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4 pages, 154 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Editorial for Special Issue on Biosensors for Biomedical and Environmental Applications

by Antonella Battisti

Micromachines 2024, 15(5), 607; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi15050607 - 30 Apr 2024

Viewed by 985

Abstract

A sensor is typically defined as a device able to transform a physical quantity of interest into a different kind of signal that can be easily measured and recorded [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biosensors for Biomedical and Environmental Applications)

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Research

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16 pages, 3491 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Adsorption of Preformed Microgel–Enzyme Complexes as a Novel Strategy toward Engineering Microgel-Based Enzymatic Biosensors

by Larisa V. Sigolaeva, Anna A. Shalybkova, Timur Z. Sharifullin and Dmitry V. Pergushov

Micromachines 2023, 14(8), 1629; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi14081629 - 18 Aug 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1533

Abstract

A novel approach to surface modification, which consists of the adsorption of microgel–enzyme complexes preformed in solution, is highlighted. Accordingly, the microgel–enzyme complexes were formed due to the electrostatic interaction of the oppositely charged interacting components, that is, a cationic poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-based [...] Read more.

A novel approach to surface modification, which consists of the adsorption of microgel–enzyme complexes preformed in solution, is highlighted. Accordingly, the microgel–enzyme complexes were formed due to the electrostatic interaction of the oppositely charged interacting components, that is, a cationic poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-based microgel and glucose oxidase taken as a model enzyme. The spontaneous adsorption of the prepared microgel–enzyme complexes, examined by means of quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring and atomic force microscopy, was observed, resulting in the formation of well-adhered microgel–enzyme coatings. Further, the preformed microgel–enzyme complexes were adsorbed onto the modified graphite-based screen-printed electrodes, and their enzymatic responses were determined by means of amperometry, demonstrating a remarkable analytical performance toward the quantification of β-D-glucose in terms of high sensitivity (0.0162 A × M⁻¹ × cm⁻²), a low limit of detection (1 μM), and an expanded linear range (1–2000 μM). The fabricated microgel–enzyme biosensor constructs were found to be very stable against manifold-repeated measurements. Finally, the pH- or salt-induced release of glucose oxidase from the adsorbed preformed microgel–enzyme complexes was demonstrated. The findings obtained for the microgel–enzyme coatings prepared via adsorption of the preformed microgel–enzyme complexes were compared to those found for the microgel–enzyme coatings fabricated via a previously exploited two-stage sequential adsorption, which includes the adsorption of the microgel first, followed by the electrostatic binding of glucose oxidase by the adsorbed microgel. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biosensors for Biomedical and Environmental Applications)

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17 pages, 6425 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Biomechanical Investigation of Red Cell Sedimentation Using Blood Shear Stress and Blood Flow Image in a Capillary Chip

by Yang Jun Kang

Micromachines 2023, 14(8), 1594; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi14081594 - 13 Aug 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1566

Abstract

Blood image intensity has been used to detect erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). However, it does not give information on the biophysical properties of blood samples under continuous ESR. In this study, to quantify mechanical variations of blood under continuous ESR, blood shear stress [...] Read more.

Blood image intensity has been used to detect erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). However, it does not give information on the biophysical properties of blood samples under continuous ESR. In this study, to quantify mechanical variations of blood under continuous ESR, blood shear stress and blood image intensity were obtained by analyzing blood flows in the capillary channel. A blood sample is loaded into a driving syringe to demonstrate the proposed method. The blood flow rate is set in a periodic on–off pattern. A blood sample is then supplied into a capillary chip, and microscopic blood images are captured at specific intervals. Blood shear stress is quantified from the interface of the bloodstream in the coflowing channel. τ₀ is defined as the maximum shear stress obtained at the first period. Simultaneously, ESR_τ is then obtained by analyzing temporal variations of blood shear stress for every on period. AI_I is evaluated by analyzing the temporal variation of blood image intensity for every off period. According to the experimental results, a shorter period of T = 4 min and no air cavity contributes to the high sensitivity of the two indices (ESR_τ and AI_I). The τ₀ exhibits substantial differences with respect to hematocrits (i.e., 30–50%) as well as diluents. The ESR_τ and AI_I showed a reciprocal relationship with each other. Three suggested properties represented substantial differences for suspended blood samples (i.e., hardened red blood cells, different concentrations of dextran solution, and fibrinogen). In conclusion, the present method can detect variations in blood samples under continuous ESR effectively. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biosensors for Biomedical and Environmental Applications)

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13 pages, 5977 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Functioning of a Fluorescein pH-Probe in Aqueous Media: Impact of Temperature and Viscosity

by Darya P. Surzhikova, Lev A. Sukovatyi, Elena V. Nemtseva, Elena N. Esimbekova and Evgenia A. Slyusareva

Micromachines 2023, 14(7), 1442; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi14071442 - 18 Jul 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1881

Abstract

In this work, we considered the influence of viscogenic agents (glycerol, sucrose) as well as the temperature on the fluorescent characteristics of fluorescein at pH 6.5 in order to describe the acid-base status of local environment in terms of a spectrally detectable dianion-anion [...] Read more.

