Journal Description
Biosensors
Biosensors
is an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal on the technology and science of biosensors published monthly online by MDPI.
- Open Access— free for readers, with article processing charges (APC) paid by authors or their institutions.
- High Visibility: indexed within Scopus, SCIE (Web of Science), PubMed, MEDLINE, PMC, Embase, CAPlus / SciFinder, Inspec, and other databases.
- Journal Rank: JCR - Q1 (Chemistry, Analytical) / CiteScore - Q1 (Engineering (miscellaneous))
- Rapid Publication: manuscripts are peer-reviewed and a first decision is provided to authors approximately 17.4 days after submission; acceptance to publication is undertaken in 2.8 days (median values for papers published in this journal in the second half of 2023).
- Recognition of Reviewers: reviewers who provide timely, thorough peer-review reports receive vouchers entitling them to a discount on the APC of their next publication in any MDPI journal, in appreciation of the work done.
Impact Factor:
5.4 (2022);
5-Year Impact Factor:
5.7 (2022)
Latest Articles
A Label-Free Droplet Sorting Platform Integrating Dielectrophoretic Separation for Estimating Bacterial Antimicrobial Resistance
Biosensors 2024, 14(5), 218; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios14050218 - 26 Apr 2024
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has become a crucial global health issue. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria can survive after antibiotic treatments, lowering drug efficacy and increasing lethal risks. A microfluidic water-in-oil emulsion droplet system can entrap microorganisms and antibiotics within the tiny bioreactor, separate from the surroundings,
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Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has become a crucial global health issue. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria can survive after antibiotic treatments, lowering drug efficacy and increasing lethal risks. A microfluidic water-in-oil emulsion droplet system can entrap microorganisms and antibiotics within the tiny bioreactor, separate from the surroundings, enabling independent assays that can be performed in a high-throughput manner. This study presents the development of a label-free dielectrophoresis (DEP)-based microfluidic platform to sort droplets that co-encapsulate Escherichia coli (E. coli) and ampicillin (Amp) and droplets that co-encapsulate Amp-resistant (AmpR) E. coli with Amp only based on the conductivity-dependent DEP force (FDEP) without the assistance of optical analyses. The 9.4% low conductivity (LC) Luria–Bertani (LB) broth diluted with 170 mM mannitol can maintain E. coli and AmpR E. coli growth for 3 h and allow Amp to kill almost all E. coli, which can significantly increase the LCLB conductivity by about 100 μS/cm. Therefore, the AmpR E. coli/9.4%LCLB/Amp where no cells are killed and the E. coli/9.4%LCLB/Amp-containing droplets where most of the cells are killed can be sorted based on this conductivity difference at an applied electric field of 2 MHz and 100 Vpp that generates positive FDEP. Moreover, the sorting ratio significantly decreased to about 50% when the population of AmpR E. coli was equal to or higher than 50% in droplets. The conductivity-dependent DEP-based sorting platform exhibits promising potential to probe the ratio of AmpR E. coli in an unknown bacterial sample by using the sorting ratio as an index.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microfluidic Systems and Computational Imaging Methods in Lab-on-a-Chip Technologies)
Open AccessArticle
Biplane Enhancement Coil for Magnetic Induction Tomography of Cerebral Hemorrhage
by
Zhongkai Cao, Bo Ye, Honggui Cao, Yangkun Zou, Zhizhen Zhu and Hongbin Xing
Biosensors 2024, 14(5), 217; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios14050217 - 26 Apr 2024
Abstract
Magnetic Induction Tomography (MIT) is a non-invasive imaging technique used for dynamic monitoring and early screening of cerebral hemorrhage. Currently, there is a significant challenge in cerebral hemorrhage MIT due to weak detection signals, which seriously affects the accuracy of the detection results.
