Sensors & diagnostics最新文献

The development of low-cost, rapid point-of-care tests (POCT) for the detection of the parasite Trichomonas vaginalis is listed in the recent WHO global research priorities for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Aiming to contribute to this call and aid in ending STIs as a public health threat, we report the development of a DNA aptamer-based POCT for T. vaginalis. Herein, we report an aptamer-based lateral flow assay (ALFA) based on dual aptamers for the detection of T. vaginalis. This is the first report of an ALFA that does not rely on biotin/streptavidin for either capture or reporter molecule. Aptamer capture and recognition relies on the use of an UV-crosslinked aminated capture aptamer on the nitrocellulose membrane and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) functionalized with a thioctic acid-modified reporter aptamer. The developed ALFA has an estimated laboratory production cost of less than 1 € per test, with the running buffer and the ALFA strip stable for at least 1 year at room temperature (22 °C). The assay requires three simple operator steps from sample procurement to result with a 15-minute runtime. The developed ALFA can detect down to 1.6 × 10⁵T. vaginalis per mL and shows no cross-reactivity to common vaginal microorganisms and no matrix effect from clinical cervicovaginal lavage (CVL) samples is observed. Preliminary clinical evaluation using CVLs demonstrated that the assay has perfect concordance with wet-mount assay on matching vaginal swabs. The developed rapid test offers a simple, stable, and low-cost diagnostic test for T. vaginalis.

The increasing global prevalence of diabetes has led to significant advancements in glucose monitoring technologies. Since the introduction of enzyme-based glucose biosensors in the 1960s, these devices have evolved to enable real-time and dynamic glucose monitoring, with electrochemical biosensors playing a crucial role. Recent innovations have expanded glucose sensing into non-invasive and minimally invasive methods, utilizing optical, millimeter wave, ultrasound, and bioimpedance techniques to provide user-friendly and painless alternatives. This review examines the current state and future prospects of glucose monitoring technologies, particularly focusing on wearable sensors for in vivo applications. It explores the key mechanisms of electrochemical and alternative sensing methods, highlighting their evolution, adaptability to different biofluids, and integration into multiplexed systems for improved diabetes management. Emerging wearable devices offer continuous and real-time feedback, which is essential for effective glucose regulation. The review also addresses challenges such as biocompatibility, accuracy in fluctuating physiological conditions, and external factors that can affect sensor performance. Furthermore, it analyzes the commercial landscape, from established continuous glucose monitors to next-generation technologies, highlighting opportunities for personalized care. The aim of this review is to guide future research in developing advanced and efficient glucose monitoring solutions tailored to meet patient needs.

The effective synthesis of phosphinine-based (E)-2-((2,6-dicyano-1,1-diphenyl-λ⁵-phosphinin-4-yl)methylene) hydrazine-1-carbothioamide (MHC) and (E)-4-((2-(benzo[d]thiazol-2-yl)hydrazineylidene)methyl)-1,1-diphenyl-λ⁵-phosphinine-2,6-dicarbonitrile (BHP) sensor materials resulted in the characterization of their notable photophysical characteristics, including aggregation, solvatochromism, and sensing ability. Upon application, the ratiometric emission properties of the MHC and BHP probes were evaluated, and they exhibited noteworthy selectivity and sensitivity for silver (Ag⁺) and mercury (Hg²⁺) ions over other metal ions. After conducting a thorough photophysical investigation, the detection limits (LODs) for Ag⁺ and Hg²⁺ were determined to be as low as 8.7 and 8.6 nM for MHC and 280 and 340 pM for BHP, respectively. In addition, MHC and BHP were examined as capable sensing materials for Ag⁺ and Hg²⁺ ions on paper strip-based sensors and bio-images. ¹H NMR titration, HRMS analysis and DFT studies validated the binding processes of MHC and BHP with Ag⁺ and Hg²⁺ ions. These findings contribute to the future development of practical onsite detection of Ag⁺ and Hg²⁺ ions in ecological systems.

