Sensors & diagnostics最新文献

{"title":"Electrochemical DNA hairpin sensors for differentiating small molecule intercalation from minor groove binding.","authors":"Kiara Thompson, Kian Barnes, Saron Yoseph, Vincent Clark, J D Mahlum, Ananya Majumdar, Philip S Lukeman, Netzahualcóyotl Arroyo-Currás","doi":"10.1039/d6sd00111d","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d6sd00111d","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Small molecule double-stranded DNA intercalators have significant potential for therapeutic applications. However, screening for and confirming a drug candidate's intercalative behavior remains labor-intensive and costly. To address this, we investigated the sequence and biophysical parameters that affect the performance of electrochemical DNA hairpin sensors for streamlined identification of structural intercalators. These sensors utilize oligonucleotide (oligo) sequences that form hairpins upon intercalator binding. The 3' end of the oligo is modified with alkylthiol linkers for gold electrode surface monolayer self-assembly, while the 5' end carries a methylene blue redox reporter. Hairpin formation enhances electron transfer between methylene blue and the gold electrode, which can be detected <i>via</i> voltammetry. We tested seven hairpin structures varying in stem length and sequence. Our optimal oligo, HP4, features a four-base-pair stem and responds to five DNA intercalators over a broad detection range, with EC₅₀ in close agreement with published affinity (<i>K</i> _D) values for these interactions. We further demonstrate HP4's ability to discriminate intercalator binding from a series of minor groove binders through significant differences in signal gain upon incubation. Altogether, our strategy establishes a platform for identifying intercalative compounds that should support the development of DNA-targeting therapeutics.</p>","PeriodicalId":74786,"journal":{"name":"Sensors & diagnostics","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.9,"publicationDate":"2026-09-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13625175/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149119850","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"DISCO-LAMP: a novel discontinuous LAMP assay for isothermal antigen detection.","authors":"Benjamin M Thomas, Rudo A Simeon, Katherine L Yan, Vikas Chonira, Wesly T Chen, Emma L Webb, Caitlyn Mutchler, Alexi M Fernandez, Jinu Han, Zhilei Chen","doi":"10.1039/d6sd00073h","DOIUrl":"10.1039/d6sd00073h","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Proximity ligation assay (PLA) is a highly sensitive protein detection method in which DNA probes conjugated to affinity reagents are brought into proximity upon binding the same target molecule, thereby enabling greatly accelerated ligation of the DNA strands. The detection of the ligated DNA typically relies on PCR, which requires temperature cycling. In this study, we report on a novel discontinuous (DISCO)-LAMP assay that enables the wash-free detection of PLA products <i>via</i> loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP). Due to the exponential amplification nature of LAMP, a careful balance between efficient amplification of the ligated full-length DNA and minimal background amplification from the individual constituent DNA fragment is essential but often challenging to achieve. After extensive template/primer design and assay optimization, DISCO-LAMP assay achieved a detection limit of 1 fM for the full-length DNA while maintaining minimal background amplification at 10 nM of each individual DNA fragment. When functionalized with specific affinity reagents, DISCO-LAMP detected Shiga toxin 2 (Stx2) with a limit of detection (LoD) of 100 fM as well as both Wuhan-1 and Omicron spike protein using a newly engineered Designed Ankyrin Repeat Protein (DARPin) D_S16 targeting a conserved epitope on the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. We believe DISCO-LAMP represents a versatile and efficient LAMP-based technology that is readily adaptable for sensing diverse targets <i>via</i> PLA.</p>","PeriodicalId":74786,"journal":{"name":"Sensors & diagnostics","volume":" ","pages":"1165-1175"},"PeriodicalIF":5.9,"publicationDate":"2026-07-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13411199/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148622898","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Noninvasive malaria detection beyond blood sampling.","authors":"Shaun G Hong, Jung Woo Leem, Haripriya Sakthivel, Semin Kwon, Sang Mok Park, Atin Dewan, David J Botana, Young L Kim","doi":"10.1039/d6sd00085a","DOIUrl":"10.1039/d6sd00085a","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Malaria remains a major global health challenge, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, despite being one of the oldest documented human diseases. Although blood-based detection remains the mainstream diagnostic modality, its use is constrained by the need for trained personnel, sterile procedures, patient discomfort, and reduced sensitivity for low-parasitemia and asymptomatic infections. Recent advances in sensing and diagnostics, increasingly integrated with machine learning and artificial intelligence, have created new opportunities for noninvasive malaria detection using accessible biological samples and physiological signals. This critical review