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Electrochemical DNA- and Aptasensors for the Detection of Low-Molecular Compounds

A special issue of Sensors (ISSN 1424-8220). This special issue belongs to the section "Biosensors".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2025 | Viewed by 10968

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics, Comenius University, Mlynská dolina F1, 842 48 Bratislava, Slovakia
Interests: biosensors; DNA aptamers; electrochemistry; molecular acoustics; model membranes; nanomaterials; nanoparticles
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Electrochemical DNA and aptasensors have attracted increasing attention in the past few decades due to the fruitful promise of applications in the framework of point-of-care (point-on-demand) concepts outside the chemical laboratory. They are intended for the fast and reliable detection of many species demanded in medicine (metabolites, drugs, oncomarkers), the food industry (vitamins, antioxidants, food additives, veterinary drugs) and environmental monitoring (pesticides, DNA damaging contaminants, heavy metals, detergents). Assembly of the DNA sensors, including design of biorecognition elements and new approaches to the signal amplification, calls for new materials based on the achievements of supramolecular chemistry, nanotechnology and self-assembly. In this Special Issue, the following topics are welcome, as either reviews or research articles:

  • The design of DNA and aptasensors based on new modifiers and assembly protocols (carbon nanomaterials, MOFs, MIPs, polyelectrolyte layers, hybrid coatings with metals and compounds (oxides, complexes)
  • Application of new mediator systems to enhance the electrochemical signals and development of robust biosensors
  • Biochemical systems of signal amplification and E-sensor design
  • Multiplex analysis with electrochemical DNA and aptasensors
  • Miniaturization and automation prospects for low-molecular-weight analyte detection, electrochemical microfluidics and flow-injection analysis and origami biosensors
  • Sampling and sample treatment, and validation of electrochemical DNA and aptasensors for real sample analysis
  • Future prospects in the design of biorecognition elements (chimeric DNA, protein nucleic acids, hybrid immuno/DNA sensors)

The topic of this manuscript expected to be published in the Special Issue, “Electrochemical DNA and Aptasensors for the Detection of Low-Molecular-Weight compounds”, coincides well with the scope of the Sensors journal because it covers all the important steps in biosensor assembly and use, including the recognition elements, surface layer assembly, measurement condition optimization and real sample assay problems. Portable sensor design is one of the burning topics in modern science because of obvious benefits in their application and possible advantages from their innovation.

