Biosensor For Detection Research Articles

A sensitive PnpR-based biosensor for p-nitrophenol detection.

A common aromatic and phenolic pollutant, p-nitrophenol (PNP), is widely used in various industry and has serious risk to the environmental health. Biosensors have been extensively employed as an alternative technology for pollutants monitoring. By mining the new sensing elements, more specific biosensors could be characterized for highly sensitive detection. Herein, the PnpR transcription factor was identified to activate the transcription of pnpC1 by binding to PpnpC1 promoter region in P. putida DLL-E4, and PNP was recognized as its specific inducer. The PnpR-based biosensor for detection of PNP was developed, demonstrating adequate sensitivity in a liquid solution with satisfactory specificity. The biosensor was optimized by adopting a transcriptional amplifier, which increased the maximum output by 149-fold, and improved the detection limit by 100-fold, from 1mg/L to 10μg/L. These biosensors had a linear range of 5-80mg/L and 0.01-1.0mg/L for PNP determination, respectively. Then, the agarose gel entrapment-based biosensor was constructed and allowed a good of PNP detection in the range of 5-60mg/L in M9 solid agar within 70min, and a detection sensitive of 16.8mg/kg in soil. The good performance of the biosensor suggested its potential application of high-efficient and on-site detection in environmental matrices.

Post-synthesis surface modification of Cu/Zr metal azolate framework: A pathway to highly sensitive electrochemical biosensors for atrazine detection.

Atrazine (ATZ), a pesticide that poses serious health problems, is observed in the environment, thereby prompting its periodic monitoring and control using functional biosensors. However, established methods for ATZ detection have limited applicability. Two-dimensional (2D) metal azolate frameworks (MAF) have a higher surface area per unit volume and provide easier access to active sites. The shorter diffusion path for guest molecules increases the diffusion rates, which is suitable for electrochemical detection. The sensing performance of electrochemical biosensors can be improved by modifying MAFs, resulting in their high affinity for highly sensitive and selective detection of ATZ in the environment. Cu/Zr-based MAF synthesized via a simple sonochemical method and surface-engineered ozonation are demonstrated for the electrochemical sensing of ATZ. The combination of ultrasonication and ultraviolet/ozone surface functionalization significantly enhance the properties of a two-dimensional MAF, including a reduction in resistance, an increase in specific surface area, and the creation of numerous active sites. The developed electrochemical biosensors exhibit a high sensitivity (8.8μAμM-1cm-2), low detection limit of 0.236zM, and wide linear range of 1zM to 1M towards ATZ. Furthermore, excellent selectivity in the presence of diverse interferents and a long shelf life in ambient air for 60d are achieved. The practical feasibility of the biosensor consisting of surface-engineered Cu/Zr-MAF is demonstrated by detecting the ATZ in agricultural wastewater and river water. Cu and Zr transition metals with multiple valence states in MAF facilitate the reduction of ATZ through coordination bonding, while the increased oxygenating active sites in 2D structure collectively accelerates the charge transfer. This synergy between the structural design and surface engineering ultimately improves the biosensor's sensitivity and efficiency for the detection of ATZ. This work can provide a new perspective on practical biosensor applications for the electrochemical detection of pesticides at extremely low concentrations.

A label-free gold nanoparticles functionalized peptide dendrimer biosensor for visual detection of breakthrough infections in COVID-19 vaccinated patients

Given the global implementation of effective COVID-19 vaccines, which do not confer complete immunity, it is crucial to monitor the occurrence of breakthrough infections, particularly against newly emerging severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants. Hence, we developed a label-free colorimetric assay using gold nanoparticles (GNPs) functionalized with a peptide dendrimer incorporating highly reactive epitopes of the nucleocapsid (N) protein. This assay relies on the tween-20 induced colorimetric changes caused by the aggregation of peptide dendrimer-coated GNPs in the absence of anti- SARS-CoV-2 N antibodies, and vice versa. Transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, and circular dichroism spectroscopy analyses all showed the formation of a uniform and highly stable coating of the peptide dendrimer over GNPs. Surface plasmon resonance experiments have demonstrated a strong binding affinity for the peptide dendrimer and anti- SARS-CoV-2 N antibodies, with a KD value of 525 nM. To validate the proof-of-concept, we have tested this assay on seventy human serum samples, and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis demonstrated high diagnostic sensitivity (88.89 %) and specificity (100 %). This approach opens up new avenues for the development of simple and rapid diagnostic assays for identifying antibodies against viral infections and other pathogens.

