1. |
- Berto, Marcello, et al.
(author)
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Biorecognition in Organic Field Effect Transistors Biosensors: The Role of the Density of States of the Organic Semiconductor
- 2016
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In: ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY. - : AMER CHEMICAL SOC. - 0003-2700 .- 1520-6882. ; 88:24, s. 12330-12338
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Biorecognition is a central event in biological processes in the living systems that is also widely exploited in technological and health applications. We demonstrate that the Electrolyte Gated Organic Field Effect Transistor (EGOFET) is an ultrasensitive and specific device that allows us to quantitatively assess the thermodynamics of biomolecular recognition between a human antibody and its antigen, namely, the inflammatory cytokine TNF alpha at the solid/liquid interface. The EGOFET biosensor exhibits a superexponential response at TNF alpha concentration below 1 nM with a minimum detection level of 100 pM. The sensitivity of the device depends on the analyte concentration, reaching a maximum in the range of clinically relevant TNF alpha concentrations when the EGOFET is operated in the subthreshold regime. At concentrations greater than 1 nM the response scales linearly with the concentration. The sensitivity and the dynamic range are both modulated by the gate voltage. These results are explained by establishing the correlation between the sensitivity and the density of states (DOS) of the organic semiconductor. Then, the superexponential response arises from the energy-dependence of the tail of the DOS of the HOMO level. From the gate voltage-dependent response, we extract the binding constant, as well as the changes of the surface charge and the effective capacitance accompanying biorecognition at the electrode surface. Finally, we demonstrate the detection of TNF alpha in human-plasma derived samples as an example for point-of-care application.
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2. |
- Berto, Marcello, et al.
(author)
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EGOFET Peptide Aptasensor for Label-Free Detection of Inflammatory Cytokines in Complex Fluids
- 2018
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In: ADVANCED BIOSYSTEMS. - : WILEY-V C H VERLAG GMBH. - 2366-7478. ; 2:2
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Organic electronic transistors are rapidly emerging as ultrahigh sensitive label-free biosensors suited for point-of-care or in-field deployed applications. Most organic biosensors reported to date are based on immunorecognition between the relevant biomarkers and the immobilized antibodies, whose use is hindered by large dimensions, poor control of sequence, and relative instability. Here, an electrolyte-gated organic field effect transistor (EGOFET) biosensor where the recognition units are surface immobilized peptide aptamers (Affimer proteins) instead of antibodies is reported. Peptide aptasensor for the detection of the pro-inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) with a 1 x 10(-12) M limit of detection is demonstrated. Ultralow sensitivity is met even in complex solutions such as cell culture media containing 10% serum, demonstrating the remarkable ligand specificity of the device. The device performances, together with the simple one-step immobilization strategy of the recognition moieties and the low operational voltages, all prompt EGOFET peptide aptasensors as candidates for early diagnostics and monitoring at the point-of-care.
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3. |
- Berto, Marcello, et al.
(author)
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Label free urea biosensor based on organic electrochemical transistors
- 2018
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In: Flexible and Printed Electronics. - : IOP Publishing. - 2058-8585. ; 3:2
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The quantification of urea is of the utmost importance not only in medical diagnosis, where it serves as a potential indicator of kidney and liver disfunction, but also in food safety and environmental control. Here, we describe a urea biosensor based on urease entrapped in a crosslinked gelatin hydrogel, deposited onto a fully printed PEDOT:PSS-based organic electrochemical transistor (OECT). The device response is based on the modulation of the channel conductivity by the ionic species produced upon urea hydrolysis catalyzed by the entrapped urease. The biosensor shows excellent reproducibility, a limit of detection as low as 1 μM and a response time of a few minutes. The fabrication of the OECTs by screen-printing on flexible substrates ensures a significant reduction in manufacturing time and costs. The low dimensionality and operational voltages (0.5 V or below) of these devices contribute to make these enzymatic OECT-based biosensors as appealing candidates for high-throughput monitoring of urea levels at the point-of-care or in the field.
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4. |
- Bianchi, Michele, et al.
