Amniotic membrane dressings for treatment of aplasia cutis in newborns.

BACKGROUND: Aplasia cutis congenita (ACC) is a rare congenital skin defect characterized by a focal or extensive absence of the epidermis, dermis, and occasionally, subcutaneous tissue. When the wound caused by this defect is wide or deep, various treatments are used, including skin grafting. The amniotic membrane (AM) is a biological dressing that facilitates re-epithelialization as it contains mesenchymal cells and numerous growth factors. OBJECTIVE: To report the efficacy of AM dressings in treating the skin defects of ACC. METHOD: This study was conducted on five neonates diagnosed with ACC born between 2018 and 2022, referred to the Children's Medical Center in Tehran, Iran. AM dressings were applied on wounds larger than 1 cm2. The wounds were assessed weekly and, if required, an additional AM dressing was applied. RESULTS: The skin defects gradually re-epithelialized after application of the AM. The complete healing process took around 3.5 weeks on average. No hypertrophic scarring was observed. CONCLUSION: The application of AM dressing resulted in satisfactory cosmetic outcomes, with no hypertrophic scar formation. Complete healing occurred in all cases except one. The length of the hospital stay ranged from 2 to 6 weeks, depending on the size of the wound.

Prevalence of gram-negative bacteria and their antibiotic resistance in neonatal sepsis in Iran: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Neonatal sepsis, particularly gram-negative (GN) bacteria-induced, is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in newborns. Healthcare professionals find this issue challenging because of antibiotic resistance. This study aims to combine findings to identify the prevalence of GN bacteria and their antibiotic resistance in Iranian neonates with sepsis. METHODS: This systematic review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA). The literature search was performed through international databases, including (PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, and Web of Science), Iranian local databases (Magiran, Iranmedex, Irandoc, Scimed, and SID), and the first 100 records of Google Scholar. Analytical cross-sectional study checklist from the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) was used for the quality assessment of included studies. Comprehensive Meta-Analysis Software Version 2 was used to conduct the meta-analysis. The between-study heterogeneity was investigated by I2 statistics. RESULTS: The prevalence of GN bacteria was estimated to be 53.6% [95% CI: 45.9- 61.1: P = 0.362] in Iranian neonates with sepsis, based on 31 studies with a sample size of 104,566. klebsiella pneumoniae (K.pneumonia) (23.2% [95% CI: 17.5-30.0, P < 0.001]) followed by Escherichia coli (E.coli) (13.5% [95% CI: 9.4-18.9, P < 0.001]) were more prevalent among GN bacteria. The highest resistance in K.pneumoniae was observed in Cefixime (80.6%, [95% CI: 56.3-93.1, P = 0.018]). E.coli showed greater resistance to Ampicillin (61.8%, [95% CI: 44.2-76.5, P = 0.188]. The prevalence of GN bacteria in Iranian neonates with sepsis has a decreasing trend based on the year, as shown by a meta-regression model (P < 0.0004). CONCLUSION: GN pathogens, particularly K.pneumoniae, and E.coli, are the leading cause of neonatal sepsis in Iran. GN bacteria showed the highest resistance to Third-generation cephalosporin and Aminoglycosides.

Evaluating the Efficacy of Amniotic Membrane in Treating Neonatal Extravasation.

OBJECTIVE: Extravasation is leakage of material from a peripheral venous access into adjacent tissue, which results in tissue damage ranging from local irritation to necrosis and scar formation. Neonates are at extravasation risk with IV treatment because of their small, fragile veins and the long treatment period required. In this report, investigators assessed the efficacy of amniotic membrane (AM) as a biological dressing to heal extravasation wounds in neonates. METHODS: This case series includes six neonates who presented with extravasation injuries from February 2020 to April 2022. Neonates born at any gestational age diagnosed with a wound secondary to extravasation were recruited. Neonates with skin disorders and those who had stage 1 or 2 wounds were excluded. Providers covered infection- and necrosis-free wounds with AM and assessed the wounds after 48 hours. Five days after placement, providers removed and replaced the AM; they continued to replace the bandages every 5 to 7 days until healed. RESULTS: The average gestational age of included neonates was 33.6 weeks. Average healing time was 12.5 days (range, 10-20 days), and no adverse reactions were observed. All neonates healed completely without scar formation. CONCLUSIONS: This preliminary report suggests that the application of AM in treating extravasation in neonates is safe and effective. However, controlled trials with larger sample sizes are needed to evaluate this outcome and determine implications for practice.

