Reduced graphene oxide modified smart conducting paper for cancer biosensor
Saurabh Kumar1, Suveen Kumar1, Saurabh Srivastava1
1Nanobioelectronics Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Delhi Technological University, Shahbad Daulatpur, Delhi 110042, India.
Biosensors & Bioelectronics
|June 10, 2015
Summary
We developed a low-cost, flexible conducting paper sensor using poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) and reduced graphene oxide (RGO). This sensor shows high sensitivity for detecting cancer biomarkers, offering a promising alternative for point-of-care devices.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Electrochemistry
Background:
- Conventional electrodes like ITO, gold, and glassy carbon are expensive and have limited applications in smart point-of-care (POC) devices.
- Developing cost-effective, flexible, and environmentally friendly alternatives for biosensing is crucial for advancing POC diagnostics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To fabricate a novel paper-based sensor using a poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) and reduced graphene oxide (RGO) composite.
- To investigate the effect of various solvents on the electrical conductivity of PEDOT:PSS coated paper.
- To evaluate the electrochemical performance and sensitivity of the developed sensor for cancer biomarker detection.
Main Methods:
- Solution processing of PEDOT:PSS composite on Whatman paper.
- Treatment with different solvents (methanol, ethylene glycol, H2SO4) to optimize electrical conductivity.
- Incorporation of reduced graphene oxide (RGO) to enhance electrochemical properties.
- Fabrication of a paper electrode-based biosensor for carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) detection.
Main Results:
- Electrical conductivity of the PEDOT:PSS coated paper increased significantly (~300 times) upon treatment with ethylene glycol, reaching ~3.57×10(-2) S cm(-1).
- The enhanced conductivity is attributed to polymer conformational rearrangement and strong non-covalent interactions between PEDOT and cellulose.
- Incorporation of RGO improved electrochemical performance and signal stability.
- The paper-based biosensor demonstrated high sensitivity (25.8 µA ng(-1) mL cm(-2)) for CEA detection within the physiological range (1-10 ng mL(-1)).
Conclusions:
- A cost-effective, flexible, and eco-friendly conducting paper sensor was successfully fabricated.
- Ethylene glycol treatment is highly effective in enhancing the conductivity of PEDOT:PSS coated paper.
- The RGO-composite paper electrode shows promise as a viable alternative to expensive conventional electrodes for POC applications.
- The developed biosensor exhibits excellent sensitivity for detecting cancer biomarkers, paving the way for advanced diagnostics.
