Nanostructured genosensor platform based on polypyrrole film and graphene quantum dots for the detection of high-risk HPV

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a globally prevalent infection that contributes to both benign and malignant diseases. While low-risk HPV types cause warts, high-risk strains are linked to cervical cancer and other malignancies. The most prevalent HPV subtypes, HPV 16 and 18, are accountable for over 70 % of cervical cancer cases globally. The virus poses a significant public health burden, particularly in low-resource settings. The electrochemical genosensor stands out as a promising tool for detecting and screening HPV and other cancer-related viruses. For this reason, we developed an electrochemical genosensor for the detection of high-risk HPV. A nanostructured electropolymerized polypyrrole (PPy) film and graphene quantum dots (GQD) were designed for the immobilization of the HPV MY09 probe. The sensing platform was characterized using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) to evaluate biological samples of cDNA from infected patients. Topographical analysis revealed increased peaks and roughness regarding the hybridization process between the sensing platform and patient samples. Electrochemically, the proposed biosensor exhibited a sensitive response to recombinant plasmid and cDNA samples, revealing a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.62 pg/mL and 0.85 pg/mL for plasmid and cDNA samples, respectively. Moreover, the genosensor presented excellent selectivity over negative patient samples and interfering molecules. Therefore, our results highlight the ability of the PPy-GQD-MY09probe-BSA genosensor platform to detect different HPV genotypes, displaying a higher affinity for HPV 16 and 18. The developed sensor strategy stands out as a promising tool for HPV diagnosis and follow-up treatment.