(author)
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Poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene)‐Based Neural Interfaces for Recording and Stimulation: Fundamental Aspects and In Vivo Applications
- 2022
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In: Advanced Science. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 2198-3844. ; 9:12
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Next‐generation neural interfaces for bidirectional communication with the central nervous system aim to achieve the intimate integration with the neural tissue with minimal neuroinflammatory response, high spatio‐temporal resolution, very high sensitivity, and readout stability. The design and manufacturing of devices for low power/low noise neural recording and safe and energy‐efficient stimulation that are, at the same time, conformable to the brain, with matched mechanical properties and biocompatibility, is a convergence area of research where neuroscientists, materials scientists, and nanotechnologists operate synergically. The biotic–abiotic neural interface, however, remains a formidable challenge that prompts for new materials platforms and innovation in device layouts. Conductive polymers (CP) are attractive materials to be interfaced with the neural tissue and to be used as sensing/stimulating electrodes because of their mixed ionic‐electronic conductivity, their low contact impedance, high charge storage capacitance, chemical versatility, and biocompatibility. This manuscript reviews the state‐of‐the‐art of poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene)‐based neural interfaces for extracellular recording and stimulation, focusing on those technological approaches that are successfully demonstrated in vivo. The aim is to highlight the most reliable and ready‐for‐clinical‐use solutions, in terms of materials technology and recording performance, other than spot major limitations and identify future trends in this field.
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5. |
- Burtscher, Bernhard, et al.
(author)
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Sensing Inflammation Biomarkers with Electrolyte-Gated Organic Electronic Transistors
- 2021
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In: Advanced Healthcare Materials. - : Wiley. - 2192-2640 .- 2192-2659. ; 10:20
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- An overview of cytokine biosensing is provided, with a focus on the opportunities provided by organic electronic platforms for monitoring these inflammation biomarkers which manifest at ultralow concentration levels in physiopathological conditions. Specifically, two of the fields state-of-the-art technologies-organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) and electrolyte gated organic field effect transistors (EGOFETs)-and their use in sensing cytokines and other proteins associated with inflammation are a particular focus. The overview will include an introduction to current clinical and "gold standard" quantification techniques and their limitations in terms of cost, time, and required infrastructure. A critical review of recent progress with OECT- and EGOFET-based protein biosensors is presented, alongside a discussion onthe future of these technologies in the years and decades ahead. This is especially timely as the world grapples with limited healthcare diagnostics during the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19)pandemic where one of the worst-case scenarios for patients is the "cytokine storm." Clearly, low-cost point-of-care technologies provided by OECTs and EGOFETs can ease the global burden on healthcare systems and support professionals by providing unprecedented wealth of data that can help to monitor disease progression in real time.
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6. |
- Campana, Alessandra, et al.
(author)
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Electrocardiographic recording with conformable organic electrochemical transistor fabricated on resorbable bioscaffold
- 2014
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In: Advanced Materials. - : Wiley-VCH Verlagsgesellschaft. - 0935-9648 .- 1521-4095. ; 26:23, s. 3874-3878
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Organic electrochemical transistors are fabricated on a poly(L-lactide-co-glycolide) substrate. Fast and sensitive performance of the transistors allows recording of the electrocardiogram. The result paves the way for new types of bioelectronic interfaces with reduced invasiveness due to bioresorption and soft mechanical properties.
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7. |
- Di Lauro, Michele, et al.
(author)
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A Bacterial Photosynthetic Enzymatic Unit Modulating Organic Transistors with Light
- 2019
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In: Advanced Electronic Materials. - : Blackwell Publishing Ltd. - 2199-160X.
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The photochemical core of every photosynthetic apparatus is the reaction center, a transmembrane enzyme that converts photons into charge-separated states across the biological membrane with an almost unitary quantum yield. A light-responsive organic transistor architecture, which converts light into electrical current by exploiting the efficiency of this biological machinery, is presented. Proper surface tailoring enables the integration of the bacterial reaction center as photoactive element in organic transistors, allowing the transduction of its photogenerated voltage into photomodulation of the output current up to two orders of magnitude. This device architecture, termed light-responsive electrolyte-gated organic transistor, is the prototype of a new generation of low-power hybrid bio-optoelectronic organic devices.
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8. |
- Diacci, Chiara, et al.