Biosensors for the detection of celiac disease.

Celiac disease (CeD) is an autoimmune disorder triggered by sensitivity to gluten, a protein complex found in wheat, barley, and rye. Gliadins, a component of gluten, are proteins that trigger an immune response in individuals with CeD, primarily affecting the small intestine's inner lining. Despite a 1-1.5% prevalence, only 24% of cases are diagnosed due to non-specific symptoms. Screening is advised for high-risk groups, including first-degree relatives and type 1 diabetes patients. The accurate diagnosis of this condition and the assessment of the patient's response to the current treatment - a lifelong gluten-free diet - necessitate using dependable, swift, sensitive, specific, uncomplicated, and affordable analytical methods. Detecting CeD biomarkers in whole blood, serum, or plasma provides a non-invasive approach that serves as an ideal initial diagnostic step. Biosensors offer a novel and alternative way for CeD detection, began emerging in 2007, and hold promise for clinical and point-of-care applications. This review explores the use of biomarker-based diagnostic approaches for CeD, with a focus on biosensors. It delves into the progress of biosensors for CeD diagnosis, identifying trends and challenges in this evolving field. Key biomarkers are highlighted, offering insights into the evolving landscape of biosensors in CeD detection.

Development of an advanced acetaldehyde detection solution based on yeast and bacterial surface display technology

Acetaldehyde, a carcinogen widely present in various beverages and the natural environment, necessitates convenient and efficient detection methods. In this work, two different host strains were used to develop a sensitive, convenient, and efficient whole-cell optical biosensor for acetaldehyde detection. Acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (AldH) was displayed on the cell surface of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and E. coli using flocculin protein and the N-terminal ice nucleation protein (INP) protein, respectively. The successful construction of yeast and bacteria surface display platforms was confirmed by laser scanning confocal microscopy. Then, the optimal AldH-display system for yeast and bacteria was confirmed. The optimum reaction conditions were determined by changing testing temperatures and pH values. The differences between the two display systems were compared. The highest whole-cell activities of yeast and bacteria under optimal conditions was 3.68 ± 0.07U/mL/OD600 for BY-S6G and 6.95 ± 0.04U/mL/OD600 for E-32-IrA. The strains with the best performance were chosen for the detection of acetaldehyde in wine and other beverage samples and showed substrate specificity and accuracy, in which the recovery rate ranged between 94.4% and 110.1%. The results demonstrated that the AldH surface display strains could be used as an optical biosensor to detect acetaldehyde in beverages and red wine.

Magnetically controlled fluorescence biosensor for simultaneous detection of aflatoxin B1 and its toxin-producing gene aflD

Magnetically controlled fluorescence biosensor for simultaneous detection of aflatoxin B1 and its toxin-producing gene aflD

A novel microfluidic colorimetric biosensor for rapid and automatic detection Escherichia coli O157:H7 in aquaponics water

A novel microfluidic colorimetric biosensor for rapid and automatic detection Escherichia coli O157:H7 in aquaponics water

Innovative transgenic zebrafish biosensor for heavy metal detection.

Heavy metal contamination is an urgent environmental issue that poses a significant threat to human health and the ecosystem. To mitigate the adverse impacts of heavy metal pollution, the aim of this research was to develop genetically engineered zebrafish as biosensors, which offer a promising alternative for detecting heavy metal exposure, specifically Cd2⁺ and Zn2⁺. A novel heavy metal-sensitive gene construct metallothionine 2 promoter with DsRed reporter gene (mt2-DsRed2) was synthesized and integrated into zebrafish embryos using a Tol2 transposon transposase system with the transgenic zebrafish line subjected to biosensing applications for Cd2+ and Zn2+. The biosensor showed specific responses with linear correlation heavy metal concentration and DsRed fluorescence signal for Cd2+ and Zn2+ with (p<0.01) a minimum detection limit of 4ppb for each metal ion but not for the non-specific metal ion Ni2+, which makes it suitable for laboratory-based heavy metal assessment assays in the low heavy metal concentration ranges of 0-10ppb. Additionally, the study investigated the toxicity of heavy metals on zebrafish early developmental stages applying a modified version of the OECD Fish Embryo Toxicity (FET-236) test. Accordingly, Cd2+, Zn2+, and Ni2+ exhibited no significant toxicity effects on zebrafish embryos within the low dose range of 2-10ppb confirming the biocompatibility of the transgenic zebrafish biosensor for heavy metal sensing applications. Thus, the developed transgenic zebrafish line can accurately sense heavy metals Cd2+ and Zn2+ within the low dose range, making it a promising alternative laboratory assay for environmental monitoring and risk assessment.

