New autonomous and self-signaling biosensing device for sarcosine detection

An early diagnosis is the gold standard for cancer survival. Biosensors have proven their effectiveness in monitoring cancer biomarkers but are still limited to a series of requirements. This work proposes an integrated power solution, with an autonomous and self-signaling biosensing device. The biorecognition element is pro-duced in situ by molecular imprinting to detect sarcosine, a known biomarker for prostate cancer. The biosensor was assembled on the counter-electrode of a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC), simultaneously using EDOT and Pyrrole as monomers for the biomimetic process and the catalytic reduction of triiodide in the DSSC.After the rebinding assays, the hybrid DSSC/biosensor displayed a linear behavior when plotting the power conversion efficiency (PCE) and the charge transfer resistance (RCT) against the logarithm of the concentration of sarcosine. The latter obtained a sensitivity of 0.468 omega/decade of sarcosine concentration, with a linear range between 1 ng/mL and 10 mu g/mL, and a limit of detection of 0.32 ng/mL. When interfacing an electrochromic cell, consisting of a PEDOT-based material, with the hybrid device, a color gradient between 1 ng/mL and 10 mu g/mL of sarcosine was observed. Thus, the device can be used anywhere with access to a light source, completely equipment-free, suitable for point-of-care analysis and capable of detecting sarcosine within a range of clinical interest.

Automated summary

This work proposes an integrated power solution, with an autonomous and self-signaling biosensing device, to detect sarcosine, a known biomarker for prostate cancer. The biosensor is assembled on the counter-electrode of a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC), using molecular imprinting to produce the biorecognition element. The device is completely equipment-free and suitable for point-of-care analysis.