Nanomaterial-based electrochemical impedance aptasensor for dengue detection

Aptamers in sensing applications has become a promising tool to detect different target analytes. This study investigates a new sequence-specific and sensitive DNA aptasensor for dengue detection through the non-structural 1 protein (NS1), a biomarker present in infected blood. Biosensor platform is based on gold electrodes modified with self-assembled monolayer using aptamer and 6-mercapto-1-hexanol to form a nanoscale thin film. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was used to optimize aptamer proportion, quantify NS1 and settle analytical parameters. EIS presented 4.95 ± 0.32% sensitivity per decade in PBS and 2.49 ± 0.18% in commercial human serum with 40 and 90 pg/mL as limits of detection, respectively. The platform showed a short shelf life when stored in PBS buffer at 4 °C. The results indicate that bioreceptor used was able to detect NS1 with analytical parameters consistent to clinical range and is a promising tool for the development of miniaturized point-of-care device for diagnostic.Graphical abstract