MicroRNA biosensors for detection of chronic kidney disease.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a prevalent health condition characterized by gradual kidney function loss. Early detection is crucial for the effective management and treatment of CKD. A promising biomarker for various diseases, including chronic kidney disease, is microRNAs (miRNAs), which are becoming increasingly important due to their stability and differential expression in various disease-related states, including CKD. Recent developments in microRNA biosensors have made it possible to detect miRNAs associated with CKD in a sensitive and specific manner. This review article discusses the current state of microRNA biosensors for detecting CKD and highlights their potential applications in clinical settings. Various microRNA biosensors, including electrochemical, optical, and nanomaterial-based sensors, are explored for their ability to detect specific miRNAs linked to CKD progression. The advantages and limitations of these biosensors are evaluated, focusing on factors such as sensitivity, specificity, and ease of use. Overall, microRNA biosensors are promising diagnostic tools for early detection of CKD. However, challenges such as standardizing protocols, validating in large cohorts, and translating to clinical practice remain to be addressed. Future research efforts should aim to overcome these limitations to fully realize the potential of microRNA biosensors in improving the diagnosis and management of CKD.

Metasurface Plasmon Resonance Biosensor Enhanced with Dual Gold Nanoparticles for the Ultrasensitive Quantitative Detection of C-Reactive Protein.

The pursuit of cutting-edge diagnostic systems capable of detecting biomarkers with exceptional sensitivity and precision is crucial for the timely and accurate monitoring of inflammatory responses. In this study, we introduce a dual gold nanoparticle-enhanced metasurface plasmon resonance (Bi-MSPR) biosensor for the ultrasensitive detection of C-reactive protein (CRP). The Bi-MSPR sensor is constructed upon a nanocup array chip with gradient-free electron density, where an innovative metasurface structure is built using a PEI-immobilized dual-gold nanoparticle amplification system. This strategy greatly amplifies the local free electric field, resulting in a signal enhancement exceeding 10-fold, with a detection limit of 0.04 ng/mL for CRP in buffer solutions and 0.017 μg/mL for serum samples. Clinical validation demonstrates a 95.83% detection rate with no cross-reactivity, highlighting the sensor's remarkable specificity and sensitivity for CRP detection. The Bi-MSPR biosensor thus represents a rapid, sensitive, and specific diagnostic tool for CRP detection.

Electrochemical and Optical Carbon Dots and Glassy Carbon Biosensors: A Review on Their Development and Applications in Early Cancer Detection

Cancer remains one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide, making early detection a critical factor in improving patient outcomes and survival rates. Developing advanced biosensors is essential for achieving early detection and accurate cancer diagnosis. This review offers a comprehensive overview of the development and application of carbon dots (CDs) and glassy carbon (GC) biosensors for early cancer detection. It covers the synthesis of CDs and GC, electrode fabrication methods, and electrochemical and optical transduction principles. This review explores various biosensors, including enzymatic and non-enzymatic, and discusses key biomarkers relevant to cancer detection. It also examines characterization techniques for electrochemical and optical biosensors, such as electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, UV–VIS, and confocal microscopy. The findings highlight the advancements in biosensor performance, emphasizing improvements in sensitivity, selectivity, and stability, as well as underscoring the potential of integrating different transduction methods and characterization approaches to enhance early cancer detection.

