Dual‐Channel Interdigitated Aptamer‐Based Sensors for Rapid Small‐Molecule Detection in Biofluids
ABSTRACT Timely and decentralized quantification of small‐molecule biomarkers is essential for point‐of‐care (POC) diagnostics, but their reliable detection in biofluids remains challenging. Here, we introduce an engineered electrochemical aptamer sensing platform that employs a dual‐channel signal conversion strategy to overcome these limitations. By integrating spatially separated interdigitated working electrodes with selective self‐assembled monolayer (SAM) removal, the system enables target‐induced release and recapture of methylene blue‐labeled complementary DNA (MB‐cDNA) probes across two electrodes. This configuration minimizes background interference and enhances mass transport, facilitating robust dual‐channel signal transduction. The platform enables rapid (≤ 30 min), low‐volume (30 µL) detection of prototypical small molecules, dopamine and cortisol, in diverse biofluids, including artificial cerebrospinal fluid (aCSF), human serum, and saliva. Notably, the signal conversion mechanism remained effective across different targets and sample types, requiring only minimal adaptation of the recognition sequence. Together, these features establish a versatile electrochemical sensing architecture with broad potential for rapid, quantitative small‐molecule analysis in complex biological media.
Authors
- Nako Nakatsuka (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8248-5248)
- Senyao Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8139-558X)
- George Al Boustani (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2723-8011)
- Lukas Hiendlmeier (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0219-6871)
- Defne Tüzün (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5548-1866)
- Berna Özkale (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3016-9363)
- Sebastian Freko
- Alonso Ingar Romero
- Hu Peng
- Chen Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2132-0869)
- Bernhard Wolfrum
- Lilly Schmidt
- Ali Elmorsy (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8554-0505)
Institutions
- École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (CH)
- Technical University of Munich (DE)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Angewandte Chemie International Edition
- Published
- 2026-05-14
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.8361141
- Primary Topic
- Advanced biosensing and bioanalysis techniques
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00