Stochastic biosensors based on N- and S-doped graphene for the enantioanalysis of aspartic acid in biological samples

Abstract

Metabolomics plays a very important role in cancer mechanism and also in the early diagnosis of cancer. The enantioanalysis of aminoacids found in biological samples may favor the development of new screening tests for the early diagnosis of cancer. Two stochastic biosensors, based on the immobilization of α-hemolysin and hemin in exfoliated reduced graphene modified with nitrogen and sulphur, were proposed for the enantioanalysis of aspartic acid in biological samples (whole blood, urine, saliva, and tissue). The proposed biosensors showed low limits of quantification, high sensitivity, and large linear concentration ranges. The recoveries of D- and L-aspartic acid in biological samples were higher than 95.00%, with a relative standard deviation lower than 1.00%.