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Magnetic Induction Tomography (MIT) is a non-invasive imaging technique used for dynamic monitoring and early screening of cerebral hemorrhage. Currently, there is a significant challenge in cerebral hemorrhage MIT due to weak detection signals, which seriously affects the accuracy of the detection results. To address this issue, a dual-plane enhanced coil was proposed by combining the target field method with consideration of the spatial magnetic field attenuation pattern within the imaging target region. Simulated detection models were constructed using the proposed coil and cylindrical coil as excitation coils, respectively, and simulation imaging tests were conducted using the detection results. The simulation results indicate that compared to the cylindrical coil, the proposed coil enhances the linearity of the magnetic field within the imaging target region by 60.43%. Additionally, it effectively enhances the detection voltage and phase values. The simulation results of hemorrhage detection show that the proposed coil improves the accuracy of hemorrhage detection by 18.26%. It provides more precise detection results, offering a more reliable solution for cerebral hemorrhage localization and detection.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Wearable Biosensors)
Open AccessArticle
Real-Time Detection of Yeast Growth on Solid Medium through Passive Microresonator Biosensor
by
Bo-Wen Shi, Jun-Ming Zhao, Yi-Ke Wang, Yan-Xiong Wang, Yan-Feng Jiang, Gang-Long Yang, Jicheng Wang and Tian Qiang
Biosensors 2024, 14(5), 216; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios14050216 - 26 Apr 2024
Abstract
This study presents a biosensor fabricated based on integrated passive device (IPD) technology to measure microbial growth on solid media in real-time. Yeast (Pichia pastoris, strain GS115) is used as a model organism to demonstrate biosensor performance. The biosensor comprises an
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This study presents a biosensor fabricated based on integrated passive device (IPD) technology to measure microbial growth on solid media in real-time. Yeast (Pichia pastoris, strain GS115) is used as a model organism to demonstrate biosensor performance. The biosensor comprises an interdigital capacitor in the center with a helical inductive structure surrounding it. Additionally, 12 air bridges are added to the capacitor to increase the strength of the electric field radiated by the biosensor at the same height. Feasibility is verified by using a capacitive biosensor, and the change in capacitance values during the capacitance detection process with the growth of yeast indicates that the growth of yeast can induce changes in electrical parameters. The proposed IPD-based biosensor is used to measure yeast drop-added on a 3 mm medium for 100 h at an operating frequency of 1.84 GHz. The resonant amplitude of the biosensor varies continuously from 24 to 72 h due to the change in colony height during vertical growth of the yeast, with a maximum change of 0.21 dB. The overall measurement results also fit well with the Gompertz curve. The change in resonant amplitude between 24 and 72 h is then analyzed and reveals a linear relationship with time with a coefficient of determination of 0.9844, indicating that the biosensor is suitable for monitoring yeast growth. Thus, the proposed biosensor is proved to have potential in the field of microbial proliferation detection.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Biosensor and Bioelectronic Devices)
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Open AccessArticle
Comparative Study of Field-Effect Transistors Based on Graphene Oxide and CVD Graphene in Highly Sensitive NT-proBNP Aptasensors
by
Anastasiia Kudriavtseva, Stefan Jarić, Nikita Nekrasov, Alexey V. Orlov, Ivana Gadjanski, Ivan Bobrinetskiy, Petr I. Nikitin and Nikola Knežević
Biosensors 2024, 14(5), 215; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios14050215 - 26 Apr 2024
Abstract
Graphene-based materials are actively being investigated as sensing elements for the detection of different analytes. Both graphene grown by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and graphene oxide (GO) produced by the modified Hummers’ method are actively used in the development of biosensors. The production
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Graphene-based materials are actively being investigated as sensing elements for the detection of different analytes. Both graphene grown by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and graphene oxide (GO) produced by the modified Hummers’ method are actively used in the development of biosensors. The production costs of CVD graphene- and GO-based sensors are similar; however, the question remains regarding the most efficient graphene-based material for the construction of point-of-care diagnostic devices. To this end, in this work, we compare CVD graphene aptasensors with the aptasensors based on reduced GO (rGO) for their capabilities in the detection of NT-proBNP, which serves as the gold standard biomarker for heart failure. Both types of aptasensors were developed using commercial gold interdigitated electrodes (IDEs) with either CVD graphene or GO formed on top as a channel of liquid-gated field-effect transistor (FET), yielding GFET and rGO-FET sensors, respectively. The functional properties of the two types of aptasensors were compared. Both demonstrate good dynamic range from 10 fg/mL to 100 pg/mL. The limit of detection for NT-proBNP in artificial saliva was 100 fg/mL and 1 pg/mL for rGO-FET- and GFET-based aptasensors, respectively. While CVD GFET demonstrates less variations in parameters, higher sensitivity was demonstrated by the rGO-FET due to its higher roughness and larger bandgap. The demonstrated low cost and scalability of technology for both types of graphene-based aptasensors may be applicable for the development of different graphene-based biosensors for rapid, stable, on-site, and highly sensitive detection of diverse biochemical markers.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanotechnology-Enabled Biosensors)
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Open AccessReview
Extended Review Concerning the Integration of Electrochemical Biosensors into Modern IoT and Wearable Devices
by
Razvan Bocu
Biosensors 2024, 14(5), 214; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios14050214 - 25 Apr 2024
Abstract
Electrochemical biosensors include a recognition component and an electronic transducer, which detect the body fluids with a high degree of accuracy. More importantly, they generate timely readings of the related physiological parameters, and they are suitable for integration into portable, wearable and implantable