In this work, we considered the influence of viscogenic agents (glycerol, sucrose) as well as the temperature on the fluorescent characteristics of fluorescein at pH 6.5 in order to describe the acid-base status of local environment in terms of a spectrally detectable dianion-anion equilibrium. The protolytic equilibrium of fluorescein was found to depend on the solvent viscosity in a complex way. Whereas in the presence of sucrose the ratiometric signal of fluorescein (I⁴⁸⁸/I⁴³⁵) remains rather unchanged, the addition of glycerol (up to 40% w/w) results in the increase of the signal (up to 19%), that can be attributed to the different mechanisms of cosolvents effects on dye molecules in the ground state. Molecular dynamics of the dye in the presence of glycerol and sucrose revealed that the cosolvents preferentially interact with fluorescein monoanion and dianion, displacing water molecules from the local environment which in turn reduces the average number of the hydrogen bonds between xanthene ring of the dye and water molecules. The ratiometric signal demonstrates linear growth with the temperature in the range of 10–80 °C regardless of the presence of viscogenic agents. A linear correlation between the temperature sensitivity of the ratiometric signal and the change in the molar enthalpy of the proton dissociation reaction in buffer and viscous media was determined. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biosensors for Biomedical and Environmental Applications)

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20 pages, 8076 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Internet-of-Things-Based Multiple-Sensor Monitoring System for Soil Information Diagnosis Using a Smartphone

by Yin Wu, Zenan Yang and Yanyi Liu

Micromachines 2023, 14(7), 1395; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi14071395 - 8 Jul 2023

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 7750

Abstract

The rise of Internet of Things (IoT) technology has moved the digital world in a new direction and is considered the third wave of the information industry. To meet the current growing demand for food, the agricultural industry should adopt updated technologies and [...] Read more.

The rise of Internet of Things (IoT) technology has moved the digital world in a new direction and is considered the third wave of the information industry. To meet the current growing demand for food, the agricultural industry should adopt updated technologies and smart agriculture based on the IoT which will strongly enable farmers to reduce waste and increase productivity. This research presents a novel system for the application of IoT technology in agricultural soil measurements, which consists of multiple sensors (temperature and moisture), a micro-processor, a microcomputer, a cloud platform, and a mobile phone application. The wireless sensors can collect and transmit soil information in real time with a high speed, while the mobile phone app uses the cloud platform as a monitoring center. A low power consumption is specified in the hardware and software, and a modular power supply and time-saving algorithm are adopted to improve the energy effectiveness of the nodes. Meanwhile, a novel soil information prediction strategy was explored based on the deep Q network (DQN) reinforcement learning algorithm. Following the weighted combination of a bidirectional long short-term memory, online sequential extreme learning machine, and parallel extreme machine learning, the DQN Bi-OS-P prediction model was obtained. The proposed data acquisition system achieved a long-term stable and reliable collection of time-series soil data with equal intervals and provided an accurate dataset for the precise diagnosis of soil information. The RMSE, MAE, and MAPE of the DQN Bi-OS-P were all reduced, and the R2 was improved by 0.1% when compared to other methods. This research successfully implemented the smart soil system and experimentally showed that the time error between the value displayed on the mobile phone app and its exact acquisition moment was no more than 3 s, proving that mobile applications can be effectively used for the real-time monitoring of soil quality and conditions in wireless multi-sensing based on the Internet of Things. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biosensors for Biomedical and Environmental Applications)

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11 pages, 2719 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Electrochemical Soil Nitrate Sensor for In Situ Real-Time Monitoring

by Mohammed A. Eldeeb, Vikram Narayanan Dhamu, Anirban Paul, Sriram Muthukumar and Shalini Prasad

Micromachines 2023, 14(7), 1314; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi14071314 - 27 Jun 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3687

Abstract

Sustainable agriculture is the answer to the rapid rise in food demand which is straining our soil, leading to desertification, food insecurity, and ecosystem imbalance. Sustainable agriculture revolves around having real-time soil health information to allow farmers to make the correct decisions. We [...] Read more.