(author)
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Label-free detection of interleukin-6 using electrolyte gated organic field effect transistors
- 2017
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In: Biointerphases. - : AMER INST PHYSICS. - 1934-8630 .- 1559-4106. ; 12:5
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Cytokines are small proteins that play fundamental roles in inflammatory processes in the human body. In particular, interleukin (IL)-6 is a multifunctional cytokine, whose increased levels are associated with infection, cancer, and inflammation. The quantification of IL-6 is therefore of primary importance in early stages of inflammation and in chronic diseases, but standard techniques are expensive, time-consuming, and usually rely on fluorescent or radioactive labels. Organic electronic devices and, in particular, organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) have been proposed in the recent years as novel platforms for label-free protein detection, exploiting as sensing unit surface-immobilized antibodies or aptamers. Here, the authors report two electrolyte-gated OFETs biosensors for IL-6 detection, featuring monoclonal antibodies and peptide aptamers adsorbed at the gate. Both strategies yield biosensors that can work on a wide range of IL-6 concentrations and exhibit a remarkable limit of detection of 1 pM. Eventually, electrolyte gated OFETs responses have been used to extract and compare the binding thermodynamics between the sensing moiety, immobilized at the gate electrode, and IL-6. (C) 2017 American Vacuum Society.
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9. |
- Diacci, Chiara, et al.
(author)
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Organic Electrochemical Transistor Aptasensor for Interleukin-6 Detection
- 2023
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In: ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces. - : AMER CHEMICAL SOC. - 1944-8244 .- 1944-8252.
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We demonstrate an organic electrochemical transistor (OECT) biosensor for the detection of interleukin 6 (IL6), an important biomarker associated with various pathological processes, including chronic inflammation, inflammaging, cancer, and severe COVID-19 infection. The biosensor is functionalized with oligonucleotide aptamers engineered to bind specifically IL6. We developed an easy functionalization strategy based on gold nanoparticles deposited onto a poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) doped with polystyrenesulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) gate electrode for the subsequent electrodeposition of thiolated aptamers. During this functionalization step, the reduction of sulfide bonds allows for simultaneous deposition of a blocking agent. A detection range from picomolar to nanomolar concentrations for IL6 was achieved, and the selectivity of the device was assessed against Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF), another cytokine involved in the inflammatory processes.
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10. |
- Galliani, Marina, et al.
(author)
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Flexible Printed Organic Electrochemical Transistors for the Detection of Uric Acid in Artificial Wound Exudate
- 2020
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In: Advanced Materials Interfaces. - : Wiley-VCH Verlag. - 2196-7350. ; 7:23
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Low-cost, minimally invasive sensors able to provide real-time monitoring of wound infection can enable the optimization of healthcare resources in chronic wounds management. Here, a novel printed organic electrochemical transistors (OECT) biosensor for monitoring uric acid (UA), a bacterial infection biomarker in wounds, is demonstrated in artificial wound exudate. The sensor exploits the enzymatic conversion of UA to 5-hydroxyisourate, catalyzed by Uricase entrapped in a dual-ionic-layer hydrogel membrane casted onto the gate. The sensor response is based on the catalytic oxidation of the hydrogen peroxide, generated as part of the Uricase regeneration process, at the Pt modified gate. The proposed dual membrane avoids the occurrence of nonspecific faradic reactions as, for example, the direct oxidation of UA or other electroactive molecules that would introduce a potentially false negative response. The biosensor is robust and its response is reproducible both in phosphate buffer saline and in complex solutions mimicking the wound exudate. The sensor has a high sensitivity in the range encompassing the pathological levels of UA in wounds (<200 μm) exhibiting a limit of detection of 4.5 μm in artificial wound exudate. All these characteristics make this OECT-based biosensor attractive for wound monitoring interfaced to the patient.
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11. |
- Parkula, Vitaliy, et al.
(author)
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Harnessing Selectivity and Sensitivity in Electronic Biosensing: A Novel Lab-on-Chip Multigate Organic Transistor
- 2020
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In: Analytical Chemistry. - : AMER CHEMICAL SOC. - 0003-2700 .- 1520-6882. ; 92:13, s. 9330-9337
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Electrolyte gated organic transistors can operate as powerful ultrasensitive biosensors, and efforts are currently devoted to devising strategies for reducing the contribution of hardly avoidable, nonspecific interactions to their response, to ultimately harness selectivity in the detection process. We report a novel lab-on-a-chip device integrating a multigate electrolyte gated organic field-effect transistor (EGOFET) with a 6.5 mu L microfluidics set up capable to provide an assessment of both the response reproducibility, by enabling measurement in triplicate, and of the device selectivity through the presence of an internal reference electrode. As proof-of-concept, we demonstrate the efficient operation of our pentacene based EGOFET sensing platform through the quantification of tumor necrosis factor alpha with a detection limit as low as 3 pM. Sensing of inflammatory cytokines, which also include TNF alpha, is of the outmost importance for monitoring a large number of diseases. The multiplexable organic electronic lab-on-chip provides a statistically solid, reliable, and selective response on microliters sample volumes on the minutes time scale, thus matching the relevant key-performance indicators required in point-of-care diagnostics.
