Ultrasensitive Detection of Neurofilament Light in Plasma Using F(Ab’) 2 ‐Modified Graphene Field‐Effect Biosensor
Year: 2026
Type: article
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: Small
DOI: 10.1002/smll.73928
Institutions: University College London, Universitas Sumatera Utara, UK Dementia Research Institute, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, Imperial College London, University of Cambridge, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London Centre for Nanotechnology, Graphenea (Spain), Sahlgrenska University Hospital, University of Gothenburg
Language: English
Subfield: Analytical Chemistry
Field: Chemistry
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $5,790
Funders: Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation, Familjen Erling-Perssons Stiftelse, Cure Alzheimer's Fund, Stiftelsen för Gamla Tjänarinnor, Alzheimer's Society, National Institute for Health and Care Research, Royal Society, Imperial College London, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, European Commission, Rosetrees Trust, National Natural Science Foundation of China, Hjärnfonden, Vetenskapsrådet, Lembaga Pengelola Dana Pendidikan, UK Dementia Research Institute, HORIZON EUROPE Framework Programme, Medical Research Council, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
Awards: G1095932228, G1343867371, G150733400, G151246151, G1539390700, G1546555014, G1588116593, G1771944843, G1802301745, G1833008592, G1842941779, G1928552717, G1938858119, G201353144, G2057385626, G2142575949, G237833635, G2431965024, G2475953241, G2543812357, G292763017, Improve recovery from traumatic brain injury by enhancing the function of intact brain regions so people can regain independence and improve their quality of life., G3241251457, Fluid biomarkers for neurodegenerative dementias, G3842727039, G3914690605, G4244943609, G4260843567, G432431387, G5004064828, G5040492720, G506008078, G516766298, Fluid biomarkers for neurodegenerative dementias, CASCADE: CAuSe or Consequence in Alzheimer DiseasE?, G6158734006, G6289970089, Multi-omics Interdisciplinary Research Integration to Address DEmentia diagnosis, G6745400708, G691317373, G7293611571, MRC IAA 2021 University College London, G7728663817, G8782684654, G891921279, G935059260
OpenAlex ID: W7162436227