Fabrication of Aptamer-Modified Paper Electrochemical Devices for On-Site Biosensing

Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 2021 Feb 8;60(6):2993-3000. doi: 10.1002/anie.202008231. Epub 2020 Dec 10.

Abstract

Electrochemical aptamer-based (E-AB) sensors offer a powerful and general means for analyte detection in complex samples for various applications. Paper-based E-AB sensors could enable portable, low-cost, and rapid detection of a broad range of targets, but it has proven challenging to fabricate suitable three-electrode systems on paper. Here, we demonstrate a simple, economic, and environmentally friendly strategy for fabricating aptamer-modified paper electrochemical devices (PEDs) via ambient vacuum filtration. The material, shape, size, and thickness of the three-electrode PED system can be fully customized. We developed aptamer-modified PEDs that enable sensitive and specific detection of small molecules in minimally processed biosamples. The sensitivity and stability of the PEDs are comparable to E-AB sensors based on commercial gold electrodes. We believe our strategy can lead to the development of high performance PEDs for the on-site detection of a variety of analytes.

Keywords: aptamers; biosensors; nanomaterials; paper electrochemical devices; small molecules.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Aptamers, Nucleotide / chemistry*
  • Aptamers, Nucleotide / metabolism
  • Biosensing Techniques / instrumentation*
  • Biosensing Techniques / methods
  • Electrochemical Techniques / instrumentation
  • Electrodes
  • Gold / chemistry
  • Metal Nanoparticles / chemistry
  • Paper*

Substances

  • Aptamers, Nucleotide
  • Gold