Electrochemical Sensing for Neurological Biomarkers
Summary
Electrochemical sensing harnesses redox reactions at electrode interfaces to detect and quantify biochemical species central to neurological function and disease. By transducing electron transfer events into measurable electrical signals, these sensors offer high sensitivity, rapid response and the potential for miniaturisation. Advances in electrode materials—from carbon‐based platforms and metallic nanostructures to enzyme‐functionalised surfaces—have expanded the range of detectable targets to include neurotransmitters such as dopamine and its precursor L-DOPA, biomarkers of neurodegeneration like amyloid-β fragments and oxidative stress indicators such as hydrogen peroxide. The capacity to integrate flexible substrates and microfabricated arrays has enabled wearable or implantable formats for continuous monitoring, offering new opportunities for personalised therapy in Parkinson’s disease, early detection of Alzheimer’s disease and assessment of acute brain injury.
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Electrochemical Sensing for Neurological Biomarkers publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in electrochemical sensing for neurological biomarkers across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Voltammetry: Electrochemical technique in which current is measured while the electrode potential is varied, used to characterise redox behaviour and quantify analytes.
Amperometry: Measurement of current at a fixed potential over time, enabling real-time monitoring of concentration changes in electroactive species.
Limit of detection (LOD): The lowest analyte concentration that produces a signal distinguishable from background noise, indicating sensor sensitivity.
Electrode functionalisation: Modification of an electrode surface with nanomaterials, enzymes or polymers to enhance selectivity, sensitivity and stability toward specific biomarkers.
Interference removal: Strategies, such as differential electrode pairs or selective membranes, employed to eliminate signals from non-target species in complex biological samples.
References
- Differential Amperometric Microneedle Biosensor for Wearable Levodopa Monitoring of Parkinson’s Disease. Biosensors (2022).
- Eu2O3@Cr2O3 Nanoparticles-Modified Carbon Paste Electrode for Efficient Electrochemical Sensing of Neurotransmitters Precursor L-DOPA. Biosensors (2023).
- A Critical Overview of Enzyme-Based Electrochemical Biosensors for L-Dopa Detection in Biological Samples. Chemosensors (2023).
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