Prof. Dr. Tibor Hianik
Guest Editor

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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8 pages, 1118 KiB  
Communication
Electrochemical Aptasensor with Antifouling Properties for Label-Free Detection of Oxytetracycline
by Dimitra Kourti, Georgia Geka, Lidia Nemtsov, Soha Ahmadi, Anastasios Economou and Michael Thompson
Sensors 2024, 24(17), 5488; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24175488 - 24 Aug 2024
Viewed by 738
Abstract
Oxytetracycline (OTC) is a widely employed antibiotic in veterinary treatment and in the prevention of infections, potentially leaving residues in animal-derived food products, such as milk, that are consumed by humans. Given the detrimental effects of prolonged human exposure to antibiotics, it has [...] Read more.
Oxytetracycline (OTC) is a widely employed antibiotic in veterinary treatment and in the prevention of infections, potentially leaving residues in animal-derived food products, such as milk, that are consumed by humans. Given the detrimental effects of prolonged human exposure to antibiotics, it has become imperative to develop precise and sensitive methods for monitoring the presence of OTC in food. Herein, we describe the development and results of a preliminary label-free electrochemical aptasensor with antifouling properties designed to detect OTC in milk samples. The sensor was realized by modifying a gold screen-printed electrode with α-lipoic acid–NHS and an amine-terminated aptamer. Different electrochemical techniques were used to study the steps of the fabrication process and to quantify OTC in the presence of the Fe(CN)64−/Fe(CN)63− redox couple The detectable range of concentrations satisfy the maximum residue limits set by the European Union, with an limit of detection (LOD) of 14 ng/mL in phosphate buffer (BP) and 10 ng/mL in the milk matrix, and a dynamic range of up to 500 ng/mL This study is a steppingstone towards the implementation of a sensitive monitoring method for OTC in dairy products. Full article
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13 pages, 1600 KiB  
Article
Smartphone-Controlled Aptasensor for Voltammetric Detection of Patulin in Apple Juice
by Arzum Erdem and Huseyin Senturk
Sensors 2024, 24(3), 754; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24030754 - 24 Jan 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1301
Abstract
Patulin (PAT) is a mycotoxin that adversely affects the health of humans and animals. PAT can be particularly found in products such as apples and apple juice and can cause many health problems if consumed. Therefore, accurate and sensitive determination of PAT is [...] Read more.
Patulin (PAT) is a mycotoxin that adversely affects the health of humans and animals. PAT can be particularly found in products such as apples and apple juice and can cause many health problems if consumed. Therefore, accurate and sensitive determination of PAT is very important for food quality and human and animal health. A voltammetric aptasensor was introduced in this study for PAT determination while measuring the changes at redox probe signal. The limit of detection (LOD) was found to be 0.18 pg/mL in the range of 1–104 pg/mL of PAT in buffer medium under optimum experimental conditions. The selectivity of the PAT aptasensor against ochratoxin A, fumonisin B1 and deoxynivalenol mycotoxins was examined and it was found that the aptasensor was very selective to PAT. PAT determination was performed in an apple juice medium for the first time by using a smartphone-integrated portable device, and accordingly, an LOD of 0.47 pg/mL was achieved in diluted apple juice medium. A recovery range of 91.24–93.47% was obtained for PAT detection. Full article
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15 pages, 3576 KiB  
Article
Fluorescence Super-Resolution Imaging Chip for Gene Silencing Exosomes
by Gaoqiang Yin, Tongsheng Qi, Jinxiu Wei, Tingyu Wang, Zhuyuan Wang, Yiping Cui and Shenfei Zong
Sensors 2024, 24(1), 173; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24010173 - 28 Dec 2023
Viewed by 1451
Abstract
Tumor cell-derived extracellular vesicles and their cargo of bioactive substances have gradually been recognized as novel biomarkers for cancer diagnosis. Meanwhile, the PD-L1 (Programmed Death-Ligand 1) protein, as an immune checkpoint molecule, is highly expressed on certain tumor cells and holds significant potential [...] Read more.
Tumor cell-derived extracellular vesicles and their cargo of bioactive substances have gradually been recognized as novel biomarkers for cancer diagnosis. Meanwhile, the PD-L1 (Programmed Death-Ligand 1) protein, as an immune checkpoint molecule, is highly expressed on certain tumor cells and holds significant potential in immune therapy. In comparison to PD-L1 monoclonal antibodies, the inhibitory effect of PD-L1 siRNA (small interfering RNA) is more advantageous. In this article, we introduced a microfluidic chip integrating cell cultivation and exosome detection modules, which were intended for the investigation of the gene silencing effect of PD-L1 siRNA. Basically, cells were first cultured with PD-L1 siRNA in the chip. Then, the secreted exosomes were detected via super-resolution imaging, to validate the inhibitory effect of siRNA on PD-L1 expression. To be specific, a “sandwich” immunological structure was employed to detect exosomes secreted from HeLa cells. Immunofluorescence staining and DNA-PAINT (DNA Point Accumulation for Imaging in Nanoscale Topography) techniques were utilized to quantitatively analyze the PD-L1 proteins on HeLa exosomes, which enabled precise structural and content analysis of the exosomes. Compared with other existing PD-L1 detection methods, the advantages of our work include, first, the integration of microfluidic chips greatly simplifying the cell culture, gene silencing, and PD-L1 detection procedures. Second, the utilization of DNA-PAINT can provide an ultra-high spatial resolution, which is beneficial for exosomes due to their small sizes. Third, qPAINT could allow quantitative detection of PD-L1 with better precision. Hence, the combination of the microfluidic chip with DNA-PAINT could provide a more powerful integrated platform for the study of PD-L1-related tumor immunotherapy. Full article
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17 pages, 2074 KiB  
Article
Development and Analytical Evaluation of a Point-of-Care Electrochemical Biosensor for Rapid and Accurate SARS-CoV-2 Detection
by Mesfin Meshesha, Anik Sardar, Ruchi Supekar, Lopamudra Bhattacharjee, Soumyo Chatterjee, Nyancy Halder, Kallol Mohanta, Tarun Kanti Bhattacharyya and Biplab Pal
Sensors 2023, 23(18), 8000; https://doi.org/10.3390/s23188000 - 20 Sep 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3172
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the critical need for rapid and accurate screening and diagnostic methods for potential respiratory viruses. Existing COVID-19 diagnostic approaches face limitations either in terms of turnaround time or accuracy. In this study, we present an electrochemical biosensor that [...] Read more.
The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the critical need for rapid and accurate screening and diagnostic methods for potential respiratory viruses. Existing COVID-19 diagnostic approaches face limitations either in terms of turnaround time or accuracy. In this study, we present an electrochemical biosensor that offers nearly instantaneous and precise SARS-CoV-2 detection, suitable for point-of-care and environmental monitoring applications. The biosensor employs a stapled hACE-2 N-terminal alpha helix peptide to functionalize an in situ grown polypyrrole conductive polymer on a nitrocellulose membrane backbone through a chemical process. We assessed the biosensor’s analytical performance using heat-inactivated omicron and delta variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in artificial saliva (AS) and nasal swab (NS) samples diluted in a strong ionic solution, as well as clinical specimens with known Ct values. Virus identification was achieved through electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and frequency analyses. The assay demonstrated a limit of detection (LoD) of 40 TCID50/mL, with 95% sensitivity and 100% specificity. Notably, the biosensor exhibited no cross-reactivity when tested against the influenza virus. The entire testing process using the biosensor takes less than a minute. In summary, our biosensor exhibits promising potential in the battle against pandemic respiratory viruses, offering a platform for the development of rapid, compact, portable, and point-of-care devices capable of multiplexing various viruses. The biosensor has the capacity to significantly bolster our readiness and response to future viral outbreaks. Full article
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Review

