α-Synuclein Oligomer Detection with Aptamer Switch on Reduced Graphene Oxide Electrode

Area of Science:

• Biomarker Discovery
• Neurodegenerative Diseases
• Electrochemical Sensing

Background:

• Alpha-synuclein (α-Syn) aggregation is a hallmark of Parkinson's disease (PD).
• α-Syn aggregates are potential biomarkers for early PD diagnosis.
• Sensitive detection methods are crucial for identifying PD at early stages.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a simple and sensitive electrochemical sensor for monitoring α-Syn aggregation.
• To enable early diagnosis of Parkinson's disease.

Main Methods:

• Utilized methylene blue (MB)-tagged aptamer (Apt) adsorbed on electrochemically reduced graphene oxide (ERGO).
• Leveraged the induced desorption of Apt from ERGO upon α-Syn oligomer binding to generate an electrochemical signal.
• Employed voltammetry for sensitive and selective detection of α-Syn oligomers.

Main Results:

• Achieved highly sensitive and selective detection of α-Syn oligomers.
• Established a linear detection range from 1 fM to 1 nM.
• Determined a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.64 fM.
• Demonstrated sensor reproducibility, stability, and applicability to human blood serum samples.

Conclusions:

• The developed electrochemical sensor is a promising tool for the ultrasensitive detection of α-Syn oligomers.
• This technology holds significant potential for the early diagnosis of Parkinson's disease.
• The sensor's performance in real samples highlights its clinical relevance.