Electrochemical sensing of cortisol: a recent update

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Analytical Chemistry
• Biomarker Detection

Background:

• Psychological stress impacts health and is linked to abnormal cortisol levels.
• Traditional cortisol detection methods (chromatography) are complex and unsuitable for point-of-care (POC) use.
• Cortisol is a key steroid hormone and biomarker for various health conditions, including PTSD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advancements in electrochemical immunosensing for cortisol detection.
• To highlight simple, low-cost, and label-free platforms for sensitive and selective cortisol analysis.
• To discuss the potential for POC integration of these novel sensing technologies.

Main Methods:

• Review of electrochemical immunosensing platforms utilizing anti-cortisol antibodies.
• Immobilization of antibodies on nanostructures like self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) and polymer composites.
• Focus on label-free detection for simplified sensor design.

Main Results:

• Development of sensitive and selective electrochemical immunosensors for cortisol.
• Demonstration of label-free detection strategies for cortisol in bio-fluids.
• Potential for integration into point-of-care (POC) devices.

Conclusions:

• Electrochemical immunosensing offers a promising alternative to traditional cortisol detection methods.
• These platforms are suitable for sensitive, selective, and low-cost POC applications.
• Further development is needed for real-world sample analysis and integration with microfluidics.