Quantitative analysis of sarcosine with special emphasis on biosensors: a review

Abstract

The quantitative determination of sarcosine is of great importance in clinical chemistry, food and fermentation industries. Elevated sarcosine levels are associated with Alzheimer, dementia, prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, stomach cancer and sarcosinemia. This review summarizes the various methods for quantitative analysis of sarcosine with special emphasis on various strategies of biosensors and their analytical performance. The current bio sensing methods have overcome the drawbacks of conventional methods. Sarcosine biosensors work optimally at pH 7.0 to 8.0 in the linear range of 0.1 to 100 μM within 2 to 17 s and between 25 and 37 °C, within a limit of detection (LOD) between 0.008 and 500 mM. The formulated biosensors can be reused within a stability period of 3–180 days. Future research could be focused to modify existing sarcosine biosensors, leading to simple, reliable, and economical sensors ideally suited for point-of-care treatment.

Clinical significance

• Elevated sarcosine levels are associated with prostate and colorectal cancer, Alzheimer, dementia, stomach cancer and sarcosinemia.

• Quantitative determination of sarcosine is of great importance in clinical chemistry as well as food and fermentation industries.

• Attempts made in development of sarcosine biosensors have been reviewed with their advantages and disadvantages, so that scientist and clinicians can improvise the methods of developing more potent sarcosine biosensor applicable in multitudinous fields.

• This is the first comprehensive review which compares the various immobilization methods, sensing principles, strategies used in biosensors and their analytical performance in detail.

Keywords:

• Sarcosine biosensor
• sarcosine
• sarcosine oxidase
• prostate cancer

Acknowledgements

The authors pay their gratitude to Dr Smiti Nanda for critically reviewing the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflict of interest.