synthesizes recent progress in noninvasive malaria detection across nonblood sampling matrices, biophysical detection mechanisms, and data-driven analytical approaches. We examine diverse sampling matrices, including urine, saliva, exhaled breath, and skin-emitted volatile organic compounds with attention to their associated biomarkers, biological relevance, and operational feasibility. We further categorize detection technologies into three principal domains: biological sample-based platforms, including immunoassays, molecular amplification, biosensors, and mass spectrometry; acoustic, photoacoustic, and optical systems, including ultrasound, photoacoustics, optical imaging, and spectroscopy; and digital and connected health platforms, including wearable monitoring, smartphone imaging, and machine learning-enabled analysis. We then compare these modalities in terms of analytical performance, operational suitability, and translational potential for integration into healthcare systems. Finally, we present an implementation-oriented roadmap that highlights translational, equity, artificial intelligence, scalability, and regulatory considerations, identifying practical paths toward field-ready, affordable, and programmatically relevant noninvasive malaria detection.</p>","PeriodicalId":74786,"journal":{"name":"Sensors & diagnostics","volume":" ","pages":"1037-1087"},"PeriodicalIF":5.9,"publicationDate":"2026-07-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13463358/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148724751","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"PEG-mediated viscous crowding controls dynamics and quantitative range in recombinase polymerase amplification nucleation site analysis.","authors":"Coleman D Martin, Nandini S Gummalla, Kelli N Shimazu, Andrew T Bender, Jonathan D Posner","doi":"10.1039/d6sd00044d","DOIUrl":"10.1039/d6sd00044d","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Quantitative nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs), such as qPCR or digital PCR, are essential diagnostic tools in the fields of medicine, environmental monitoring, and food safety. Recent efforts to bring nucleic acid quantification to the point-of-need using rapid isothermal amplification assays struggle to provide quantitative precision and suitable quantitative range. Here we investigate a digital isothermal NAAT in a membrane-free microfluidic chip by systematically tuning recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) chemistry with a polyethylene glycol crowding agent (PEG 35 000) that controls the dynamics of individual amplification nucleation site development. Amplification nucleation site analysis (ANSA) using real-time epifluorescence imaging reveals that individual nucleation sites exhibit Gaussian spatial intensity profiles whose amplitude, width, and total fluorescence evolve in time. Site diameter increases linearly during active amplification, while peak intensity follows an exponential growth curve before plateauing. Increasing PEG concentration results in smaller reaction site diameters and enables reliable discrimination of closely spaced amplification events with 8% PEG providing the best balance between amplification robustness and site separation. We observe quantitative detection from 10² to 10⁶ HIV DNA copies per reaction over a 4 log window that fits a power-law model (<i>R</i> ² = 0.94). Compared with digital PCR, the chip requires no photolithography-based fabrication or droplet generators and is fabricated from low-cost laser-cut polymers and tape. By coupling viscosity-driven site formation with low magnification fluorescence imaging, PEG-tuned ANSA delivers rapid, calibration-free HIV viral load measurements that cover the clinical range for HIV management in a simple, low-cost membrane-free microfluidic chip.</p>","PeriodicalId":74786,"journal":{"name":"Sensors & diagnostics","volume":" ","pages":"1144-1155"},"PeriodicalIF":5.9,"publicationDate":"2026-07-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13377618/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148581581","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Translational opportunities in aptamer and nanobody lateral flow assays within the WHO REASSURED framework.","authors":"Evan T Monk, Erin M McConnell, David R McMullin, Maria C DeRosa","doi":"10.1039/d6sd00028b","DOIUrl":"10.1039/d6sd00028b","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The World Health Organization's REASSURED framework underscores the role of lateral flow assays (LFAs) in addressing diagnostic access gaps in low-resource regions affected by emerging and re-emerging pathogens, neglected tropical diseases, and diseases of unknown etiology. While antibody-based LFAs dominate clinical use, aptamers and nanobodies have emerged as alternative recognition elements with favorable stability, reproducibility, and manufacturing characteristics. This review examines the analytical performance of aptamer- and nanobody-based LFAs across infectious and immune-mediated disease contexts and situates these systems within the diagnostic development landscape. Across disease settings, analytically robust performance comparable to antibody-based formats is routinely demonstrated under controlled conditions. However, comparative analysis reveals a persistent disconnect between analytical feasibility and progression into standardized clinical validation and deployment. Translational outcomes are more often constrained by specimen access, comparator definition, manufacturing readiness, and regulatory precedent than by limitations in binder affinity or assay chemistry. These findings indicate that for researchers developing next-generation LFAs, analytical optimization alone is insufficient; successful translation increasingly depends on alignment with validation, manufacturing, and deployment frameworks that govern diagnostic evaluation.