A nanoplatform-based aptasensor to electrochemically detect epinephrine produced by living cells

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Analytical Chemistry
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Epinephrine (EP) is a crucial hormone and neurotransmitter.
• Accurate EP quantification is vital for diagnosing various medical conditions.
• Existing detection methods often lack sensitivity or require complex procedures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel aptasensor for sensitive and quantitative EP detection.
• To utilize cerium metal-organic framework (CeMOF) loaded gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) for enhanced sensing.
• To validate the aptasensor's performance in biological samples and cellular studies.

Main Methods:

• Design of an aptasensor by immobilizing EP-specific aptamers on AuNPs@CeMOF-modified screen-printed electrodes.
• Voltammetric detection of EP at an optimized voltage (83 mV vs. Ag/AgCl).
• Evaluation of the aptasensor's sensitivity, selectivity, and performance in spiked serum samples and PC12 cell cultures.

Main Results:

• Achieved a highly sensitive linear detection range for EP from 1 pM to 10 nM.
• Boasted a low limit of detection of 0.3 pM, surpassing existing methods.
• Demonstrated excellent performance in spiked serum samples with high recovery (95.8-113%) and precision (RSD 2.23-6.19%).
• Successfully monitored EP release from PC12 cells upon K+ stimulation.

Conclusions:

• The developed AuNPs@CeMOF aptasensor offers a sensitive, selective, and reliable platform for EP quantification.
• This biosensor shows significant potential as a clinical diagnostic tool for EP-related conditions.
• The study highlights the utility of CeMOF-based nanomaterials in electrochemical biosensing applications.