Sustainable agriculture is the answer to the rapid rise in food demand which is straining our soil, leading to desertification, food insecurity, and ecosystem imbalance. Sustainable agriculture revolves around having real-time soil health information to allow farmers to make the correct decisions. We present an ion-selective electrode (ISE) electrochemical soil nitrate sensor that utilizes electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) for direct real-time continuous soil nitrate measurement without any soil pretreatment. The sensor functionality, performance, and in-soil dynamics have been reported. The ion-selective electrode (ISE) is applied by drop casting onto the working electrode. The study was conducted on three different soil textures (clay, sandy loam, and loamy clay) to cover the range of the soil texture triangle. The non-linear regression models showed a nitrate-dependent response with R² > 0.97 for the various soil textures in the nitrate range of 5–512 ppm. The validation of the sensor showed an error rate of less than 20% between the measured nitrate and reference nitrate for multiple different soil textures, including ones that were not used in the calibration of the sensor. A 7-day-long in situ soil study showed the capability of the sensor to measure soil nitrate in a temporally dynamic manner with an error rate of less than 20%. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biosensors for Biomedical and Environmental Applications)

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15 pages, 3968 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Performance Analysis of an Aperture-Coupled THz Antenna for Diagnosing Breast Cancer

by Anupma Gupta, Vipan Kumar, Dinesh Garg, Mohammed H. Alsharif and Abu Jahid

Micromachines 2023, 14(7), 1281; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi14071281 - 22 Jun 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1517

Abstract

The most important technique for exposing early-stage breast cancer is terahertz imaging. It aids in lowering the number of breast cancer-related fatalities and enhancing the quality of life. An essential component of developing the THz imaging system for high-quality photos is choosing the [...] Read more.

The most important technique for exposing early-stage breast cancer is terahertz imaging. It aids in lowering the number of breast cancer-related fatalities and enhancing the quality of life. An essential component of developing the THz imaging system for high-quality photos is choosing the right sensor. In this article, a wideband antenna for microwave imaging of breast tissue with an operating frequency of 30 GHz (107 GHz to 137 GHz) is constructed and analyzed. An aperture-coupled antenna with an optimized ground aperture is proposed and analyzed, which made it possible to obtain better and consistent impedance matching in the wideband spectrum. The variation of backscattered signal energy in body tissue is assessed with healthy breast tissue and in the presence of malignant cells. A significant difference in energy scattering is observed for both situations. The suggested antenna’s linear and stable time domain characteristics make it an appropriate component for THz imaging technology. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biosensors for Biomedical and Environmental Applications)

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10 pages, 2582 KiB

Open AccessArticle

SiC Electrochemical Sensor Validation for Alzheimer Aβ₄₂ Antigen Detection

by Brayan Montero-Arevalo, Bianca I. Seufert, Mohammad S. Hossain, Evans Bernardin, Arash Takshi, Stephen E. Saddow and Norelli Schettini

Micromachines 2023, 14(6), 1262; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi14061262 - 16 Jun 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2187

Abstract

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease with only late-stage detection; thus, diagnosis is made when it is no longer possible to treat the disease, only its symptoms. Consequently, this often leads to caregivers who are the patient’s relatives, which adversely impacts the [...] Read more.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease with only late-stage detection; thus, diagnosis is made when it is no longer possible to treat the disease, only its symptoms. Consequently, this often leads to caregivers who are the patient’s relatives, which adversely impacts the workforce along with severely diminishing the quality of life for all involved. It is, therefore, highly desirable to develop a fast, effective and reliable sensor to enable early-stage detection in an attempt to reverse disease progression. This research validates the detection of amyloid-beta 42 (Aβ₄₂) using a Silicon Carbide (SiC) electrode, a fact that is unprecedented in the literature. Aβ₄₂ is considered a reliable biomarker for AD detection, as reported in previous studies. To validate the detection with a SiC-based electrochemical sensor, a gold (Au) electrode-based electrochemical sensor was used as a control. The same cleaning, functionalization and Aβ_1–28 antibody immobilization steps were used on both electrodes. Sensor validation was carried out by means of Cyclic Voltammetry (CV) and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) aiming to detect an 0.5 µg·mL⁻¹ Aβ₄₂ concentration in 0.1 M buffer solution as a proof of concept. A repeatable peak directly related to the presence of Aβ₄₂ was observed, indicating that a fast SiC-based electrochemical sensor was constructed and may prove to be a useful approach for the early detection of AD. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biosensors for Biomedical and Environmental Applications)

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9 pages, 5443 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Field Effect Transistor with Nanoporous Gold Electrode

by Ezzat G. Bakhoum and Cheng Zhang

Micromachines 2023, 14(6), 1135; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi14061135 - 28 May 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1604

Abstract

Nanoporous gold (NPG) has excellent catalytic activity and has been used in the recent literature on this issue as a sensor in various electrochemical and bioelectrochemical reactions. This paper reports on a new type of metal–oxide–semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) that utilizes NPG as [...] Read more.

