Biosensors

12 pages, 1993 KiB

Open AccessArticle

High Fundamental Frequency (HFF) Monolithic Quartz Crystal Microbalance with Dissipation Array for the Simultaneous Detection of Pesticides and Antibiotics in Complex Food

by María Calero, Román Fernández, María García, Marisol Juan-Borrás, Isabel Escriche, Antonio Arnau, Ángel Montoya and Yolanda Jiménez

Biosensors 2022, 12(6), 433; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios12060433 - 20 Jun 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1735

Abstract

As in the case of the food industry in general, there is a global concern about safety and quality in complex food matrices, such as honey, which is driving the demand for fast, sensitive and affordable analytical techniques across the honey-packaging industry. Although [...] Read more.

As in the case of the food industry in general, there is a global concern about safety and quality in complex food matrices, such as honey, which is driving the demand for fast, sensitive and affordable analytical techniques across the honey-packaging industry. Although excellent techniques such as liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) are available, these are located in centralized laboratories and are still lacking in speed, simplicity and cost-effectiveness. Here, a new approach is presented where a competitive immunoassay is combined with a novel High Fundamental Frequency Quartz Crystal Microbalance with Dissipation (HFF-QCMD) array biosensor for the simultaneous detection of antibiotics and pesticides in honey. Concretely, thiabendazole and sulfathiazole residues were monitored in spiked honey samples. Results revealed that HFF-QCMD arrays provide a complementary and reliable tool to LC-MS/MS for the analysis of contaminants in these kinds of complex matrices, while avoiding elaborate sample pre-treatment. The good sensitivity achieved (I₅₀ values in the 70–720 µg/kg range) and the short analysis time (60 min for 24 individual assays), together with the ability for multiple analyte detection (24 sensor array) and its cost-effectiveness, pave the way for the implementation of a fast on-line, in situ routine control of potentially hazardous chemical residues in honey. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Immunosensors and Immunoassays for Environmental, Agricultural and Food Safety Applications)

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12 pages, 6399 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Solid-Phase Synthesis of Red Fluorescent Carbon Dots for the Dual-Mode Detection of Hexavalent Chromium and Cell Imaging

by Jinshuang Hu, Xin Wang, Hua Wei, Lei Zhao, Boxuan Yao, Caiyun Zhang, Jiarui Zhou, Jian Liu and Shenghong Yang

Biosensors 2022, 12(6), 432; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios12060432 - 20 Jun 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1640

Abstract

The excellent optical properties and biocompatibility of red fluorescence carbon dots (R-CDs) provide a new approach for the effective analysis of hexavalent chromium Cr(VI) in environmental and biological samples. However, the application of R-CDs is still limited by low yield and unfriendly synthesis [...] Read more.

The excellent optical properties and biocompatibility of red fluorescence carbon dots (R-CDs) provide a new approach for the effective analysis of hexavalent chromium Cr(VI) in environmental and biological samples. However, the application of R-CDs is still limited by low yield and unfriendly synthesis route. In this study, we developed a new type of R-CDs based on a simple and green solid-phase preparation strategy. The synthesized R-CDs can emit bright red fluorescence with an emission wavelength of 625 nm and also have an obvious visible light absorption capacity. Furthermore, the absorption and fluorescence signals of the R-CDs aqueous solution are sensitive to Cr(VI), which is reflected in color change and fluorescence quenching. Based on that, a scanometric and fluorescent dual-mode analysis system for the rapid and accurate detection of Cr(VI) was established well within the limit of detection at 80 nM and 9.1 nM, respectively. The proposed methods also possess high specificity and were applied for the detection of Cr(VI) in real water samples. More importantly, the synthesized R-CDs with good biocompatibility were further successfully applied for visualizing intracellular Cr(VI) in Hela cells. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Nanomaterials for Biosensors)

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15 pages, 5798 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Biomimetic Self-Adhesive Structures for Wearable Sensors

by Feihu Chen, Liuyang Han, Ying Dong and Xiaohao Wang

Biosensors 2022, 12(6), 431; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios12060431 - 20 Jun 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2393

Abstract

Inspired by the adhesion ability of various organisms in nature, the research of biomimetic adhesion has shown a promising application prospect in fields such as manipulators, climbing robots and wearable medical devices. In order to achieve effective adhesion between human skin and a [...] Read more.

Inspired by the adhesion ability of various organisms in nature, the research of biomimetic adhesion has shown a promising application prospect in fields such as manipulators, climbing robots and wearable medical devices. In order to achieve effective adhesion between human skin and a variety of wearable sensors, two natural creatures, octopus and mussel, were selected for bio-imitation in this paper. Through imitating the octopus sucker structure, a micro-cavity array with a large inner cavity and small outer cavity was designed. The fabrication was completed by double-layer adhesive photolithography and PDMS molding, and the adhesion capacity of the structure was further enhanced by the coating of thermal responsive hydrogel PNIPAM. The adhesive force of 3.91 N/cm² was obtained in the range of the human body temperature. PDA-Lap-PAM hydrogel was prepared by combining mussel foot protein (Mfps) with nano-clay (Lap) as biomimetic mussel mucus. It was found that 0.02 g PDA-Lap-PAM hydrogel can obtain about 2.216 N adhesion, with good hydrophilicity. Through oxygen plasma surface treatment and functional silane surface modification, the fusion of the PDMS film with biomimetic octopus sucker structure and the biomimetic mussel mucus hydrogel patch was realized. The biomimetic octopus sucker structure was attached to the human skin surface to solve the problem of shape-preserving attachment, and the biomimetic mussel mucus hydrogel was attached to the sensor surface to solve the problem of sensor surface adaptation. The fusion structure was used to attach a rigid substrate piezoelectric sensor to the skin for a human pulsewave test. The results verified the self-adhesion feasibility of wearable sensors with biomimetic structures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Biosensor Materials)

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30 pages, 8750 KiB

Open AccessArticle

How Does Lower Limb Respond to Unexpected Balance Perturbations? New Insights from Synchronized Human Kinetics, Kinematics, Muscle Electromyography (EMG) and Mechanomyography (MMG) Data

by Ringo Tang-Long Zhu, Pei-Zhao Lyu, Shuai Li, Cheuk Ying Tong, Yan To Ling and Christina Zong-Hao Ma

Biosensors 2022, 12(6), 430; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios12060430 - 18 Jun 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2771

Abstract

Making rapid and proper compensatory postural adjustments is vital to prevent falls and fall-related injuries. This study aimed to investigate how, especially how rapidly, the multiple lower-limb muscles and joints would respond to the unexpected standing balance perturbations. Unexpected waist-pull perturbations with small, [...] Read more.

