{"title":"High-Frequency 64-Element Ring-Annular Array Transducer: Development and Preclinical Validation for Intravascular Ultrasound Imaging.","authors":"Xi Liu, Yuanlong Li, Haiguo Qin, Chang Peng","doi":"10.3390/bios15030169","DOIUrl":"10.3390/bios15030169","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) imaging has become an essential method for diagnosing coronary artery disease. However, traditional mechanically rotational IVUS catheters encounter issues such as mechanical wear and imaging distortions in curved vessels. The ring-annular IVUS array has gained attention because it offers superior imaging performance without the need for mechanical rotational parts, thereby avoiding rotational imaging distortion. An optimized mechanical micromachining process employing precision dicing technology is proposed in this study, with the objective of achieving higher operating frequencies and minimized outer diameters for a 64-element ring-annular array. This method broadens the range of fabrication options and improves the imaging sensitivity of ring-annular IVUS arrays, as well as eliminating imaging distortion in rotational IVUS catheters, particularly in curved vessels. The probe has a 7.5 Fr (2.5 mm) outer diameter, with key fabrication steps including precision dicing, flexible circuit integration, and Parylene C encapsulation. The ring-annular array has a center frequency of 21.51 MHz with 67.87% bandwidth, with a 56 µm axial resolution and a 276 µm lateral resolution. The imaging performance is further validated by in vitro phantom imaging and ex vivo imaging.</p>","PeriodicalId":48608,"journal":{"name":"Biosensors-Basel","volume":"15 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11939971/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143711676","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Rafael C Castro, Ricardo N M J Páscoa, David S M Ribeiro, João L M Santos
{"title":"Quantum Dot Applications Using Kinetic Data: A Promising Approach for Enhanced Analytical Determinations.","authors":"Rafael C Castro, Ricardo N M J Páscoa, David S M Ribeiro, João L M Santos","doi":"10.3390/bios15030167","DOIUrl":"10.3390/bios15030167","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The acquisition of kinetic data in QD-based PL sensing methodologies has been revealed to be an auspicious alternative in applying these nanomaterials in analytical chemistry, enabling enhanced discrimination and quantification of analytes, even in complex sample matrices. The accessibility of kinetic measurements, which use routine laboratory instrumentation, is a significant advantage that increases the practicality of this methodology. The simple acquisition of these kinds of second-order data combined with chemometric analysis can ensure accurate results in environmental, biomedical, and food monitoring applications. These developments emphasize the vital importance of kinetic approaches in increasing sensitivity, improving analyte discrimination, and making the application of QDs in complex samples possible.</p>","PeriodicalId":48608,"journal":{"name":"Biosensors-Basel","volume":"15 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11940163/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143711731","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Atheer Awad, Lucía Rodríguez-Pombo, Paula Esteiro Simón, André Campos Álvarez, Carmen Alvarez-Lorenzo, Abdul W Basit, Alvaro Goyanes
{"title":"Smartphone Biosensors for Non-Invasive Drug Monitoring in Saliva.","authors":"Atheer Awad, Lucía Rodríguez-Pombo, Paula Esteiro Simón, André Campos Álvarez, Carmen Alvarez-Lorenzo, Abdul W Basit, Alvaro Goyanes","doi":"10.3390/bios15030163","DOIUrl":"10.3390/bios15030163","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In recent years, biosensors have emerged as a promising solution for therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM), offering automated systems for rapid chemical analyses with minimal pre-treatment requirements. The use of saliva as a biological sample matrix offers distinct advantages, including non-invasiveness, cost-effectiveness, and reduced susceptibility to fluid intake fluctuations compared to alternative methods. The aim of this study was to explore and compare two types of low-cost biosensors, namely, the colourimetric and electrochemical methodologies, for quantifying paracetamol (acetaminophen) concentrations within artificial saliva using the MediMeter app, which has been specifically developed for this application. The research encompassed extensive optimisations and methodological refinements to ensure the results were robust and reliable. Material selection and parameter adjustments minimised external interferences, enhancing measurement accuracy. Both the colourimetric and electrochemical methods successfully determined paracetamol concentrations within the therapeutic range of 0.01-0.05 mg/mL (R<sup>2</sup> = 0.939 for colourimetric and R<sup>2</sup> = 0.988 for electrochemical). While both techniques offered different advantages, the electrochemical approach showed better precision (i.e., standard deviation of response = 0.1041 mg/mL) and speed (i.e., ~1 min). These findings highlight the potential use of biosensors in drug concentration determination, with the choice of technology dependent on specific application requirements. The development of an affordable, non-invasive and rapid biosensing system holds promise for remote drug concentration monitoring, reducing the need for invasive approaches and hospital visits. Future research could extend these methodologies to practical clinical applications, encouraging the use of TDM for enhanced precision, accessibility, and real-time patient-centric care.