Nanoporous gold (NPG) has excellent catalytic activity and has been used in the recent literature on this issue as a sensor in various electrochemical and bioelectrochemical reactions. This paper reports on a new type of metal–oxide–semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) that utilizes NPG as a gate electrode. Both n-channel and p-channel MOSFETs with NPG gate electrodes have been fabricated. The MOSFETs can be used as sensors and the results of two experiments are reported: the detection of glucose and the detection of carbon monoxide. A detailed comparison of the performance of the new MOSFET to that of the older generation of MOSFETs fitted with zinc oxide gate electrodes is given. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biosensors for Biomedical and Environmental Applications)

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18 pages, 20506 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Microcamera Visualisation System to Overcome Specular Reflections for Tissue Imaging

by Lorenzo Niemitz, Stefan D. van der Stel, Simon Sorensen, Walter Messina, Sanathana Konugolu Venkata Sekar, Henricus J. C. M. Sterenborg, Stefan Andersson-Engels, Theo J. M. Ruers and Ray Burke

Micromachines 2023, 14(5), 1062; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi14051062 - 17 May 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1998

Abstract

In vivo tissue imaging is an essential tool for medical diagnosis, surgical guidance, and treatment. However, specular reflections caused by glossy tissue surfaces can significantly degrade image quality and hinder the accuracy of imaging systems. In this work, we further the miniaturisation of [...] Read more.

In vivo tissue imaging is an essential tool for medical diagnosis, surgical guidance, and treatment. However, specular reflections caused by glossy tissue surfaces can significantly degrade image quality and hinder the accuracy of imaging systems. In this work, we further the miniaturisation of specular reflection reduction techniques using micro cameras, which have the potential to act as intra-operative supportive tools for clinicians. In order to remove these specular reflections, two small form factor camera probes, handheld at 10 mm footprint and miniaturisable to 2.3 mm, are developed using different modalities, with line-of-sight to further miniaturisation. (1) The sample is illuminated via multi-flash technique from four different positions, causing a shift in reflections which are then filtered out in a post-processing image reconstruction step. (2) The cross-polarisation technique integrates orthogonal polarisers onto the tip of the illumination fibres and camera, respectively, to filter out the polarisation maintaining reflections. These form part of a portable imaging system that is capable of rapid image acquisition using different illumination wavelengths, and employs techniques that lend themselves well to further footprint reduction. We demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed system with validating experiments on tissue-mimicking phantoms with high surface reflection, as well as on excised human breast tissue. We show that both methods can provide clear and detailed images of tissue structures along with the effective removal of distortion or artefacts caused by specular reflections. Our results suggest that the proposed system can improve the image quality of miniature in vivo tissue imaging systems and reveal underlying feature information at depth, for both human and machine observers, leading to better diagnosis and treatment outcomes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biosensors for Biomedical and Environmental Applications)

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13 pages, 3031 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Noninvasive Sweat Glucose Biosensor Based on Glucose Oxidase/Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes/Ferrocene-Polyaniline Film/Cu Electrodes

by Yanfang Guan, Lei Liu, Shaobo Yu, Feng Lv, Mingshuo Guo, Qing Luo, Shukai Zhang, Zongcai Wang, Lan Wu, Yang Lin and Guangyu Liu

Micromachines 2022, 13(12), 2142; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi13122142 - 3 Dec 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3416

Abstract

Diabetes remains a great threat to human beings’ health and its world prevalence is projected to reach 9.9% by 2045. At present, the detection methods used are often invasive, cumbersome and time-consuming, thus increasing the burden on patients. In this paper, we propose [...] Read more.

