阐述了近几年报道的用于生物样本和药物样本中褪黑素定量检测的电化学传感器,并对褪黑素传感器的未来发展方向进行展望。     

Reagentless and reusable electrochemical affinity biosensors for near real-time and/or continuous operation. Advances and prospects

Nowadays, there is increasing demand to overcome the major constraints involved in cumbersome and protracted procedures used in conventional laboratory methods for molecular detection and develop methodologies suitable to near real-time, continuous, and direct monitoring of the target analyte in the analyzed sample at decentralized settings. In this context, biosensors using electrochemistry as transduction technique are particularly attractive to monitor binding-induced changes in the rigidity of a redox-tagged nucleic acid or peptide-switching probes (switch-based biosensors) or a capture antibody attached to an interrogating electrode. Sensors based on biomolecular switches, DNAs, aptamers, and peptides that reversibly shift between two or more conformations (or conformational ensembles) in response to the binding of a specific target ligand have been applied to the determination of a wide range of relevant analytes (nucleic acids, proteins, small molecules, and ions) and are rapid (responding in minutes), sensitive, reagentless, easily reusable, and less prone to fouling issues. They are capable to report in near real time the target binding event without any subsequent processing step, directly in challenging samples or continuously in flowing samples, and even in vivo using affordable and miniaturization-compatible instrumentation. Only a few redox-labeled capture antibody–based immunosensing strategies have been reported to date for the reagentless and continuous electrochemical determination of relevant analytes.     

Extracellular vesicles based electrochemical biosensors for detection of cancer cells: A review

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from cancer cells are considered as ideal biomarker for liquid biopsy in cancer diagnosis, and are stable and abundant. Electrochemical methods for the detection of EVs are preferred over conventional methods such as Western blotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for their high sensitivity and real-time detection. This article summaries studies proposing the electrochemical methods utilizing immunological and molecular methodologies for detecting EVs derived biomacromolecules such as miRNAs and transmembrane protein for cancer diagnosis. Moreover, the electrochemical detection methods are compared and future prospects for the development of electrochemical methods for EVs detection are concluded.     

An origami paper device for complete elimination of interferents in enzymatic electrochemical biosensors

Many efforts have been made to prevent interferences in enzymatic electrochemical biosensors by permselective membranes or mediators with low redox potential. However, it is difficult to completely eliminate interferents without compromised sensitivity by these traditional procedures. We propose here a method based on an origami paper device that separates the electrochemical reactions of interferents and substrates for complete depletion of interferents and precise analysis of substrates. Interferents such as ascorbate, urate and paracetamol were completely consumed by a simple electrolysis step, while substrates were quantitatively analyzed by coulometry. With GOx as a model enzyme, an interference-free and calibration-free coulometric glucose biosensor has been demonstrated successfully. The proposed origami paper device provides a facile and easy-controlled approach to eliminate the electroactive interferents completely for enzymatic electrochemical biosensors.     

Breath biosensing: using electrochemical enzymatic sensors for detection of biomarkers in human breath

Detection of biomarkers for disease by noninvasive methods is critical for the early diagnosis and screening of disease, enabling prompt treatment. Breath biosensors are a viable option as the exhaled breath contains several biomarkers linked to lung cancer, oxidative stress, diabetes, and other diseases. Breath analysis has been achieved by advanced analytical techniques such as gas chromatography and infrared spectroscopy. However, electrochemical enzymatic breath biosensors offer a cost-effective, sensitive platform for biomarker detection without complex analysis and interpretation by trained laboratory personnel. This review aims to summarize recent advances in the field of electrochemical enzymatic breath biosensors and offer future opportunities from other applications of nonelectrochemical enzymatic breath biosensors.     

Recent trends in nanomaterial-based microanalytical systems for the speciation of trace elements: A critical review

Trace element speciation in biomedical and environmental science has gained increasing attention over the past decade as researchers have begun to realize its importance in toxicological studies. Several nanomaterials, including titanium dioxide nanoparticles (nano-TiO₂), carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs), have been used as sorbents to separate and preconcentrate trace element species prior to detection through mass spectrometry or optical spectroscopy. Recently, these nanomaterial-based speciation techniques have been integrated with microfluidics to minimize sample and reagent consumption and simplify analyses. This review provides a critical look into the present state and recent applications of nanomaterial-based microanalytical systems in the speciation of trace elements. The adsorption and preconcentration efficiencies, sample volume requirements, and detection limits of these nanomaterial-based speciation techniques are detailed, and their applications in environmental and biological analyses are discussed. Current perspectives and future trends into the increasing use of nanomaterial-based microfluidic techniques for trace element speciation are highlighted.     

