title: Voltammetric aptasensors for protein disease biomarkers detection: A review.
abstract: An electrochemical aptasensor is a compact analytical device where the bioreceptor (aptamer) is coupled to a transducer surface to convert a biological interaction into a measurable signal (current) that can be easily processed, recorded and displayed. Since the discovery of the Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Enrichment (SELEX) methodology, the selection of aptamers and their application as bioreceptors has become a promising tool in the design of electrochemical aptasensors. Aptamers present several advantages that highlight their usefulness as bioreceptors such as chemical stability, cost effectiveness and ease of modification towards detection and immobilization at different transducer surfaces. In this review, a special emphasis is given to the potential use of electrochemical aptasensors for the detection of protein disease biomarkers using voltammetry techniques. Methods for the immobilization of aptamers onto electrode surfaces are discussed, as well as different electrochemical strategies that can be used for the design of aptasensors.
authors.affiliation: Centre of Biological Engineering (CEB), University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal. Electronic address: smeirinho@deb.uminho.pt.
authors.forename: Sofia G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Meirinho
authors.affiliation: ESA, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus Santa Apolónia, 5300-253 Bragança, Portugal; CQ-VR, Centro de Química - Vila Real, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Apartado 1013, 5001-801 Vila Real, Portugal.
authors.forename: Luís G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Dias
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Separation and Reaction Enginerring - Laboratory of Catalysis and Materials (LSRE-LCM), ESA, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus Santa Apolónia, 5300-253 Bragança, Portugal.
authors.forename: António M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Peres
authors.affiliation: Centre of Biological Engineering (CEB), University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal.
authors.forename: Lígia R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
mesh_terms: D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis*; D015374:Biosensing Techniques; D055664:Electrochemical Techniques; D006801:Humans; D052156:SELEX Aptamer Technique
chemical_list: D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide; D015415:Biomarkers
keywords: Aptamers; Aptasensors; Electrochemical; Protein biomarkers; SELEX; Voltammetric