Innovative Peptide-Based Plasmonic Optical Biosensor for the Determination of Cholesterol

Plasmonic-based biosensors have gained prominence as potent optical biosensing platforms in both scientific and medical research, attributable to their enhanced sensitivity and precision in detecting biomolecular and chemical interactions. However, the detection of low molecular weight analytes with...

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Main Authors: Ana Lia Bernardo, Anne Parra, Virginia Cebrián, Óscar Ahumada, Sergio Oddi, Enrico Dainese
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Biosensors
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6374/14/11/551
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author Ana Lia Bernardo
Anne Parra
Virginia Cebrián
Óscar Ahumada
Sergio Oddi
Enrico Dainese
author_facet Ana Lia Bernardo
Anne Parra
Virginia Cebrián
Óscar Ahumada
Sergio Oddi
Enrico Dainese
author_sort Ana Lia Bernardo
collection DOAJ
description Plasmonic-based biosensors have gained prominence as potent optical biosensing platforms in both scientific and medical research, attributable to their enhanced sensitivity and precision in detecting biomolecular and chemical interactions. However, the detection of low molecular weight analytes with high sensitivity and specificity remains a complex and unresolved issue, posing significant limitations for the advancement of clinical diagnostic tools and medical device technologies. Notably, abnormal cholesterol levels are a well-established indicator of various pathological conditions; yet, the quantitative detection of the free form of cholesterol is complicated by its small molecular size, pronounced hydrophobicity, and the necessity for mediator molecules to achieve efficient sensing. In the present study, a novel strategy for cholesterol quantification was developed, leveraging a plasmonic optical readout in conjunction with a highly specific cholesterol-binding peptide (C-pept) as a biorecognition element, anchored on a functionalized silica substrate. The resulting biosensor exhibited an exceptionally low detection limit of 21.95 µM and demonstrated a linear response in the 10–200 µM range. This peptide-integrated plasmonic sensor introduces a novel one-step competitive method for cholesterol quantification, positioning itself as a highly sensitive biosensing modality for implementation within the AVAC platform, which operates using reflective dark-field microscopy.
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spelling doaj-art-b9a2ad97dcda4aa4b4e8e428defe8b7d2025-08-20T02:08:08ZengMDPI AGBiosensors2079-63742024-11-01141155110.3390/bios14110551Innovative Peptide-Based Plasmonic Optical Biosensor for the Determination of CholesterolAna Lia Bernardo0Anne Parra1Virginia Cebrián2Óscar Ahumada3Sergio Oddi4Enrico Dainese5Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Unit, Department of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, Campus “Aurelio Saliceti” Via Renato Balzarini n. 1, 64100 Teramo, ItalyMecwins S.A., Ronda de Poniente, 15, 2°D, Tres Cantos, 28760 Madrid, SpainMecwins S.A., Ronda de Poniente, 15, 2°D, Tres Cantos, 28760 Madrid, SpainMecwins S.A., Ronda de Poniente, 15, 2°D, Tres Cantos, 28760 Madrid, SpainDepartment of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Via Renato Balzarini n. 1, 64100 Teramo, ItalyBiochemistry and Molecular Biology Unit, Department of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, Campus “Aurelio Saliceti” Via Renato Balzarini n. 1, 64100 Teramo, ItalyPlasmonic-based biosensors have gained prominence as potent optical biosensing platforms in both scientific and medical research, attributable to their enhanced sensitivity and precision in detecting biomolecular and chemical interactions. However, the detection of low molecular weight analytes with high sensitivity and specificity remains a complex and unresolved issue, posing significant limitations for the advancement of clinical diagnostic tools and medical device technologies. Notably, abnormal cholesterol levels are a well-established indicator of various pathological conditions; yet, the quantitative detection of the free form of cholesterol is complicated by its small molecular size, pronounced hydrophobicity, and the necessity for mediator molecules to achieve efficient sensing. In the present study, a novel strategy for cholesterol quantification was developed, leveraging a plasmonic optical readout in conjunction with a highly specific cholesterol-binding peptide (C-pept) as a biorecognition element, anchored on a functionalized silica substrate. The resulting biosensor exhibited an exceptionally low detection limit of 21.95 µM and demonstrated a linear response in the 10–200 µM range. This peptide-integrated plasmonic sensor introduces a novel one-step competitive method for cholesterol quantification, positioning itself as a highly sensitive biosensing modality for implementation within the AVAC platform, which operates using reflective dark-field microscopy.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6374/14/11/551peptidebiosensorcholesterollocalized surface plasmon resonancedark-field microscopy
spellingShingle Ana Lia Bernardo
Anne Parra
Virginia Cebrián
Óscar Ahumada
Sergio Oddi
Enrico Dainese
Innovative Peptide-Based Plasmonic Optical Biosensor for the Determination of Cholesterol
Biosensors
peptide
biosensor
cholesterol
localized surface plasmon resonance
dark-field microscopy
title Innovative Peptide-Based Plasmonic Optical Biosensor for the Determination of Cholesterol
title_full Innovative Peptide-Based Plasmonic Optical Biosensor for the Determination of Cholesterol
title_fullStr Innovative Peptide-Based Plasmonic Optical Biosensor for the Determination of Cholesterol
title_full_unstemmed Innovative Peptide-Based Plasmonic Optical Biosensor for the Determination of Cholesterol
title_short Innovative Peptide-Based Plasmonic Optical Biosensor for the Determination of Cholesterol
title_sort innovative peptide based plasmonic optical biosensor for the determination of cholesterol
topic peptide
biosensor
cholesterol
localized surface plasmon resonance
dark-field microscopy
url https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6374/14/11/551
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