高灵敏光学和电化学适配体传感器在真菌毒素快速检测中的研究进展

高灵敏的生物传感器在痕量真菌毒素污染的快速检测中备受关注.适配体除具有与抗体类似的高选择性外,还具有可体外合成和易修饰等独特优势,已成为现阶段生物传感器中常用的识别元件.随着指数富集的配体系统进化(SELEX)技术的发展,筛选获得的真菌毒素适配体越来越多,为不同真菌毒素的检测提供了基础条件,而适配体结合现代新型纳米材料...     

Advances in organic transistor-based biosensors: from organic electrochemical transistors to electrolyte-gated organic field-effect transistors

Organic electronics have, over the past two decades, developed into an exciting area of research and technology to replace classic inorganic semiconductors. Organic photovoltaics, light-emitting diodes, and thin-film transistors are already well developed and are currently being commercialized for a variety of applications. More recently, organic transistors have found new applications in the field of biosensors. The progress made in this direction is the topic of this review. Various configurations are presented, with their detection principle, and illustrated by examples from the literature.     

Protein film voltammetry: electrochemical enzymatic spectroscopy. A review on recent progress

This review is focused on the basic principles, the main applications, and the theoretical models developed for various redox mechanisms in protein film voltammetry, with a special emphasis to square-wave voltammetry as a working technique. Special attention is paid to the thermodynamic and kinetic parameters of relevant enzymes studied in the last decade at various modified electrodes, and their use as a platform for the detection of reactive oxygen species is also discussed. A set of recurrent formulas for simulations of different redox mechanisms of lipophilic enzymes is supplied together with representative simulated voltammograms that illustrate the most relevant voltammetric features of proteins studied under conditions of square-wave voltammetry.     

Flow electrochemical biosensors based on enzymatic porous reactor and tubular detector of silver solid amalgam

A flow amperometric enzymatic biosensor for the determination of glucose was constructed. The biosensor consists of a flow reactor based on porous silver solid amalgam (AgSA) and a flow tubular detector based on compact AgSA. The preparation of the sensor and the determination of glucose occurred in three steps. First, a self-assembled monolayer of 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid (MUA) was formed at the porous surface of the reactor. Second, enzyme glucose oxidase (GOx) was covalently immobilized at MUA-layer using N-ethyl-N′-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carboimide and N-hydroxysuccinimide chemistry. Finally, a decrease of oxygen concentration (directly proportional to the concentration of glucose) during enzymatic reaction was amperometrically measured on the tubular detector under flow injection conditions. The following parameters of glucose determination were optimized with respect to amperometric response: composition of the mobile phase, its concentration, the potential of detection and the flow rate. The calibration curve of glucose was linear in the concentration range of 0.02–0.80 mmol L⁻¹ with detection limit of 0.01 mmol L⁻¹. The content of glucose in the sample of honey was determined as 35.5 ± 1.0 mass % (number of the repeated measurements n = 7; standard deviation SD = 1.2%; relative standard deviation RSD = 3.2%) which corresponds well with the declared values. The tested biosensor proved good long-term stability (77% of the current response of glucose was retained after 35 days).     

Nanocomposites of graphene and graphene oxides: Synthesis,molecular functionalization and application in electrochemical sensors and biosensors. A review