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Electrochemical biosensors include a recognition component and an electronic transducer, which detect the body fluids with a high degree of accuracy. More importantly, they generate timely readings of the related physiological parameters, and they are suitable for integration into portable, wearable and implantable devices that are significant relative to point-of-care diagnostics scenarios. As an example, the personal glucose meter fundamentally improves the management of diabetes in the comfort of the patients’ homes. This review paper analyzes the principles of electrochemical biosensing and the structural features of electrochemical biosensors relative to the implementation of health monitoring and disease diagnostics strategies. The analysis particularly considers the integration of the biosensors into wearable, portable, and implantable systems. The fundamental aim of this paper is to present and critically evaluate the identified significant developments in the scope of electrochemical biosensing for preventive and customized point-of-care diagnostic devices. The paper also approaches the most important engineering challenges that should be addressed in order to improve the sensing accuracy, and enable multiplexing and one-step processes, which mediate the integration of electrochemical biosensing devices into digital healthcare scenarios.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advance in Wearable Biosensors for Healthcare Monitoring)
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Open AccessArticle
A Mouth and Tongue Interactive Device to Control Wearable Robotic Limbs in Tasks where Human Limbs Are Occupied
by
Hongwei Jing, Tianjiao Zheng, Qinghua Zhang, Benshan Liu, Kerui Sun, Lele Li, Jie Zhao and Yanhe Zhu
Biosensors 2024, 14(5), 213; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios14050213 - 24 Apr 2024
Abstract
The Wearable Robotic Limb (WRL) is a type of robotic arm worn on the human body, aiming to enhance the wearer’s operational capabilities. However, proposing additional methods to control and perceive the WRL when human limbs are heavily occupied with primary tasks presents
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The Wearable Robotic Limb (WRL) is a type of robotic arm worn on the human body, aiming to enhance the wearer’s operational capabilities. However, proposing additional methods to control and perceive the WRL when human limbs are heavily occupied with primary tasks presents a challenge. Existing interactive methods, such as voice, gaze, and electromyography (EMG), have limitations in control precision and convenience. To address this, we have developed an interactive device that utilizes the mouth and tongue. This device is lightweight and compact, allowing wearers to achieve continuous motion and contact force control of the WRL. By using a tongue controller and mouth gas pressure sensor, wearers can control the WRL while also receiving sensitive contact feedback through changes in mouth pressure. To facilitate bidirectional interaction between the wearer and the WRL, we have devised an algorithm that divides WRL control into motion and force-position hybrid modes. In order to evaluate the performance of the device, we conducted an experiment with ten participants tasked with completing a pin-hole assembly task with the assistance of the WRL system. The results show that the device enables continuous control of the position and contact force of the WRL, with users perceiving feedback through mouth airflow resistance. However, the experiment also revealed some shortcomings of the device, including user fatigue and its impact on breathing. After experimental investigation, it was observed that fatigue levels can decrease with training. Experimental studies have revealed that fatigue levels can decrease with training. Furthermore, the limitations of the device have shown potential for improvement through structural enhancements. Overall, our mouth and tongue interactive device shows promising potential in controlling the WRL during tasks where human limbs are occupied.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Devices and Wearable Devices toward Innovative Applications)
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Open AccessCommunication
A Multi-Drug Concentration Gradient Mixing Chip: A Novel Platform for High-Throughput Drug Combination Screening
by
Jiahao Fu, Yibo Feng, Yu Sun, Ruiya Yi, Jing Tian, Wei Zhao, Dan Sun and Ce Zhang
Biosensors 2024, 14(5), 212; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios14050212 - 23 Apr 2024
Abstract
Combinatorial drug therapy has emerged as a critically important strategy in medical research and patient treatment and involves the use of multiple drugs in concert to achieve a synergistic effect. This approach can enhance therapeutic efficacy while simultaneously mitigating adverse side effects. However,
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Combinatorial drug therapy has emerged as a critically important strategy in medical research and patient treatment and involves the use of multiple drugs in concert to achieve a synergistic effect. This approach can enhance therapeutic efficacy while simultaneously mitigating adverse side effects. However, the process of identifying optimal drug combinations, including their compositions and dosages, is often a complex, costly, and time-intensive endeavor. To surmount these hurdles, we propose a novel microfluidic device capable of simultaneously generating multiple drug concentration gradients across an interlinked array of culture chambers. This innovative setup allows for the real-time monitoring of live cell responses. With minimal effort, researchers can now explore the concentration-dependent effects of single-agent and combination drug therapies. Taking neural stem cells (NSCs) as a case study, we examined the impacts of various growth factors—epithelial growth factor (EGF), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), and fibroblast growth factor (FGF)—on the differentiation of NSCs. Our findings indicate that an overdose of any single growth factor leads to an upsurge in the proportion of differentiated NSCs. Interestingly, the regulatory effects of these growth factors can be modulated by the introduction of additional growth factors, whether singly or in combination. Notably, a reduced concentration of these additional factors resulted in a decreased number of differentiated NSCs. Our results affirm that the successful application of this microfluidic device for the generation of multi-drug concentration gradients has substantial potential to revolutionize drug combination screening. This advancement promises to streamline the process and accelerate the discovery of effective therapeutic drug combinations.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Microfluidics in Cell Manipulation and Biosensing)
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Open AccessArticle
Efficient Feature Learning Model of Motor Imagery EEG Signals with L1-Norm and Weighted Fusion
by
Xiangzeng Kong, Cailin Wu, Shimiao Chen, Tao Wu and Junfeng Han
Biosensors 2024, 14(5), 211; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios14050211 - 23 Apr 2024
Abstract
Brain–computer interface (BCI) for motor imagery is an advanced technology used in the field of medical rehabilitation. However, due to the poor accuracy of electroencephalogram feature classification, BCI systems often misrecognize user commands. Although many state-of-the-art feature selection methods aim to enhance classification
[...] Read more.
