Biosensors

Protein modifications, particularly post-translational modifications (PTMs) such as phosphorylation and glycosylation, are fundamental mechanisms regulating cellular activity and disease pathogenesis, with their detection emerging as a promising frontier for advanced diagnostics. This review systematically examines the integration of engineered protein modifications with biosensing technologies to enhance analytical performance and diagnostic accuracy. Through critical analysis of current methodologies, we highlight how strategic manipulation of PTMs improves biosensor sensitivity and specificity in applications ranging from early disease detection to environmental monitoring. The analysis identifies significant advancements in detection platforms while acknowledging persistent challenges in real-world integration and standardization. We conclude that optimizing protein modification-based sensing strategies represents a crucial pathway for developing robust, clinically translatable diagnostic tools, and propose focused research directions to address existing technical barriers and accelerate practical implementation.

Neuroplasticity-based active movement opens an avenue for functional recovery in post-stroke patients. Active rehabilitation techniques have attracted wide attention based on their abilities to enhance patient involvement, facilitate precise personalized intervention, and provide comprehensive treatment via cross-domain approaches. Emerging evidence suggests that active rehabilitation methods can respond to patients’ motor intentions in real-time and significantly increase motivation and engagement, leading to efficient utilization of critical recovery windows and better rehabilitation outcomes. In this review, we focus on the physiological basis of active rehabilitation, including mechanisms of neuroplasticity, and discuss recent advances in intent detection and feedback devices. We also examine treatment options for different stages of stroke recovery, providing a comprehensive reference for engineers to design optimized rehabilitation techniques and for clinicians to select appropriate rehabilitation protocols. These developments create new opportunities to improve the lives of stroke patients and offer greater hope for their recovery.

A scalable and facile fabrication strategy is presented for developing a flexible, nanostructured, non-enzymatic electrochemical sensor for lactate detection based on copper-modified laser-induced graphene (CuNPs/LIG). A one-step electrodeposition process was employed to uniformly decorate the porous LIG framework with copper nanostructures, offering a cost-effective and reproducible approach for constructing enzyme-free sensing platforms. Scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy confirmed dense Cu nanostructure loading and efficient interfacial integration across the conductive LIG surface. The resulting CuNPs/LIG electrode exhibited excellent electrocatalytic performance, achieving a sensitivity of 8.56 μA µM⁻¹ cm⁻² with a low detection limit of 42.65 μM and a linear response toward lactate concentrations ranging from 100 to 1100 μM in artificial saliva under physiological conditions. The sensor maintained high selectivity in the presence of physiologically relevant interferents. Practical applicability was demonstrated through recovery studies, where recovery rates exceeding 104% showcase the sensor’s analytical reliability in complex biological matrices. Overall, this work establishes a robust, sensitive, and cost-efficient Cu-nanostructured LIG sensing platform, offering strong potential for non-invasive lactate monitoring in real-world biomedical and wearable applications.