New Chip Detects Inflammation Marker in Blood at Picomolar Levels
Researchers have created a flexible biosensor that can identify interleukin-6—a key indicator of chronic inflammation, cancer, and severe COVID-19—at extremely low concentrations. The technology could enable faster diagnosis and monitoring of inflammatory diseases, opening commercial opportunities in point-of-care diagnostics and personalized medicine.
Originaltitel: Organic Electrochemical Transistor Aptasensor for Interleukin-6 Detection
<p>We demonstrate an organic electrochemical transistor (OECT) biosensor for the detection of interleukin 6 (IL6), an important biomarker associated with various pathological processes, including chronic inflammation, inflammaging, cancer, and severe COVID-19 infection. The biosensor is functionalized with oligonucleotide aptamers engineered to bind specifically IL6. We developed an easy functionalization strategy based on gold nanoparticles deposited onto a poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) doped with polystyrenesulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) gate electrode for the subsequent electrodeposition of thiolated aptamers. During this functionalization step, the reduction of sulfide bonds allows for simultaneous deposition of a blocking agent. A detection range from picomolar to nanomolar concentrations for IL6 was achieved, and the selectivity of the device was assessed against Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF), another cytokine involved in the inflammatory processes.</p>