</p>","PeriodicalId":48608,"journal":{"name":"Biosensors-Basel","volume":"15 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11940247/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143711757","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nayoung Kim, Mingyu Bae, Euni Cho, Ki Su Kim, Jin-Ho Lee
{"title":"Plasmonic Biosensors in Cancer-Associated miRNA Detection.","authors":"Nayoung Kim, Mingyu Bae, Euni Cho, Ki Su Kim, Jin-Ho Lee","doi":"10.3390/bios15030165","DOIUrl":"10.3390/bios15030165","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cancer is one of the most lethal diseases and has distinct variants that affect over 60 organs in the human body. The necessity of advanced methodologies for the early diagnosis of cancer has grown over the past decades. Among various biomarkers, microRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as highly specific and minimally invasive indicators for cancer detection, prognosis, and treatment monitoring. Their stability in biological fluids and their critical role in gene regulation make them valuable targets for diagnostic applications. Plasmonic biosensors have gained massive attention owing to their unique optical properties, such as surface plasmon resonance, making them promising tools for the sensitive and selective analysis of cancer-associated biomarkers. In contrast to previous reviews, this work offers a comprehensive overview of advancements from approximately the past five years, particularly in the detection of cancer-associated miRNAs. It emphasizes emerging plasmonic sensing strategies, integration with novel nanomaterials, and enhanced signal amplification techniques. By focusing on these recent innovations, this review provides new insights into the potential of plasmonic biosensors to improve cancer diagnosis and treatment.</p>","PeriodicalId":48608,"journal":{"name":"Biosensors-Basel","volume":"15 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11940778/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143711664","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
R V A Boaventura, C L Pereira, C Junqueira, K B Gonçalves, N P Rezende, I A Borges, R C Barcelos, F B Oréfice, F F Bagno, F G Fonseca, A Corrêa, L S Gomes, R G Lacerda
{"title":"Detection of IgG Antibodies Against COVID-19 N-Protein by Hybrid Graphene-Nanorod Sensor.","authors":"R V A Boaventura, C L Pereira, C Junqueira, K B Gonçalves, N P Rezende, I A Borges, R C Barcelos, F B Oréfice, F F Bagno, F G Fonseca, A Corrêa, L S Gomes, R G Lacerda","doi":"10.3390/bios15030164","DOIUrl":"10.3390/bios15030164","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the global necessity to develop fast, affordable, and user-friendly diagnostic alternatives. Alongside recognized tests such as ELISA, nanotechnologies have since been explored for direct and indirect diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2, the etiological agent of COVID-19. Accordingly, in this work, we report a method to detect anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies based on graphene-based field-effect transistors (GFETs), using a nanostructured platform of graphene with added gold nanorods (GNRs) and a specific viral protein. To detect anti-N-protein IgG antibodies for COVID-19 in human sera, gold nanorods were functionalized with the nucleocapsid (N) protein of SARS-CoV-2, and subsequently deposited onto graphene devices. Our test results demonstrate that the sensor is highly sensitive and can detect antibody concentrations as low as 100 pg/mL. Using the sensor to test human sera that were previously diagnosed with ELISA showed a 90% accuracy rate compared to the ELISA results, with the test completed in under 15 min. Integrating graphene and nanorods eliminates the need for a blocker, simplifying sensor fabrication. This hybrid sensor holds robust potential to serve as a simple and efficient point-of-care platform.