Publications
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Biochemistry strategies for label-free optical sensor biofunctionalization: advances towards real applicability
Soler M., Lechuga L.M. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry; 2021. 10.1007/s00216-021-03751-4. IF: 4.157
Label-free biosensors, and especially those based on optical transducers like plasmonic or silicon photonic systems, have positioned themselves as potential alternatives for rapid and highly sensitive clinical diagnostics, on-site environmental monitoring, and for quality control in foods or other industrial applications, among others. However, most of the biosensor technology has not yet been transferred and implemented in commercial products. Among the several causes behind that, a major challenge is the lack of standardized protocols for sensor biofunctionalization. In this review, we summarize the most common methodologies for sensor surface chemical modification and bioreceptor immobilization, discussing their advantages and limitations in terms of analytical sensitivity and selectivity, reproducibility, and versatility. Special focus is placed on the suggestions of innovative strategies towards antifouling and biomimetic functional coatings to boost the applicability and reliability of optical biosensors in clinics and biomedicine. Finally, a brief overview of research directions in the area of device integration, automation, and multiplexing will give a glimpse of the future perspectives for label-free optical biosensors. © 2021, The Author(s).
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COVID-19 biosensing technologies
Merkoçi A., Li C.-Z., Lechuga L.M., Ozcan A. Biosensors and Bioelectronics; 178 (113046) 2021. 10.1016/j.bios.2021.113046. IF: 10.618
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Current trends in spr biosensing of sars-cov-2 entry inhibitors
Mauriz E., Lechuga L.M. Chemosensors; 9 (12, 330) 2021. 10.3390/chemosensors9120330. IF: 3.398
The emerging risk of viral diseases has triggered the search for preventive and therapeutic agents. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, greater efforts have been devoted to investigating virus entry mechanisms into host cells. The feasibility of plasmonic sensing technologies for screening interactions of small molecules in real time, while providing the pharmacokinetic drug profiling of potential antiviral compounds, offers an advantageous approach over other biophysical methods. This review summarizes recent advancements in the drug discovery process of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) inhibitors using Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) biosensors. A variety of SPR assay formats are discussed according to the binding kinetics and drug efficacies of both natural products and repurposed drugs. Special attention has been given to the targeting of antiviral agents that block the receptor binding domain of the spike protein (RBD-S) and the main protease (3CLpro) of SARS-CoV-2. The functionality of plasmonic biosensors for high-throughput screening of entry virus inhibitors was also reviewed taking into account experimental parameters (binding affinities, selectivity, stability), potential limitations and future applications. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
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Design and characterization of high-affinity synthetic peptides as bioreceptors for diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis
Prada Y.A., Soler M., Guzmán F., Castillo J.J., Lechuga L.M., Mejía-Ospino E. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry; 413 (17): 4545 - 4555. 2021. 10.1007/s00216-021-03424-2. IF: 4.157
Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is one of the illnesses caused by Leishmania parasite infection, which can be asymptomatic or severe according to the infecting Leishmania strain. CL is commonly diagnosed by directly detecting the parasites or their DNA in tissue samples. New diagnostic methodologies target specific proteins (biomarkers) secreted by the parasite during the infection process. However, specific bioreceptors for the in vivo or in vitro detection of these novel biomarkers are rather limited in terms of sensitivity and specificity. For this reason, we here introduce three novel peptides as bioreceptors for the highly sensitive and selective identification of acid phosphatase (sAP) and proteophosphoglycan (PPG), which have a crucial role in leishmaniasis infection. These high-affinity peptides have been designed from the conservative domains of the lectin family, holding the ability to interact with the biological target and produce the same effect than the original protein. The synthetic peptides have been characterized and the affinity and kinetic constants for their interaction with the targets (sAP and PPG) have been determined by a surface plasmon resonance biosensor. Values obtained for KD are in the nanomolar range, which is comparable to high-affinity antibodies, with the additional advantage of a high biochemical stability and simpler production. Pep2854 exhibited a high affinity for sAP (KD = 1.48 nM) while Pep2856 had a good affinity for PPG (KD 1.76 nM). This study evidences that these peptidomimetics represent a novel alternative tool to the use of high molecular weight proteins for biorecognition in the diagnostic test and biosensor devices for CL. Graphical abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]. © 2021, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.
