Biosensors

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Open AccessReview

Towards a Uniform Metrological Assessment of Grating-Based Optical Fiber Sensors: From Refractometers to Biosensors

by Francesco Chiavaioli, Carlos A. J. Gouveia, Pedro A. S. Jorge and Francesco Baldini

Biosensors 2017, 7(2), 23; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios7020023 - 21 Jun 2017

Cited by 300 | Viewed by 12832

A metrological assessment of grating-based optical fiber sensors is proposed with the aim of providing an objective evaluation of the performance of this sensor category. Attention was focused on the most common parameters, used to describe the performance of both optical refractometers and [...] Read more.

A metrological assessment of grating-based optical fiber sensors is proposed with the aim of providing an objective evaluation of the performance of this sensor category. Attention was focused on the most common parameters, used to describe the performance of both optical refractometers and biosensors, which encompassed sensitivity, with a distinction between volume or bulk sensitivity and surface sensitivity, resolution, response time, limit of detection, specificity (or selectivity), reusability (or regenerability) and some other parameters of generic interest, such as measurement uncertainty, accuracy, precision, stability, drift, repeatability and reproducibility. Clearly, the concepts discussed here can also be applied to any resonance-based sensor, thus providing the basis for an easier and direct performance comparison of a great number of sensors published in the literature up to now. In addition, common mistakes present in the literature made for the evaluation of sensor performance are highlighted, and lastly a uniform performance assessment is discussed and provided. Finally, some design strategies will be proposed to develop a grating-based optical fiber sensing scheme with improved performance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biophotonic Sensors and Applications)

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1939 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Multi-Wavelength Opto-Electronic Patch Sensor to Effectively Detect Physiological Changes against Human Skin Types

by Liangwen Yan, Sijung Hu, Abdullah Alzahrani, Samah Alharbi and Panagiotis Blanos

Biosensors 2017, 7(2), 22; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios7020022 - 21 Jun 2017

Cited by 32 | Viewed by 8019

Abstract

Different skin pigments among various ethnic group people have an impact on spectrometric illumination on skin surface. To effectively capture photoplethysmographic (PPG) signals, a multi-wavelength opto-electronic patch sensor (OEPS) together with a schematic architecture of electronics were developed to overcome the drawback of [...] Read more.

Different skin pigments among various ethnic group people have an impact on spectrometric illumination on skin surface. To effectively capture photoplethysmographic (PPG) signals, a multi-wavelength opto-electronic patch sensor (OEPS) together with a schematic architecture of electronics were developed to overcome the drawback of present PPG sensor. To perform a better in vivo physiological measurement against skin pigments, optimal illuminations in OEPS, whose wavelength is compatible with a specific skin type, were optimized to capture a reliable physiological sign of heart rate (HR). A protocol was designed to investigate an impact of five skin types in compliance with Von Luschan’s chromatic scale. Thirty-three healthy male subjects between the ages of 18 and 41 were involved in the protocol implemented by means of the OEPS system. The results show that there is no significant difference (p: 0.09, F = 3.0) in five group tests with the skin types across various activities throughout a series of consistent measurements. The outcome of the present study demonstrates that the OEPS, with its multi-wavelength illumination characteristics, could open a path in multiple applications of different ethnic groups with cost-effective health monitoring. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Optical, RF, Microwave and Wireless BioSensing for Health, Environment and Agriculture)

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1964 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Enzyme-Induced Novel Biosensor for the Sensitive Electrochemical Determination of Isoniazid

by Rajasekhar Chokkareddy, Natesh Kumar Bhajanthri and Gan G. Redhi

Biosensors 2017, 7(2), 21; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios7020021 - 05 Jun 2017

Cited by 37 | Viewed by 7908

Abstract

In this present work, a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was modified primarily with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and a composite of MWCNTs and titanium oxide nanoparticles (TiO₂NPs). The enzyme horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was immobilized to enhance the sensing ability of GCE. [...] Read more.

In this present work, a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was modified primarily with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and a composite of MWCNTs and titanium oxide nanoparticles (TiO₂NPs). The enzyme horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was immobilized to enhance the sensing ability of GCE. The proposed biosensor was used for the sensitive determination of isoniazid (INZ) in various pharmaceutical samples. The electrochemical behaviour of the developed MWCNT-TiO₂NPs-HRP-GCE biosensor was studied by using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetric (DPV) techniques. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetry (TGA) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques were used to characterize the developed sensor. Phosphate buffer solution (PBS) with pH 7 was used as supporting electrolyte in the present investigation. The cyclic voltammetric results revealed that the increment of anodic peak currents for the enzyme-induced sensor was almost 8-fold greater than that of a bare GCE. The DPV technique exhibited good limit of detection and limit of quantification values, viz., 0.0335 μM and 0.1118 μM, respectively. Moreover, the developed sensor showed long-lasting stability and repeatability without any interferents. This strongly indicates that the fabricated sensor shows outstanding electrochemical performance towards INZ, with excellent selectivity and sensitivity. The developed sensor was successfully applied to pharmaceutical samples and gave good percentages of recoveries. Full article