</p>","PeriodicalId":48608,"journal":{"name":"Biosensors-Basel","volume":"15 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11940001/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143711821","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Aspects of Electrochemical Biosensors Using Affinity Assays.","authors":"Thor Pedersen, Leonid Gurevich, Nils E Magnusson","doi":"10.3390/bios15030166","DOIUrl":"10.3390/bios15030166","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In recent decades, the utilization of biomarkers has gained increasing attention. The timely identification and quantification of proteins, nucleic acids, and small molecules associated with a medical condition, infection, or contaminant have become increasingly crucial across a variety of fields, including medicine, food safety, and quality/environmental control. State-of-the-art biomarker detection methods predominantly rely on standard immunoassay techniques, requiring specialized laboratory equipment and trained personnel. This impedes the broad commercial implementation of biosensors in, e.g., Point-of-Care (PoC) settings where ease of operation, portability, and cost-efficiency are prioritized. Small, robust electrochemical biosensors are a promising alternative for analyzing biomarkers in complex samples within PoC environments. Therefore, creating and designing optimized sensing surfaces, immobilization strategies, and efficient signal generation are crucial for improving biosensor systems, which in turn can have real-world impact. In the present paper, we reviewed common electrode types and geometries used in electrochemical biosensors and the immobilization approaches, discussed the advantages and drawbacks of different electrochemical detection methods, and presented different labeling strategies for signal generation and enhancement.</p>","PeriodicalId":48608,"journal":{"name":"Biosensors-Basel","volume":"15 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11939962/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143711760","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Single-Chamber Microbial Fuel Cell with an Innovative Sensing Component for Real-Time Continual Monitoring of a Wide Range of Cr(VI) Concentrations in Wastewater.","authors":"Guey-Horng Wang, Jong-Tar Kuo, Chiu-Yu Cheng, Ying-Chien Chung","doi":"10.3390/bios15030158","DOIUrl":"10.3390/bios15030158","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) is toxic, carcinogenic, and harmful to biological systems. Common detection methods, such as colorimetry, atomic absorption spectrometry, ion chromatography, and biological systems, can only be used in the laboratory and do not provide real-time feedback. To address these limitations, the current study cloned the <i>ChrB</i> gene, which exhibits high specificity in detecting Cr(VI), and the <i>ChrA</i> gene, which exhibits high Cr(VI) tolerance, into <i>Escherichia coli</i>. This recombinant strain, <i>ChrA-ChrB-E. coli</i>, was integrated into a single-chamber microbial fuel cell for accurate continual monitoring over a wide range of Cr(VI) concentrations. <i>ChrA-ChrB-E. coli</i> thrived in temperatures from 25 °C to 45 °C and pH levels between 5 and 8. Its ability to reduce Cr(VI) remained consistent across Cr(VI) forms, carbon sources, and oxyanions. Cyclic voltammetry was employed to verify the electrical activity of the biosensor. The biosensor exhibited a detection limit of 0.0075 mg/L. Under conditions simulating the regulatory emission limit for Cr(VI) of 0.5 mg/L in industrial wastewater, the biosensor achieved a response time of 20 s during continual operation. When tested with synthetic wastewater containing Cr(VI) concentrations from 0.02 to 150 mg/L, the system exhibited high adaptability and facilitated stable monitoring (relative standard deviation ≤ 2.7%). Additionally, the biosensor's accuracy (-1.73% to 2.5%) matched that of traditional batch methods, highlighting its suitability for real-time Cr(VI) monitoring in aquatic environments.</p>","PeriodicalId":48608,"journal":{"name":"Biosensors-Basel","volume":"15 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11940674/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143711745","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Chiara Marzano, Rosalba Pitruzzella, Francesco Arcadio, Federica Passeggio, Mimimorena Seggio, Luigi Zeni, Laura Pasquardini, Nunzio Cennamo
{"title":"Detecting Attomolar Concentrations of Interleukin IL-17A via Pollen-Based Nanoplasmonic Biochips.","authors":"Chiara Marzano, Rosalba Pitruzzella, Francesco Arcadio, Federica Passeggio, Mimimorena Seggio, Luigi Zeni, Laura Pasquardini, Nunzio Cennamo","doi":"10.3390/bios15030161","DOIUrl":"10.3390/bios15030161","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Interleukins are involved in several diseases and cancers, and their detection and monitoring are of great interest. Their low abundance and short half-lives suggest the need to develop rapid, specific, and highly sensitive detection platforms, easily integrable in point-of-care (POC) systems. Among the other interleukins, interleukin IL-17A is associated with inflammations, neurodegenerative diseases, and cancers, and no biosensors have been previously reported for its detection. In this work, for the detection of IL-17A, a highly sensitive nanoplasmonic sensor based on natural nanostructures like pollen shells, covered by a gold film and a bio-receptor layer, is presented. Hybrid plasmonic modes are exploited to reach high sensitivity without using costly techniques to fabricate periodic nanostructures, such as electron beam lithography. A transparent amino-modified glass substrate is functionalized with carboxylic activated pollen via carbodiimide chemistry. Then, the pollen-based nanostructures are covered by a gold film and derivatized by an immuno-layer specific to IL-17A recognition. The developed IL-17A biosensor is monitored via a simple, small-sized, and low-cost experimental setup, demonstrating high selectivity, a fast response time of about five minutes, and sensitivity with a limit of detection in the ag/mL concentration range. The biosensor allows for the detection of IL-17A in complex solutions thanks to the possibility of high dilution, an advantageous aspect to POC systems.