Design and development of an electroanalytical enzymatic sensor using anodized laser induced graphene for the management of Hirschsprung Disease

• Published in: Diamond and related materials 2022-12, Vol.130, p.109524, Article 109524
• Main Authors: Roy, Souradeep, Sain, Sourav, Roy, Susanta Sinha, Mathur, Ashish, Pati, Akash Bihari
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anodized laser induced graphene; Electrochemical biosensor; Gastrointestinal infections; Hirschsprung disease; Hirschsprung-assisted enterocolitis
• ISSN: 0925-9635; 1879-0062
• DOI: 10.1016/j.diamond.2022.109524

Hirschsprung's disease (HD) is widely characterized by the absence of ganglion cells in the colon of infants and children resulting in a spectrum of diseases starting from constipation to intestinal obstruction. The disease can have a serious manifestation of Hirschsprung-associated enterocolitis which can lead to significant morbidity and even mortality. Presently the treatment includes surgical excision of the pathological segment of the colon. Identification of the segment requires histopathology and immunohistochemistry which is time-consuming and requires significant expertise of a pathologist. There is a gap in the management of the disease in the form of absence of suitable, sensitive, and efficient technologies to detect the pathological segment of the intestine, which could significantly reduce surgery duration in the operation theatre, as well as associated risks to patients. It, therefore, becomes a matter of extreme importance to develop a point-of-care platform for early and efficient identification of the occurrence of HD in neonates and older children during surgery. The present work reports on the development of an electrochemical enzymatic biosensor using anodized laser-induced graphene (aLIG) conjugated with acetylcholinesterase enzyme (AchE), for detection of HD as a function of acetylcholine – the key biomarker. The developed sensor was initially characterized using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), while the sensor's analytical performance was assessed using CV. The sensor exhibited a limit of detection of 0.26 μM with a shelf life of 1 month, while remaining unperturbed in the presence of common interferants. The performance of the developed sensor was also examined in spiked serum samples and was observed to yield a high degree of linearity. [Display omitted] •A novel study on the development of electroanalytical biosensor for management of Hirschsprung disease.•Acetylcholinesterase immobilised on anodised laser induced graphene for selective recognition of acetylcholine.•High degree of linearity with enhanced limit of detection in spiked serum.•Simple and cost-effective sensor development.•Huge potential for implementation in operation theatres for enhanced patient outcomes.