Brain–computer interface (BCI) for motor imagery is an advanced technology used in the field of medical rehabilitation. However, due to the poor accuracy of electroencephalogram feature classification, BCI systems often misrecognize user commands. Although many state-of-the-art feature selection methods aim to enhance classification accuracy, they usually overlook the interrelationships between individual features, indirectly impacting the accuracy of feature classification. To overcome this issue, we propose an adaptive feature learning model that employs a Riemannian geometric approach to generate a feature matrix from electroencephalogram signals, serving as the model’s input. By integrating the enhanced adaptive L1 penalty and weighted fusion penalty into the sparse learning model, we select the most informative features from the matrix. Specifically, we measure the importance of features using mutual information and introduce an adaptive weight construction strategy to penalize regression coefficients corresponding to each variable adaptively. Moreover, the weighted fusion penalty balances weight differences among correlated variables, reducing the model’s overreliance on specific variables and enhancing accuracy. The performance of the proposed method was validated on BCI Competition IV datasets IIa and IIb using the support vector machine. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed model compared to the existing models.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Accuracy and Advances in Wearable Sensors and Biosensors for Physiological Signals Measurement)
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Open AccessReview
Recent Advances in Aptamer-Based Biosensors for Bacterial Detection
by
Vincent Léguillier, Brahim Heddi and Jasmina Vidic
Biosensors 2024, 14(5), 210; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios14050210 - 23 Apr 2024
Abstract
The rapid and sensitive detection of pathogenic bacteria is becoming increasingly important for the timely prevention of contamination and the treatment of infections. Biosensors based on nucleic acid aptamers, integrated with optical, electrochemical, and mass-sensitive analytical techniques, have garnered intense interest because of
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The rapid and sensitive detection of pathogenic bacteria is becoming increasingly important for the timely prevention of contamination and the treatment of infections. Biosensors based on nucleic acid aptamers, integrated with optical, electrochemical, and mass-sensitive analytical techniques, have garnered intense interest because of their versatility, cost-efficiency, and ability to exhibit high affinity and specificity in binding bacterial biomarkers, toxins, and whole cells. This review highlights the development of aptamers, their structural characterization, and the chemical modifications enabling optimized recognition properties and enhanced stability in complex biological matrices. Furthermore, recent examples of aptasensors for the detection of bacterial cells, biomarkers, and toxins are discussed. Finally, we explore the barriers to and discuss perspectives on the application of aptamer-based bacterial detection.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nano Biosensor and Its Application for In Vivo/Vitro Diagnosis)
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Open AccessArticle
Body Size, Cerebral Blood Flow, Ambient Temperature, and Relative Brain Temperatures in Newborn Infants under Incubator Care
by
Satoko Fukaya, Sachiko Iwata, Kennosuke Tsuda, Akiko Hirose, Masahiro Kinoshita, Shinji Saitoh and Osuke Iwata
Biosensors 2024, 14(4), 209; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios14040209 - 22 Apr 2024
Abstract
Subtle changes in body temperature affect the outcomes of ill newborns. However, the temperature profile of neonatal brains remains largely unknown. In open-cot care, increased cerebral perfusion is correlated with higher superficial brain temperatures. This study investigated the dependence of brain temperature (relative