Diabetes remains a great threat to human beings’ health and its world prevalence is projected to reach 9.9% by 2045. At present, the detection methods used are often invasive, cumbersome and time-consuming, thus increasing the burden on patients. In this paper, we propose a novel noninvasive and low-cost biosensor capable of detecting glucose in human sweat using enzyme-based electrodes for point-of-care uses. Specifically, an electrochemical method is applied for detection and the electrodes are covered with multilayered films including ferrocene-polyaniline (F-P), multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and glucose oxidase (GOx) on Cu substrates (GOx/MWCNTs/F-P/Cu). The coated layers enhance the immobilization of GOx, increase the conductivity of the anode and improve the electrochemical properties of the electrode. Compared with the Cu electrode and the F-P/Cu electrode, a maximum peak current is obtained when the MWCNTs/F-P/Cu electrode is applied. We also study its current response by cyclic voltammetry (CV) at different concentrations (0–2.0 mM) of glucose solution. The best current response is obtained at 0.25 V using chronoamperometry. The effective working lifetime of an electrode is up to 8 days. Finally, to demonstrate the capability of the electrode, a portable, miniaturized and integrated detection device based on the GOx/MWCNTs/F-P/Cu electrode is developed. The results exhibit a short response time of 5 s and a correlation coefficient R² of 0.9847 between the response current of sweat with blood glucose concentration. The LOD is of 0.081 mM and the reproducibility achieved in terms of RSD is 3.55%. The sweat glucose sensor is noninvasive and point-of-care, which shows great development potential in the health examination and monitoring field. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biosensors for Biomedical and Environmental Applications)

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9 pages, 2089 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Soft Multifunctional Porous Sponge Sensor for Pressure and Strain Using Liquid Metal/Polydimethylsiloxane with Silver-Nanowire-Coated Composite

by Dong-Young Kim, Kun-Woo Nam, Byung-Ho Kang and Sung-Hoon Park

Micromachines 2022, 13(11), 1998; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi13111998 - 17 Nov 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2448

Abstract

Compression and tension sensors with a porous structure have attracted attention recently. Porous sponge sensors have the advantage of a wide deformation range owing to their structural characteristics. In this study, a porous sponge structure was prepared by absorbing polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) into the [...] Read more.

Compression and tension sensors with a porous structure have attracted attention recently. Porous sponge sensors have the advantage of a wide deformation range owing to their structural characteristics. In this study, a porous sponge structure was prepared by absorbing polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) into the matrix of porous commercial sugar cubes. A conductive network was formed by coating the outside of the sponge skeleton with silver nanowires (AgNWs), which have a high aspect ratio. In addition, a liquid metal (LM), which does not directly form an electrical network but changes from zero-dimensional to one-dimensional under an external force was introduced into this porous sponge structure. The effects of the LM on the sensor sensitivity to pressure and strain were analyzed by comparing the electrical resistance changes of PDMS/AgNW and LM/PDMS/AgNW sponge sensors under tension and pressure. This study shows that the use of a porous structure and an LM may be useful for future wearable sensor design. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biosensors for Biomedical and Environmental Applications)

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9 pages, 2520 KiB

Open AccessArticle

HT-29 Colon Cancer Cell Electromanipulation and Assessment Based on Their Electrical Properties

by Marius Andrei Olariu, Catalin Tucureanu, Tudor Alexandru Filip, Iuliana Caras, Aurora Salageanu, Valentin Vasile, Marioara Avram, Bianca Tincu and Ina Turcan

Micromachines 2022, 13(11), 1833; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi13111833 - 27 Oct 2022

Viewed by 1602

Abstract

This study proposes a feasible approach for the rapid, sensitive, and label-free identification of cancerous cells based on dielectrophoretic (DEP) manipulation and electrical characterization. In this method, the concentration of target cells at the level of customized microelectrodes via DEP is first determined, [...] Read more.

This study proposes a feasible approach for the rapid, sensitive, and label-free identification of cancerous cells based on dielectrophoretic (DEP) manipulation and electrical characterization. In this method, the concentration of target cells at the level of customized microelectrodes via DEP is first determined, followed by an electrical impedance evaluation. The study demonstrates the capacity of the methodology to electrically differentiate HT-29 cancer cells from healthy blood cells based on their impedance spectra. Within a higher frequency domain, the electrical impedance of trapped cancer cells was significantly lower compared with the normal ones. In order to evaluate the functionality and reproducibility of the proposed method, the influence of the DEP and EIS (electrical impedance spectroscopy) operating voltages on the electrical characterization of trapped HT-29 cells was analyzed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biosensors for Biomedical and Environmental Applications)

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17 pages, 3358 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Electrochemical Quantification of H₂O₂ Released by Airway Cells Growing in Different Culture Media

by Bernardo Patella, Serena Di Vincenzo, Claudio Zanca, Luciano Bollaci, Maria Ferraro, Maria Rita Giuffrè, Chiara Cipollina, Maria Giuseppina Bruno, Giuseppe Aiello, Michele Russo, Rosalinda Inguanta and Elisabetta Pace

Micromachines 2022, 13(10), 1762; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi13101762 - 18 Oct 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2355

Abstract

Quantification of oxidative stress is a challenging task that can help in monitoring chronic inflammatory respiratory airway diseases. Different studies can be found in the literature regarding the development of electrochemical sensors for H₂O₂ in cell culture medium to quantify [...] Read more.

