Fabrication of Au/Fe₃O₄/RGO based aptasensor for measurement of miRNA‐128, a biomarker for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)

Abstract

Due to their high sensitivity, simplicity, portability, self‐contained, and low cost, the development of electrochemical biosensors is a beneficial way to diagnose and anticipate many types of cancers. An electrochemical nanocomposite‐based aptasensor is fabricated for the determination of miRNA‐128 concentration as the acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) biomarker for the first time. The aptamer chains were immobilized on the surface of the glassy carbon electrode (GCE) through gold nanoparticles/magnetite/reduced graphene oxide (AuNPs/Fe3O4/RGO). Fast Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to characterize synthesized nanomaterials. Cyclic voltammetry (CV), square wave voltammetry (SWV), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were used to characterize the modified GCE in both label‐free and labeled methods. The results indicate that the modified working electrode has high selectivity and for miRNA‐128 over other biomolecules. The hexacyanoferrate redox system typically operated at around 0.3 V (vs. Ag/AgCl), and the methylene blue redox system ran at about 0 V, were used as an electrochemical probe. The detection limit and linear detection range for hexacyanoferrate and methylene blue are 0.05346 fM, 0.1–0.9 fM, and 0.005483 fM, 0.01–0.09 fM, respectively. The stability and diffusion control analyses were performed as well. In both label‐free and labeled methods, the modified electron showed high selectivity for miRNA‐128. The use of methylene blue as a safer redox mediator caused miRNA‐128 to be detected with greater accuracy at low potentials in PBS media. The findings also show the substantial improvement in detection limit and linearity by using reduced graphene oxide‐magnetite‐gold nanoparticles that can be verified by comparing with previous studies on the detection of other miRNAs.

Biomarkers and Corresponding Biosensors for Childhood Cancer Diagnostics

“…For instance, miRNA-328 and miRNA-200 are suggested as two novel biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis, as well as miRNA-324-3p, miRNA-508-5p and miRNA-128 as potential diagnostic biomarkers of childhood ALL. [ 21 , 22 , 23 ]. Among other biomarkers related to leukemia, human leukemic lymphoblasts (CCRF-CEM) are cellular biomarkers that can be detected in the peripheral blood of children with acute leukemia [ 24 ].…”

“…Dinani et al [ 23 ] fabricated an aptasensor based on Au NPs/Fe 3 O 4 /reduced graphene oxide (rGO) for the determination of miRNA-128 concentration as a diagnostic biomarker for ALL. They decorated the rGO films with Fe 3 O 4 as a suitable substrate for easier deposition of AuNPs as well as rapid immobilization of aptamers on the surface of the electrode, which improved the electrochemical conductivity of the rGO sheets and the sensitivity of the fabricated biosensor.…”

“… Schematic representation of Au NPs/Fe 3 O 4 /rGO nanocomposite preparation, immobilization of label-free as well as labeled aptamer on the surface of Au NPs/Fe 3 O 4 /rGO, and electrochemical analysis for determination of miRNA-128 concentration [ 23 ], reprinted with permission from WILEY. …”

Application of iron oxide nanoparticles in the diagnosis and treatment of leukemia

“…The combination of metal oxide nanoparticles and biosensor can not only increase the sensitivity, but also improve the signal-to-noise ratio ( Kaushik et al, 2008 ). Dinani et al (2022) constructed the first gold nanoparticle/magnetite/reduced graphene oxide (AuNPs/Fe 3 O 4 /RGO) adapter sensor for detecting the concentration of the leukemia biomarker miRNA-128. The electrical conductivity and the sensitivity of the sensor have been improved by this nanocomposite.…”

Two-Dimensional Graphitic Carbon Nitride (g-C3N4) Nanosheets and Their Derivatives for Diagnosis and Detection Applications

“…In this sense, biosensors based on nanomaterials have accurate detection, efficient monitoring, and fast but reliable imaging [ 17 , 18 ]. The physicochemical properties of nanomaterials, such as photoemission, high specific surface leading to extra bioreceptor immobilization, as well as electrical and heat conductivities, make them perfect candidates for biosensor construction [ 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 ]. Graphene/graphene oxide, carbon quantum dots, gold nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes, porous carbon, and fullerene are nanostructures that have been investigated as the biosensing platforms studied over the years [ 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 ].…”