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1369 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Raman Spectroscopy of Head and Neck Cancer: Separation of Malignant and Healthy Tissue Using Signatures Outside the “Fingerprint” Region

by Stephen Holler, Elaina Mansley, Christopher Mazzeo, Michael J. Donovan, Maximiliano Sobrero and Brett A. Miles

Biosensors 2017, 7(2), 20; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios7020020 - 14 May 2017

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 7861

Abstract

The ability to rapidly and accurately discriminate between healthy and malignant tissue offers surgeons a tool for in vivo analysis that would potentially reduce operating time, facilitate quicker recovery, and improve patient outcomes. To this end, we investigate discrimination between diseased tissue and [...] Read more.

The ability to rapidly and accurately discriminate between healthy and malignant tissue offers surgeons a tool for in vivo analysis that would potentially reduce operating time, facilitate quicker recovery, and improve patient outcomes. To this end, we investigate discrimination between diseased tissue and adjacent healthy controls from patients with head and neck cancer using near-infrared Raman spectroscopy. Our results indicate previously unreported peaks in the Raman spectra that lie outside the conventional “fingerprint” region (400 cm-1–1800 cm -1) played an important role in our analysis and in discriminating between the tissue classes. Preliminary multivariate statistical analyses of the Raman spectra indicate that discrimination between diseased and healthy tissue is possible based on these peaks. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Raman and IR Spectroscopic Sensing)

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Open AccessArticle

A Label-Free, Quantitative Fecal Hemoglobin Detection Platform for Colorectal Cancer Screening

by Gita V. Soraya, Thanh C. Nguyen, Chathurika D. Abeyrathne, Duc H. Huynh, Jianxiong Chan, Phuong D. Nguyen, Babak Nasr, Gursharan Chana, Patrick Kwan and Efstratios Skafidas

Biosensors 2017, 7(2), 19; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios7020019 - 05 May 2017

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 8682

Abstract

The early detection of colorectal cancer is vital for disease management and patient survival. Fecal hemoglobin detection is a widely-adopted method for screening and early diagnosis. Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) is favored over the older generation chemical based Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT) [...] Read more.

The early detection of colorectal cancer is vital for disease management and patient survival. Fecal hemoglobin detection is a widely-adopted method for screening and early diagnosis. Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) is favored over the older generation chemical based Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT) as it does not require dietary or drug restrictions, and is specific to human blood from the lower digestive tract. To date, no quantitative FIT platforms are available for use in the point-of-care setting. Here, we report proof of principle data of a novel low cost quantitative fecal immunochemical-based biosensor platform that may be further developed into a point-of-care test in low-resource settings. The label-free prototype has a lower limit of detection (LOD) of 10 µg hemoglobin per gram (Hb/g) of feces, comparable to that of conventional laboratory based quantitative FIT diagnostic systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Point-of-Care Diagnostics)

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449 KiB

Open AccessErratum

Erratum: Irvine, G.W.; Tan, S.N.; Stillman, M.J. A Simple Metallothionein-Based Biosensor for Enhanced Detection of Arsenic and Mercury. Biosensors 2017, 7, 14

by Biosensors Editorial Office

Biosensors 2017, 7(2), 18; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios7020018 - 05 May 2017

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 4399

Abstract

n/a Full article

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3954 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Ultrasensitive Label-Free Sensing of IL-6 Based on PASE Functionalized Carbon Nanotube Micro-Arrays with RNA-Aptamers as Molecular Recognition Elements

by Farhad Khosravi, Seyed Masoud Loeian and Balaji Panchapakesan

Biosensors 2017, 7(2), 17; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios7020017 - 17 Apr 2017

Cited by 53 | Viewed by 10446

Abstract

This study demonstrates the rapid and label-free detection of Interleukin-6 (IL-6) using carbon nanotube micro-arrays with aptamer as the molecular recognition element. Single wall carbon nanotubes micro-arrays biosensors were manufactured using photo-lithography, metal deposition, and etching techniques. Nanotube biosensors were functionalized with 1-Pyrenebutanoic [...] Read more.

