Electrochemical immunoassay for tumor markers based on hydrogels

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Hydrogel-based electrochemical immunoassays exhibit a large surface-to-volume ratio, excellent biocompatibility, unique stimuli-responsive behavior, high permeability and hydrophilicity and, thus, have shown great potential in the sensitive and accurate detection of tumor markers. Electrochemical immunosensing techniques for tumor markers based on hydrogels have greatly progressed in recent years.

Areas covered: In this review, the authors describe the recent advances of hydrogel-based electrochemical immunosensing interface of tumor markers based on the different functions of hydrogels including conductive, catalytic, redox, stimuli-responsive and antifouling hydrogels.

Expert commentary: Hydrogels have been successfully employed in electrochemical immunoassay of tumor markers, which is accountable to their unique properties. For further exploitation of hydrogel-based electrochemical biosensors, more variety of hydrogels need be fabricated with improved functionality.

KEYWORDS:

• Electrochemical immunosensor
• good biocompatibility
• hydrogel
• rapid electron transfer
• stimuli-responsive
• tailored functionality
• tumour markers

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties. Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This research was financed by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China [21673143, 21273153], Natural Science Foundation of Beijing Municipality [2172016, 2132008], High-level Teachers in Beijing Municipal Universities in the Period of 13th Five-year Plan [IDHT20180517] and the Project of the Construction of Scientific Research Base by the Beijing Municipal Education Commission.