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Imprinting Technology for Advanced Point-of-Care Sensing

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A special issue of Sensors (ISSN 1424-8220). This special issue belongs to the section "Biosensors".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 April 2019) | Viewed by 37929

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Thomas J. Cleij

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Guest Editor

Maastricht Science Programme, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastrich, The Netherlands
Interests: molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) and surface imprinted polymers (SIPs) for bio-analytical applications; biosensor technology for point of care diagnostics; conjugated polymer-based electronics; polymeric materials for biomedical applications; organic and polymeric photovoltaics; synthetic organic and polymer chemistry; spectroscopy of polymeric materials

Dr. Bart van Grinsven

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Sensor Engineering Department, Maastricht University, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
Interests: bio-electronics; biosensors; electrochemical and thermal readout; lab-on-a-chip devices; microfluidics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Kasper Eersels

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Guest Editor

Sensor Engineering Department, Maastricht University, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
Interests: organic chemistry; polymer and hydrogel synthesis; molecular imprinting; biosensing; drug delivery
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Over the past few decades, imprinting technology has been extensively studied to develop rationally-designed synthetic receptors for incorporation into biomimetic sensor platforms. Various imprinting strategies have been explored, leading to the creation of selective receptors for virtually any target, varying from low molecular weight compounds such as steroids to larger macromolecular entities, such as micro-organisms or whole cells. Detection of the target rebinding is based on a large variety of readout strategies including electrochemical, piezoelectric, optical and thermal sensing approaches. With recent advances in microfabrication, signal processing, wireless transmission and microfluidics, many sensors have evolved from large laboratory scale prototypes to more elegant portable or wearable lab-on-a-chip devices. These high-tech biomimetic sensors could help to enhance advances in life science and medicine through, e.g., personalized medicine, point-of-care diagnostics or e-health. This Special Issue is devoted to publishing new and original research on the development of sensors and systems for the selective detection of medically or forensically relevant targets. We focus especially on wearable and portable sensor systems, or at least technology with the potential for miniaturization, that are preferably fast and open opportunities towards point-of-care applications. Review articles on the use of imprinting technology on point-of-care sensing of specific diseases are also highly welcome.

With kind regards,

Prof. Dr. Thomas J. Cleij
Dr. Bart van Grinsven
Dr. Kasper Eersels
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sensors is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

biomimetic sensing
imprinting technology
lab-on-a-chip
portable and wearable sensors
point-of-care diagnostics

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 1722 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Molecular Fingerprints of Hemoglobin on a Nanofilm Chip

by Yeşeren Saylan and Adil Denizli

Sensors 2018, 18(9), 3016; https://doi.org/10.3390/s18093016 - 9 Sep 2018

Cited by 50 | Viewed by 4480

Abstract

Hemoglobin is an iron carrying protein in erythrocytes and also an essential element to transfer oxygen from the lungs to the tissues. Abnormalities in hemoglobin concentration are closely correlated with health status and many diseases, including thalassemia, anemia, leukemia, heart disease, and excessive loss of blood. Particularly in resource-constrained settings existing blood analyzers are not readily applicable due to the need for high-level instrumentation and skilled personnel, thereby inexpensive, easy-to-use, and reliable detection methods are needed. Herein, a molecular fingerprints of hemoglobin on a nanofilm chip was obtained for real-time, sensitive, and selective hemoglobin detection using a surface plasmon resonance system. Briefly, through the photopolymerization technique, a template (hemoglobin) was imprinted on a monomeric (acrylamide) nanofilm on-chip using a cross-linker (methylenebisacrylamide) and an initiator-activator pair (ammonium persulfate-tetramethylethylenediamine). The molecularly imprinted nanofilm on-chip was characterized by atomic force microscopy and ellipsometry, followed by benchmarking detection performance of hemoglobin concentrations from 0.0005 mg mL⁻¹ to 1.0 mg mL⁻¹. Theoretical calculations and real-time detection implied that the molecularly imprinted nanofilm on-chip was able to detect as little as 0.00035 mg mL⁻¹ of hemoglobin. In addition, the experimental results of hemoglobin detection on the chip well-fitted with the Langmuir adsorption isotherm model with high correlation coefficient (0.99) and association and dissociation coefficients (39.1 mL mg⁻¹ and 0.03 mg mL⁻¹) suggesting a monolayer binding characteristic. Assessments on selectivity, reusability and storage stability indicated that the presented chip is an alternative approach to current hemoglobin-targeted assays in low-resource regions, as well as antibody-based detection procedures in the field. In the future, this molecularly imprinted nanofilm on-chip can easily be integrated with portable plasmonic detectors, improving its access to these regions, as well as it can be tailored to detect other proteins and biomarkers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Imprinting Technology for Advanced Point-of-Care Sensing)

