Electrode Configuration Modification of Screen-Printed Graphene Electrochemical Biosensor for Prostate Cancer Diagnosis

Project Details

Description

The previous MOST project of our team has successfully attained the goal of detecting EN2 protein, a biomarker of prostate cancer, with a low-cost biosensor based on screen-printed graphene-carbon electrodes. Currently, the developed biosensor can detect EN2 concentration in a linear range from 35 to 182 nM with a detection limit of 38.5 nM. This marked a milestone of EN2 detection with low-cost electrodes. This achievement has been published in a journal paper in 2017. The purpose of this new project proposal is to push the detection capability of the low-cost biosensor to the clinical range. That is a detection range of 0 to 275 nM and a detection limit of 1.25 nM. To this end, problem analysis must be conducted on the biosensor characteristics used in previous project. Firstly, the dimension of the interdigitated electrodes may be a factor. Considering that the size of EN2 protein is only in the nanometer scale while the electrode width and spacing are in the millimeter scale. The EN2 protein, which is immobilized on the electrode surface during detection only affects a small portion of the electrical field line between the two opposite electrodes. Thus, reducing the electrode dimension is a promising direction for our purpose. However, it will pose a big challenge if we stick on using screen-printed electrodes for low cost purpose. Hence, new technique for screen printing or advanced electrode configuration must be invented. Secondly, we consider that the electrochemical method, namely, cyclic voltammetry, may not be sensitive enough to the change of EN2 amount on the electrode surface. Owing to this consideration, the real electrical circuit model of the biosensor will has to be analyzed. Experiments will be conducted to aid and verify our modelling. New electrochemical methods will be adopted on the basis of the modelling result. Among others, Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) is presumably a suitable method and will be given major attention. In summary, the proposed project is aimed at the development of a low-cost, sensitive biosensor for clinical diagnosis of prostate cancer. The success of this project will definitely result in earlier detection of prostate cancers, which is not only academically meaningful, but also beneficial to potential patients, the hospital, and the whole society.
StatusFinished
Effective start/end date1/08/1830/11/19

UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This project contributes towards the following SDG(s):

  • SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
  • SDG 17 - Partnerships for the Goals

Keywords

  • prostate
  • cancer
  • EN2
  • PSA
  • biosensor
  • impedance
  • electrochemical impedance spectroscopy
  • electrode
  • interdigitated
  • graphene
  • screen-printing

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