Current routine diagnostic tests for Cryptosporidium oocysts in water are performed in centralised laboratories using the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) approved USEPA Method 1623.1. This method uses fluorescent microscopy, which suffers from artefacts and false positive responses from contaminating oocyst-size particles. Additionally, existing molecular detection methods based on real-time PCR (qPCR) require purified nucleic acid, primarily relying on laborious, time-consuming, and expensive centralised laboratory-based DNA isolation procedures using commercial kits. Both the microscopy and PCR-based molecular techniques are not suitable for rapid detection due to the nature of the experiment and instrumentation. This study reports a rapid and simple method that eliminates the need for multi-step DNA isolation and purification procedures. The method involves the direct heat lysis of magnetically isolated Cryptosporidium oocysts from water samples, followed by a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP)-based detection. The analytical performance of this assay reveals a LOD of 0.17 copies per μL of genomic DNA (gDNA) with a dynamic range from 1.05 × 10⁴ copies per μL to 1.05 copies per μL. We simulated the matrix effect by putting mud into tap water and spiked oocysts to demonstrate the practical applicability of the assay. The designed LAMP detected as low as 5 and 10 oocysts per 10 mL of tap water without and with simulated matrices, respectively. The ultrasensitive nature of this assay can be attributed to its acceleration due to targeting an intron-less gene. We propose that this simple and rapid method can be extended to detect various types of pathogens.

Heavy metallic cations are prevalent in the environment and have detrimental effects on human health and flora. Research into methods for their detection is increasing. Laser-derived graphene electrodes (LDGEs) have gained popularity in electrochemical applications owing to their straightforward preparation, cost-effectiveness, porous structure, high specific surface area, and advantageous electronic properties. In this study, we showed that the fine-tuning of laser beam parameters, such as power and speed, as well as the electrochemical detection parameters, allowed detecting heavy metal ions, specifically Cd²⁺ and Pb²⁺, using carefully optimized porous LDGEs, without the need of adding any other metals such as Bi³⁺. The optimal LDGEs, respectively fabricated with a laser power and speed of 6.4 W and 30 cm s⁻¹ were characterized using electrochemical measurements, digital imaging, scanning electron microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy, confirming the 3D porous structure. The LDGEs were then subjected to square-wave anodic stripping voltammetry for the simultaneous detection of Cd²⁺ and Pb²⁺ in a 0.1 M acetate-buffered solution at pH 4. The key metrics for the LDGE-based sensor were as follows: sensitivities of 0.45 (Cd²⁺) and 0.93 (Pb²⁺) μA ppb⁻¹ cm⁻², linear ranges spanning from 25 to 1000 ppb (Cd²⁺) and 10 to 500 ppb (Pb²⁺), and detection limits of 6.13 ppb (Cd²⁺) and 2.96 ppb (Pb²⁺) (at S/N = 3).The electrochemical sensor could simultaneously detect Cd²⁺ and Pb²⁺ in real samples, including ore and tap water. This underscores the applicability and versatility of the optimized LDGEs for heavy-metal ion detection in complex environmental matrices.

With the prevalence of diabetes and its secondary complications, the effective monitoring of diabetic biomarkers is necessary. While portable analytical devices for blood glucose have been sophisticatedly developed, those for haemoglobin (Hb) and, especially haemoglobin A1c (HbA_1c), a glycated form of Hb, remain elusive. Here, we developed an aptamer-based duplexed electrochemical sensor for the simultaneous detection of Hb and HbA_1c. Ferrocene (Fc) and a thiol group were introduced to the 5′ and 3′-end of aptamers that bind Hb and HbA_1c, respectively. While the thiol group facilitates the formation of a self-assembled monolayer of the aptamers onto a customized, duplexed screen-printed gold electrode, the presence of Fc provides the electrodes an internal electrochemical signal. Upon analyte binding, the secondary conformation of the aptamers is changed, thus leading to a quenched current signal because of an increased distance between Fc and the electrode surface. Our duplexed electrochemical sensor showed a good linearity for both analytes over a wide concentration range, and has proved effective in simultaneously quantifying Hb and HbA_1c in calibration samples.

Spermine, a key biogenic amine indicating food freshness, is typically detected using costly and time-consuming chromatographic methods. This study introduces a more efficient, eco-friendly alternative—a label-free colorimetric sensing platform using gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) functionalized with 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid and capped with an N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS)-ester. Transmission electron microscopy revealed monodisperse, spherical AuNPs (13 nm), with an increase in size upon functionalization. Fourier transform infrared spectra confirmed successful functionalization. The hydrodynamic size of the AuNPs increased from 17.26 nm to 2167 nm, and the zeta potential shifted from −48.86 mV to −35.59 mV. The platform takes advantage of the selective interaction between spermine and NHS-ester-functionalized AuNPs, inducing nanoparticle aggregation, as shown by a red shift in surface plasmon resonance (SPR). UV-vis spectroscopy demonstrated a robust linear correlation (R² = 0.958) between spermine concentration (1.0–4.0 μM) and nanoparticle aggregation index, with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.77 μM. The sensor also exhibited high reproducibility in pork extract matrices (coefficient of variation <5%) and selectivity for spermine amid various interfering analytes. Its eco-friendly design and rapid response time position it as a viable tool for real-time spermine monitoring in food spoilage, offering comparable performance metrics to traditional chromatographic techniques while addressing sustainability concerns.