Fluorophore signal detection and imaging enhancement in high refractive index nanowire biosensors

Abstract Semiconductor nanowires are an efficient platform for fluorescence-based biosensors. Here, we model how a GaP nanowire (i) enhances the excitation intensity at the position of the fluorophore attached to the nanowire sidewall, (ii) enhances the probability to collect photons emitted from the fluorophore, and (iii) through the Purcell effect increases the quantum yield of the fluorophore. With optimized design, we can reach a larger than 102 enhancement in signal. We also model imaging-based detection. There, waveguiding in the nanowire beats the limitations set by the depth of view in conventional microscopy, enabling the use of a long nanowire to enhance the binding-area for fluorophores. As an example, we can focus to the top of a 4000 nm long nanowire and reach a 25 times sharper image from a fluorophore at the bottom of the nanowire, as compared to such a 4000 nm defocusing in a conventional planar biosensor platform.

A novel hollow-core antiresonant fiber-based biosensor for blood component detection in the THz regime

This article proposes a novel biosensor based on a five-semi-circular cladding tube hollow core antiresonant fiber (HC-ARF) with a frequency range of 0.5-2.8 THz, using Zeonex as the background material. The HC-ARF biosensor analyses various blood components, namely water, plasma, white blood cells (WBC), hemoglobin (HB), and red blood cells (RBC). We utilized COMSOL Multiphysics to perform the numerical analysis of the sensor model. For water, plasma, WBC, HB, and RBC, the proposed HC-ARF biosensor exhibits the highest sensitivity levels of 99.50%, 99.58%, 99.43%, 99.58%, and 99.46%, respectively. Furthermore, it demonstrates confinement loss (CL) and effective material loss (EML) of 1.3 ×10-3dBcm-1and 5.3 ×10-5dBcm-1, respectively.

A ERA/Cas12f1_ge4.1 biosensor for rapid, sensitive, and cost-effective detection of Chlamydia psittaci via fluorescence and lateral flow assays.

Rapid and accurate detection of Chlamydia psittaci, the causative agent of psittacosis, is crucial for both human and animal health but presents significant challenges, particularly in grassroots health institutions. Our previous PDTCTR fluorescence sensing platform, which combined the engineered Cas12f1_ge4.1 system with recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA), significantly enhanced detection efficiency. However, its requirement for specialized equipment, costly RPA reagents, and absence of visual output restricted its practical application in such environments. To address these limitations, we developed the ERA/Cas12f1_ge4.1 system, integrating Cas12f1_ge4.1 with the cost-effective Enzymatic Recombinase Amplification (ERA). This system enables sensitive detection of Chlamydia psittaci double-stranded DNA within 50min through both fluorescence and colloidal gold lateral flow assay strips. The platform achieves detection limits of 10 copies/μL for fluorescence and 100 copies/μL for lateral flow. Clinical validation involving 93 parrot samples demonstrated high performance in both detection modes. Fluorescence detection achieved 95.4% sensitivity, 100% specificity, a 100% positive predictive value (PPV), and a 90.3% negative predictive value (NPV). Meanwhile, the lateral flow assay exhibited 92.3% sensitivity, 100% specificity, 100% PPV, and an 84.8% NPV. The ERA/Cas12f1_ge4.1 system offers a rapid, accurate, cost-effective, and visually interpretable diagnostic tool suitable for both laboratory and community health centers. This advancement holds significant potential for improving psittacosis diagnosis and control, particularly in resource-limited environments.

Protein Detection Based on Field-Effect Transistor Biosensors for Diagnosing Diseases.

Proteins have been one of the most important biomarkers for diagnosing diseases, and field-effect transistor (FET) biosensors possess high sensitivity; are label-free; and feature real-time detection, rapidity, and easy integration for protein detection. FET biosensors are mainly made up of FET parts, such as channel materials, and bio parts, such as receptors. This Tutorial provides an in-depth exploration of FET biosensors for protein detection from the composition perspective and discusses the commercialization of point-of-care diagnostics of proteins based on FET biosensors.

Graphene-assisted electromagnetically induced transparency-like Terahertz bio-sensor for ultra-sensitive detection using optics-enhanced sensing

Graphene-assisted electromagnetically induced transparency-like Terahertz bio-sensor for ultra-sensitive detection using optics-enhanced sensing

Molecularly imprinted polymer-based biosensor for detection of salivary glucose in diabetes.

