Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 1, 2026
Spectrophotometric Screening for Potential Inhibitors of Cytosolic Glutathione S-Transferases
Published on: October 10, 2020
Glutathione-s-transferase modified electrodes for detecting anticancer drugs
Elsa M Materon1, Po-Jung Jimmy Huang2, Ademar Wong3
1Department of Chemistry and Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1; Department of Analytical Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, State University of São Paulo (UNESP), 14801-970 Araraquara-SP, Brazil.
A novel biosensor using glutathione-s-transferase (GST) enzymes can detect various anticancer drugs. This method offers a general approach for monitoring drug levels, addressing a key challenge in cancer research.
Area of Science:
- Analytical Chemistry
- Biochemistry
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Cancer research requires advanced analytical methods for drug measurement.
- Existing biosensors are limited in detecting diverse anticancer drugs.
- Glutathione-s-transferase (GST) plays a role in drug metabolism and resistance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a general biosensor for detecting various anticancer drugs.
- To utilize GST enzymes for a competitive binding assay.
- To establish an electrochemical and colorimetric detection method.
Main Methods:
- Modification of carbon paste electrodes with GST enzymes.
- Competitive inhibition assay using 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB) and anticancer drugs.
- Electrochemical detection via square wave voltammetry (SWV) at 0.1V vs. Ag/AgCl.
- Colorimetric detection method.
Main Results:
- A biosensor capable of detecting multiple anticancer drugs was successfully developed.
- The sensor demonstrated a detection limit of 8.8μM for cisplatin.
- The developed biosensor exhibited a relatively long operational lifetime for daily measurements.
Conclusions:
- The GST-modified biosensor provides a versatile platform for anticancer drug detection.
- This method overcomes limitations of current biosensors in monitoring diverse drug structures.
- The biosensor shows potential for routine application in cancer drug monitoring.