CRISPR-Cas-based lateral flow assays (LFAs) have emerged as a promising diagnostic tool for ultrasensitive detection of nucleic acids, offering improved speed, simplicity and cost-effectiveness compared to polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based assays. However, visual interpretation of CRISPR-Cas-based LFA test results is prone to human error, potentially leading to false-positive or false-negative outcomes when analyzing test/control lines. To address this limitation, we have developed two neural network models: one based on a fully convolutional neural network and the other on a lightweight mobile-optimized neural network for automated interpretation of CRISPR-Cas-based LFA test results. To demonstrate proof of concept, these models were applied to interpret results from a CRISPR-Cas13-based LFA for the detection of the SARS-CoV-2 N gene, a key marker for COVID-19 infection. The models were trained, evaluated, and validated using smartphone-captured images of LFA devices in various orientations with different backgrounds, lighting conditions, and image qualities. A total of 3146 images (1569 negative, 1577 positive) captured using an iPhone 13 or Samsung Galaxy A52 Android smartphone were analyzed using the trained models, which classified the LFA results within 0.2 s with 96.5% accuracy compared to the ground truth. These results demonstrate the potential of machine learning to accurately interpret test results of CRISPR-Cas-based LFAs using smartphone-captured images in real-world settings, enabling the practical use of CRISPR-Cas-based diagnostic tools for self- and at-home testing.

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), which have been used as colorimetric biosensors, show strong light scattering, allowing individual AuNPs to be identified using a dark-field microscope (DFM). In this study, we developed a method of observing the target molecule-derived aggregation of AuNPs modified with DNA aptamers at the single-cluster level using the DFM. C-Reactive protein (CRP) is an important clinical biomarker of inflammatory and cardiovascular diseases, for which a simple, inexpensive, and sensitive detection method is needed. In this study, the CRP-mediated aggregate formation of CRP aptamer-modified AuNPs was evaluated with single-cluster analysis using the DFM, and the detection limit was 17 nM, which was sufficient as a diagnostic indicator for CRP. We also developed a portable DFM equipped with a smartphone and a stage adjustment system, which enables single-cluster observation of AuNPs, and showed that 50 nM of CRP could be detected, indicating that this approach is suitable for point-of-care diagnosis. With the selection of appropriate aptamers, this method can be applied for the detection of various molecules.

The illicit use of recycled waste cooking oil poses a threat to food safety, yet there is currently a lack of on-site identification methods. This study targets a key component of recycled cooking oil, capsaicinoids, and establishes a rapid detection method for identifying illegally recycled waste cooking oil on-site. The method involves extracting capsaicinoids from the oil using a non-organic solvent extractant, and then detecting it using fluorescent lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) strips. The preparation conditions of LFIA test strips were first optimized in this study. Subsequently, a 0.02 mol L⁻¹ solution of dimethyl-β-cyclodextrin was optimized as the extractant for capsaicin. The optimized sample extraction conditions involve a sample-to-extractant volume ratio of 1:2 and an extraction time of 1 minute, with a total extraction and detection time not exceeding 15 minutes. This method demonstrates a limit of detection (LOD) for natural capsaicin in oil samples of 0.14 μg kg⁻¹, with a detection range spanning 0.46 to 81 μg kg⁻¹. The method yields recovery rates between 88.76% and 115.79%, with coefficient of variation (CV) values ranging from 1.80% to 13.37%. Cross-reactivity rates for dihydrocapsaicin and synthetic capsaicin exceed 90%, while the impact of common contaminants or additives in other edible oils on detection is minimal. In conclusion, this approach fulfills the technical criteria mandated by the China Food and Drug Administration for distinguishing capsaicin compounds in recycled oil, offering advantages such as simplicity, rapidity, and “green” operation, making it suitable for rapid on-site identification of illegally recycled waste cooking oil.