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Subtle changes in body temperature affect the outcomes of ill newborns. However, the temperature profile of neonatal brains remains largely unknown. In open-cot care, increased cerebral perfusion is correlated with higher superficial brain temperatures. This study investigated the dependence of brain temperature (relative to rectal temperature) on ambient temperature, body size, cerebral perfusion, and metabolism in infants receiving incubator care. Rectal, scalp, and brain temperatures, superior vena cava flow, and brain oxygenation were assessed using echocardiography, thermo-compensatory temperature monitoring, and near-infrared spectroscopy in 60 newborns. These infants had a mean postconceptional age of 36.9 (2.2) weeks and weighed 2348 (609) g at the time of evaluation. The ambient temperature was maintained at 30.0 (1.0) °C. A higher rectal temperature was associated with greater postconceptional age (p = 0.002), body weight (p < 0.001), and head circumference (p < 0.001). Relative scalp, superficial brain, and deep brain temperatures were associated with smaller head circumference (p < 0.001, p = 0.030, and p = 0.015, respectively) and superior vena cava flow (p = 0.002, p = 0.003, and p = 0.003, respectively). In infants receiving incubator care, larger head sizes and increased brain perfusion were associated with lower relative scalp and brain temperatures. When considered alongside previous reports, cerebral perfusion may contribute to maintaining stable cerebral tissue temperature against ambient temperature changes.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biosensors Applied in Neuroscience)
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Open AccessArticle
Complex Spatial Illumination Scheme Optimization of Backscattering Mueller Matrix Polarimetry for Tissue Imaging and Biosensing
by
Wei Jiao, Zheng Zhang, Nan Zeng, Rui Hao, Honghui He, Chao He and Hui Ma
Biosensors 2024, 14(4), 208; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios14040208 - 22 Apr 2024
Abstract
Polarization imaging and sensing techniques have shown great potential for biomedical and clinical applications. As a novel optical biosensing technology, Mueller matrix polarimetry can provide abundant microstructural information of tissue samples. However, polarimetric aberrations, which lead to inaccurate characterization of polarization properties, can
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Polarization imaging and sensing techniques have shown great potential for biomedical and clinical applications. As a novel optical biosensing technology, Mueller matrix polarimetry can provide abundant microstructural information of tissue samples. However, polarimetric aberrations, which lead to inaccurate characterization of polarization properties, can be induced by uneven biomedical sample surfaces while measuring Mueller matrices with complex spatial illuminations. In this study, we analyze the detailed features of complex spatial illumination-induced aberrations by measuring the backscattering Mueller matrices of experimental phantom and tissue samples. We obtain the aberrations under different spatial illumination schemes in Mueller matrix imaging. Furthermore, we give the corresponding suggestions for selecting appropriate illumination schemes to extract specific polarization properties, and then provide strategies to alleviate polarimetric aberrations by adjusting the incident and detection angles in Mueller matrix imaging. The optimized scheme gives critical criteria for the spatial illumination scheme selection of non-collinear backscattering Mueller matrix measurements, which can be helpful for the further development of quantitative tissue polarimetric imaging and biosensing.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Photonics for Bioapplications: Sensors and Technology)
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Open AccessArticle
An Organic Electrochemical Transistor-Based Sensor for IgG Levels Detection of Relevance in SARS-CoV-2 Infections
by
Antonio Algarín Pérez and Pablo Acedo
Biosensors 2024, 14(4), 207; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios14040207 - 22 Apr 2024
Abstract
Organic electrochemical transistors appear as an alternative for relatively low-cost, easy-to-operate biosensors due to their intrinsic amplification. Herein, we present the fabrication, characterization, and validation of an immuno-detection system based on commercial sensors using gold electrodes where no additional surface treatment is performed
[...] Read more.