Quantification of oxidative stress is a challenging task that can help in monitoring chronic inflammatory respiratory airway diseases. Different studies can be found in the literature regarding the development of electrochemical sensors for H₂O₂ in cell culture medium to quantify oxidative stress. However, there are very limited data regarding the impact of the cell culture medium on the electrochemical quantification of H₂O₂. In this work, we studied the effect of different media (RPMI, MEM, DMEM, Ham’s F12 and BEGM/DMEM) on the electrochemical quantification of H₂O₂. The used electrode is based on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and was obtained by co-electrodeposition. To reduce the electrode fouling by the medium, the effect of dilution was investigated using diluted (50% v/v in PBS) and undiluted media. With the same aim, two electrochemical techniques were employed, chronoamperometry (CH) and linear scan voltammetry (LSV). The influence of different interfering species and the effect of the operating temperature of 37 °C were also studied in order to simulate the operation of the sensor in the culture plate. The LSV technique made the sensor adaptable to undiluted media because the test time is short, compared with the CH technique, reducing the electrode fouling. The long-term stability of the sensors was also evaluated by testing different storage conditions. By storing the electrode at 4 °C, the sensor performance was not reduced for up to 21 days. The sensors were validated measuring H₂O₂ released by two different human bronchial epithelial cell lines (A549, 16HBE) and human primary bronchial epithelial cells (PBEC) grown in RPMI, MEM and BEGM/DMEM media. To confirm the results obtained with the sensor, the release of reactive oxygen species was also evaluated with a standard flow cytometry technique. The results obtained with the two techniques were very similar. Thus, the LSV technique permits using the proposed sensor for an effective oxidative stress quantification in different culture media and without dilution. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biosensors for Biomedical and Environmental Applications)

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18 pages, 4863 KiB

Open AccessArticle

High-Throughput Dispensing of Viscous Solutions for Biomedical Applications

by Richard A. Revia, Brandon Wagner, Matthew James and Miqin Zhang

Micromachines 2022, 13(10), 1730; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi13101730 - 13 Oct 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2568

Abstract

Cells cultured in three-dimensional scaffolds express a phenotype closer to in vivo cells than cells cultured in two-dimensional containers. Natural polymers are suitable materials to make three-dimensional scaffolds to develop disease models for high-throughput drug screening owing to their excellent biocompatibility. However, natural [...] Read more.

Cells cultured in three-dimensional scaffolds express a phenotype closer to in vivo cells than cells cultured in two-dimensional containers. Natural polymers are suitable materials to make three-dimensional scaffolds to develop disease models for high-throughput drug screening owing to their excellent biocompatibility. However, natural polymer solutions have a range of viscosities, and none of the currently available liquid dispensers are capable of dispensing highly viscous polymer solutions. Here, we report the development of an automated scaffold dispensing system for rapid, reliable, and homogeneous creation of scaffolds in well-plate formats. We employ computer-controlled solenoid valves to regulate air pressure impinging upon a syringe barrel filled with scaffold solution to be dispensed. Automated dispensing of scaffold solution is achieved via a programmable software interface that coordinates solution extrusion and the movement of a dispensing head. We show that our pneumatically actuated dispensing system can evenly distribute high-viscosity, chitosan-based polymer solutions into 96- and 384-well plates to yield highly uniform three-dimensional scaffolds after lyophilization. We provide a proof-of-concept demonstration of high-throughput drug screening by culturing glioblastoma cells in scaffolds and exposing them to temozolomide. This work introduces a device that can hasten the creation of three-dimensional cell scaffolds and their application to high-throughput testing. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biosensors for Biomedical and Environmental Applications)

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12 pages, 577 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Towards an Innovative Sensor in Smart Capsule for Aerial Drones for Blood and Blood Component Delivery

by Rongrong Liu, Giorgio Pitruzzello, Mafalda Rosa, Antonella Battisti, Chiara Cerri and Giuseppe Tortora

Micromachines 2022, 13(10), 1664; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi13101664 - 3 Oct 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1897

Abstract

Aerial drone technology is currently being investigated worldwide for the delivery of blood components. Although it has been demonstrated to be safe, the delivered medical substances still need to be analyzed at the end of the flight mission to assess the level of [...] Read more.