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Nanophotonic biosensors for point-of-care COVID-19 diagnostics and coronavirus surveillance
Ruiz-Vega G., Soler M., Lechuga L.M. JPhys Photonics; 3 (1, 011002) 2021. 10.1088/2515-7647/abd4ee. IF: 0.000
The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the need of novel diagnostic technologies for rapid and accurate virus detection. In the European CONVAT project, a point-of-care nanophotonic biosensor is being developed for the direct, fast and specific identification of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 from both human patient samples and animal reservoirs. The technology will provide a quantitative detection of the viral load and it can be implemented in decentralized settings to improve the early diagnosis and clinical management of patients as well as coronavirus environmental monitoring to prevent future outbreaks. © 2021 The Author(s). Published by IOP Publishing Ltd
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Plasmonic biosensors for single-molecule biomedical analysis
Mauriz E., Lechuga L.M. Biosensors; 11 (4, 123) 2021. 10.3390/bios11040123. IF: 5.519
The rapid spread of epidemic diseases (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)) has contributed to focus global attention on the diagnosis of medical conditions by ultrasensitive detection methods. To overcome this challenge, increasing efforts have been driven towards the development of single-molecule analytical platforms. In this context, recent progress in plasmonic biosensing has enabled the design of novel detection strategies capable of targeting individual molecules while evaluating their binding affinity and biological interactions. This review compiles the latest advances in plasmonic technologies for monitoring clinically relevant biomarkers at the single-molecule level. Functional applications are discussed according to plasmonic sensing modes based on either nanoapertures or nanoparticle approaches. A special focus was devoted to new analytical developments involving a wide variety of analytes (e.g., proteins, living cells, nucleic acids and viruses). The utility of plasmonic-based single-molecule analysis for personalized medicine, considering technological limitations and future prospects, is also overviewed. © 2021 by the authors.
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Principles, technologies, and applications of plasmonic biosensors
Soler M., Lechuga L.M. Journal of Applied Physics; 129 (11, 111102) 2021. 10.1063/5.0042811. IF: 2.546
Plasmonic materials and phenomena have been widely studied and applied in multiple fields for a long time. One of the most promising applications is in the engineering of biosensor devices, offering label-free and real-time analysis of biomolecular interactions with excellent performances. In this tutorial, we provide a pedagogical review of the working principles of plasmonic biosensors, main fabrication methods, instrumentation, and general guidelines for their development. Special focus is placed on the biosensor performance characterization and assessment, as well as on the sensor surface biofunctionalization. In the end, we discuss the common procedure to develop and validate biosensors for relevant biomedical and environmental purposes and future perspectives in terms of boosting capabilities and sensor integration in point-of-care platforms. © 2021 Author(s).
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Real-time monitoring of fenitrothion in water samples using a silicon nanophotonic biosensor
Ramirez-Priego P., Estévez M.-C., Díaz-Luisravelo H.J., Manclús J.J., Montoya Á., Lechuga L.M. Analytica Chimica Acta; 1152 (338276) 2021. 10.1016/j.aca.2021.338276. IF: 6.558
Due to the large quantities of pesticides extensively used and their impact on the environment and human health, a prompt and reliable sensing technique could constitute an excellent tool for in-situ monitoring. With this aim, we have applied a highly sensitive photonic biosensor based on a bimodal waveguide interferometer (BiMW) for the rapid, label-free, and specific quantification of fenitrothion (FN) directly in tap water samples. After an optimization protocol, the biosensor achieved a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.29 ng mL−1 (1.05 nM) and a half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 1.71 ng mL−1 (6.09 nM) using a competitive immunoassay and employing diluted tap water. Moreover, the biosensor was successfully employed to determine FN concentration in blind tap water samples obtaining excellent recovery percentages with a time-to-result of only 20 min without any sample pre-treatment. The features of the biosensor suggest its potential application for real time, fast and sensitive screening of FN in water samples as an analytical tool for the monitoring of the water quality. © 2021 Elsevier B.V.