</p>","PeriodicalId":48608,"journal":{"name":"Biosensors-Basel","volume":"15 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11940818/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143711804","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Le Li, Yonghong Zhao, Zhengjiu Wang, Jiale Tao, Manying Yang, Chen Li, Xiaoqian Zhang, Shiguo Sun, Na Zhao
{"title":"Application of an Electrochemical Sensor Based on Nitrogen-Doped Biochar Loaded with Ruthenium Oxide for Heavy Metal Detection.","authors":"Le Li, Yonghong Zhao, Zhengjiu Wang, Jiale Tao, Manying Yang, Chen Li, Xiaoqian Zhang, Shiguo Sun, Na Zhao","doi":"10.3390/bios15030160","DOIUrl":"10.3390/bios15030160","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cotton is a widely cultivated cash crop and represents one of the most significant raw materials for textiles on a global scale. The rapid development of the cotton industry has resulted in the production of substantial amounts of cotton husks, which are frequently underutilized or discarded. This study utilizes agricultural waste, specifically cotton shells, as a precursor for biochar, which is subsequently carbonized and nitrogen-doped with ruthenium oxide to synthesize an innovative composite material known as RuO<sub>2</sub>-NC. An electrochemical sensor was developed using this composite material to detect heavy metals, particularly lead and copper ions. The results demonstrate that the electrochemical sensor can accurately quantify concentrations of lead and copper ions across a wide linear range, exhibiting exceptional sensitivity. Furthermore, the sensor was tested on samples from <i>Viola tianshanica</i> Maxim (Violaceae) collected from the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR) in China, showing commendable accuracy and sensitivity. This approach promotes eco-friendly recycling of agricultural waste while offering advantages such as straightforward operation and reduced costs, thereby presenting promising prospects for practical applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":48608,"journal":{"name":"Biosensors-Basel","volume":"15 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11940077/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143711669","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Meimei Zeng, Xinru Wang, Zifeng Tan, Wenyan Guo, Yan Deng, Song Li, Libo Nie, Nongyue He, Zhu Chen
{"title":"A Novel Rapid Detection Method for <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i> Based on Scattering-Light Turbidity Using Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification.","authors":"Meimei Zeng, Xinru Wang, Zifeng Tan, Wenyan Guo, Yan Deng, Song Li, Libo Nie, Nongyue He, Zhu Chen","doi":"10.3390/bios15030162","DOIUrl":"10.3390/bios15030162","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The accurate detection of <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i> (MTB) is a pressing challenge in the precise prevention and control of tuberculosis. Currently, the efficiency and accuracy of drug resistance detection for MTB are low, and cross-contamination is common, making it inadequate for clinical needs. This study developed a rapid nucleic acid detection method for MTB based on scattering loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP). Specific primers for the MTB-specific gene (<i>Ag85B</i>) were designed, and the LAMP reaction system was optimized using a self-developed scattering LAMP turbidimeter. Experimental results showed that the optimal reaction system included 1.5 µL of 100 mmol/L magnesium ions, 3.5 µL of 10 mmol/L dNTPs, 6 µL of 1.6 mol/L betaine, and a reaction temperature of 65 °C. The minimum detection limit was 12.40 ng/L, with the fastest detection time being approximately 10 min. The reaction exhibited good specificity, with no amplification bands for other pathogens. Twenty culture-positive samples and twenty culture-negative samples were tested in parallel; the accuracy of the positive group was 100%, the detection time was (24.9 ± 13 min), and there was no negative detection. This method features high detection efficiency, low cost, high accuracy, and effectively reduces cross-contamination, providing a new technology for the rapid clinical detection of MTB.</p>","PeriodicalId":48608,"journal":{"name":"Biosensors-Basel","volume":"15 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11939914/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143711707","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}