Functionalized nanocomposites based on various type of graphene nanomaterials including graphene, graphene oxides (GOs), and doped graphene (oxides) are widely used as materials for various sensors that can display high sensitivity, selectivity and stability. This review with 347 references summarizes advances in the preparation and functionalization of graphene nanocomposites for the application of electrochemical sensors and biosensors. Following a general introduction into the field, the article is divided into subsections on (a) the synthesis and functionalization of nanocomposites (made from graphene, various kinds of GOs, heteroatom-doped GOs), (b) on methods for functionalization of composites (with other carbon nanomaterials, metal nanoparticles, metal oxide and metal sulfide nanoparticles), (c) on functionalization with inorganic materials including polyoxometalates, hexacyanoferrates, minerals), (d) on functionalization with organic materials such as amino acids, surfactants, organic dyes, ionic liquids, macrocycles (including cyclodextrins, crown ethers and calixarenes), and (e) on functionalization with organometallics and with various other organic compounds, (f) on functionalizations with polymers such as conventional polymers, polyelectrolytes, conducting polymers, molecularly imprinted polymers, (g) on functionalization with biomolecules including proteins and nucleic acids. Other subsections cover flexible graphene and GO based nanocomposites and 3D composites. Application of graphene and GO nanocomposites are then covered in a in large section that comprises electrochemical sensors and biosensors (based on voltammetry, amperometry, potentiometry, impedimetry, electrochemiluminescence, photoelectrochemistry, field effect transistors, electrochemical immunosensors) with specific subsections on gas sensors, enzymatic biosensors and gene sensors. A concluding section covers current challenges and perspectives of graphene and GO based (bio)sensing.

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Graphical abstract Illustration of electroanalytical applications of graphene functionalized with various materials, including carbon nanotube (CNT), fullerene (C₆₀), nanodiamond (ND), nanoparticle (NP), polyoxometalate (POM), metal hexacyanoferrate (MHCF), metalphthalocyanine (MPc), cyclodextrin (CD), poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS), chitosan (CHIT), DNA and enzyme.

     

Integrated multienzyme electrochemical biosensors for the determination of glycerol in wines

The construction and performance of integrated amperometric biosensors for the determination of glycerol are reported. Two different biosensor configurations have been evaluated: one based on the glycerol dehydrogenase/diaphorase (GDH/DP) bienzyme system, and another using glycerol kinase/glycerol-3-phosphate oxidase/peroxidase (GK/GPOx/HRP). Both enzyme systems were immobilized together with the mediator tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) on a 3-mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) self-assembled monolayer (SAM)-modified gold electrode by using a dialysis membrane. The electrochemical oxidation of TTF at +150 mV (vs. Ag/AgCl), and the reduction of TTF⁺ at 0 mV were used for the monitoring of the enzyme reactions for the bienzyme and trienzyme configurations, respectively. Experimental variables concerning both the biosensors composition and the working conditions were optimized for each configuration. A good repeatability of the measurements with no need of cleaning or pretreatment of the biosensors was obtained in both cases. After 51 days of use, the GDH/DP biosensor still exhibited 87% of the original sensitivity, while the GK/GPOx/HRP biosensor yielded a 46% of the original response after 8 days. Calibration graphs for glycerol with linear ranges of 1.0 × 10⁻⁶ to 2.0 × 10⁻⁵ or 1.0 × 10⁻⁶ to 1.0 × 10⁻⁵ M glycerol and sensitivities of 1214 ± 21 or 1460 ± 34 μA M⁻¹ were obtained with GDH/DP and GK/GPOx/HRP biosensors, respectively. The calculated detection limits were 4.0 × 10⁻⁷ and 3.1 × 10⁻⁷ M, respectively. The biosensors exhibited a great sensitivity with no significant interferences in the analysis of wines. The biosensors were applied to the determination of glycerol in 12 different wines and the results advantageously compared with those provided by a commercial enzyme kit.     

Novel nanobiotechnological concepts in electrochemical biosensors for the analysis of toxins

This article gives an overview of the biosensors for the analysis of mycotoxins, marine toxins and cyanobacterial toxins, describing in depth the electrochemical biosensors that incorporate nanobiotechnological concepts. Firstly, it presents tailor-designed biomolecules, such as recombinant enzymes, recombinant antibody fragments and aptamers as novel biorecognition elements in biosensors. It also reviews the use of metallic nanoparticles (NPs) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) aiming at improving the electrochemical transduction strategies. Finally, the exploitation of magnetic particles (MPs) as immobilisation carriers in flow-systems and the development of arrays are also described. The incorporation of these nanobiotechnological concepts provides with electrochemical biosensors with superior analytical performance in terms of specificity, sensitivity, stability and analysis time.     

