Editorial

3 pages, 192 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Special Issue “Women in Biosensors”—The First Edition

by Cecilia Cristea

Biosensors 2023, 13(4), 438; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios13040438 - 30 Mar 2023

Viewed by 908

This Special Issue entitled “Women in Biosensors” has been launched to celebrate and highlight the achievements of women in the biosensors research area, presenting biosensor-related work performed in groups leaded by women scientists [...] Full article

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Research

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10 pages, 1387 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Colorimetric Paper Sensor for Food Spoilage Based on Biogenic Amine Monitoring

by Maria Maddalena Calabretta, Denise Gregucci, Riccardo Desiderio and Elisa Michelini

Biosensors 2023, 13(1), 126; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios13010126 - 11 Jan 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3886

Abstract

Biogenic amines (BAs), nitrogenous molecules usually present in different foods, can be considered an indicator of freshness and food quality since their amount increases during food spoilage. Their detection, possibly in real time via the use of smart packaging, is therefore of crucial [...] Read more.

Biogenic amines (BAs), nitrogenous molecules usually present in different foods, can be considered an indicator of freshness and food quality since their amount increases during food spoilage. Their detection, possibly in real time via the use of smart packaging, is therefore of crucial importance to ensure food safety and to fulfill consumers’ demand. To this end, colorimetric sensors are considered one of the most feasible solutions. Here, we report a user-friendly colorimetric sensing paper able to detect BAs via the naked eye. The sensing molecule is the aglycone genipin, a natural cross-linking agent extracted from gardenia fruit, able to bind BAs producing water-soluble blue pigments. The paper sensor was applied to chicken meat quality monitoring and a quantitative analysis was performed with image acquisition via a smartphone camera, achieving a limit of detection equivalent to 0.1 mM of putrescine. The suitability of the BA sensing paper was assessed by integrating the sensor into smart packaging and analyzing commercial chicken meat samples stored at different temperatures; the results of the sensor paralleled the “best before date” indicated on the label, confirming the potential applicability of the sensor as a smart label. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Women in Biosensors)

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15 pages, 2855 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Proof-of-Concept Electrochemical Skin Sensor for Simultaneous Measurement of Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP) and Interleukin-6 (IL-6) for Management of Traumatic Brain Injuries

by Sarah Shahub, Kai-Chun Lin, Sriram Muthukumar and Shalini Prasad

Biosensors 2022, 12(12), 1095; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios12121095 - 30 Nov 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2156

Abstract

This work demonstrates the use of a noninvasive, sweat-based dual biomarker electrochemical sensor for continuous, prognostic monitoring of a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) with the aim of enhancing patient outcomes and reducing the time to treatment after injury. A multiplexed SWEATSENSER was used [...] Read more.

This work demonstrates the use of a noninvasive, sweat-based dual biomarker electrochemical sensor for continuous, prognostic monitoring of a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) with the aim of enhancing patient outcomes and reducing the time to treatment after injury. A multiplexed SWEATSENSER was used for noninvasive continuous monitoring of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and Interleukin-6 (IL-6) in a human sweat analog and in human sweat. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and chronoamperometry (CA) were used to measure the sensor response. The assay chemistry was characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). The SWEATSENSER was able to detect GFAP and IL-6 in sweat over a dynamic range of 3 log orders for GFAP and 2 log orders for IL-6. The limit of detection (LOD) for GFAP detection in the sweat analog was estimated to be 14 pg/mL using EIS and the LOD for IL-6 was estimated to be 10 pg/mL using EIS. An interference study was performed where the specific signal was significantly higher than the non-specific signal. Finally, the SWEATSENSER was able to distinguish between GFAP and IL-6 in simulated conditions of a TBI in human sweat. This work demonstrates the first proof-of-feasibility of a multiplexed TBI marker combined with cytokine and inflammatory marker detection in passively expressed sweat in a wearable form-factor that can be utilized toward better management of TBIs. This is the first step toward demonstrating a noninvasive enabling technology that can enable baseline tracking of an inflammatory response. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Women in Biosensors)

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23 pages, 6133 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Heterostructures Based on Cobalt Phthalocyanine Films Decorated with Gold Nanoparticles for the Detection of Low Concentrations of Ammonia and Nitric Oxide

by Svetlana I. Dorovskikh, Darya D. Klyamer, Evgeny A. Maksimovskiy, Victoria V. Volchek, Sergey M. Zharkov, Natalia B. Morozova and Tamara V. Basova

Biosensors 2022, 12(7), 476; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios12070476 - 30 Jun 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1801

Abstract

This work is aimed at the development of new heterostructures based on cobalt phthalocyanines (CoPc) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), and the evaluation of the prospects of their use to determine low concentrations of ammonia and nitric oxide. For this purpose, CoPc films were [...] Read more.