Aerial drone technology is currently being investigated worldwide for the delivery of blood components. Although it has been demonstrated to be safe, the delivered medical substances still need to be analyzed at the end of the flight mission to assess the level of haemolysis and pH prior to the use in a patient. This process can last up to 30 min and prevent the time saved using drone delivery. Our study aims to integrating an innovative sensor for the haemolysis and pH detection into the Smart Capsule, an already demonstrated technology capable of managing transfusion transport through drones. In the proposed scenario, the haemolysis is evaluated optically by a minilysis device using LED–photodetector combination. The preliminary validation has been demonstrated for both the thermal stability of the Smart Capsule and the haemolysis detection of the minilysis device prototype. Firstly, the onboard temperature test has shown that the delivery system is capable of maintaining proper temperature, even though the samples have been manipulated to reach a higher temperature before inserting into the Smart Capsule. Then, in the laboratory haemolysis test, the trend of linear regression between the outputs from the spectrophotometer and the minilysis prototype confirmed the concept design of the minilysis device. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biosensors for Biomedical and Environmental Applications)

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12 pages, 2297 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of Physiological State of Pen Shell Pinna nobilis (Linnaeus, 1758) by a Non-Invasive Heart Rate Recording under Short-Term Hyposalinity Test

by Rajko Martinović, Danijela Joksimović, José Rafael García-March, Nardo Vicente and Zoran Gačić

Micromachines 2022, 13(9), 1549; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi13091549 - 18 Sep 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2086

Abstract

A non-invasive laser fiber-optic method based on infrared sensors for heart rate (Hr) recording was applied to assess the physiological condition of Pinna nobilis. During 2017, the specimens of P. nobilis were sampled at three sites within the Boka Kotorska Bay, Montenegro [...] Read more.

A non-invasive laser fiber-optic method based on infrared sensors for heart rate (Hr) recording was applied to assess the physiological condition of Pinna nobilis. During 2017, the specimens of P. nobilis were sampled at three sites within the Boka Kotorska Bay, Montenegro and used for ex situ experiments with short-term reduction/restoration of ambient salinity to evaluate their physiological adaptive capacity based on heart rate recovery time (T_rec). Mean T_rec for specimens from Sv. Nedjelja (reference site), Dobrota and Sv. Stasije were 72 ± 3, 91 ± 7 and 117 ± 15 min, while the coefficients of variation (CV) were 0.12, 0.13 and 0.17, respectively. Resting heart rate (Hr_rest) and T_rec showed statistically significant differences between the groups of mussels from Dobrota and Sv. Stasije in comparison to the reference site. Statistically significant correlations were observed between T_rec and shell length/width, which was not the case in comparison between Hr_rest and shell length/width. The lower adaptive capacity within the P. nobilis specimens from Dobrota and Sv. Stasije in comparison to the reference site could occur due to stress induced by deterioration of environmental conditions, which could have led to impairment of the physiological state of the mussels evaluated by Hr. All the specimens of P. nobilis survived the experimental treatments; afterwards, they were successfully transplanted at the Dobrota site. The experimental unit with sensor technology applied in this study can provide Hr recording in real time and could have an application in monitoring the physiological/health state of P. nobilis individuals maintained in aquaria. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biosensors for Biomedical and Environmental Applications)

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Review

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20 pages, 3608 KiB

Open AccessReview

Biosensing Systems Based on Graphene Oxide Fluorescence Quenching Effect

by Antonella Battisti, Sangram Keshari Samal and Dario Puppi

Micromachines 2023, 14(8), 1522; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi14081522 - 28 Jul 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1789

Abstract

Graphene oxide (GO) is a versatile material obtained by the strong oxidation of graphite. Among its peculiar properties, there is the outstanding ability to significantly alter the fluorescence of many common fluorophores and dyes. This property has been exploited in the design of [...] Read more.

Graphene oxide (GO) is a versatile material obtained by the strong oxidation of graphite. Among its peculiar properties, there is the outstanding ability to significantly alter the fluorescence of many common fluorophores and dyes. This property has been exploited in the design of novel switch-ON and switch-OFF fluorescence biosensing platforms for the detection of a plethora of biomolecules, especially pathological biomarkers and environmental contaminants. Currently, novel advanced strategies are being developed for therapeutic, diagnostic and theranostic approaches to widespread pathologies caused by viral or bacterial agents, as well as to cancer. This work illustrates an overview of the most recent applications of GO-based sensing systems relying on its fluorescence quenching effect. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biosensors for Biomedical and Environmental Applications)

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25 pages, 4479 KiB

Open AccessReview

Advanced Theranostic Strategies for Viral Hepatitis Using Carbon Nanostructures

by Ahmad Gholami, Seyyed Mojtaba Mousavi, Reza Masoumzadeh, Mojtaba Binazadeh, Kamran Bagheri Lankarani, Navid Omidifar, Omid Arjmand, Wei-Hung Chiang, Mohsen Moghadami and Nelson Pynadathu Rumjit

Micromachines 2023, 14(6), 1185; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi14061185 - 1 Jun 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2336

Abstract

There are several treatment protocols for acute viral hepatitis, and it is critical to recognize acute hepatitis in its earliest stages. Public health measures to control these infections also rely on rapid and accurate diagnosis. The diagnosis of viral hepatitis remains expensive, and [...] Read more.