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Review

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35 pages, 9977 KiB

Open AccessReview

Evaluation of Molecularly Imprinted Polymers for Point-of-Care Testing for Cardiovascular Disease

by Brian Regan, Fiona Boyle, Richard O’Kennedy and David Collins

Sensors 2019, 19(16), 3485; https://doi.org/10.3390/s19163485 - 9 Aug 2019

Cited by 25 | Viewed by 5965

Abstract

Molecular imprinting is a rapidly growing area of interest involving the synthesis of artificial recognition elements that enable the separation of analyte from a sample matrix and its determination. Traditionally, this approach can be successfully applied to small analyte (<1.5 kDa) separation/ extraction, but, more recently it is finding utility in biomimetic sensors. These sensors consist of a recognition element and a transducer similar to their biosensor counterparts, however, the fundamental distinction is that biomimetic sensors employ an artificial recognition element. Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) employed as the recognition elements in biomimetic sensors contain binding sites complementary in shape and functionality to their target analyte. Despite the growing interest in molecularly imprinting techniques, the commercial adoption of this technology is yet to be widely realised for blood sample analysis. This review aims to assess the applicability of this technology for the point-of-care testing (POCT) of cardiovascular disease-related biomarkers. More specifically, molecular imprinting is critically evaluated with respect to the detection of cardiac biomarkers indicative of acute coronary syndrome (ACS), such as the cardiac troponins (cTns). The challenges associated with the synthesis of MIPs for protein detection are outlined, in addition to enhancement techniques that ultimately improve the analytical performance of biomimetic sensors. The mechanism of detection employed to convert the analyte concentration into a measurable signal in biomimetic sensors will be discussed. Furthermore, the analytical performance of these sensors will be compared with biosensors and their potential implementation within clinical settings will be considered. In addition, the most suitable application of these sensors for cardiovascular assessment will be presented. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Imprinting Technology for Advanced Point-of-Care Sensing)

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19 pages, 3591 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperReview

Molecularly Imprinted Polymer Based Sensors for Medical Applications

by Yeşeren Saylan, Semra Akgönüllü, Handan Yavuz, Serhat Ünal and Adil Denizli

Sensors 2019, 19(6), 1279; https://doi.org/10.3390/s19061279 - 13 Mar 2019

Cited by 183 | Viewed by 16941

Abstract

Sensors have been extensively used owing to multiple advantages, including exceptional sensing performance, user-friendly operation, fast response, high sensitivity and specificity, portability, and real-time analysis. In recent years, efforts in sensor realm have expanded promptly, and it has already presented a broad range of applications in the fields of medical, pharmaceutical and environmental applications, food safety, and homeland security. In particular, molecularly imprinted polymer based sensors have created a fascinating horizon for surface modification techniques by forming specific recognition cavities for template molecules in the polymeric matrix. This method ensures a broad range of versatility to imprint a variety of biomolecules with different size, three dimensional structure, physical and chemical features. In contrast to complex and time-consuming laboratory surface modification methods, molecular imprinting offers a rapid, sensitive, inexpensive, easy-to-use, and highly selective approaches for sensing, and especially for the applications of diagnosis, screening, and theranostics. Due to its physical and chemical robustness, high stability, low-cost, and reusability features, molecularly imprinted polymer based sensors have become very attractive modalities for such applications with a sensitivity of minute structural changes in the structure of biomolecules. This review aims at discussing the principle of molecular imprinting method, the integration of molecularly imprinted polymers with sensing tools, the recent advances and strategies in molecular imprinting methodologies, their applications in medical, and future outlook on this concept. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Imprinting Technology for Advanced Point-of-Care Sensing)

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28 pages, 4526 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperReview

Recent Advances in Electrosynthesized Molecularly Imprinted Polymer Sensing Platforms for Bioanalyte Detection

by Robert D. Crapnell, Alexander Hudson, Christopher W. Foster, Kasper Eersels, Bart van Grinsven, Thomas J. Cleij, Craig E. Banks and Marloes Peeters

Sensors 2019, 19(5), 1204; https://doi.org/10.3390/s19051204 - 9 Mar 2019

Cited by 156 | Viewed by 9902

Abstract

The accurate detection of biological materials has remained at the forefront of scientific research for decades. This includes the detection of molecules, proteins, and bacteria. Biomimetic sensors look to replicate the sensitive and selective mechanisms that are found in biological systems and incorporate these properties into functional sensing platforms. Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are synthetic receptors that can form high affinity binding sites complementary to the specific analyte of interest. They utilise the shape, size, and functionality to produce sensitive and selective recognition of target analytes. One route of synthesizing MIPs is through electropolymerization, utilising predominantly constant potential methods or cyclic voltammetry. This methodology allows for the formation of a polymer directly onto the surface of a transducer. The thickness, morphology, and topography of the films can be manipulated specifically for each template. Recently, numerous reviews have been published in the production and sensing applications of MIPs; however, there are few reports on the use of electrosynthesized MIPs (eMIPs). The number of publications and citations utilising eMIPs is increasing each year, with a review produced on the topic in 2012. This review will primarily focus on advancements from 2012 in the use of eMIPs in sensing platforms for the detection of biologically relevant materials, including the development of increased polymer layer dimensions for whole bacteria detection and the use of mixed monomer compositions to increase selectivity toward analytes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Imprinting Technology for Advanced Point-of-Care Sensing)

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