This work is aimed at the development of new heterostructures based on cobalt phthalocyanines (CoPc) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), and the evaluation of the prospects of their use to determine low concentrations of ammonia and nitric oxide. For this purpose, CoPc films were decorated with AuNPs by gas-phase methods (MOCVD and PVD) and drop-casting (DC), and their chemiresistive sensor response to low concentrations of NO (10–50 ppb) and NH₃ (1–10 ppm) was investigated. A comparative analysis of the characteristics of heterostructures depending on the preparation methods was carried out. The composition, structure, and morphology of the resulting hybrid films were studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission (ICP-AES) spectroscopy, as well as electron microscopy methods to discuss the effect of these parameters on the sensor response of hybrid films to ammonia and nitric oxide. It was shown that regardless of the fabrication method, the response of Au/CoPc heterostructures to NH₃ and NO gases increased with an increase in the concentration of gold. The sensor response of Au/CoPc heterostructures to NH₃ increased 2–3.3 times compared to CoPc film, whereas in the case of NO it increased up to 16 times. The detection limits of the Au/CoPc heterostructure with a gold content of ca. 2.1 µg/cm² for NH₃ and NO were 0.1 ppm and 4 ppb, respectively. It was shown that Au/CoPc heterostructures can be used for the detection of NH₃ in a gas mixture simulating exhaled air (N₂—74%, O₂—16%, H₂O—6%, CO₂—4%). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Women in Biosensors)

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12 pages, 3448 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Non-Enzymatic Detection of Glucose in Neutral Solution Using PBS-Treated Electrodeposited Copper-Nickel Electrodes

by Lindsey Goodnight, Derrick Butler, Tunan Xia and Aida Ebrahimi

Biosensors 2021, 11(11), 409; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios11110409 - 21 Oct 2021

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3045

Abstract

Transition metals have been explored extensively for non-enzymatic electrochemical detection of glucose. However, to enable glucose oxidation, the majority of reports require highly alkaline electrolytes which can be damaging to the sensors and hazardous to handle. In this work, we developed a non-enzymatic [...] Read more.

Transition metals have been explored extensively for non-enzymatic electrochemical detection of glucose. However, to enable glucose oxidation, the majority of reports require highly alkaline electrolytes which can be damaging to the sensors and hazardous to handle. In this work, we developed a non-enzymatic sensor for detection of glucose in near-neutral solution based on copper-nickel electrodes which are electrochemically modified in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). Nickel and copper were deposited using chronopotentiometry, followed by a two-step annealing process in air (Step 1: at room temperature and Step 2: at 150 °C) and electrochemical stabilization in PBS. Morphology and chemical composition of the electrodes were characterized using scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Cyclic voltammetry was used to measure oxidation reaction of glucose in sodium sulfate (100 mM, pH 6.4). The PBS-Cu-Ni working electrodes enabled detection of glucose with a limit of detection (LOD) of 4.2 nM, a dynamic response from 5 nM to 20 mM, and sensitivity of 5.47

\pm

0.45

{μ A cm}^{- 2} / \log_{10} (mole . L^{- 1})

at an applied potential of 0.2 V. In addition to the ultralow LOD, the sensors are selective toward glucose in the presence of physiologically relevant concentrations of ascorbic acid and uric acid spiked in artificial saliva. The optimized PBS-Cu-Ni electrodes demonstrate better stability after seven days storage in ambient compared to the Cu-Ni electrodes without PBS treatment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Women in Biosensors)

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17 pages, 3974 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Electrochemical Trimethylamine N-Oxide Biosensor with Enzyme-Based Oxygen-Scavenging Membrane for Long-Term Operation under Ambient Air

by Armel F. T. Waffo, Biljana Mitrova, Kim Tiedemann, Chantal Iobbi-Nivol, Silke Leimkühler and Ulla Wollenberger

Biosensors 2021, 11(4), 98; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios11040098 - 27 Mar 2021

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3316

Abstract

An amperometric trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) biosensor is reported, where TMAO reductase (TorA) and glucose oxidase (GOD) and catalase (Cat) were immobilized on the electrode surface, enabling measurements of mediated enzymatic TMAO reduction at low potential under ambient air conditions. The oxygen anti-interference [...] Read more.

