Vertical graphene-based electrochemical sensor for cisplatin detection and molecular recognition

Area of Science:

• Electrochemistry
• Materials Science
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Platinum-based chemotherapeutics like cisplatin are vital but challenging to monitor due to their narrow therapeutic index and reactivity.
• Accurate monitoring is crucial for optimizing efficacy and minimizing toxicity.
• Existing analytical methods face limitations in sensitivity, specificity, or real-time interaction analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a dual-architecture electrochemical platform for label-free cisplatin detection.
• To enable biomimetic probing of cisplatin's molecular interactions with nucleic acids.
• To provide a versatile tool for therapeutic drug monitoring and understanding platinum-DNA interactions.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a dual-architecture platform on vertical graphene (VG) interdigitated electrodes (IDEs).
• Integration of two sensing interfaces: VG decorated with gold nanoparticles (VG/AuNPs) for electrocatalysis and VG functionalized with guanine probes (VG/PolyG) for molecular recognition.
• Characterization using FTIR, Raman, SEM, EDX, and electrochemical techniques (CV, DPV, EIS).

Main Results:

• The VG/AuNPs sensor demonstrated a linear response to cisplatin (0.5-10 μM, R²=0.9595) with a LOD of 3.29 μM.
• The VG/PolyG interface successfully transduced Pt-N7 guanine coordination into measurable changes in charge-transfer resistance.
• Surface characterization confirmed successful functionalization and nanoparticle decoration.

Conclusions:

• The developed dual-architecture platform effectively combines electrocatalytic amplification with biomimetic molecular recognition.
• This integrated device offers a sensitive and mechanistically informative approach for cisplatin monitoring and studying drug-nucleic acid interactions.
• The platform holds promise for advancing personalized cancer therapy and fundamental research in platinum-based drugs.