Jump to: Research

32 pages, 4052 KiB  
Review
Recent Advances in Biosensors for Diagnosis of Autoimmune Diseases
by Ahlem Teniou, Amina Rhouati and Jean-Louis Marty
Sensors 2024, 24(5), 1510; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24051510 - 26 Feb 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3628
Abstract
Over the last decade, autoimmune diseases (ADs) have undergone a significant increase because of genetic and/or environmental factors; therefore, their simple and fast diagnosis is of high importance. The conventional diagnostic techniques for ADs require tedious sample preparation, sophisticated instruments, a dedicated laboratory, [...] Read more.
Over the last decade, autoimmune diseases (ADs) have undergone a significant increase because of genetic and/or environmental factors; therefore, their simple and fast diagnosis is of high importance. The conventional diagnostic techniques for ADs require tedious sample preparation, sophisticated instruments, a dedicated laboratory, and qualified personnel. For these reasons, biosensors could represent a useful alternative to these methods. Biosensors are considered to be promising tools that can be used in clinical analysis for an early diagnosis due to their high sensitivity, simplicity, low cost, possible miniaturization (POCT), and potential ability for real-time analysis. In this review, recently developed biosensors for the detection of autoimmune disease biomarkers are discussed. In the first part, we focus on the main AD biomarkers and the current methods of their detection. Then, we discuss the principles and different types of biosensors. Finally, we overview the characteristics of biosensors based on different bioreceptors reported in the literature. Full article
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Planned Papers

The below list represents only planned manuscripts. Some of these manuscripts have not been received by the Editorial Office yet. Papers submitted to MDPI journals are subject to peer-review.

Title: Electrochemical DNA- sensors for the Detection of TiO2 Nanoparticles Toxicity at Different pH
Authors: Jana Blaškovičová
Affiliation: Slovak University of Technology, Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology Institute of Analytical Chemistry, Radlinského 9, 812 37 Bratislava, Slovak Republic
Abstract: Nanomaterials are particles with dimensions of 1-100 nm. Many products contain nanoparticles because they have several technological, medical, and economic benefits. However, the presence of nanoparticles in the environment has adverse effects on human health. Since their surface area is large per weight unit, they have increased biological activity. In addition, the size of NPs is comparable to the dimension of cellular structures, which is why they can interfere with biological processes. Among metal oxide nanoparticles, titanium dioxide is one of the most produced nanomaterial, due to its wide use in sunscreens, cosmetics, bottle coatings, pharmaceuticals, fibers, plastics, and food. It can easily enter the surface and drinking water and subsequently the human gastrointestinal tract. Titanium dioxide is mainly known as a photocatalyst. However, these new and improved properties may induce higher toxicological threat in biological tissues. TiO2 NPs were classified as potentially carcinogenic. For a potential carcinogen, the ability to induce genetic damage is essential for cancer risk assessment. Many in vivo and in vitro studies have demonstrated the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of TiO2 NPs. Due to the TiO2 NPs presence in food and drinking water, they reach the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), which includes environments with different pH. These pH changes can affect the stability, dispersion, but also toxicity of nanomaterials. For our experiments, a pH with GIT similar values was selected for the TiO2 NPs incubation. Subsequently, the effect of these nanoparticles on DNA damage was monitored using a DNA biosensor and biosensing with electroctrochemical and spectrophotometric methods detection.

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