Making rapid and proper compensatory postural adjustments is vital to prevent falls and fall-related injuries. This study aimed to investigate how, especially how rapidly, the multiple lower-limb muscles and joints would respond to the unexpected standing balance perturbations. Unexpected waist-pull perturbations with small, medium and large magnitudes were delivered to twelve healthy young adults from the anterior, posterior, medial and lateral directions. Electromyographical (EMG) and mechanomyographical (MMG) responses of eight dominant-leg muscles (i.e., hip abductor/adductors, hip flexor/extensor, knee flexor/extensor, and ankle dorsiflexor/plantarflexors) together with the lower-limb joint angle, moment, and power data were recorded. The onset latencies, time to peak, peak values, and/or rate of change of these signals were analyzed. Statistical analysis revealed that: (1) agonist muscles resisting the delivered perturbation had faster activation than the antagonist muscles; (2) ankle muscles showed the largest rate of activation among eight muscles following both anteroposterior and mediolateral perturbations; (3) lower-limb joint moments that complied with the perturbation had faster increase; and (4) larger perturbation magnitude tended to evoke a faster response in muscle activities, but not necessarily in joint kinetics/kinematics. These findings provided insights regarding the underlying mechanism and lower-limb muscle activities to maintain reactive standing balance in healthy young adults. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wearable EMG Sensors for Smart Applications)

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13 pages, 2792 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Tracking Arachis hypogaea Allergen in Pre-Packaged Foodstuff: A Nanodiamond-Based Electrochemical Biosensing Approach

by Maria Freitas, André Carvalho, Henri P. A. Nouws and Cristina Delerue-Matos

Biosensors 2022, 12(6), 429; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios12060429 - 18 Jun 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2138

Abstract

The present work reports a nanodiamond-based voltammetric immunosensing platform for the analysis of a food allergen (Ara h 1) present in peanuts (Arachis hypogaea). The possibility of the usage of nanodiamonds (d = 11.2 ± 0.9 nm) on screen-printed carbon [...] Read more.

The present work reports a nanodiamond-based voltammetric immunosensing platform for the analysis of a food allergen (Ara h 1) present in peanuts (Arachis hypogaea). The possibility of the usage of nanodiamonds (d = 11.2 ± 0.9 nm) on screen-printed carbon electrodes (SPCE/ND) in a single-use two-monoclonal antibody sandwich assay was studied. An enhanced electroactive area (~18%) was obtained and the biomolecule binding ability was improved when the 3D carbon-based nanomaterial was used. The antibody-antigen interaction was recognized through the combination of alkaline phosphatase with 3-indoxyl phosphate and silver ions. Linear Sweep Voltammetry (LSV) was applied for fast signal acquisition and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) support the voltammetric approach and confirm the presence of silver particles on the electrode surface. The proposed immunosensor provided a low limit of detection (0.78 ng·mL⁻¹) and highly precise (RSD < 7.5%) and accurate results. Quantification of Ara h 1 in commercial foodstuffs (e.g., crackers, cookies, protein bars) that refer to the presence of peanuts (even traces) on the product label was successfully achieved. The obtained data were in accordance with recovery results (peanut addition, %) and the foodstuff label. Products with the preventive indication “may contain traces” revealed the presence of peanuts lower than 0.1% (m/m). The method’s results were validated by comparison with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. This allows confident information about the presence of allergens (even at trace levels) that leads to profitable conditions for both industry and consumers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Role of Electrochemical Biosensors within Sustainable Food Chains and Food Safety)

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21 pages, 24106 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Nanocomposite of MgFe₂O₄ and Mn₃O₄ as Polyphenol Oxidase Mimic for Sensing of Polyphenols

by Harmilan Kaur, Manpreet Kaur, Renuka Aggarwal, Sucheta Sharma and Davinder Singh

Biosensors 2022, 12(6), 428; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios12060428 - 17 Jun 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2757

Abstract

Polyphenol oxidase (PPO) mimics have advantage of detection and remediation of polyphenols. This work demonstrates rapid and sensitive colorimetric detection of phenolic compounds using nanocomposite of magnesium ferrite (MgFe₂O₄) and manganese oxide (Mn₃O₄) nanoparticles as [...] Read more.

Polyphenol oxidase (PPO) mimics have advantage of detection and remediation of polyphenols. This work demonstrates rapid and sensitive colorimetric detection of phenolic compounds using nanocomposite of magnesium ferrite (MgFe₂O₄) and manganese oxide (Mn₃O₄) nanoparticles as PPO mimic. The catalytic properties of MgFe₂O₄ and Mn₃O₄ displayed synergistic effect in the nanocomposite. The synthesized nanocomposite and nanoparticles were fully characterized using various analytical techniques. The ratio of MgFe₂O₄ and Mn₃O₄ in the nanocomposite was optimized. Catechol and resorcinol were taken as model polyphenols. The best PPO-activity was shown by MgFe₂O₄@Mn₃O₄ nanocomposite with of w/w ratio 1:2. The results correlated with its higher surface area. Reaction parameters viz. pH, temperature, contact time, substrate concentration, and nanoparticles dose were studied. The synthesized MgFe₂O₄@Mn₃O₄ nanocomposite was used for the detection of catechol in the linear range of 0.1–0.8 mM with the detection limit of 0.20 mM, and resorcinol in the range of 0.01–0.08 mM with the detection limit of 0.03 mM. The estimated total phenolic content of green and black tea correlated well with the conventional method. These results authenticate promising future potential of MgFe₂O₄@Mn₃O₄ nanocomposite as PPO-mimic Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biosensors for Agriculture, Environment and Food)

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20 pages, 5176 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Wearable Flexible Electronics Based Cardiac Electrode for Researcher Mental Stress Detection System Using Machine Learning Models on Single Lead Electrocardiogram Signal

by Md Belal Bin Heyat, Faijan Akhtar, Syed Jafar Abbas, Mohammed Al-Sarem, Abdulrahman Alqarafi, Antony Stalin, Rashid Abbasi, Abdullah Y. Muaad, Dakun Lai and Kaishun Wu

Biosensors 2022, 12(6), 427; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios12060427 - 17 Jun 2022

Cited by 35 | Viewed by 6505

Abstract

In the modern world, wearable smart devices are continuously used to monitor people’s health. This study aims to develop an automatic mental stress detection system for researchers based on Electrocardiogram (ECG) signals from smart T-shirts using machine learning classifiers. We used 20 subjects, [...] Read more.