Recent advances in nanomaterial-based electrochemical sensing of nitric oxide and nitrite for biomedical and food research

Nitric oxide (NO) and nitrite are of significant importance in clinical/biomedical research and in quality control applications for the food industry. Electrochemical sensing of NO and nitrite has been extensively pursued over the last two years. Efficient interfaces based on functional nanomaterials and bioactive molecules (e.g. metals, metal oxides, carbon-based nanomaterials, conducting polymers, and heme proteins) have been widely explored toward sensor development. Herein, we review the most recent advances in the electrochemical sensing of NO and nitrite, while the critical roles of nanomaterials in the design of advanced electrochemical sensors are highlighted.     

New advances in electrochemical biosensors for the detection of toxins: Nanomaterials,magnetic beads and microfluidics systems. A review

The use of nanotechnology in bioanalytical devices has special advantages in the detection of toxins of interest in food safety and environmental applications. The low levels to be detected and the small size of toxins justify the increasing number of publications dealing with electrochemical biosensors, due to their high sensitivity and design versatility. The incorporation of nanomaterials in their development has been exploited to further increase their sensitivity, providing simple and fast devices, with multiplexed capabilities. This paper gives an overview of the electrochemical biosensors that have incorporated carbon and metal nanomaterials in their configurations for the detection of toxins. Biosensing systems based on magnetic beads or integrated into microfluidics systems have also been considered because of their contribution to the development of compact analytical devices. The roles of these materials, the methods used for their incorporation in the biosensor configurations as well as the advantages they provide to the analyses are summarised.     

Trends and challenges of refractometric nanoplasmonic biosensors: A review

Motivated by potential benefits such as sensor miniaturization, multiplexing opportunities and higher sensitivities, refractometric nanoplasmonic biosensing has profiled itself in a short time span as an interesting alternative to conventional Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) biosensors. This latter conventional sensing concept has been subjected during the last decades to strong commercialization, thereby strongly leaning on well-developed thin-film surface chemistry protocols. Not surprisingly, the examples found in literature based on this sensing concept are generally characterized by extensive analytical studies of relevant clinical and diagnostic problems. In contrast, the more novel Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance (LSPR) alternative finds itself in a much earlier, and especially, more fundamental stage of development. Driven by new fabrication methodologies to create nanostructured substrates, published work typically focuses on the novelty of the presented material, its optical properties and its use – generally limited to a proof-of-concept – as a label-free biosensing scheme. Given the different stages of development both SPR and LSPR sensors find themselves in, it becomes apparent that providing a comparative analysis of both concepts is not a trivial task. Nevertheless, in this review we make an effort to provide an overview that illustrates the progress booked in both fields during the last five years. First, we discuss the most relevant advances in SPR biosensing, including interesting analytical applications, together with different strategies that assure improvements in performance, throughput and/or integration. Subsequently, the remaining part of this work focuses on the use of nanoplasmonic sensors for real label-free biosensing applications. First, we discuss the motivation that serves as a driving force behind this research topic, together with a brief summary that comprises the main fabrication methodologies used in this field. Next, the sensing performance of LSPR sensors is examined by analyzing different parameters that can be invoked in order to quantitatively assess their overall sensing performance. Two aspects are highlighted that turn out to be especially important when trying to maximize their sensing performance, being (1) the targeted functionalization of the electromagnetic hotspots of the nanostructures, and (2) overcoming inherent negative influence that stem from the presence of a high refractive index substrate that supports the nanostructures. Next, although few in numbers, an overview is given of the most exhaustive and diagnostically relevant LSPR sensing assays that have been recently reported in literature, followed by examples that exploit inherent LSPR characteristics in order to create highly integrated and high-throughput optical biosensors. Finally, we discuss a series of considerations that, in our opinion, should be addressed in order to bring the realization of a stand-alone LSPR biosensor with competitive levels of sensitivity, robustness and integration (when compared to a conventional SPR sensor) much closer to reality.     

A review of biosensors and biologically-inspired systems for explosives detection

This article provides a review of the published literature describing the use of biosensors and biologically-inspired systems for explosives detection. The review focusses on the use of antibodies, enzymes, biologically-inspired synthetic ligands and whole-cell biosensors, providing a flavour of the range of technology, formats and approaches that can be used to detect explosives using biological systems.