There are several treatment protocols for acute viral hepatitis, and it is critical to recognize acute hepatitis in its earliest stages. Public health measures to control these infections also rely on rapid and accurate diagnosis. The diagnosis of viral hepatitis remains expensive, and there is no adequate public health infrastructure, while the virus is not well-controlled. New methods for screening and detecting viral hepatitis through nanotechnology are being developed. Nanotechnology significantly reduces the cost of screening. In this review, the potential of three-dimensional-nanostructured carbon substances as promising materials due to fewer side effects, and the contribution of these particles to effective tissue transfer in the treatment and diagnosis of hepatitis due to the importance of rapid diagnosis for successful treatment, were extensively investigated. In recent years, three-dimensional carbon nanomaterials such as graphene oxide and nanotubes with special chemical, electrical, and optical properties have been used for the diagnosis and treatment of hepatitis due to their high potential. We expect that the future position of nanoparticles in the rapid diagnosis and treatment of viral hepatitis can be better determined. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biosensors for Biomedical and Environmental Applications)

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14 pages, 1726 KiB

Open AccessReview

Biosensors for the Isolation and Detection of Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs) in Point-of-Care Settings

by Isaac Goldstein, Sobia Alyas, Waseem Asghar and Azhar Ilyas

Micromachines 2023, 14(5), 1035; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi14051035 - 12 May 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2531

Abstract

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are cells that have been shed from tumors and circulate in the bloodstream. These cells can also be responsible for further metastases and the spread of cancer. Taking a closer look and analyzing CTCs through what has come to [...] Read more.

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are cells that have been shed from tumors and circulate in the bloodstream. These cells can also be responsible for further metastases and the spread of cancer. Taking a closer look and analyzing CTCs through what has come to be known as “liquid biopsy” has immense potential to further researchers’ understanding of cancer biology. However, CTCs are very sparse and are therefore difficult to detect and capture. To combat this issue, researchers have attempted to create devices, assays, and further techniques to successfully isolate CTCs for analysis. In this work, new and existing biosensing techniques for CTC isolation, detection, and release/detachment are discussed and compared to evaluate their efficacy, specificity, and cost. Here, we specifically aim to evaluate and identify the potential success of these techniques and devices in point-of-care (POC) settings. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biosensors for Biomedical and Environmental Applications)

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21 pages, 7829 KiB

Open AccessReview

Antioxidant Nanozymes: Mechanisms, Activity Manipulation, and Applications

by Nguyen Thi My Thao, Hoang Dang Khoa Do, Nguyen Nhat Nam, Nguyen Khoi Song Tran, Thach Thi Dan and Kieu The Loan Trinh

Micromachines 2023, 14(5), 1017; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi14051017 - 9 May 2023

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 3902

Abstract

Antioxidant enzymes such as catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase play important roles in the inhibition of oxidative-damage-related pathological diseases. However, natural antioxidant enzymes face some limitations, including low stability, high cost, and less flexibility. Recently, antioxidant nanozymes have emerged as promising materials [...] Read more.

Antioxidant enzymes such as catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase play important roles in the inhibition of oxidative-damage-related pathological diseases. However, natural antioxidant enzymes face some limitations, including low stability, high cost, and less flexibility. Recently, antioxidant nanozymes have emerged as promising materials to replace natural antioxidant enzymes for their stability, cost savings, and flexible design. The present review firstly discusses the mechanisms of antioxidant nanozymes, focusing on catalase-, superoxide dismutase-, and glutathione peroxidase-like activities. Then, we summarize the main strategies for the manipulation of antioxidant nanozymes based on their size, morphology, composition, surface modification, and modification with a metal-organic framework. Furthermore, the applications of antioxidant nanozymes in medicine and healthcare are also discussed as potential biological applications. In brief, this review provides useful information for the further development of antioxidant nanozymes, offering opportunities to improve current limitations and expand the application of antioxidant nanozymes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biosensors for Biomedical and Environmental Applications)

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