Organic electrochemical transistors appear as an alternative for relatively low-cost, easy-to-operate biosensors due to their intrinsic amplification. Herein, we present the fabrication, characterization, and validation of an immuno-detection system based on commercial sensors using gold electrodes where no additional surface treatment is performed on the gate electrode. The steady-state response of these sensors has been studied by analyzing different semiconductor organic channels in order to optimize the biomolecular detection process and its the application to monitoring human IgG levels due to SARS-CoV-2 infections. Detection levels of up to tens of with sensitivities up to 13.75% [ ]−1, concentration ranges of medical relevance in seroprevalence studies, have been achieved.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biosensors Based on Transistors)
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Open AccessArticle
Development of FRET Biosensor to Characterize CSK Subcellular Regulation
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Mingxing Ouyang, Yujie Xing, Shumin Zhang, Liting Li, Yan Pan and Linhong Deng
Biosensors 2024, 14(4), 206; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios14040206 - 20 Apr 2024
Abstract
C-terminal Src kinase (CSK) is the major inhibitory kinase for Src family kinases (SFKs) through the phosphorylation of their C-tail tyrosine sites, and it regulates various types of cellular activity in association with SFK function. As a cytoplasmic protein, CSK needs be recruited
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C-terminal Src kinase (CSK) is the major inhibitory kinase for Src family kinases (SFKs) through the phosphorylation of their C-tail tyrosine sites, and it regulates various types of cellular activity in association with SFK function. As a cytoplasmic protein, CSK needs be recruited to the plasma membrane to regulate SFKs’ activity. The regulatory mechanism behind CSK activity and its subcellular localization remains largely unclear. In this work, we developed a genetically encoded biosensor based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) to visualize the CSK activity in live cells. The biosensor, with an optimized substrate peptide, confirmed the crucial Arg107 site in the CSK SH2 domain and displayed sensitivity and specificity to CSK activity, while showing minor responses to co-transfected Src and Fyn. FRET measurements showed that CSK had a relatively mild level of kinase activity in comparison to Src and Fyn in rat airway smooth muscle cells. The biosensor tagged with different submembrane-targeting signals detected CSK activity at both non-lipid raft and lipid raft microregions, while it showed a higher FRET level at non-lipid ones. Co-transfected receptor-type protein tyrosine phosphatase alpha (PTPα) had an inhibitory effect on the CSK FRET response. The biosensor did not detect obvious changes in CSK activity between metastatic cancer cells and normal ones. In conclusion, a novel FRET biosensor was generated to monitor CSK activity and demonstrated CSK activity existing in both non-lipid and lipid raft membrane microregions, being more present at non-lipid ones.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Nano- and Micro-Technologies in Biosensors)
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Open AccessArticle
Wearable Ring-Shaped Biomedical Device for Physiological Monitoring through Finger-Based Acquisition of Electrocardiographic, Photoplethysmographic, and Galvanic Skin Response Signals: Design and Preliminary Measurements
by
Gabriele Volpes, Simone Valenti, Giuseppe Genova, Chiara Barà, Antonino Parisi, Luca Faes, Alessandro Busacca and Riccardo Pernice
Biosensors 2024, 14(4), 205; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios14040205 - 20 Apr 2024
Abstract
Wearable health devices (WHDs) are rapidly gaining ground in the biomedical field due to their ability to monitor the individual physiological state in everyday life scenarios, while providing a comfortable wear experience. This study introduces a novel wearable biomedical device capable of synchronously
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Wearable health devices (WHDs) are rapidly gaining ground in the biomedical field due to their ability to monitor the individual physiological state in everyday life scenarios, while providing a comfortable wear experience. This study introduces a novel wearable biomedical device capable of synchronously acquiring electrocardiographic (ECG), photoplethysmographic (PPG), galvanic skin response (GSR) and motion signals. The device has been specifically designed to be worn on a finger, enabling the acquisition of all biosignals directly on the fingertips, offering the significant advantage of being very comfortable and easy to be employed by the users. The simultaneous acquisition of different biosignals allows the extraction of important physiological indices, such as heart rate (HR) and its variability (HRV), pulse arrival time (PAT), GSR level, blood oxygenation level (SpO2), and respiratory rate, as well as motion detection, enabling the assessment of physiological states, together with the detection of potential physical and mental stress conditions. Preliminary measurements have been conducted on healthy subjects using a measurement protocol consisting of resting states (i.e., SUPINE and SIT) alternated with physiological stress conditions (i.e., STAND and WALK). Statistical analyses have been carried out among the distributions of the physiological indices extracted in time, frequency, and information domains, evaluated under different physiological conditions. The results of our analyses demonstrate the capability of the device to detect changes between rest and stress conditions, thereby encouraging its use for assessing individuals’ physiological state. Furthermore, the possibility of performing synchronous acquisitions of PPG and ECG signals has allowed us to compare HRV and pulse rate variability (PRV) indices, so as to corroborate the reliability of PRV analysis under stationary physical conditions. Finally, the study confirms the already known limitations of wearable devices during physical activities, suggesting the use of algorithms for motion artifact correction.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Accuracy and Advances in Wearable Sensors and Biosensors for Physiological Signals Measurement)
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Open AccessArticle
Optimizing Microfluidic Impedance Cytometry by Bypass Electrode Layout Design
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Guangzu Wu, Zhiwei Zhang, Manman Du, Dan Wu, Junting Zhou, Tianteng Hao and Xinwu Xie
Biosensors 2024, 14(4), 204; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios14040204 - 19 Apr 2024
Abstract
Microfluidic impedance cytometry (MIC) has emerged as a popular technique for single-cell analysis. Traditional MIC electrode designs consist of a pair of (or three) working electrodes, and their detection performance needs further improvements for microorganisms. In this study, we designed an 8-electrode MIC
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Microfluidic impedance cytometry (MIC) has emerged as a popular technique for single-cell analysis. Traditional MIC electrode designs consist of a pair of (or three) working electrodes, and their detection performance needs further improvements for microorganisms. In this study, we designed an 8-electrode MIC device in which the center pair was defined as the working electrode, and the connection status of bypass electrodes could be changed. This allowed us to compare the performance of layouts with no bypasses and those with floating or grounding electrodes by simulation and experiment. The results of detecting Φ 5 μm beads revealed that both the grounding and the floating electrode outperformed the no bypass electrode, and the grounding electrode demonstrated the best signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), coefficient of variation (CV), and detection sensitivity. Furthermore, the effects of different bypass grounding areas (numbers of grounding electrodes) were investigated. Finally, particles passing at high horizontal positions can be detected, and Φ 1 μm beads can be measured in a wide channel (150 μm) using a fully grounding electrode, with the sensitivity of bead volume detection reaching 0.00097%. This provides a general MIC electrode optimization technology for detecting smaller particles, even macromolecular proteins, viruses, and exosomes in the future.
