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journal article·2026-07Open access

Ultrasensitive Detection of Neurofilament Light in Plasma Using F(Ab’) 2 ‐Modified Graphene Field‐Effect Biosensor

Selvinaz Burcu Kizilates, Rica Asrosa, Lenart Senicar, Anuja Sharma, Seda Gungordu Er, Nisha Naeem, Ahmad Nizamuddin bin Muhammad Mustafa, Yang Wu, Neil Graham, Amanda Heslegrave, Mohan Edirisinghe, Antonio Lombardo, Elias Torres, Henrik Zetterberg, Sami Ramadan, David J. Sharp, Bing Li

Small· Volume 22· Issue 39
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Source abstract

Abstract

ABSTRACT Neurofilament light (NfL) is a discriminative blood biomarker for many neurological diseases. Current accurate analysis relating to NfL relies on state‐of‐the‐art technologies such as the single‐molecule array (Simoa) and immunoprecipitation‐mass spectrometry (IP‐MS), which require complicated machinery, skilled operational personnel, and well‐equipped laboratories. Herein, we demonstrate a robust on‐chip graphene field‐effect transistor (GFET) biosensing platform for the ultrasensitive detection of NfL. This work utilizes smaller antibody fragments F(ab’) 2 to mitigate Debye screening and enhance sensing performance, alongside quantitative characterization of 1‐pyrenebutyric acid N‐hydroxysuccinimide ester (PBASE) surface density to support controlled antibody immobilization. Compared with whole antibody‐based GFETs, this F(ab’) 2 ‐modified GFET platform is shown to achieve a 114% increase in sensitivity, a fivefold improvement in the limit‐of‐detection (LoD) down to 0.18 pg/mL, and a wide dynamic detection range from 0.18 to 1500 pg/mL, together with good selectivity, stability, and reproducibility. This biosensing platform is validated against Simoa technology for the detection of NfL in clinical plasma samples, yielding a high correlation coefficient of 0.99. These results demonstrate the potential of GFETs for point‐of‐care diagnosis and the monitoring of neurological diseases in frontline clinical settings, outperforming conventional immunoassays and approaching Simoa sensitivity.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline

Research context

NanomaterialsElectronic materials

OpenAlex topics: Advanced biosensing and bioanalysis techniques · Graphene research and applications · Advanced Biosensing Techniques and Applications

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

Institute For Materials Discovery University College London London UK

Department of Physics Universitas Sumatera Utara Medan Indonesia

UK Dementia Research Institute University College London London UK

Department of Mechanical Engineering University College London London UK

Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering University College London London UK

Department of Materials Imperial College London London UK

FTKEK Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka Melaka Malaysia

Electrical Engineering Division University of Cambridge Cambridge UK

Department of Brain Sciences Imperial College London London UK

Care Research and Technology Centre UK Dementia Research Institute London UK

Institute of Neurology University College London London UK

London Centre for Nanotechnology London UK

Graphenea Semiconductor San Sebastián Spain

Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry University of Gothenburg Mölndal Sweden

Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory Sahlgrenska University Hospital Mölndal Sweden

Hong Kong Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases Hong Kong China

Funding

Rosetrees Trust · Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council · Medical Research Council · Royal Society · Alzheimer's Society · Vetenskapsrådet · Cure Alzheimer's Fund · Erling-Perssons Stiftelse · Stiftelsen för Gamla Tjänarinnor

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