</p>","PeriodicalId":74786,"journal":{"name":"Sensors & diagnostics","volume":" ","pages":"892-911"},"PeriodicalIF":5.9,"publicationDate":"2026-05-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13188065/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147990183","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Design and mechanistic study of a high-sensitivity small-molecule fluorescent probe for the detection of microcystin-LR","authors":"Jinfeng Chen, Zhicen Qiu, Linyu Fan, Yisang Lu, Silong Li, Yuxin Yang, Wanhe Wang, Cheuk-Lam Ho, Xiao Yao and Zhuwu Jiang","doi":"10.1039/D6SD00036C","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D6SD00036C","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Cyanobacterial bloom-derived microcystin-LR (MC-LR) poses serious threats to aquatic ecosystems and human health, while conventional analytical methods often require expensive instrumentation and labor-intensive procedures. Herein, we report a small-molecule fluorescent probe for MC-LR detection, synthesized <em>via</em> a simplified route and structurally confirmed by <small>¹</small>H NMR, <small>¹³</small>C NMR, FT-IR and HRMS. The probe exhibited a concentration-dependent fluorescence enhancement toward MC-LR over 0–100 μM with good linearity (<em>R</em><small>²</small> = 0.982) and a low detection limit of 0.507 μM. Reliable performance was maintained under near-neutral conditions (pH 6–9), along with excellent photostability and strong anti-interference capability against 10 common amino acids. Zebrafish embryo assays further demonstrated low toxicity of the probe. Mechanistic investigations suggest that the fluorescence response arises from synergistic recognition driven by π–π stacking interactions between the probe and the aromatic moieties of MC-LR, together with long-chain binding dominated by hydrophobic association with the aliphatic segment of MC-LR, which facilitates electron transfer and amplifies the emission signal. Overall, this probe provides a rapid and reliable platform for MC-LR detection in practical water matrices.</p>","PeriodicalId":74786,"journal":{"name":"Sensors & diagnostics","volume":" 5","pages":" 687-696"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2026-05-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2026/sd/d6sd00036c?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147978659","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Establishment of a peptide-based electrochemical immunosensor for detecting antibodies against the GP5 protein from the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus","authors":"Luis Enrique Franco-Correa, Luis A. Ortiz-Frade, Alejandro Bravo Patiño, Francisco Perez-Duran, Fernando Calderón-Rico, Alicia Gabriela Zamora-Avilés, Martha Leticia Jiménez-González, Gabriel Espinosa, Daniel Durand-Herrera, Ricarda Cortés-Vieyra and Rosa Elvira Nuñez-Anita","doi":"10.1039/D6SD00034G","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D6SD00034G","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is one of the most economically devastating diseases that affect the swine industry worldwide. Although enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) are the gold standard for analyzing antibodies against viruses, they have some limitations, such as sample transport and analysis times and cost. Rapid serological surveillance of PRRSV remains a critical challenge for swine health management. Immunosensors are feasible diagnostic alternatives, where antigen–antibody interactions can be immediately quantitatively determined. Electrochemical sensor operation is based on changes in interfacial electron transfer at the working electrode surface, which are monitored using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). In this approach, a redox probe ([Fe(CN)<small>₆</small>]<small>³⁻</small>/[Fe(CN)<small>₆</small>]<small>⁴⁻</small>) is used to evaluate the charge-transfer resistance (<em>R</em><small>_ct</small>) at the electrode interface. Variations in analyte concentration lead to changes in the interfacial properties of the electrode, particularly after biomolecular interactions such as antibody binding. These interactions hinder electron transfer, resulting in an increase in <em>R</em><small>_ct</small>. The analytical signal is therefore based on the correlation between the change in <em>R</em><small>_ct</small> (Δ<em>R</em><small>_ct</small>) and the concentration of the target analyte, enabling quantitative analysis through calibration plots. The goal was the establishment of a peptide based electrochemical immunosensor for quantifying antibodies against PRRSV. Gold electrode functionalization was characterized using EIS, the GP5-B peptide, and casein protein. Balb/c mice were immunized according to control, BSA-immunized, and GP5-B peptide-immunized groups. Control pigs were free