Biosensor Diagnostic for Congestive Heart Failure via Detection of B‐Type Natriuretic Peptide

Abstract

We developed an electrochemical DNA (E‐DNA) biosensor for point‐of‐care quantitative determination of B‐type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels in blood. BNP is a commonly used biomarker for the onset of heart failure conditions, as its secreted levels in the blood correlate with the internal pressure of cardiac tissue, and high levels of BNP are typically found in patients with congestive heart failure. Unfortunately, current tests for BNP are largely based on phlebotomic blood draw followed by ELISA, which requires external testing and eliminates the possibility of point‐of‐care diagnosis. To address this unmet need, we have developed a rapid, convenient biosensor for BNP based on a known DNA aptamer specific to BNP that has been modified and incorporated into an electrochemical readout format. E‐DNA biosensors have been shown to function in unprocessed whole blood and yield quantitative results in less than one drop of blood. When an E‐DNA biosensor binds to its target, a conformational change results in a change in electrical current. Using varied concentrations of BNP in PBS buffer we were able to dose‐response behavior from the biosensor. This data is used as a calibration standard to allow quantitative measurement of unknown concentrations of BNP, which would have useful clinical application. Although optimizations remain, ultimately, the biosensor will measurement of BNP levels in whole blood, offering a new bedside or point‐of‐care way to measure and monitor an important biomarker for diagnosis of heart failure.Support or Funding InformationSupport for this work comes from the Metropolitan State University of Denver Provost's and LAS Dean's offices.