This study demonstrates the rapid and label-free detection of Interleukin-6 (IL-6) using carbon nanotube micro-arrays with aptamer as the molecular recognition element. Single wall carbon nanotubes micro-arrays biosensors were manufactured using photo-lithography, metal deposition, and etching techniques. Nanotube biosensors were functionalized with 1-Pyrenebutanoic Acid Succinimidyl Ester (PASE) conjugated IL-6 aptamers. Real time response of the sensor conductance was monitored with increasing concentration of IL-6 (1 pg/mL to 10 ng/mL), exposure to the sensing surface in buffer solution, and clinically relevant spiked blood samples. Non-specific Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA), PBS samples, and anti-IgG functionalized devices gave similar signatures in the real time conductance versus time experiments with no significant change in sensor signal. Exposure of the aptamer functionalized nanotube surface to IL-6 decreased the conductance with increasing concentration of IL-6. Experiments based on field effect transistor arrays suggested shift in drain current versus gate voltage for 1 pg and 1 ng of IL-6 exposure. Non-specific BSA did not produce any appreciable shift in the I_ds versus V_g suggesting specific interactions of IL-6 on PASE conjugated aptamer surface gave rise to the change in electrical signal. Both Z axis and phase image in an Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) suggested unambiguous molecular interaction of the IL-6 on the nanotube-aptamer surface at 1 pg/mL concentration. The concentration of 1 pg falls below the diagnostic gray zone for cancer (2.3 pg-4 ng/mL), which is an indicator of early stage cancer. Thus, nanotube micro-arrays could potentially be developed for creating multiplexed assays involving cancer biomarker proteins and possibly circulating tumor cells all in a single assay using PASE functionalization protocol. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Micro- and Nano-Bio-Interfaces)

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1387 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Electrochemical Field-Effect Transistor Utilization to Study the Coupling Success Rate of Photosynthetic Protein Complexes to Cytochrome c

by Arash Takshi, Houman Yaghoubi, Jing Wang, Daniel Jun and J. Thomas Beatty

Biosensors 2017, 7(2), 16; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios7020016 - 30 Mar 2017

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 6598

Abstract

Due to the high internal quantum efficiency, reaction center (RC) proteins from photosynthetic organisms have been studied in various bio-photoelectrochemical devices for solar energy harvesting. In vivo, RC and cytochrome c (cyt c; a component of the biological electron transport chain) can [...] Read more.

Due to the high internal quantum efficiency, reaction center (RC) proteins from photosynthetic organisms have been studied in various bio-photoelectrochemical devices for solar energy harvesting. In vivo, RC and cytochrome c (cyt c; a component of the biological electron transport chain) can form a cocomplex via interprotein docking. This mechanism can be used in vitro for efficient electron transfer from an electrode to the RC in a bio-photoelectrochemical device. Hence, the success rate in coupling RCs to cyt c is of great importance for practical applications in the future. In this work, we use an electrochemical transistor to study the binding of the RC to cytochrome. The shift in the transistor threshold voltage was measured in the dark and under illumination to estimate the density of cytochrome and coupled RCs on the gate of the transistor. The results show that ~33% of the cyt cs on the transistor gate were able to effectively couple with RCs. Due to the high sensitivity of the transistor, the approach can be used to make photosensors for detecting low light intensities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biophotonic Sensors and Applications)

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2493 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Detection of 17 β-Estradiol in Environmental Samples and for Health Care Using a Single-Use, Cost-Effective Biosensor Based on Differential Pulse Voltammetry (DPV)

by Yifan Dai and Chung Chiun Liu

Biosensors 2017, 7(2), 15; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios7020015 - 29 Mar 2017

Cited by 40 | Viewed by 11081

Abstract

Environmental estrogen pollution and estrogen effects on the female reproductive system are well recognized scientifically. Among the estrogens, 17 β-estradiol is a priority in environmental estrogen pollution, and it is also a major contributor to estrogen which regulates the female reproductive system. 17 [...] Read more.

Environmental estrogen pollution and estrogen effects on the female reproductive system are well recognized scientifically. Among the estrogens, 17 β-estradiol is a priority in environmental estrogen pollution, and it is also a major contributor to estrogen which regulates the female reproductive system. 17 β-estradiol is carcinogenic and has a tumor promotion effect relating to breast cancer, lung cancer and others. It also affects psychological well-being such as depression, fatigue and others. Thus, a simple method of detecting 17 β-estradiol will be important for both environmental estrogen pollution and health care. This study demonstrates a single-use, cost-effective 17 β-estradiol biosensor system which can be used for both environmental and health care applications. The bio-recognition mechanism is based on the influence of the redox couple, K₃Fe(CN)₆/K₄Fe(CN)₆ by the interaction between 17 β-estradiol antigen and its α-receptor (ER-α; α-estrogen antibody). The transduction mechanism is an electrochemical analytical technique, differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). The levels of 17 β-estradiol antigen studied were between 2.25 pg/mL and 2250 pg/mL; Phosphate buffered saline (PBS), tap water from the Cleveland regional water district, and simulated urine were used as the test media covering the potential application areas for 17 β-estradiol detection. An interference study by testosterone, which has a similar chemical structure and molecular weight as those of 17 β-estradiol, was carried out, and this 17 β-estradiol biosensor showed excellent specificity without any interference by similar chemicals. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Analytical and Nanoanalytical Methods for Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2016)

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Biosensors, Volume 7, Issue 2 (June 2017) – 9 articles

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