In the modern world, wearable smart devices are continuously used to monitor people’s health. This study aims to develop an automatic mental stress detection system for researchers based on Electrocardiogram (ECG) signals from smart T-shirts using machine learning classifiers. We used 20 subjects, including 10 from mental stress (after twelve hours of continuous work in the laboratory) and 10 from normal (after completing the sleep or without any work). We also applied three scoring techniques: Chalder Fatigue Scale (CFS), Specific Fatigue Scale (SFS), Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS), to confirm the mental stress. The total duration of ECG recording was 1800 min, including 1200 min during mental stress and 600 min during normal. We calculated two types of features, such as demographic and extracted by ECG signal. In addition, we used Decision Tree (DT), Naive Bayes (NB), Random Forest (RF), and Logistic Regression (LR) to classify the intra-subject (mental stress and normal) and inter-subject classification. The DT leave-one-out model has better performance in terms of recall (93.30%), specificity (96.70%), precision (94.40%), accuracy (93.30%), and F1 (93.50%) in the intra-subject classification. Additionally, The classification accuracy of the system in classifying inter-subjects is 94.10% when using a DT classifier. However, our findings suggest that the wearable smart T-shirt based on the DT classifier may be used in big data applications and health monitoring. Mental stress can lead to mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and various health problems. Therefore, real-time ECG signals help assess cardiovascular and related risk factors in the initial stage based on machine learning techniques. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wearable EMG Sensors for Smart Applications)

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17 pages, 2690 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Rapid Quantification of SARS-Cov-2 Spike Protein Enhanced with a Machine Learning Technique Integrated in a Smart and Portable Immunosensor

by Simone Fortunati, Chiara Giliberti, Marco Giannetto, Angelo Bolchi, Davide Ferrari, Gaetano Donofrio, Valentina Bianchi, Andrea Boni, Ilaria De Munari and Maria Careri

Biosensors 2022, 12(6), 426; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios12060426 - 17 Jun 2022

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2759

Abstract

An IoT-WiFi smart and portable electrochemical immunosensor for the quantification of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein was developed with integrated machine learning features. The immunoenzymatic sensor is based on the immobilization of monoclonal antibodies directed at the SARS-CoV-2 S1 subunit on Screen-Printed Electrodes functionalized with [...] Read more.

An IoT-WiFi smart and portable electrochemical immunosensor for the quantification of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein was developed with integrated machine learning features. The immunoenzymatic sensor is based on the immobilization of monoclonal antibodies directed at the SARS-CoV-2 S1 subunit on Screen-Printed Electrodes functionalized with gold nanoparticles. The analytical protocol involves a single-step sample incubation. Immunosensor performance was validated in a viral transfer medium which is commonly used for the desorption of nasopharyngeal swabs. Remarkable specificity of the response was demonstrated by testing H1N1 Hemagglutinin from swine-origin influenza A virus and Spike Protein S1 from Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus. Machine learning was successfully used for data processing and analysis. Different support vector machine classifiers were evaluated, proving that algorithms affect the classifier accuracy. The test accuracy of the best classification model in terms of true positive/true negative sample classification was 97.3%. In addition, the ML algorithm can be easily integrated into cloud-based portable Wi-Fi devices. Finally, the immunosensor was successfully tested using a third generation replicating incompetent lentiviral vector pseudotyped with SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein, thus proving the applicability of the immunosensor to whole virus detection. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue A Powerful Tool for Analytical Applications: Immunosensors)

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15 pages, 5448 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Microwave-Assisted Rapid Synthesis of Luminescent Tryptophan-Stabilized Silver Nanoclusters for Ultra-Sensitive Detection of Fe(III), and Their Application in a Test Strip

by Sayed M. Saleh, Wael A. El-Sayed, May A. El-Manawaty, Malek Gassoumi and Reham Ali

Biosensors 2022, 12(6), 425; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios12060425 - 16 Jun 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1915

Abstract

A new preparation method for extreme fluorescent green emission tryptophan-stabilized silver nanoclusters (Tryp-AgNCs) is presented in this scientific research. The produced silver nanoclusters are dependent on tryptophan amino acid which contributes to normal growth in infants and the sublimation and recovery of human [...] Read more.

A new preparation method for extreme fluorescent green emission tryptophan-stabilized silver nanoclusters (Tryp-AgNCs) is presented in this scientific research. The produced silver nanoclusters are dependent on tryptophan amino acid which contributes to normal growth in infants and the sublimation and recovery of human protein, muscles, and enzymes. Herein, we have introduced a green method by using microwave-assisted rapid synthesis. The subsequent silver nanoclusters (AgNCs) have excitation/emission peaks at 408/498 nm and display a considerable selectivity to Fe(III) ions. The tryptophan amino acid molecule was used in the synthesis process as a reducing and stabilizing agent. The Tryp-AgNCs’ properties were investigated in terms of morphology, dispersity, and modification of the synthesized particles using different advanced instruments. The luminescent nanoclusters traced the Fe(III) ions by the luminescence-quenching mechanism of the Tryp-AgNCs luminescence. Therefore, the extreme selectivity of the prepared nanoclusters was exhibited to the Fe(III) ions, permitting the sensitive tracing of ferric ions in the lab and in the real environmental samples. The limit of detection for Fe(III) ions based on Tryp-AgNCs was calculated to be 16.99 nM. The Tryp-AgNCs can be efficiently applied to a paper test strip method. The synthesized nanoclusters were used efficiently to detect the Fe(III) ions in the environmental samples. Moreover, we examined the reactivity of Tryp-AgNCs on various human tumor cell lines. The results show that the Tryp-AgNCs exhibited their activity versus the cancer cells in a dose-dependent routine for the perceived performance versus the greatest-used cancer cell lines. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Issue of Biosensors and Bioelectronic Devices Section)

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19 pages, 1995 KiB

Open AccessArticle

SMART-LAMP: A Smartphone-Operated Handheld Device for Real-Time Colorimetric Point-of-Care Diagnosis of Infectious Diseases via Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification

by Juan García-Bernalt Diego, Pedro Fernández-Soto, Sergio Márquez-Sánchez, Daniel Santos Santos, Begoña Febrer-Sendra, Beatriz Crego-Vicente, Juan Luis Muñoz-Bellido, Moncef Belhassen-García, Juan M. Corchado Rodríguez and Antonio Muro

Biosensors 2022, 12(6), 424; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios12060424 - 16 Jun 2022

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 4122

Abstract

Nucleic acid amplification diagnostics offer outstanding features of sensitivity and specificity. However, they still lack speed and robustness, require extensive infrastructure, and are neither affordable nor user-friendly. Thus, they have not been extensively applied in point-of-care diagnostics, particularly in low-resource settings. In this [...] Read more.

