Introduction

A resorcarene-based electrochemical biosensor has been developed. Within the calixarene family, resorcinol-derived cycloligomers, namely resorcarenes, behave as abiotic artificial receptors having enforced cavities of molecular dimension. These macrocycles, characterized by a unique three-dimensional surface, could be easily functionalized at both the upper and lower rims with suitable functional groups to form self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) with improved functional properties on a gold surface and to interact with the Fc region of an antibody. The employment of resorcarene derivatives as an artificial linker for the site-directed antibody immobilization allowed the fabrication of a simple and convenient electrochemical sensor for application in clinical analysis.

Technical features

A biosensor for the electrochemical detection of an analyte in different matrices. The device uses a printed, miniaturized electrode, made from a carbonaceous material comprising magnetic nanoparticles, preferably gold coated, modified on the surface with an artificial linker with a resorc[4]arenic structure capable of binding to the Fc portion of the Abs. In this way there is the advantage of increasing the immobilized quantity while maintaining the ability to bind in a specific way to the Ag, thus increasing the sensitivity of the measuring device. This strategy, based on the use of highly preorganized resorcarene linkers, allows to combine the site-specific immobilization of antibodies with the possibility of developing electrochemical biosensors, with particular characteristics such as miniaturizability, simplicity, low costs, speed of measurement and sensitivity. TRL4 – the device is ready for development as an industrial prototype.

Possible Applications

• Diagnostics sector;
• Real-time and cost-effective screening of substances in fields such as clinical, environmental and food.

Advantages

• Site-specific immobilization of antibodies;
• Miniaturizability of biosensors;
• Simplicity, low costs, speed of measurement and sensitivity.