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12. |
- Quintano, Vanesa, et al.
(author)
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Long-range selective transport of anions and cations in graphene oxide membranes, causing selective crystallization on the macroscale
- 2021
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In: Nanoscale Advances. - : Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). - 2516-0230. ; 3:2, s. 353-358
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Monoatomic nanosheets can form 2-dimensional channels with tunable chemical properties, for ion storage and filtering applications. Here, we demonstrate transport of K+, Na+, and Li+ cations and F- and Cl- anions on the centimeter scale in graphene oxide membranes (GOMs), triggered by an electric bias. Besides ion transport, the GOM channels foster also the aggregation of the selected ions in salt crystals, whose composition is not the same as that of the pristine salt present in solution, highlighting the difference between the chemical environment in the 2D channels and in bulk solutions.
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13. |
- Sensi, Matteo, et al.
(author)
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Modulating the Faradic Operation of All-Printed Organic Electrochemical Transistors by Facile in Situ Modification of the Gate Electrode
- 2019
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In: ACS Omega. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 2470-1343. ; 4:3, s. 5374-5381
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) operated in the faradic regime were shown as outperforming transducers of bioelectric signals in vitro and in vivo. Fabrication by additive manufacturing techniques fosters OECTs as ideal candidates for point-of-care applications, as well as imposes limitations on the choice of materials and their processing conditions. Here, we address the question of how the response of fully printed OECTs depends on gate electrode material. Toward this end, we investigate the redox processes underlying the operation of OECTs under faradic regime, to show OECTs with carbon gate (C-gate) that exhibit no current modulation gate voltages <1.2 V. This is a hallmark that no interference with the faradic operation of the device enabled by redox processes occurs when operating C-gate OECTs in the low-voltage range as label-free biosensors for the detection of electroactive (bio)molecules. To tune the faradic response of the device, we electrodeposited Au on the carbon gate (Au-C-gate), obtaining a device that operates at lower gate voltage values than C-gate OECT. The presence of gold on the gate allowed further modification of the electrical performances by functionalization of the Au-C-gate with different self-assembled monolayers by fast potential-pulse-assisted method. Moreover, we show that the presence in the electrolyte solution of an external redox probe can be used to drive the faradic response of both C- and Au-C-gate OECTs, impacting on the gate potential window that yields effective drain current modulation. The results presented here suggest possible new strategies for controlling the faradic operation regime of OECTs sensors by chemical modification of the gate surface.
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14. |
- Sensi, Matteo, et al.
(author)
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Monitoring DNA Hybridization with Organic Electrochemical Transistors Functionalized with Polydopamine
- 2022
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In: Macromolecular materials and engineering. - : John Wiley and Sons Inc. - 1438-7492 .- 1439-2054. ; 307:5
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) are finding widespread application in biosensing, thanks to their high sensitivity, broad dynamic range, and low limit of detection. An OECT biosensor requires the immobilization of a biorecognition probe on the gate, or else on the channel, through several, often lengthy, chemical steps. In this work, a fast and straightforward way to functionalize the carbon gate of a fully screen-printed OECT by means of a polydopamine (PDA) film is presented. By chemical immobilization of an amine-terminated single-stranded oligonucleotide, containing the HSP70 promoter CCAAT sequence, on the PDA film, the detection of the complementary DNA strand is demonstrated. Furthermore, the specificity of the developed genosensor is assessed by comparing its response to the fully complementary strand with the one to partially complementary and noncomplementary oligonucleotides. The developed sensor shows a theoretical limit of detection (LOD) of 100 × 10−15 m and a dynamic range over four orders of magnitude. © 2022 The Authors.
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