Nucleic acid amplification diagnostics offer outstanding features of sensitivity and specificity. However, they still lack speed and robustness, require extensive infrastructure, and are neither affordable nor user-friendly. Thus, they have not been extensively applied in point-of-care diagnostics, particularly in low-resource settings. In this work, we have combined the loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) technology with a handheld portable device (SMART-LAMP) developed to perform real-time isothermal nucleic acid amplification reactions, based on simple colorimetric measurements, all of which are Bluetooth-controlled by a dedicated smartphone app. We have validated its diagnostic utility regarding different infectious diseases, including Schistosomiasis, Strongyloidiasis, and COVID-19, and analyzed clinical samples from suspected COVID-19 patients. Finally, we have proved that the combination of long-term stabilized LAMP master mixes, stored and transported at room temperature with our developed SMART-LAMP device, provides an improvement towards true point-of-care diagnosis of infectious diseases in settings with limited infrastructure. Our proposal could be easily adapted to the diagnosis of other infectious diseases. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biosensors and Diagnostic Platforms in Support of Global Health, Antimicrobial Stewardship, Food Sustainability, and Water-Environmental Quality)

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11 pages, 2131 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Development of Fluorescent Aptasensors Based on G-Quadruplex Quenching Ability for Ochratoxin A and Potassium Ions Detection

by Cheng Yang, Xiaolin Chu, Li Zeng, Amina Rhouati, Fathimath Abbas, Shengnan Cui and Daiqin Lin

Biosensors 2022, 12(6), 423; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios12060423 - 16 Jun 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1980

Abstract

G-quadruplexes have received significant attention in aptasensing due to their structural polymorphisms and unique binding properties. In this work, we exploited the fluorescence-quenching properties of G-quadruplex to develop a simple, fast, and sensitive platform for fluorescence detection of ochratoxin A (OTA) and potassium [...] Read more.

G-quadruplexes have received significant attention in aptasensing due to their structural polymorphisms and unique binding properties. In this work, we exploited the fluorescence-quenching properties of G-quadruplex to develop a simple, fast, and sensitive platform for fluorescence detection of ochratoxin A (OTA) and potassium ions (K⁺) with a label-free fluorophore and quencher strategy. The quenching ability of G-quadruplex was confirmed during the recognition process after the formation of the G-quadruplex structure and the quenching of the labeled fluorescein fluorophore (FAM). The fluorescence-quenching mechanism was studied by introducing specific ligands of G-quadruplex to enhance the quenching effect, to show that this phenomenon is due to photo-induced electron transfer. The proposed fluorescence sensor based on G-quadruplex quenching showed excellent selectivity with a low detection limit of 0.19 nM and 0.24 µM for OTA and K⁺, respectively. Moreover, we demonstrated that our detection method enables accurate concentration determination of real samples with the prospect of practical application. Therefore, G-quadruplexes can be excellent candidates as quenchers, and the strategy implemented in the study can be extended to an aptasensor with G-quadruplex. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart and Multifunctional Nanomaterials and Applications for Food Safety)

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13 pages, 2611 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A High-Throughput MEMS-Based Differential Scanning Calorimeter for Direct Thermal Characterization of Antibodies

by Shifeng Yu, Yongjia Wu, Shuyu Wang, Michael Siedler, Peter M. Ihnat, Dana I. Filoti, Ming Lu and Lei Zuo

Biosensors 2022, 12(6), 422; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios12060422 - 16 Jun 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2193

Abstract

Calorimeters, which can be used for rapid thermal characterization of biomolecules, are getting intense attention in drug development. This paper presents a novel MEMS-based differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) for direct thermal characterization of protein samples. The DSC consisted of a pair of temperature [...] Read more.

Calorimeters, which can be used for rapid thermal characterization of biomolecules, are getting intense attention in drug development. This paper presents a novel MEMS-based differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) for direct thermal characterization of protein samples. The DSC consisted of a pair of temperature sensors made by vanadium oxide (VO_x) film with a temperature coefficient of resistivity of −0.025/K at 300 K, a microfluidic device with high thermal insulation (2.8 K/mW), and a Peltier heater for linear temperature scanning. The DSC exhibited high sensitivity (6.1 µV/µW), low noise (0.4 µW), high scanning rate (45 K/min), and low sample consumption volume (0.63 µL). The MEMS DSC was verified by measuring the temperature-induced denaturation of lysozyme at different pH, and then used to study the thermal stability of a monoclonal antibody (mAb), an antigen-binding fragment (Fab), and a dual variable domain immunoglobulin (DVD-Ig) at pH = 6. The results showed that lysozyme is a stable protein in the pH range of 4.0–8.0. The protein stability study revealed that the transition temperatures of the intact Fab fragment, mAb, and DVD proteins were comparable with conformational stability results obtained using conventional commercial DSC. These studies demonstrated that the MEMS DSC is an effective tool for directly understanding the thermal stability of antibodies in a high-throughput and low-cost manner compared to conventional calorimeters. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Microfluidic Chips and Their Applications)

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16 pages, 4009 KiB

Open AccessPerspective

The Integration of Gold Nanoparticles with Polymerase Chain Reaction for Constructing Colorimetric Sensing Platforms for Detection of Health-Related DNA and Proteins

by Wanhe Wang, Xueliang Wang, Jingqi Liu, Chuankai Lin, Jianhua Liu and Jing Wang

Biosensors 2022, 12(6), 421; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios12060421 - 16 Jun 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2427

Abstract

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is the standard tool in genetic information analysis, and the desirable detection merits of PCR have been extended to disease-related protein analysis. Recently, the combination of PCR and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) to construct colorimetric sensing platforms has received considerable [...] Read more.

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is the standard tool in genetic information analysis, and the desirable detection merits of PCR have been extended to disease-related protein analysis. Recently, the combination of PCR and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) to construct colorimetric sensing platforms has received considerable attention due to its high sensitivity, visual detection, capability for on-site detection, and low cost. However, it lacks a related review to summarize and discuss the advances in this area. This perspective gives an overview of established methods based on the combination of PCR and AuNPs for the visual detection of health-related DNA and proteins. Moreover, this work also addresses the future trends and perspectives for PCR–AuNP hybrid biosensors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trends in Development of Biosensors for Disease Diagnosis, Treatment, and Management)

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10 pages, 4250 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Dual Molecular Design toward a Lysosome-Tagged AIEgen and Heavy-Atom-Free Photosensitizers for Hypoxic Cancer Photodynamic Therapy

by Thanh Chung Pham, Thi Thuy Hang Hoang, Yeonghwan Choi, Seongman Lee, Sang-Woo Joo, Gun Kim, Dongwon Kim, Ok-Sang Jung and Songyi Lee

Biosensors 2022, 12(6), 420; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios12060420 - 15 Jun 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2136

Abstract

To date, a large number of photosensitizers (PS) have introduced heavy atoms to improve the ISC process and ¹O₂ generation. However, they often show low efficiency in hypoxic conditions, aggregate states, and turn-off PDT in the dark. Besides that, the toxicity [...] Read more.

