Biosensing Cytokine IL-6: A Comparative Analysis of Natural and Synthetic Receptors
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Department for Innovation Engineering, University of Salento, Piazza Tancredi, I-73100 Lecce, Italy
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Department of Mathematics and Physics “Ennio de Giorgi”, University of Salento, Piazza Tancredi, I-73100 Lecce, Italy
3
National Institute for Nuclear Physics, I.N.F.N, Lecce Unit, I-73100 Lecce, Italy
4
Oncology Unit “Vito Fazzi” Hospital-Lecce, I-73100 Lecce, Italy
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Biosensors 2020, 10(9), 106; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios10090106
Received: 15 July 2020
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Revised: 15 August 2020
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Accepted: 21 August 2020
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Published: 24 August 2020
(This article belongs to the Section Biosensor and Bioelectronic Devices)
Cytokines are a family of proteins which play a major role in the regulation of the immune system and the development of several diseases, from rheumatoid arthritis to cancer and, more recently, COVID-19. Therefore, many efforts are currently being developed to improve therapy and diagnosis, as well as to produce inhibitory drugs and biosensors for a rapid, minimally invasive, and effective detection. In this regard, even more efficient cytokine receptors are under investigation. In this paper we analyze a set of IL-6 cytokine receptors, investigating their topological features by means of a theoretical approach. Our results suggest a topological indicator that may help in the identification of those receptors having the highest complementarity with the protein, a feature expected to ensure a stable binding. Furthermore, we propose and discuss the use of these receptors in an idealized experimental setup.
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Keywords:
IL-6 cytokine; biosensors; Proteotronics; aptamers; topological analysis
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MDPI and ACS Style
Alfinito, E.; Beccaria, M.; Ciccarese, M. Biosensing Cytokine IL-6: A Comparative Analysis of Natural and Synthetic Receptors. Biosensors 2020, 10, 106. https://doi.org/10.3390/bios10090106
AMA Style
Alfinito E, Beccaria M, Ciccarese M. Biosensing Cytokine IL-6: A Comparative Analysis of Natural and Synthetic Receptors. Biosensors. 2020; 10(9):106. https://doi.org/10.3390/bios10090106
Chicago/Turabian StyleAlfinito, Eleonora, Matteo Beccaria, and Mariangela Ciccarese. 2020. "Biosensing Cytokine IL-6: A Comparative Analysis of Natural and Synthetic Receptors" Biosensors 10, no. 9: 106. https://doi.org/10.3390/bios10090106
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