from the porcine respiratory disease complex (PRDC) and nonvaccinated. Vaccinated pigs were injected using commercial Ingelvac vaccine according to the manufacturer's instructions, and naturally infected pigs were also included in the study. Antibodies were measured using ELISA assays and an immunosensor. The immunosensor recognized antigen–antibody interactions, with a limit of detection (LOD) of 6 ng mL<small>⁻¹</small>, a repeatability of intra-assay CV of 5.05%, and a reproducibility inter-assay CV of 4.08% through batch to batch. Additionally, it achieved a sensitivity of 100%, and a specificity of at least 93%. Considering all the data, compared to immunoglobulin G detection <em>via</em> ELISAs, the proposed peptide-based electrochemical immunosensor is valuable for detecting antibodies against PRRSV. These results suggest the feasibility of biosensors for serological diagnosis in pigs.</p>","PeriodicalId":74786,"journal":{"name":"Sensors & diagnostics","volume":" 6","pages":" 858-867"},"PeriodicalIF":5.9,"publicationDate":"2026-05-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2026/sd/d6sd00034g?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148261617","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A molecular switch framework for reagentless electrochemical detection of proteins","authors":"Erfan Shirzadi, Yue Xu, Mara Jenkins, Jianwen Wang, Sunandan Tandon, Gyorgy Jaics, Zoya Leonenko and Mahla Poudineh","doi":"10.1039/D6SD00048G","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D6SD00048G","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Reagentless electrochemical protein detection is critical for real-time health monitoring. Most currently available electrochemical antibody-based sensors require the addition of external reagents as redox reporters and/or detection antibodies. Here, we introduce ProSwitch, a protein detection sensor that offers an electrochemical and reagentless method of target analyte detection. ProSwitch operates using a molecular switch mechanism, leveraging antibodies and ferrocene-tagged antigens attached to an electrode surface <em>via</em> polyethylene glycol (PEG) arms. Protein detection is achieved through an antigen competition strategy, where the target antigen competes with the tagged antigen for binding, generating a measurable electrochemical signal. Tests with various large and small proteins confirmed ProSwitch's broad operational range across diverse proteins, demonstrating its potential suitability for use in biological fluids and health monitoring applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":74786,"journal":{"name":"Sensors & diagnostics","volume":" 6","pages":" 837-847"},"PeriodicalIF":5.9,"publicationDate":"2026-05-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2026/sd/d6sd00048g?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148261615","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A multilayer fluorogenic material for the ultrasensitive detection of TATP in air, suitable for implementation on a mechanized semi-autonomous robotic platform","authors":"Irene Abajo-Cuadrado, Andrea Revilla-Cuesta, Ricardo Fernández-Ordóñez, J. Rafael Santana-Tejada, Yeray Moreno-Macías, Cristian Almeida-Estévez, Carla Hernando-Muñoz, José García-Calvo, Manuel Avella and Tomás Torroba","doi":"10.1039/D5SD00218D","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5SD00218D","url":null,"abstract":"<p >We describe a multilayer fluorogenic material, composed of a fluorescent probe supported on silica, polydimethylsiloxane and glass slides, that is implemented on a mechanized device for semi-autonomous measurements of airborne triacetone triperoxide (TATP) in operational spaces. By using a UV LED and a commercial micro-fluorometer as the measuring block, a mini-PC and a Wi-Fi card as the control block, all integrated in a mobile robotic platform, and a mobile phone as the receiver, we have constructed the first semiautonomous airborne TATP detection system useful for scanning the presence of IEDs in routine environments. It worked by exposing a sensing stick to the air flow in a room and sending the remote measurements to a mobile phone app. The presence of TATP is subsequently detected by the difference in the fluorescence signal from the initial and final measurements. The system can help combat the threat of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) composed of TATP.</p>","PeriodicalId":74786,"journal":{"name":"Sensors & diagnostics","volume":" 6","pages":" 828-836"},"PeriodicalIF":5.9,"publicationDate":"2026-05-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2026/sd/d5sd00218d?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148261614","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Discussion of study limitations strengthens research through transparency","authors":"Xueji Zhang and Anna Rulka","doi":"10.1039/D6SD90010K","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D6SD90010K","url":null,"abstract":"<p >A graphical abstract is available for this content</p>","PeriodicalId":74786,"journal":{"name":"Sensors & diagnostics","volume":" 5","pages":" 622-623"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2026-05-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2026/sd/d6sd90010k?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147978694","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}