To date, a large number of photosensitizers (PS) have introduced heavy atoms to improve the ISC process and ¹O₂ generation. However, they often show low efficiency in hypoxic conditions, aggregate states, and turn-off PDT in the dark. Besides that, the toxicity of heavy metals is also concerned. Therefore, we developed lysosome-targeted heavy-metal-free PS (3S and 4S) based on thionated naphthalimide for hypoxic cancer photodynamic therapy (PDT), not only under white light but also in the dark via thermal-induced ¹O₂ generation. AIEgen (3O and 4O) were prepared for studying the PDT action of PSs (3S and 4S) in lysosome and aggregate state. We also examined the photophysical properties of AIEgen (3O and 4O) and PS (3S and 4S) by UV–vis absorption, fluorescent emission spectra, and theoretical calculations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Development of Aggregation-Induced Emission Materials and Their Applications in Biosensing, Bioimaging and Theranostics)

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14 pages, 5497 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Surface-Fabrication of Fluorescent Hydroxyapatite for Cancer Cell Imaging and Bio-Printing Applications

by Weimin Wan, Ziqi Li, Xi Wang, Fei Tian and Jian Yang

Biosensors 2022, 12(6), 419; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios12060419 - 15 Jun 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2567

Abstract

Hydroxyapatite (HAP) materials are widely applied as biomedical materials due to their stable performance, low cost, good biocompatibility and biodegradability. Here, a green, fast and efficient strategy was designed to construct a fluorescent nanosystem for cell imaging and drug delivery based on polyethyleneimine [...] Read more.

Hydroxyapatite (HAP) materials are widely applied as biomedical materials due to their stable performance, low cost, good biocompatibility and biodegradability. Here, a green, fast and efficient strategy was designed to construct a fluorescent nanosystem for cell imaging and drug delivery based on polyethyleneimine (PEI) and functionalized HAP via simple physical adsorption. First, HAP nanorods were functionalized with riboflavin sodium phosphate (HE) to provide them with fluorescence properties based on ligand-exchange process. Next, PEI was attached on the surface of HE-functionalized HAP (HAP-HE@PEI) via electrostatic attraction. The fluorescent HAP-HE@PEI nanosystem could be rapidly taken up by NIH-3T3 fibroblast cells and successfully applied to for cell imaging. Additionally, doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) containing HAP-HE@PEI with high loading capacity was prepared, and in-vitro release results show that the maximum release of DOX at pH 5.4 (31.83%) was significantly higher than that at pH 7.2 (9.90%), which can be used as a drug delivery tool for cancer therapy. Finally, HAP-HE@PEI as the 3D inkjet printing ink were printed with GelMA hydrogel, showing a great biocompatible property for 3D cell culture of RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. Altogether, because of the enhanced affinity with the cell membrane of HAP-HE@PEI, this green, fast and efficient strategy may provide a prospective candidate for bio-imaging, drug delivery and bio-printing. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microfluidic Based Organ-on-Chips and Biomedical Application)

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17 pages, 4017 KiB

Open AccessReview

Recent Advances in DNA Nanotechnology for Plasmonic Biosensor Construction

by Jeong Ah Park, Chaima Amri, Yein Kwon, Jin-Ho Lee and Taek Lee

Biosensors 2022, 12(6), 418; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios12060418 - 15 Jun 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2891

Abstract

Since 2010, DNA nanotechnology has advanced rapidly, helping overcome limitations in the use of DNA solely as genetic material. DNA nanotechnology has thus helped develop a new method for the construction of biosensors. Among bioprobe materials for biosensors, nucleic acids have shown several [...] Read more.

Since 2010, DNA nanotechnology has advanced rapidly, helping overcome limitations in the use of DNA solely as genetic material. DNA nanotechnology has thus helped develop a new method for the construction of biosensors. Among bioprobe materials for biosensors, nucleic acids have shown several advantages. First, it has a complementary sequence for hybridizing the target gene. Second, DNA has various functionalities, such as DNAzymes, DNA junctions or aptamers, because of its unique folded structures with specific sequences. Third, functional groups, such as thiols, amines, or other fluorophores, can easily be introduced into DNA at the 5′ or 3′ end. Finally, DNA can easily be tailored by making junctions or origami structures; these unique structures extend the DNA arm and create a multi-functional bioprobe. Meanwhile, nanomaterials have also been used to advance plasmonic biosensor technologies. Nanomaterials provide various biosensing platforms with high sensitivity and selectivity. Several plasmonic biosensor types have been fabricated, such as surface plasmons, and Raman-based or metal-enhanced biosensors. Introducing DNA nanotechnology to plasmonic biosensors has brought in sight new horizons in the fields of biosensors and nanobiotechnology. This review discusses the recent progress of DNA nanotechnology-based plasmonic biosensors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plasmonic Sensors: A New Frontier in Nanotechnology)

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14 pages, 2217 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Real-Time Phase-Contrast MRI to Monitor Cervical Blood and Cerebrospinal Fluid Flow Beat-by-Beat Variability

by Giuseppe Baselli, Federica Fasani, Laura Pelizzari, Marta Cazzoli, Francesca Baglio and Maria Marcella Laganà

Biosensors 2022, 12(6), 417; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios12060417 - 15 Jun 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2028

Abstract

Beat-by-beat variability (BBV) rhythms are observed in both cardiovascular (CV) and intracranial (IC) compartments, yet interactions between the two are not fully understood. Real-Time Phase-Contrast (RT-PC) MRI sequence was acquired for 30 healthy volunteers at 1st cervical level on a 3T scanner. The [...] Read more.

Beat-by-beat variability (BBV) rhythms are observed in both cardiovascular (CV) and intracranial (IC) compartments, yet interactions between the two are not fully understood. Real-Time Phase-Contrast (RT-PC) MRI sequence was acquired for 30 healthy volunteers at 1st cervical level on a 3T scanner. The arterial (AF), venous (VF), and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow (CSFF) were computed as velocity integrals over the internal carotid artery, internal jugular vein, and CSF. AF, VF, and CSFF signals were segmented in inspiration and expiration beats, to assess the respiration influence. Systolic and diastolic BBV, and heart period series underwent autoregressive power spectral density analysis, to evaluate the low-frequency (LF, Mayer waves) and high frequency (HF, respiratory waves) components. The diastolic VF had the largest BBV. LF power was high in the diastolic AF series, poor in all CSFF series. The pulse wave analyses revealed higher mean amplitude during inspiration. Findings suggests a possible role of LF modulation of IC resistances and propagation of HF waves from VF to AF and CCSF. PC-RT-MRI could provide new insight into the interaction between CV and IC regulation and pave the way for a detailed analysis of the cerebrovascular effects of varied respiration patterns due to exercise and rehabilitation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue In Vivo Imaging and Sensing of Biomarkers)

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11 pages, 2792 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Bioimpedance Sensing of Implanted Stent Occlusions: Smart Stent

by Antonio Rodríguez, Pablo Barroso, Alberto Olmo and Alberto Yúfera

Biosensors 2022, 12(6), 416; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios12060416 - 15 Jun 2022

Viewed by 1881

Abstract

Coronary artery disease is one of the most common diseases in developed countries and affects a large part of the population of developing countries. Preventing restenosis in patients with implanted stents is an important current medical problem. The purpose of this work is [...] Read more.

