A reagent-free, fouling-resistant electrochemical multifunctional peptide sensor for highly sensitive and rapid detection of Alzheimer's disease biomarkers

β-amyloid (Aβ) aggregates are critical biomarkers for the early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Numerous studies have shown that blood-based detection of Aβ aggregates can achieve similar or higher diagnostic accuracy than clinical cerebrospinal fluid tests. In this study, a reagent-free...

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Main Authors: Yajing Ji, Xueqin Li, Xiumin Li, Xiaochun Hu, Wei Cong, Honggang Hu, Siyao Liu, Yan Chen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-08-01
Series:Materials Today Bio
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590006425006519
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author Yajing Ji
Xueqin Li
Xiumin Li
Xiaochun Hu
Wei Cong
Honggang Hu
Siyao Liu
Yan Chen
author_facet Yajing Ji
Xueqin Li
Xiumin Li
Xiaochun Hu
Wei Cong
Honggang Hu
Siyao Liu
Yan Chen
author_sort Yajing Ji
collection DOAJ
description β-amyloid (Aβ) aggregates are critical biomarkers for the early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Numerous studies have shown that blood-based detection of Aβ aggregates can achieve similar or higher diagnostic accuracy than clinical cerebrospinal fluid tests. In this study, a reagent-free, anti-fouling electrochemical sensor based on a peptide aptamer was developed. This sensor exhibited anti-fouling and specific recognition capabilities, enabling highly sensitive and selective quantitative detection of Aβ aggregates in blood. The multifunctional peptide (MF-peptide) incorporated a hydrophilic sequence of alternating lysine (K) and glutamic acid (E) residues into the Aβ recognition peptide. The MF-peptide sensor was fabricated via the self-assembly of the MF-peptide onto a working electrode modified with gold nanoparticles. Experimental results revealed that the sensor exhibited excellent sensitivity to Aβ aggregates, with a strong bilinear response over a range of 0.3 fM–0.5 pM and a detection limit of 0.1 fM. The entire detection process was completed within 25 min. Moreover, the sensor displayed strong resistance to high concentrations of endogenous interferents (interference coefficient <12.76 %) and excellent selectivity in the presence of both interferents and Aβ aggregates. Additionally, the sensor was successfully used to accurately detect Aβ aggregates in human serum, maintaining its excellent bilinear response. This study presents a novel, efficient, and rapid strategy for detecting Aβ aggregates in human serum without complex pre-processing and provides practical support for the early clinical diagnosis of AD.
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spelling doaj-art-1bfe88efb5f6489683066a52346057cf2025-08-20T03:50:50ZengElsevierMaterials Today Bio2590-00642025-08-013310208110.1016/j.mtbio.2025.102081A reagent-free, fouling-resistant electrochemical multifunctional peptide sensor for highly sensitive and rapid detection of Alzheimer's disease biomarkersYajing Ji0Xueqin Li1Xiumin Li2Xiaochun Hu3Wei Cong4Honggang Hu5Siyao Liu6Yan Chen7School of Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, ChinaSchool of Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, ChinaDepartment of Pharmacy, Medical Supplies Center of People's Liberation Army (PLA) General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, ChinaSchool of Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, ChinaSchool of Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, ChinaSchool of Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, China; Corresponding author.School of Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, China; Corresponding author.Department of Pharmacy, Medical Supplies Center of People's Liberation Army (PLA) General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, China; Corresponding author.β-amyloid (Aβ) aggregates are critical biomarkers for the early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Numerous studies have shown that blood-based detection of Aβ aggregates can achieve similar or higher diagnostic accuracy than clinical cerebrospinal fluid tests. In this study, a reagent-free, anti-fouling electrochemical sensor based on a peptide aptamer was developed. This sensor exhibited anti-fouling and specific recognition capabilities, enabling highly sensitive and selective quantitative detection of Aβ aggregates in blood. The multifunctional peptide (MF-peptide) incorporated a hydrophilic sequence of alternating lysine (K) and glutamic acid (E) residues into the Aβ recognition peptide. The MF-peptide sensor was fabricated via the self-assembly of the MF-peptide onto a working electrode modified with gold nanoparticles. Experimental results revealed that the sensor exhibited excellent sensitivity to Aβ aggregates, with a strong bilinear response over a range of 0.3 fM–0.5 pM and a detection limit of 0.1 fM. The entire detection process was completed within 25 min. Moreover, the sensor displayed strong resistance to high concentrations of endogenous interferents (interference coefficient <12.76 %) and excellent selectivity in the presence of both interferents and Aβ aggregates. Additionally, the sensor was successfully used to accurately detect Aβ aggregates in human serum, maintaining its excellent bilinear response. This study presents a novel, efficient, and rapid strategy for detecting Aβ aggregates in human serum without complex pre-processing and provides practical support for the early clinical diagnosis of AD.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590006425006519Electrochemical sensingHigh-sensitivity detectionSelective recognitionBiomarker
spellingShingle Yajing Ji
Xueqin Li
Xiumin Li
Xiaochun Hu
Wei Cong
Honggang Hu
Siyao Liu
Yan Chen
A reagent-free, fouling-resistant electrochemical multifunctional peptide sensor for highly sensitive and rapid detection of Alzheimer's disease biomarkers
Materials Today Bio
Electrochemical sensing
High-sensitivity detection
Selective recognition
Biomarker
title A reagent-free, fouling-resistant electrochemical multifunctional peptide sensor for highly sensitive and rapid detection of Alzheimer's disease biomarkers
title_full A reagent-free, fouling-resistant electrochemical multifunctional peptide sensor for highly sensitive and rapid detection of Alzheimer's disease biomarkers
title_fullStr A reagent-free, fouling-resistant electrochemical multifunctional peptide sensor for highly sensitive and rapid detection of Alzheimer's disease biomarkers
title_full_unstemmed A reagent-free, fouling-resistant electrochemical multifunctional peptide sensor for highly sensitive and rapid detection of Alzheimer's disease biomarkers
title_short A reagent-free, fouling-resistant electrochemical multifunctional peptide sensor for highly sensitive and rapid detection of Alzheimer's disease biomarkers
title_sort reagent free fouling resistant electrochemical multifunctional peptide sensor for highly sensitive and rapid detection of alzheimer s disease biomarkers
topic Electrochemical sensing
High-sensitivity detection
Selective recognition
Biomarker
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590006425006519
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