Ultrasensitive rapid cytokine sensors based on asymmetric geometry two-dimensional MoS2 diodes

• Published in: Nature communications 2022-12, Vol.13 (1), p.7593-7593, Article 7593
• Main Authors: De Silva, Thushani, Fawzy, Mirette, Hasani, Amirhossein, Ghanbari, Hamidreza, Abnavi, Amin, Askar, Abdelrahman, Ling, Yue, Mohammadzadeh, Mohammad Reza, Kabir, Fahmid, Ahmadi, Ribwar, Rosin, Miriam, Kavanagh, Karen L., Adachi, Michael M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 142/126; 147/3; 49; 639/925/350/59; 639/925/352/1060; 639/925/357/1018; 639/925/927/356; 9/10; Aptamers; Asymmetry; Biomarkers; Biosensors; Body fluids; Cytokines; Diodes; Fabrication; Geometry; Humanities and Social Sciences; Inflammation; Low concentrations; Molybdenum disulfide; multidisciplinary; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Sensors; Surface energy; Surface properties; Tumor necrosis factor-TNF; Tumor necrosis factor-α
• ISSN: 2041-1723; 2041-1723
• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-35278-2

The elevation of cytokine levels in body fluids has been associated with numerous health conditions. The detection of these cytokine biomarkers at low concentrations may help clinicians diagnose diseases at an early stage. Here, we report an asymmetric geometry MoS 2 diode-based biosensor for rapid, label-free, highly sensitive, and specific detection of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), a proinflammatory cytokine. This sensor is functionalized with TNF-α binding aptamers to detect TNF-α at concentrations as low as 10 fM, well below the typical concentrations found in healthy blood. Interactions between aptamers and TNF-α at the sensor surface induce a change in surface energy that alters the current-voltage rectification behavior of the MoS 2 diode, which can be read out using a two-electrode configuration. The key advantages of this diode sensor are the simple fabrication process and electrical readout, and therefore, the potential to be applied in a rapid and easy-to-use, point-of-care, diagnostic tool. Detection of cytokine biomarkers has the potential to aid in diagnosis and treatment of different diseases. Here, the authors report on the creation of an asymmetric geometry MoS 2 diode-based biosensor for the detection of TNF-α as a model biomarker in a proof of concept study.