Coronary artery disease is one of the most common diseases in developed countries and affects a large part of the population of developing countries. Preventing restenosis in patients with implanted stents is an important current medical problem. The purpose of this work is to analyse the viability of bioimpedance sensing to detect the formation of atheromatous plaque in an implantable stent. Simulations in COMSOL Multiphysics were performed to analyse the performance of the proposed bioimpedance sensing system, based on the Sheffield technique. Both non-pathological and pathological models (with atheromatous plaque), including the flow of blood were considered. Simulations with the non-pathological model showed a homogeneous distribution of the measured current intensity in the different electrodes, for every configuration. On the other hand, simulations with the pathological model showed a significant decrease of the measured current intensity in the electrodes close to the simulated atheromatous plaque. The presence of the atheromatous plaque can, therefore, be detected by the system with a simple algorithm, avoiding the full reconstruction of the image and the subsequent computational processing requirements. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Technology Application for Medical Implants)

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13 pages, 3511 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Highly Sensitive Refractive Index Sensor Based on Polymer Bragg Grating: A Case Study on Extracellular Vesicles Detection

by Nabarun Saha, Giuseppe Brunetti, Arun Kumar, Mario Nicola Armenise and Caterina Ciminelli

Biosensors 2022, 12(6), 415; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios12060415 - 15 Jun 2022

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 2500

Abstract

The measurement of small changes in the refractive index (RI) leads to a comprehensive analysis of different biochemical substances, paving the way to non-invasive and cost-effective medical diagnosis. In recent times, the liquid biopsy for cancer detection via extracellular vesicles (EV) in the [...] Read more.

The measurement of small changes in the refractive index (RI) leads to a comprehensive analysis of different biochemical substances, paving the way to non-invasive and cost-effective medical diagnosis. In recent times, the liquid biopsy for cancer detection via extracellular vesicles (EV) in the bodily fluid is becoming very popular thanks to less invasiveness and stability. In this context, here we propose a highly sensitive RI sensor based on a compact high-index-coated polymer waveguide Bragg grating with a metal under cladding. Owing to the combined effect of a metal under cladding and a high-index coating, a significant enhancement in the RI sensitivity as well as the dynamic range has been observed. The proposed sensor has been analyzed by combining finite element method (FEM) and coupled-mode theory (CMT) approaches, demonstrating a sensitivity of 408–861 nm/RIU over a broad dynamic range of 1.32–1.44, and a strong evanescent field within a 150 nm proximity to the waveguide surface compliant with EV size. The aforementioned performance makes the proposed device suitable for performing real-time and on-chip diagnoses of cancer in the early stage. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Photonic Sensors in Chemical and Biological Applications)

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12 pages, 3091 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Technology for Rapid Detection of Cyromazine Residues in Fruits and Vegetables: Molecularly Imprinted Electrochemical Sensors

by Sihua Peng, Aqiang Wang, Yuyang Lian, Jingjing Jia, Xuncong Ji, Heming Yang, Jinlei Li, Shuyan Yang, Jianjun Liao and Shihao Zhou

Biosensors 2022, 12(6), 414; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios12060414 - 14 Jun 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2172

Abstract

Cyromazine is an insect growth regulator insecticide with high selectivity and is widely used in the production and cultivation of fruits and vegetables. In recent years, incidents of excessive cyromazine residues in food have occurred frequently, and it is urgent to establish an [...] Read more.

Cyromazine is an insect growth regulator insecticide with high selectivity and is widely used in the production and cultivation of fruits and vegetables. In recent years, incidents of excessive cyromazine residues in food have occurred frequently, and it is urgent to establish an accurate, fast, and convenient method for the detection of cyromazine residues to ensure the safety of edible agricultural products. To achieve rapid detection of cyromazine residues, we prepared a molecularly imprinted electrochemical sensor for the detection of cyromazine residues in agricultural products. Samples of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Miller), cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), and water were tested for the recovery rate of cyromazine. The results showed that the concentration of cyromazine showed a good linear relationship with the peak response current of the sensor developed in this study. The lower limit of detection for cyromazine was 0.5 µmol/L, and the sensor also had good reproducibility and interference resistance. This paper can be used as a basis for the study of methods for the detection of cyromazine residues in edible agricultural products. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rapid Nondestructive Testing Technology-Based Biosensors for Food Analysis)

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20 pages, 1994 KiB

Open AccessArticle

ImmunoDisk—A Fully Automated Bead-Based Immunoassay Cartridge with All Reagents Pre-Stored

by Benita Johannsen, Desirée Baumgartner, Lena Karkossa, Nils Paust, Michal Karpíšek, Nagihan Bostanci, Roland Zengerle and Konstantinos Mitsakakis

Biosensors 2022, 12(6), 413; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios12060413 - 14 Jun 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 7530

Abstract

In this paper, we present the ImmunoDisk, a fully automated sample-to-answer centrifugal microfluidic cartridge, integrating a heterogeneous, wash-free, magnetic- and fluorescent bead-based immunoassay (bound-free phase detection immunoassay/BFPD-IA). The BFPD-IA allows the implementation of a simple fluidic structure, where the assay incubation, bead separation [...] Read more.

In this paper, we present the ImmunoDisk, a fully automated sample-to-answer centrifugal microfluidic cartridge, integrating a heterogeneous, wash-free, magnetic- and fluorescent bead-based immunoassay (bound-free phase detection immunoassay/BFPD-IA). The BFPD-IA allows the implementation of a simple fluidic structure, where the assay incubation, bead separation and detection are performed in the same chamber. The system was characterized using a C-reactive protein (CRP) competitive immunoassay. A parametric investigation on air drying of protein-coupled beads for pre-storage at room temperature is presented. The key parameters were buffer composition, drying temperature and duration. A protocol for drying two different types of protein-coupled beads with the same temperature and duration using different drying buffers is presented. The sample-to-answer workflow was demonstrated measuring CRP in 5 µL of human serum, without prior dilution, utilizing only one incubation step, in 20 min turnaround time, in the clinically relevant concentration range of 15–115 mg/L. A reproducibility assessment over three disk batches revealed an average signal coefficient of variation (CV) of 5.8 ± 1.3%. A CRP certified reference material was used for method verification with a concentration CV of 8.6%. Our results encourage future testing of the CRP-ImmunoDisk in clinical studies and its point-of-care implementation in many diagnostic applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioassays and Biosensors for Rapid Detection and Analysis)

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13 pages, 3185 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Two Biosensors for the Determination of Interleukin-6 in Blood Plasma by Array SPRi

by Beata Szymanska, Zenon Lukaszewski, Lukasz Oldak, Beata Zelazowska-Rutkowska, Kinga Hermanowicz-Szamatowicz and Ewa Gorodkiewicz

Biosensors 2022, 12(6), 412; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios12060412 - 14 Jun 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2295

Abstract

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a biomarker of inflammation, the advanced stage of COVID-19, and several cancers, including ovarian cancer. Two biosensors for the determination of IL-6 in blood plasma by array SPRi have been developed. One of these biosensors consists of the mouse monoclonal [...] Read more.

