Dear Colleagues,

Electrochemical DNA and aptasensors have attracted increasing attention in the past few decades due to the fruitful promise of applications in the framework of point-of-care (point-on-demand) concepts outside the chemical laboratory. They are intended for the fast and reliable detection of many species demanded in medicine (metabolites, drugs, oncomarkers), the food industry (vitamins, antioxidants, food additives, veterinary drugs) and environmental monitoring (pesticides, DNA damaging contaminants, heavy metals, detergents). Assembly of the DNA sensors, including design of biorecognition elements and new approaches to the signal amplification, calls for new materials based on the achievements of supramolecular chemistry, nanotechnology and self-assembly. In this Special Issue, the following topics are welcome, as either reviews or research articles:

• The design of DNA and aptasensors based on new modifiers and assembly protocols (carbon nanomaterials, MOFs, MIPs, polyelectrolyte layers, hybrid coatings with metals and compounds (oxides, complexes)
• Application of new mediator systems to enhance the electrochemical signals and development of robust biosensors
• Biochemical systems of signal amplification and E-sensor design
• Multiplex analysis with electrochemical DNA and aptasensors
• Miniaturization and automation prospects for low-molecular-weight analyte detection, electrochemical microfluidics and flow-injection analysis and origami biosensors
• Sampling and sample treatment, and validation of electrochemical DNA and aptasensors for real sample analysis
• Future prospects in the design of biorecognition elements (chimeric DNA, protein nucleic acids, hybrid immuno/DNA sensors)

The topic of this manuscript expected to be published in the Special Issue, “Electrochemical DNA and Aptasensors for the Detection of Low-Molecular-Weight compounds”, coincides well with the scope of the Sensors journal because it covers all the important steps in biosensor assembly and use, including the recognition elements, surface layer assembly, measurement condition optimization and real sample assay problems. Portable sensor design is one of the burning topics in modern science because of obvious benefits in their application and possible advantages from their innovation.

Prof. Dr. Gennady Evtugyn
Prof. Dr. Tibor Hianik
Guest Editors

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Title: Electrochemical DNA- sensors for the Detection of TiO2 Nanoparticles Toxicity at Different pH
Authors: Jana Blaškovičová
Affiliation: Slovak University of Technology, Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology Institute of Analytical Chemistry, Radlinského 9, 812 37 Bratislava, Slovak Republic
Abstract: Nanomaterials are particles with dimensions of 1-100 nm. Many products contain nanoparticles because they have several technological, medical, and economic benefits. However, the presence of nanoparticles in the environment has adverse effects on human health. Since their surface area is large per weight unit, they have increased biological activity. In addition, the size of NPs is comparable to the dimension of cellular structures, which is why they can interfere with biological processes. Among metal oxide nanoparticles, titanium dioxide is one of the most produced nanomaterial, due to its wide use in sunscreens, cosmetics, bottle coatings, pharmaceuticals, fibers, plastics, and food. It can easily enter the surface and drinking water and subsequently the human gastrointestinal tract. Titanium dioxide is mainly known as a photocatalyst. However, these new and improved properties may induce higher toxicological threat in biological tissues. TiO2 NPs were classified as potentially carcinogenic. For a potential carcinogen, the ability to induce genetic damage is essential for cancer risk assessment. Many in vivo and in vitro studies have demonstrated the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of TiO2 NPs. Due to the TiO2 NPs presence in food and drinking water, they reach the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), which includes environments with different pH. These pH changes can affect the stability, dispersion, but also toxicity of nanomaterials. For our experiments, a pH with GIT similar values was selected for the TiO2 NPs incubation. Subsequently, the effect of these nanoparticles on DNA damage was monitored using a DNA biosensor and biosensing with electroctrochemical and spectrophotometric methods detection.

Title: Recent advances in biosensing for diagnosis of autoimmune diseases
Authors: Ahlem Teniou; Jean-Louis Marty; Amina Rhouati
Affiliation: 1 Bioenginnering laboratory, Ecole nationale supérieure de biotechnologie, Constantine-Algeria. 2 UFR Scienes, Université de Perpignan Via Domitia, Perpignan-France
Abstract: Autoimmune diseases (ADs) are known as a complex biological process in which the immune system attacks its own tissues and organs. Over the last decade, they are wide spread all over the world because of genetics and/or environmental factors. Therefore, the simple and fast detection of these diseases are crucial. The conventional diagnostic techniques of ADs, based on fluorescence-based flow cytometry, immunofluorescence (IIF) and the tissue sections method, require tedious sample preparation, sophisticated instrument and qualified staff. For that, biosensors could represent a useful alternative to these methods. Biosensors are considered as promising tools that can be used in clinical analysis for early diagnosis of ADs. They offer several advantages including: high sensitivity, simplicity, low cost, possible miniaturization (POCT), and potential ability for real-time analysis. In this review, biosensors developed, in recent years, for the detection of autoimmune disease biomarkers will be discussed. In the first part, ADs biomarkers will be overviewed as well as the current methods used for their detection. In the second part, we discuss biosensors principle according to the type of bioreceptors and the method of detection. Finally, we overview the recently developed biosensors reported in the literature for ADs biomarkers detection, as well as their analytical performance.