Label-free electrochemical immunosensor as a reliable point-of-care device for the detection of Interleukin-6 in serum samples from patients with psoriasis

Flexible, Electrochemical Skin-Like Platform for Inflammatory Biomarker Monitoring

Addressing global challenges in wound management has greatly encouraged the emergence of home diagnosis and monitoring devices. This technological shift has accelerated the development of new skin patch sensors for continuous health monitoring. A key requirement is the creation of flexible platforms capable of mimicking human skin features. Here, for the first time, an innovative, highly adaptable electrochemical biosensor with molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) is customized for the detection of the inflammatory biomarker interleukin-6 (IL-6). The 3-electrode gold pattern is geometrically standardized onto a 6 µm thick polyimide flexible membrane, an optically transparent, and biocompatible polymeric substrate. Subsequently, a biomimetic sensing layer specifically designed for the detection of IL-6 target is produced on these transducers. The obtained MIP biosensor shows a good linear response within the concentration range 50 pg mL-1-50 ng mL-1, with a low limit of detection (8 pg mL-1). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy characterizations confirm the modifications of the flexible gold transducer. After optimization, the biosensing device shows remarkable potential in terms of sensitivity, selectivity, and reproducibility. Overall, the integration of a low-cost electrochemical sensor on biocompatible flexible polymers opens the way for a new generation of monitoring tools with higher accuracy, less invasiveness, and greater patient comfort.

An innovative label-free electrochemical aptamer sensor: utilizing Ti3C2Tx/MoS2/Au NPs for accurate interleukin-6 detection

In the medical field, changes in interleukin-6 (IL-6) concentration serve as essential biomarkers for monitoring and diagnosing various conditions, including acute inflammatory responses such as those seen in trauma and burns, and chronic illnesses like cancer. This paper detailed a label-free electrochemical aptamer sensor designed for IL-6 quantification. A composite material consisting of Ti3C2Tx and MoS2 was successfully synthesized to fabricate this sensor. The synergistic effect of MoS2's catalytic action on hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), used as a signalling marker, when combined with the exceptional conductivity and large specific surface area of Ti3C2Tx, not only enables an increased loading of MoS2 but also significantly boosts the electrochemical response. The in situ-reduced Au NPs provided stable immobilization sites for DNA aptamers (DNAapt) and facilitated electron transfer, ensuring accurate IL-6 recognition. Under optimal conditions, the aptamer sensor exhibited a wide linear range (5 pg/mL to 100 ng/mL) and a low limit of detection (LOD) of 2.9 pg/mL. Its sensing performance in human serum samples highlights its potential as a promising clinical analysis tool.

An ethyl cellulose novel biodegradable flexible substrate material for sustainable screen-printing

We introduce an innovative solution to reduce plastic dependence in flexible electronics: a biodegradable, water-resistant, and flexible cellulose-based substrate for crafting electrochemical printed platforms. This sustainable material based on ethyl cellulose (EC) serves as an eco-friendly alternative to PET in screen printing, boasting superior water resistance compared to other biodegradable options. Our study evaluates the performance of carbon-based screen-printed electrodes (SPEs) fabricated on conventional PET, recycled PET (r-PET), and (EC)-based materials. Electrochemical characterization reveals that EC-SPEs exhibit comparable analytical performance to both P-SPEs and rP-SPEs, as evidenced by similar limits of detection (LOD), limits of quantification (LOQ), and reproducibility values for all the analytes tested (ferro-ferricyanide, hexaammineruthenium chloride, uric acid, and hydroquinone). This finding underscores the potential of our cellulose-based substrate to match the performance of conventional PET-based electrodes. Moreover, the scalability and low-energy requirements of our fabrication process highlight the potential of this material to revolutionize eco-conscious manufacturing. By offering a sustainable alternative without compromising performance, our cellulose-based substrate paves the way for greener practices in flexible electronics production.

Impact of Blood-Count-Derived Inflammatory Markers in Psoriatic Disease Progression

Psoriasis is a chronic immune-mediated disease, linked to local and systemic inflammation and predisposing patients to a higher risk of associated comorbidities. Cytokine levels are not widely available for disease progression monitoring due to high costs. Validated low-cost and reliable markers are needed for assessing disease progression and outcome. This study aims to assess the reliability of blood-count-derived inflammatory markers as disease predictors and to identify prognostic factors for disease severity. Patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria were enrolled in this study. Patients were divided into three study groups according to disease severity measured by the Body Surface Area (BSA) score: mild, moderate, and severe psoriasis. White blood cell count (WBC), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), derived neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (d-NLR), systemic immune index (SII), systemic inflammation response index (SIRI), and aggregate index of systemic inflammation (AISI) positively were correlated with disease severity (p < 0.005). d-NLR, NLR, and SII are independent prognostic factors for mild and moderate psoriasis (p < 0.05). d-NLR is the only independent prognostic factor for all three study groups. Moderate psoriasis is defined by d-NLR values between 1.49 and 2.19. NLR, PLR, d-NLR, MLR, SII, SIRI, and AISI are useful indicators of systemic inflammation and disease severity in psoriasis.