Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS): Biosensing Applications

A special issue of Chemosensors (ISSN 2227-9040). This special issue belongs to the section "Applied Chemical Sensors".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 May 2023) | Viewed by 12134

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Faculty of Chemistry and Geosciences, Vilnius University, Naugarduko 24, LT-03225 Vilnius, Lithuania
Interests: electrochemistry; electrochemical impedance spectroscopy; electrochemical and bioelectrochemical sensors; surface modification; metal/metal oxide/semiconductor electrodes; phospholipid bilayer membranes
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Dear Colleagues,

Among many electrochemical methods, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) is the most powerful electrochemical technique, providing the highest number of electrochemical characteristics of various electrodes. The advanced EIS with fast Fourier transformation (FFT-EIS) is the fastest and the most informative potentiodynamic electrochemical technique allowing whole EIS spectra to be collected within seconds.

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy is an informative, non-destructive method, which enables physical modelling of the electrochemical interface and fitting selected models to experimental spectra in order to extract relevant physico-chemical parameters that determine the properties of the electrode/electrolyte boundary. This method can be applied for investigations of dielectric properties of the functionalized surfaces, and can be used as a diagnostics tool for the determination of quality of artificial phospholipid membranes. Therefore, EIS has been involved in the development of various enzymatic, microorganism-based and affinity-based biosensors.

In this Special Issue of Chemosensors, we welcome submissions presenting the latest research activities in the field of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy for biosensing applications and presenting new and interesting studies related to the development of impedimetric biosensors, including experimental and theoretical aspects of interfacial processes on electrode surfaces.

Dr. Aušra Valiūnienė
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • impedimetric biosensors
  • impedimetric immunosensors
  • impedimetric aptasensors
  • impedimetric affinity-based biosensors
  • electrochemical/impedimetric surface characterization
  • kinetics of electrochemical/bioelectrochemical reactions