Diabetes is a disorder attributed to impaired production or utilization of insulin and requires rapid precise monitoring of glucose levels. The fabrication of nanotechnology-based non-invasive biosensors for glucose detection holds significant promise for improved diabetes care and point-of-care diagnostics. The study demonstrates a novel molecularly imprinted polymers (ADMIPs) based sensitive biosensor for glucose estimation in saliva using three distinct sensing platforms -cotton swab, paper strip and polymeric film by colorimetric assay. The device employed a TCS3200 RGB sensor for effectively sensing color change based on the presence of D-GSE. Various techniques such as semi-covalent imprinting method, colorimetry, and microcontroller were utilized in device fabrication. The fabricated non-imprinted polymers (ADNIPs) and ADMIPs displayed particle size <1000 nm with quantified glucose readings from saliva via glucose re-binding. Furthermore, ADMIPs were coated onto cotton swabs, paper strips, and polymer films to develop sensing devices with low LODs (0.9 mg/dL - 3.9 mg/dL) and strong correlational values (0.99-0.98) with blood glucose levels in diabetic patients, offering a potential non-invasive alternative for glucose monitoring. These findings highlight the potential utility of MIP-based sensing platforms for non-invasive glucose monitoring in biofluids such as saliva with implications for diabetes management and thorough diagnostic care.

Stepwise Lighting Up Gold(I)-Thiolate Complexes from AIE Nanoaggregates to AIEE Nanoprobes with a ZIF-8 Shell for Glucose Biosensing.

Aggregation-induced emission (AIE) or aggregation-induced emission enhancement (AIEE) has endowed gold species with responsive fluorescent properties, favoring their potential applications in sensing, imaging, and therapy. However, it remains an interesting challenge to fabricate fluorophores with both AIE and AIEE effects. Herein, we presented highly luminescent Au(I) thiolate nanocomplex-based biosensors with Zn2+ induced-AIE and zeolite imidazolate framework (ZIF-8) induced-AIEE effects. The nonemissive monovalent gold-glutathione complexes (AuI-SGs) were obtained to synthesize the core-shell Zn2+/AuI-SG@ZIF-8 composites with strong luminescence via the coordination-assisted self-assembly strategy. By immobilizing GOx on the surface of Zn2+/AuI-SG@ZIF-8, Zn2+/AuI-SG@ZIF-8/GOx biosensors exhibited effective responsiveness to glucose, showing a "turn-off" detection model. The mechanism study revealed that the robust luminescence of Zn2+/AuI-SG@ZIF-8 to glucose sensing was attributed to the acid-stimulated degradation of the probe facilitated by H+ generated from the glucose oxidase (GOx)-catalyzed oxidation process. To achieve noninvasive and intelligent blood glucose detection, the Zn2+/AuI-SG@ZIF-8/GOx-loaded microneedle (MN)-patch fluorescent platform was further developed. The MN-patch-based sensing platform had promising performance for on-needle capture and in situ glucose detection. This study demonstrated a universal and feasible protocol to construct luminescent biosensors for glucose detection and their potential for the development of MN-based analytical devices.

Label-free microfiber biosensor for ultrahigh sensitivity detection of TNF-α protein

Label-free microfiber biosensor for ultrahigh sensitivity detection of TNF-α protein

Aptamer-based fluorescence biosensor for rapid detection of chloramphenicol based on pyrene excimer switch.

Chloramphenicol (CAP) is widely used in treating bacteria infection in animals and humans. However, the accumulation of CAP in food and environment caused serious health risk to human. Consequently, sensitive and selective detection of CAP is of great importance in environmental monitoring and food safety. Among various analytical methods, aptamer-based biosensors exhibit great potentials for CAP detection. Here, we developed an aptamer-based biosensor for rapid fluorescence detection of CAP based on pyrene excimer switch by using a newly selected short DNA aptamer with high affinity. The aptamer was labeled with pyrene molecules at both ends. The binding of CAP to the aptamer probe caused two pyrene molecules close to each other and the formation of a pyrene excimer, which induced the increase of the fluorescence signal from the pyrene excimer. CAP detection was achieved by measuring the fluorescence signal changes of the aptamer probes with dual pyrene labels. Under optimized conditions, the developed aptamer biosensor showed a detection limit of 24.4nmol/L for CAP. The aptamer-based fluorescence sensor could quantify CAP in diluted tap water and lake water, exhibiting potentials for the application in real sample sensing of CAP.