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(This article belongs to the Section Biosensor and Bioelectronic Devices)
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Open AccessReview
Advances in Biosensors for the Rapid Detection of Marine Biotoxins: Current Status and Future Perspectives
by
Xiangwei Zhu, Yufa Zhao, Long Wu, Xin Gao, Huang Huang, Yu Han and Ting Zhu
Biosensors 2024, 14(4), 203; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios14040203 - 19 Apr 2024
Abstract
Marine biotoxins (MBs), harmful metabolites of marine organisms, pose a significant threat to marine ecosystems and human health due to their diverse composition and widespread occurrence. Consequently, rapid and efficient detection technology is crucial for maintaining marine ecosystem and human health. In recent
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Marine biotoxins (MBs), harmful metabolites of marine organisms, pose a significant threat to marine ecosystems and human health due to their diverse composition and widespread occurrence. Consequently, rapid and efficient detection technology is crucial for maintaining marine ecosystem and human health. In recent years, rapid detection technology has garnered considerable attention for its pivotal role in identifying MBs, with advancements in sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy. These technologies offer attributes such as speed, high throughput, and automation, thereby meeting detection requirements across various scenarios. This review provides an overview of the classification and risks associated with MBs. It briefly outlines the current research status of marine biotoxin biosensors and introduces the fundamental principles, advantages, and limitations of optical, electrochemical, and piezoelectric biosensors. Additionally, the review explores the current applications in the detection of MBs and presents forward-looking perspectives on their development, which aims to be a comprehensive resource for the design and implementation of tailored biosensors for effective MB detection.
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(This article belongs to the Section Environmental Biosensors and Biosensing)
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Open AccessArticle
SERS-Based Microneedle Biosensor for In Situ and Sensitive Detection of Tyrosinase
by
Zimeng Gu, Di Zhao, Hongyan He and Zhenhui Wang
Biosensors 2024, 14(4), 202; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios14040202 - 19 Apr 2024
Abstract
Tyrosinase (TYR) emerges as a key enzyme that exerts a regulatory influence on the synthesis of melanin, thereby assuming the role of a critical biomarker for the detection of melanoma. Detecting the authentic concentration of TYR in the skin remains a primary challenge.
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Tyrosinase (TYR) emerges as a key enzyme that exerts a regulatory influence on the synthesis of melanin, thereby assuming the role of a critical biomarker for the detection of melanoma. Detecting the authentic concentration of TYR in the skin remains a primary challenge. Distinguished from ex vivo detection methods, this study introduces a novel sensor platform that integrates a microneedle (MN) biosensor with surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) technology for the in situ detection of TYR in human skin. The platform utilized dopamine (DA)-functionalized gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) as the capturing substrate and 4-mercaptophenylboronic acid (4-MPBA)-modified silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) acting as the SERS probe. Here, the Au NPs were functionalized with mercaptosuccinic acid (MSA) for DA capture. In the presence of TYR, DA immobilized on the MN is preferentially oxidized to dopamine quinone (DQ), a process that results in a decreased density of SERS probes on the platform. TYR concentration was detected through variations in the signal intensity emitted by the phenylboronic acid. The detection system was able to evaluate TYR concentrations within a linear range of 0.05 U/mL to 200 U/mL and showed robust anti-interference capabilities. The proposed platform, integrating MN-based in situ sensing, SERS technology, and TYR responsiveness, holds significant importance for diagnosing cutaneous melanoma.