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

20 pages, 2891 KiB  
Article
Effect of pH on Electrochemical Impedance Response of Tethered Bilayer Lipid Membranes: Implications for Quantitative Biosensing
by Arun Prabha Shivabalan, Filipas Ambrulevicius, Martynas Talaikis, Vaidas Pudzaitis, Gediminas Niaura and Gintaras Valincius
Chemosensors 2023, 11(8), 450; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemosensors11080450 - 11 Aug 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1734
Abstract
Tethered bilayer lipid membranes (tBLMs) are increasingly used in biosensor applications where electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) is the method of choice for amplifying and recording the activity of membrane-damaging agents such as pore-forming toxins or disrupting peptides. While the activity of these biological [...] Read more.
Tethered bilayer lipid membranes (tBLMs) are increasingly used in biosensor applications where electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) is the method of choice for amplifying and recording the activity of membrane-damaging agents such as pore-forming toxins or disrupting peptides. While the activity of these biological agents may depend on the pH of the analytes, there is increasing evidence that the sensitivity of tethered bilayer sensors depends on the pH of the solutions. In our study, we addressed the question of what are the fundamental reasons for the variability of the EIS signal of the tBLMs with pH. We designed an experiment to compare the EIS response of tBLMs with natural membrane defects and two different membrane disruptors: vaginolysin and melittin. Our experimental design ensured that the same amount of protein and peptide was present in the tBLMs, while the pH was varied by replacing the buffers with different pH values. Using a recently developed EIS data analysis algorithm from our research group, we were able to demonstrate that, in contrast to previous literature which relates the variability of tBLM, EIS response to the variation in defect density, the main reason for the observed variability in EIS response is the change in the sub-membrane properties of tBLMs with pH. Using surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy (SEIRAS), we have shown that pH changes from neutral to slightly acidic leads to an expulsion of water, presumably bound to ions, from the sub-membrane reservoir, resulting in a marked decrease in the carrier concentration and specific conductance of the sub-membrane reservoir. Such a decrease is recorded by the EIS as a decrease in the conductance of the tBLM complex and affects the sensitivity of a biosensor. Our data provide important evidence of pH-sensitive effects that should be considered in both the development and operation of biosensors. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS): Biosensing Applications)
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12 pages, 3124 KiB  
Article
3D-Printed Hydrodynamic Focusing Lab-on-a-Chip Device for Impedance Flow Particle Analysis
by Dayananda Desagani, Shani Kleiman, Teddy Zagardan and Hadar Ben-Yoav
Chemosensors 2023, 11(5), 283; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemosensors11050283 - 8 May 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2189
Abstract
Particles analysis, such as cell counting and differentiation, are widely used for the diagnosis and monitoring of several medical conditions, such as during inflammation. Three-dimensional-printed lab-on-a-chip (LOC) devices, which can utilize one of the cell counting methods, can bring this technology to remote [...] Read more.
Particles analysis, such as cell counting and differentiation, are widely used for the diagnosis and monitoring of several medical conditions, such as during inflammation. Three-dimensional-printed lab-on-a-chip (LOC) devices, which can utilize one of the cell counting methods, can bring this technology to remote locations through its cost-efficient advantages and easy handling. We present a three-dimensional-printed LOC device with integrated electrodes. To overcome the limited resolution of a 3D printer, we utilized a flow-focusing design. We modeled and simulated the mass transfer and flow dynamics in the LOC by incorporating a flow-focusing design and reached an optimal channel diameter of 0.5 mm, resulting in a flow-focusing distance of <60 µm. We also used electrochemical impedance spectroscopy to enable the dependence of the electrode–solution interface on the flow-focusing properties. Finally, we highlighted the proof-of-concept detection of microspheres (6 µm diameter), which model biological cells that flow in the channel, by recording the electrochemical impedance at 10 kHz, thus showing the potential of a future point-of-care (POC) device. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS): Biosensing Applications)
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13 pages, 1990 KiB  
Article
An Impedimetric Biosensing Strategy Based on BicyclicPeptides as Bioreceptors for Monitoring h-uPA Cancer Biomarkers
by Giulia Moro, Leonardo Ferrari, Alessandro Angelini and Federico Polo
Chemosensors 2023, 11(4), 234; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemosensors11040234 - 9 Apr 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2903
Abstract
In the era of liquid biopsies, the reliable and cost-effective detection and screening of cancer biomarkers has become of fundamental importance, thus paving the way for the advancement of research in the field of point-of-care testing and the development of new methodologies and [...] Read more.
In the era of liquid biopsies, the reliable and cost-effective detection and screening of cancer biomarkers has become of fundamental importance, thus paving the way for the advancement of research in the field of point-of-care testing and the development of new methodologies and technologies. Indeed, the latter ones can help designing advanced diagnostic tools that can offer portability, ease of use with affordable production and operating costs. In this respect, impedance-based biosensing platforms might represent an attractive alternative. In this work, we describe a proof-of-concept study aimed at designing portable impedimetric biosensors for the monitoring of human urokinase-type plasminogen activator (h-uPA) cancer biomarker by employing small synthetic receptors. Aberrant levels of h-uPA were correlated with different types of cancers. Herein, we report the use of two bicyclic peptides (P2 and P3) which have been engineered to bind h-uPA with high affinity and exquisite specificity. The synthetic receptors were immobilized via biotin-streptavidin chemistry on the surface of commercial screen-printed electrodes. The impedimetric changes in the electrode/solution interface upon incubation of spiked h-uPA samples in the presence of a redox probe were followed via electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The P3-based impedimetric assay showed the best outcomes in terms of dynamic range and linearity (0.01–1 μg mL−1) and sensitivity (LOD = 9 ng mL−1). To fully assess the performances of P3 over P2, and to compare the label-free architecture vs. labelled architecture, a voltammetric assay was also developed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS): Biosensing Applications)
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16 pages, 9445 KiB  
Article
Customizable Fabrication Process for Flexible Carbon-Based Electrochemical Biosensors
by Catalin Marculescu, Petruta Preda, Tiberiu Burinaru, Eugen Chiriac, Bianca Tincu, Alina Matei, Oana Brincoveanu, Cristina Pachiu and Marioara Avram
Chemosensors 2023, 11(4), 204; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemosensors11040204 - 24 Mar 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2235
Abstract
In recent research, 3D printing has become a powerful technique and has been applied in the last few years to carbon-based materials. A new generation of 3D-printed electrodes, more affordable and easier to obtain due to rapid prototyping techniques, has emerged. We propose [...] Read more.
In recent research, 3D printing has become a powerful technique and has been applied in the last few years to carbon-based materials. A new generation of 3D-printed electrodes, more affordable and easier to obtain due to rapid prototyping techniques, has emerged. We propose a customizable fabrication process for flexible (and rigid) carbon-based biosensors, from biosensor design to printable conductive inks. The electrochemical biosensors were obtained on a 50 µm Kapton® (polyimide) substrate and transferred to a 500 µm PDMS substrate, using a 3D-extrusion-based printing method. The main features of our fabrication process consist of short-time customization implementation, fast small-to-medium batch production, ease of electrochemical spectroscopy measurements, and very good resolution for an extrusion-based printing method (100 µm). The sensors were designed for future integration into a smart wound dressing for wound monitoring and other biomedical applications. We increased their sensibility with electro-deposited gold nanoparticles. To assess the biosensors’ functionality, we performed surface functionalization with specific anti-N-protein antibodies for SARS-CoV 2 virus, with promising preliminary results. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS): Biosensing Applications)
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16 pages, 2739 KiB  
Article
Electrochemical and Optical Properties of Fluorine Doped Tin Oxide Modified by ZnO Nanorods and Polydopamine
by Roman Viter, Viktoriia Fedorenko, Inga Gabriunaite, Irina Tepliakova, Simonas Ramanavicius, Viktoriia Holubnycha, Arunas Ramanavicius and Aušra Valiūnienė
Chemosensors 2023, 11(2), 106; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemosensors11020106 - 2 Feb 2023
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2287
Abstract
Various forms of zinc oxide (ZnO) are frequently used in the design of optical and electrochemical sensors. However, the optical and electrochemical properties of ZnO should be properly adjusted depending on the application area. Therefore, in this work, we have investigated changing/tuning the [...] Read more.
Various forms of zinc oxide (ZnO) are frequently used in the design of optical and electrochemical sensors. However, the optical and electrochemical properties of ZnO should be properly adjusted depending on the application area. Therefore, in this work, we have investigated changing/tuning the properties of ZnO by depositing a layer of polydopamine (PDA) on its surface. In order to perform this investigation, the surface of fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) was modified with the layer of ZnO nanorods and PDA. ZnO nanorods were synthesized by hydrothermal synthesis technique, and after the synthesis, they were coated with polydopamine exploiting the self-polymerization of dopamine. The nanostructures were investigated by using electrochemical and optical methods. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements showed that electrochemical properties of FTO-ZnO and FTO-ZnO-PDA nanostructures could be changed by the variation of both—applied electrical potential and/or exposition towards lighting. Interaction between ZnO-PDA and bovine serum albumin (BSA) molecules has been investigated by (photo)electrochemical and photoluminescence methods. A mechanism of possible interaction between BSA and the ZnO-PDA surface has been proposed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS): Biosensing Applications)
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