Tag Archives: biosensors

Evolution of diagnostic methods for Helicobacter pylori infections: from traditional tests to high technology, advanced sensitivity and discrimination tools

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By A. I. Cardos, Simona Cavalu et al.

Invasive and noninvasive diagnostic tools for H. pylori. Copyright Simona Cavalu et al.
Invasive and noninvasive diagnostic tools for H. pylori. Copyright Simona Cavalu et al.

This paper aims to expose the diagnosis methods for H. pylori that are currently available, high-lighting their assets and limitations. The perspectives and the advantages of nanotechnology along with the concept of nano(bio)sensors and development of lab-on-chip devices as advanced tools for H. pylori detection, differentiation and discrimination is also presented, by emphasizing multiple advantages: simple, fast, cost effective, portable, and miniaturized, small volume of sam-ples required, highly sensitive and selective. It is generally accepted that intelligent sensors devel-opment will completely revolutionize the acquisition procedure and medical decision in the framework of smart healthcare monitoring system. Copyright Simona Cavalu et al.

Histological imaging for H. pylori
Gastric mucosa showing reduced cytoplasmic mucin (blue arrow), reactive epithelial changes (red arrow) and a mix between acute inflammatory cells and chronic inflammatory cells (H&E, ob100x); b) Gastric mucosa showing reduced cytoplasmic mucin (blue arrow), lymphocytes and plasma cells (red arrow). Histological imaging for H. pylori (yellow arrow). H&E, 200x ob; c) Clusters of cells with intracellular H. pylori were widely distributed within the lamina propria (blue arrow) and were especially abundant just below the superficial epithelial cell layer of the gastric mucosa (red ar-row). IHC 100x ob. Images from private collection, Prof. dr. Ovidiu Pop, unpublished. Copyright Simona Cavalu, Ovidiu Pop et al.

The limitations of traditional tools have promoted the development of innovative methods for the rapid and cost-effective diagnosis of H. pylori infection. These novel biosensors, coupled with nanomaterials, may provide a hybrid device with unique physical and chemical properties, which make them an excellent label and sensing device for point of care (POC) diagnosing of H. pylori. Copyright Simona Cavalu et al.

In recent years, the development of nanotechnology allowed the nano-biosensor to be connected to wearable devices, meanwhile, the signal/information is transmitted wirelessly to a smartphone, leading to a smart healthcare monitoring system. The combination between using a smartphone as a reader and the nano-biosensors as a detection method has been already investigated for biomedical applications (detection of various pathogens, chemical substances, cells, etc.), the integration of smart instruments, and nanobiotechnology, leading to all-in-one sensing systems used as portable self-diagnosis devices. Copyright Simona Cavalu et al.

Full text at https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics12020508

Electrochemical (Bio)Sensors with improved performances for Biomedical Applications

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By L. Fritea, Simona Cavalu et al.

Metal Nanoparticles and Carbon-Based Nanomaterials for Improved Performances of Electrochemical (Bio)Sensors with Biomedical Applications

 A “real-time” biosensor includes a biological recognition receptor (such as an antibody, enzyme, nucleic acid or whole cell) and a transducer to convert the biological binding event to a detectable signal, which is read out indicating both the presence and concentration of the analyte molecule.In nano(bio)sensors, nanoparticles (NPs) are incorporated into the (bio)sensor design by attachment to the suitably modified platforms. For this purpose, metal nanoparticles have many advantageous properties making them useful in the transducer component of the (bio)sensors. Gold, silver and platinum NPs have been the most popular ones, each form of these metallic NPs exhibiting special surface and interface features, which significantly improve the biocompatibility and transduction of the (bio)sensor compared to the same process in the absence of these NPs. The main types of NPs used for electrochemical (bio)sensors design, especially screen-printed electrodes, with their specific medical application due to their improved analytical performances and miniaturized form is presented.

  • Microscopic images of some metal nanoparticles :TiO2 , TiO2 doped with SeNPs, SeNPs, AuNPs, MWCNTs, graphene, hybrid nanocomposite. Copyright Simona Cavalu et al.
Copyright Simona Cavalu et al.
Schematic representation of main synthesis methods of metal NPs and carbon-based nanomaterials. Copyright Simona Cavalu et al.
Copyright Simona Cavalu et al.
Some examples of commercially available screen-printed electrodes (from different manufacturers: Copyright Simona Cavalu et al.
  • Schematic representation of nano(bio)sensors based on screen-printed electrodes: modification with carbon-based nanomaterials, metal nanoparticles, with/without biological elements and the electrochemical analysis. Copyright Simona Cavalu et al.

This comprehensive review is focused on the main types of metal NPs and carbon-based nanomaterials used for electrochemical (bio)sensors design, especially screen-printed electrodes, with their specific biomedical applications, improved analytical performances and miniaturized form.Nanotechnological approaches will extend the limits of currently employed (bio)sensors and, moreover, they will open a new window toward personalized medicine, offering new solutions to the main challenges in the diagnostic and therapeutic fields. Future research should focus on some improvements concerning the nanomaterials characteristics and the sensor design in order to enhance their performances with multi-disciplinary efforts. The real sample analysis with more enhanced sensitivity and selectivity is still a challenge for researchers aiming the validation of the electrochemical nano(bio)sensors in comparison with the traditional analytical procedures. The reproducibility is another key aspect which needs to be solved for large-scale production of electrochemical sensors and their introduction on commercial market. The miniaturized, portable or wearable sensors which can perform on-site and real-time analysis will gain tremendous importance at the commercial level, with a huge impact on the health system.

The full text of this paper is available at

https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/21/6319/htm