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(This article belongs to the Section Optical and Photonic Biosensors)
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Open AccessArticle
A Smartphone-Based M-Health Monitoring System for Arrhythmia Diagnosis
by
Jun Luo, Mengru Zhang, Haohang Li, Dan Tao and Ruipeng Gao
Biosensors 2024, 14(4), 201; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios14040201 - 18 Apr 2024
Abstract
Deep learning technology has been widely adopted in the research of automatic arrhythmia detection. However, there are several limitations in existing diagnostic models, e.g., difficulties in extracting temporal information from long-term ECG signals, a plethora of parameters, and sluggish operation speed. Additionally, the
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Deep learning technology has been widely adopted in the research of automatic arrhythmia detection. However, there are several limitations in existing diagnostic models, e.g., difficulties in extracting temporal information from long-term ECG signals, a plethora of parameters, and sluggish operation speed. Additionally, the diagnosis performance of arrhythmia is prone to mistakes from signal noise. This paper proposes a smartphone-based m-health system for arrhythmia diagnosis. First, we design a cycle-GAN-based ECG denoising model which takes real-world noise signals as input and aims to produce clean ECG signals. In order to train its two generators and two discriminators simultaneously, we explore an unsupervised pre-training strategy to initialize the generator and accelerate the convergence speed during training. Second, we propose an arrhythmia diagnosis model based on the time convolution network (TCN). This model can identify 34 common arrhythmia events using eight-lead ECG signals, and we deploy such a model on the Android platform to develop an at-home ECG monitoring system. Experimental results have demonstrated that our approach outperforms the existing noise reduction methods and arrhythmia diagnosis models in terms of denoising effect, recognition accuracy, model size, and operation speed, making it more suitable for deployment on mobile devices for m-health monitoring services.
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(This article belongs to the Section Biosensors and Healthcare)
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Open AccessReview
PCR Independent Strategy-Based Biosensors for RNA Detection
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Xinran Li, Haoqian Wang, Xin Qi, Yi Ji, Fukai Li, Xiaoyun Chen, Kai Li and Liang Li
Biosensors 2024, 14(4), 200; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios14040200 - 18 Apr 2024
Abstract
RNA is an important information and functional molecule. It can respond to the regulation of life processes and is also a key molecule in gene expression and regulation. Therefore, RNA detection technology has been widely used in many fields, especially in disease diagnosis,
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RNA is an important information and functional molecule. It can respond to the regulation of life processes and is also a key molecule in gene expression and regulation. Therefore, RNA detection technology has been widely used in many fields, especially in disease diagnosis, medical research, genetic engineering and other fields. However, the current RT-qPCR for RNA detection is complex, costly and requires the support of professional technicians, resulting in it not having great potential for rapid application in the field. PCR-free techniques are the most attractive alternative. They are a low-cost, simple operation method and do not require the support of large instruments, providing a new concept for the development of new RNA detection methods. This article reviews current PCR-free methods, overviews reported RNA biosensors based on electrochemistry, SPR, microfluidics, nanomaterials and CRISPR, and discusses their challenges and future research prospects in RNA detection.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology: From Fabrication Methods and Improvement Strategies to Applications in Biosensing and Biomedicine)
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Open AccessArticle
Rapid Surface Charge Mapping Based on a Liquid Crystal Microchip
by
Leixin Ouyang, Heyi Chen, Ruiting Xu, Rubia Shaik, Ge Zhang and Jiang Zhe
Biosensors 2024, 14(4), 199; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios14040199 - 18 Apr 2024
Abstract
Rapid surface charge mapping of a solid surface remains a challenge. In this study, we present a novel microchip based on liquid crystals for assessing the surface charge distribution of a planar or soft surface. This chip enables rapid measurements of the local
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Rapid surface charge mapping of a solid surface remains a challenge. In this study, we present a novel microchip based on liquid crystals for assessing the surface charge distribution of a planar or soft surface. This chip enables rapid measurements of the local surface charge distribution of a charged surface. The chip consists of a micropillar array fabricated on a transparent indium tin oxide substrate, while the liquid crystal is used to fill in the gaps between the micropillar structures. When an object is placed on top of the chip, the local surface charge (or zeta potential) influences the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules, resulting in changes in the magnitude of transmitted light. By measuring the intensity of the transmitted light, the distribution of the surface charge can be accurately quantified. We calibrated the chip in a three-electrode configuration and demonstrated the validity of the chip for rapid surface charge mapping using a borosilicate glass slide. This chip offers noninvasive, rapid mapping of surface charges on charged surfaces, with no need for physical or chemical modifications, and has broad potential applications in biomedical research and advanced material design.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancing Biomedical Biosensing with Microelectrode Arrays)
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