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a biomarker of inflammation, the advanced stage of COVID-19, and several cancers, including ovarian cancer. Two biosensors for the determination of IL-6 in blood plasma by array SPRi have been developed. One of these biosensors consists of the mouse monoclonal anti-IL-6 antibody as the receptor immobilized via the cysteamine linker. The second contains galiellalactone as the receptor, being an inhibitor specific for IL-6, immobilized via octadecanethiol (ODM) as the linker. Both biosensors are specific for IL-6. The biosensor with the antibody as the receptor gives a linear analytical response between 3 (LOQ) and 20 pg mL⁻¹ and has a precision between 8% and 9.8% and recovery between 97% and 107%, depending on the IL-6 concentration. The biosensor with galiellalactone as the receptor gives a linear analytical response between 1.1 (LOQ) and 20 pg mL⁻¹, and has a precision between 3.5% and 9.3% and recovery between 101% and 105%, depending on IL-6 concentration. Both biosensors were validated. Changes in IL-6 concentration in blood plasma before and after resection of ovarian tumor and endometrial cyst, as determined by the two developed biosensors, are given as an example of a real clinical application. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Issue of Nano- and Micro-Technologies in Biosensors Section)

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2 pages, 1008 KiB

Open AccessCorrection

Correction: Bonyár, A. Maximizing the Surface Sensitivity of LSPR Biosensors through Plasmon Coupling—Interparticle Gap Optimization for Dimers Using Computational Simulations. Biosensors 2021, 11, 527

by Attila Bonyár

Biosensors 2022, 12(6), 411; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios12060411 - 14 Jun 2022

Viewed by 1491

Abstract

In the original publication [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanoparticles-Based Biosensors)

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33 pages, 3174 KiB

Open AccessReview

Advancements in Testing Strategies for COVID-19

by Rabia Asghar, Madiha Rasheed, Jalees ul Hassan, Mohsin Rafique, Mashooq Khan and Yulin Deng

Biosensors 2022, 12(6), 410; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios12060410 - 13 Jun 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3442

Abstract

The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, also known as the disease-causing agent for COVID-19, is a virulent pathogen that may infect people and certain animals. The global spread of COVID-19 and its emerging variation necessitates the development of rapid, reliable, simple, and low-cost diagnostic tools. Many [...] Read more.

The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, also known as the disease-causing agent for COVID-19, is a virulent pathogen that may infect people and certain animals. The global spread of COVID-19 and its emerging variation necessitates the development of rapid, reliable, simple, and low-cost diagnostic tools. Many methodologies and devices have been developed for the highly sensitive, selective, cost-effective, and rapid diagnosis of COVID-19. This review organizes the diagnosis platforms into four groups: imaging, molecular-based detection, serological testing, and biosensors. Each platform’s principle, advancement, utilization, and challenges for monitoring SARS-CoV-2 are discussed in detail. In addition, an overview of the impact of variants on detection, commercially available kits, and readout signal analysis has been presented. This review will expand our understanding of developing advanced diagnostic approaches to evolve into susceptible, precise, and reproducible technologies to combat any future outbreak. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Biosensors and Healthcare)

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10 pages, 1213 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Low-Cost Device for Measurement of Exhaled Breath for the Detection of Obstructive Lung Disease

by Adil Ahmad Shahzad, Shafaq Mushtaq, Asim Waris, Syed Omer Gilani, Maha Abdallah Alnuwaiser, Mohammed Jameel and Niaz Bahadur Khan

Biosensors 2022, 12(6), 409; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios12060409 - 13 Jun 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2517

Abstract

Breath sensor technology can be used in medical diagnostics. This study aimed to build a device to measure the level of hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, acetone and alcohol in exhaled breath of patients as well as healthy individuals. The purpose was to determine the [...] Read more.

Breath sensor technology can be used in medical diagnostics. This study aimed to build a device to measure the level of hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, acetone and alcohol in exhaled breath of patients as well as healthy individuals. The purpose was to determine the efficacy of these gases for detection of obstructive lung disease. This study was conducted on a total of 105 subjects, where 60 subjects were patients of obstructive lung disease and 45 subjects were healthy individuals. Patients were screened by means of the Pulmonary Function Test (PFT) by a pulmonologist. The gases present in the exhaled breath of all subjects were measured. The level of ammonia (32.29 ± 20.83 ppb), (68.83 ± 35.25 ppb), hydrogen sulfide (0.50 ± 0.26 ppm), (62.71 ± 22.20 ppb), and acetone (103.49 ± 35.01 ppb), (0.66 ± 0.31 ppm) in exhaled breath were significantly different (p < 0.05) between obstructive lung disease patients and healthy individuals, except alcohol, with a p-value greater than 0.05. Positive correlation was found between ammonia w.r.t Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 s (FEV1) (r = 0.74), Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) (r = 0.61) and Forced Expiratory Flow (FEF) (r = 0.63) and hydrogen sulfide w.r.t FEV1 (r = 0.54), FVC (r = 0.41) and FEF (r = 0.37). Whereas, weak correlation was found for acetone and alcohol w.r.t FEV1, FVC and PEF. Therefore, the level of ammonia and hydrogen sulfide are useful breath markers for detection of obstructive lung disease. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Biosensors as the Key Enablers for Telemedicine Revolution to Combat COVID-19)

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12 pages, 2687 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Terahertz Metamaterial Sensor for Sensitive Detection of Citrate Salt Solutions

by Xinxin Deng, Yanchun Shen, Bingwei Liu, Ziyu Song, Xiaoyong He, Qinnan Zhang, Dongxiong Ling, Dongfeng Liu and Dongshan Wei

Biosensors 2022, 12(6), 408; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios12060408 - 13 Jun 2022

Cited by 24 | Viewed by 2668

Abstract

Citrate salts (CSs), as one type of organic salts, have been widely used in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Accurate and quantitative detection of CSs in food and medicine is very important for health and safety. In this study, an asymmetric double-opening ring [...] Read more.