An amperometric trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) biosensor is reported, where TMAO reductase (TorA) and glucose oxidase (GOD) and catalase (Cat) were immobilized on the electrode surface, enabling measurements of mediated enzymatic TMAO reduction at low potential under ambient air conditions. The oxygen anti-interference membrane composed of GOD, Cat and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogel, together with glucose concentration, was optimized until the O₂ reduction current of a Clark-type electrode was completely suppressed for at least 3 h. For the preparation of the TMAO biosensor, Escherichia coli TorA was purified under anaerobic conditions and immobilized on the surface of a carbon electrode and covered by the optimized O₂ scavenging membrane. The TMAO sensor operates at a potential of −0.8 V vs. Ag/AgCl (1 M KCl), where the reduction of methylviologen (MV) is recorded. The sensor signal depends linearly on TMAO concentrations between 2 µM and 15 mM, with a sensitivity of 2.75 ± 1.7 µA/mM. The developed biosensor is characterized by a response time of about 33 s and an operational stability over 3 weeks. Furthermore, measurements of TMAO concentration were performed in 10% human serum, where the lowest detectable concentration is of 10 µM TMAO. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Women in Biosensors)

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Review

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26 pages, 1774 KiB

Open AccessReview

Progress in Plasmonic Sensors as Monitoring Tools for Aquaculture Quality Control

by Gabriela Elizabeth Quintanilla-Villanueva, Jesús Maldonado, Donato Luna-Moreno, José Manuel Rodríguez-Delgado, Juan Francisco Villarreal-Chiu and Melissa Marlene Rodríguez-Delgado

Biosensors 2023, 13(1), 90; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios13010090 - 05 Jan 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2712

Abstract

Aquaculture is an expanding economic sector that nourishes the world’s growing population due to its nutritional significance over the years as a source of high-quality proteins. However, it has faced severe challenges due to significant cases of environmental pollution, pathogen outbreaks, and the [...] Read more.

Aquaculture is an expanding economic sector that nourishes the world’s growing population due to its nutritional significance over the years as a source of high-quality proteins. However, it has faced severe challenges due to significant cases of environmental pollution, pathogen outbreaks, and the lack of traceability that guarantees the quality assurance of its products. Such context has prompted many researchers to work on the development of novel, affordable, and reliable technologies, many based on nanophotonic sensing methodologies. These emerging technologies, such as surface plasmon resonance (SPR), localised SPR (LSPR), and fibre-optic SPR (FO-SPR) systems, overcome many of the drawbacks of conventional analytical tools in terms of portability, reagent and solvent use, and the simplicity of sample pre-treatments, which would benefit a more sustainable and profitable aquaculture. To highlight the current progress made in these technologies that would allow them to be transferred for implementation in the field, along with the lag with respect to the most cutting-edge plasmonic sensing, this review provides a variety of information on recent advances in these emerging methodologies that can be used to comprehensively monitor the various operations involving the different commercial stages of farmed aquaculture. For example, to detect environmental hazards, track fish health through biochemical indicators, and monitor disease and biosecurity of fish meat products. Furthermore, it highlights the critical issues associated with these technologies, how to integrate them into farming facilities, and the challenges and prospects of developing plasmonic-based sensors for aquaculture. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Women in Biosensors)

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19 pages, 1192 KiB

Open AccessReview

Use of Cysteamine and Glutaraldehyde Chemicals for Robust Functionalization of Substrates with Protein Biomarkers—An Overview on the Construction of Biosensors with Different Transductions

by Rodica Elena Ionescu

Biosensors 2022, 12(8), 581; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios12080581 - 29 Jul 2022

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 5183

Abstract

Currently, several biosensors are reported to confirm the absence/presence of an abnormal level of specific human biomarkers in research laboratories. Unfortunately, public marketing and/or pharmacy accessibility are not yet possible for many bodily fluid biomarkers. The questions are numerous, starting from the preparation [...] Read more.

Currently, several biosensors are reported to confirm the absence/presence of an abnormal level of specific human biomarkers in research laboratories. Unfortunately, public marketing and/or pharmacy accessibility are not yet possible for many bodily fluid biomarkers. The questions are numerous, starting from the preparation of the substrates, the wet/dry form of recognizing the (bio)ligands, the exposure time, and the choice of the running buffers. In this context, for the first time, the present overview summarizes the pre-functionalization of standard and nanostructured solid/flexible supports with cysteamine (Cys) and glutaraldehyde (GA) chemicals for robust protein immobilization and detection of biomarkers in body fluids (serum, saliva, and urine) using three transductions: piezoelectrical, electrochemical, and optical, respectively. Thus, the reader can easily access and compare step-by-step conjugate protocols published over the past 10 years. In conclusion, Cys/GA chemistry seems widely used for electrochemical sensing applications with different types of recorded signals, either current, potential, or impedance. On the other hand, piezoelectric detection via quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) and optical detection by surface plasmon resonance (LSPR)/surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) are ultrasensitive platforms and very good candidates for the miniaturization of medical devices in the near future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Women in Biosensors)

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