Aptamer-Based Electrochemical Biosensors for the Detection of Small Molecules and Plasma Proteins

The ability to detect the presence of certain molecular analytes inside the human body is vital to the ability of a medical professional to assess a patient’s health. The use of sensitive and selective biosensors would be a tremendous asset to the field of medical screening and diagnosis. The fabrication of aptamer-based electrochemical biosensors as an emerging technology has made the detection of both small and macromolecular analytes easier, faster, and more suited for the ongoing transition from fundamental analytical science to the early detection of diseases. Aptamers are synthetic oligonucleotides that have undergone iterative rounds of in vitro selection for binding with high affinity to specific analytes of choice; a sensitive yet simple method to utilize aptamers as recognition entities for the development of biosensors is to transduce the signal electrochemically. In this chapter, we will summarize the state-of-the-art research progresses on aptamer-based electrochemical biosensors for the detection of both plasma proteins and small molecules. The targeted portable electronic devices, as they can be operated by the patients during their day-to-day lives, have the potential to revolutionize the delivery of medical treatment.