Citrate salts (CSs), as one type of organic salts, have been widely used in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Accurate and quantitative detection of CSs in food and medicine is very important for health and safety. In this study, an asymmetric double-opening ring metamaterial sensor is designed, fabricated, and used to detect citrate salts combined with THz spectroscopy. Factors that influence the sensitivity of the metamaterial sensor including the opening positions and the arrangement of the metal opening ring unit, the refraction index and the thickness of the analyte deposited on the metamaterial sensor were analyzed and discussed from electromagnetic simulations and THz spectroscopy measurements. Based on the high sensitivity of the metamaterial sensor to the refractive index of the analyte, six different citrate salt solutions with low concentrations were well identified. Therefore, THz spectroscopy combined with a metamaterials sensor can provide a new, rapid, and accurate detection of citrate salts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Advances in Optical Sensors)

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14 pages, 8093 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Naked-Eye Chromogenic Test Strip for Cyanide Sensing Based on Novel Phenothiazine Push–Pull Derivatives

by Pedro E. Martín Várguez and Jean-Manuel Raimundo

Biosensors 2022, 12(6), 407; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios12060407 - 13 Jun 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1889

Abstract

Monitoring and detection of cyanide are of crucial interest as the latter plays versatile roles in many biological events, is ubiquitous in environment, and responsible for several acute poisoning and adverse health effects if ingested. We describe herein the synthesis and characterization of [...] Read more.

Monitoring and detection of cyanide are of crucial interest as the latter plays versatile roles in many biological events, is ubiquitous in environment, and responsible for several acute poisoning and adverse health effects if ingested. We describe herein the synthesis and characterization of novel phenothiazine-based push–pull chromogenic chemosensors suitable for naked eye cyanide sensing. Indeed, specific detections were achieved for cyanide with a LOD of ca 9.12 to 4.59 µM and, interestingly, one of the new chemosensors has also revealed an unprecedented affinity for acetate with a LOD of ca 2.68 µM. Moreover, as proof of concept for practical applications, a paper test strip was prepared allowing its use for efficient qualitative naked eye cyanide sensing. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Optical and Photonic Biosensors)

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10 pages, 3179 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Alkaline Phosphatase Electrochemical Micro-Sensor Based on 3D Graphene Networks for the Monitoring of Osteoblast Activity

by Ning Zhao, Jiaci Shi, Ming Li, Pengcheng Xu, Xuefeng Wang and Xinxin Li

Biosensors 2022, 12(6), 406; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios12060406 - 13 Jun 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2048

Abstract

Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is a significant biomarker that indicates osteoblast activity and skeletal growth. Efficient ALP detection methods are essential in drug development and clinical diagnosis. In this work, we developed an in-situ synthesized three-dimensional graphene networks (3DGNs)-based electrochemical sensor to determine ALP [...] Read more.

Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is a significant biomarker that indicates osteoblast activity and skeletal growth. Efficient ALP detection methods are essential in drug development and clinical diagnosis. In this work, we developed an in-situ synthesized three-dimensional graphene networks (3DGNs)-based electrochemical sensor to determine ALP activity. The sensor employs an ALP enzymatic conversion of non-electroactive substrate to electroactive product and presents the ALP activity as an electrochemical signal. With 3DGNs as the catalyst and signal amplifier, a sample consumption of 5 μL and an incubation time of 2 min are enough for the sensor to detect a wide ALP activity range from 10 to 10,000 U/L, with a limit of detection of 5.70 U/L. This facile fabricated sensor provides a quick response, cost-effective and non-destructive approach for monitoring living adherent osteoblast cell activity and holds promise for ALP quantification in other biological systems and clinical samples. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nano/Micro Technologies for Biosensors: A Themed Issue in Honor of Prof. Dr. Chung-Chiun Liu)

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12 pages, 3541 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Design of a Lab-On-Chip for Cancer Cell Detection through Impedance and Photoelectrochemical Response Analysis

by Yu-Ping Hsiao, Arvind Mukundan, Wei-Chung Chen, Ming-Tsang Wu, Shang-Chin Hsieh and Hsiang-Chen Wang

Biosensors 2022, 12(6), 405; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios12060405 - 13 Jun 2022

Cited by 24 | Viewed by 3960

Abstract

In this study, a biochip was fabricated using a light-absorbing layer of a silicon solar element combined with serrated, interdigitated electrodes and used to identify four different types of cancer cells: CE81T esophageal cancer, OE21 esophageal cancer, A549 lung adenocarcinoma, and TSGH-8301 bladder [...] Read more.

In this study, a biochip was fabricated using a light-absorbing layer of a silicon solar element combined with serrated, interdigitated electrodes and used to identify four different types of cancer cells: CE81T esophageal cancer, OE21 esophageal cancer, A549 lung adenocarcinoma, and TSGH-8301 bladder cancer cells. A string of pearls was formed from dielectrophoretic aggregated cancer cells because of the serrated interdigitated electrodes. Thus, cancer cells were identified in different parts, and electron–hole pairs were separated by photo-excited carriers through the light-absorbing layer of the solar element. The concentration catalysis mechanism of GSH and GSSG was used to conduct photocurrent response and identification, which provides the fast, label-free measurement of cancer cells. The total time taken for this analysis was 13 min. Changes in the impedance value and photocurrent response of each cancer cell were linearly related to the number of cells, and the slope of the admittance value was used to distinguish the location of the cancerous lesion, the slope of the photocurrent response, and the severity of the cancerous lesion. The results show that the number of cancerous cells was directly proportional to the admittance value and the photocurrent response for all four different types of cancer cells. Additionally, different types of cancer cells could easily be differentiated using the slope value of the photocurrent response and the admittance value. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Optical Sensing Techniques for Applications in Biomedicine)

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20 pages, 4427 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Pilot Behavior Recognition Based on Multi-Modality Fusion Technology Using Physiological Characteristics

by Yuhan Li, Ke Li, Shaofan Wang, Xiaodan Chen and Dongsheng Wen

Biosensors 2022, 12(6), 404; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios12060404 - 12 Jun 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2459

Abstract

With the development of the autopilot system, the main task of a pilot has changed from controlling the aircraft to supervising the autopilot system and making critical decisions. Therefore, the human–machine interaction system needs to be improved accordingly. A key step to improving [...] Read more.

With the development of the autopilot system, the main task of a pilot has changed from controlling the aircraft to supervising the autopilot system and making critical decisions. Therefore, the human–machine interaction system needs to be improved accordingly. A key step to improving the human–machine interaction system is to improve its understanding of the pilots’ status, including fatigue, stress, workload, etc. Monitoring pilots’ status can effectively prevent human error and achieve optimal human–machine collaboration. As such, there is a need to recognize pilots’ status and predict the behaviors responsible for changes of state. For this purpose, in this study, 14 Air Force cadets fly in an F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter simulator through a series of maneuvers involving takeoff, level flight, turn and hover, roll, somersault, and stall. Electro cardio (ECG), myoelectricity (EMG), galvanic skin response (GSR), respiration (RESP), and skin temperature (SKT) measurements are derived through wearable physiological data collection devices. Physiological indicators influenced by the pilot’s behavioral status are objectively analyzed. Multi-modality fusion technology (MTF) is adopted to fuse these data in the feature layer. Additionally, four classifiers are integrated to identify pilots’ behaviors in the strategy layer. The results indicate that MTF can help to recognize pilot behavior in a more comprehensive and precise way. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wearable Biosensing for Physiological Monitoring)

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