An electronic channel switching-based aptasensor for ultrasensitive protein detection

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Analytical Chemistry
• Biosensor Technology

Background:

• Protein identification and quantification are crucial for disease diagnosis.
• Developing sensitive electrochemical aptasensors for proteins is challenging due to aptamer conformational change requirements.
• Existing aptasensors often lack the sensitivity needed for accurate protein detection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel electronic channel switching (ECS)-based aptasensor for ultrasensitive protein detection.
• To overcome the limitations of traditional electrochemical aptasensor designs for protein assays.
• To introduce an innovative sensing concept for enhanced biomacromolecule detection.

Main Methods:

• Designed an aptasensor utilizing an electronic channel switching (ECS) mechanism.
• Engineered aptamers with hairpin structures to manipulate electroactive species.
• Utilized surface-immobilized IgE as a barrier to separate enzyme and substrate.

Main Results:

• Achieved an ultrasensitive detection limit of 4.44×10⁻⁶ μg mL⁻¹ (22.7 fM).
• Demonstrated a 5-order magnitude improvement in detection sensitivity compared to classical aptasensors.
• Established a wide dynamic response range from 4.44×10⁻⁶ to 4.44×10⁻¹ μg mL⁻¹.

Conclusions:

• The proposed ECS aptasensor offers a significant advancement in protein detection sensitivity.
• This novel sensing strategy provides a new platform for detecting proteins and other biomacromolecules.
• The ECS aptasensor overcomes previous challenges in electrochemical aptasensor design for protein analysis.