Weaning and extubation from neonatal mechanical ventilation: an evidenced-based review.

Mechanical ventilation is a lifesaving treatment used to treat critical neonatal patients. It facilitates gas exchange, oxygenation, and CO2 removal. Despite advances in non-invasive ventilatory support methods in neonates, invasive ventilation (i.e., ventilation via an endotracheal tube) is still a standard treatment in NICUs. This ventilation approach may cause injury despite its advantages, especially in preterm neonates. Therefore, it is recommended that neonatologists consider weaning neonates from invasive mechanical ventilation as soon as possible. This review examines the steps required for the neonate's appropriate weaning and safe extubation from mechanical ventilation.

National Minimum Data Set for Antimicrobial Resistance Management: Toward Global Surveillance System.

BACKGROUND: Success of infection treatment depends on the availability of accurate, reliable, and comprehensive data, information, and knowledge at the point of therapeutic decision-making. The identification of a national minimum data set will support the development and implementation of an effective surveillance system. The goal of this study was to develop a national antimicrobial resistance surveillance minimum data set. METHODS: In this cross-sectional and descriptive study, data were collected from selected pioneering countries and organizations which have national or international antimicrobial resistance surveillance systems. A minimum data set checklist was extracted and validated. The ultimate data elements of the minimum data set were determined by applying the Delphi technique. RESULTS: Through the Delphi technique, we obtained 80 data elements in 8 axes. The resistance data categories comprised basic, clinical, electronic reporting, infection control, microbiology, pharmacy, World Health Organization-derived, and expert-recommended data. Relevance coding was extracted based on the Iranian electronic health record coding system. CONCLUSION: This study provides a set of data elements and a schematic framework for the implementation of an antimicrobial resistance surveillance system. A uniform minimum data set was created based on key informants' opinions to cover essential needs in the early implementation of a global antimicrobial resistance surveillance system in Iran.

A five-day-old child with lipid hemihypertrophy: A case report.

Key Clinical Message: Lipid hemihypertrophy should be considered in the differential diagnosis of neonatal asymmetry. Early recognition and further evaluation for associated disorders are important for appropriate management and surveillance of potential complications. Abstract: We present the case of a 5-day-old female neonate who presented with a visibly enlarged right thigh, right labia majora, and below the right mandible. This case report highlights the importance of early identification, comprehensive evaluation, and multidisciplinary management in neonates with lipid hemihypertrophy to optimize their long-term outcomes and quality of life.

Cost and Time Reduction of Industrial Mold Design and Manufacturing by Implementing Additive Manufacturing for Premature Neonatal Prong.

INTRODUCTION: For a long time, molding was one of the most important methods of producing metal, ceramic, and polymer materials. The two essential factors in this method were always cost and time. Technology advancements have made it possible to design in 3D using a computer and additive manufacturing. This article covers methods for using 3D printers to save time and money in the process of creating the final product. The "Prong" molds for premature neonatal respiratory aid were designed and produced based on neonatologists' considerations. METHODS: The study was conducted on fifteen very low birth neonates at Alzahra Hospital in Tabriz University from September 2017 to September 2019. In the first section, we described dental plaster material for molding. When using this material, the printing material must be selected and the parameters, like melting temperature and printer speed, must be controlled to achieve acceptable quality for the final sample. CAD software can be used to print various objects if the final 3D design is appropriate. RESULTS: We used additive manufacturing technology to create a new design and successfully resolved bubble issues at a low cost through a combination of creativity and experimentation. The new mold has cavities that allow the silicon to occupy the entire space and escape any bubbles. CONCLUSION: The use of 3D printers allows us to achieve the best design for the prong mold while reducing both production costs and time. The ultimate mold made of aluminum was finally produced by the CNC machine. The final product was tested at Al-Zahra Hospital in Tabriz, Iran, and the results were satisfactory, with no reports of necrosis on the babies' noses.

Short-term side effects of COVID-19 vaccines among healthcare workers: a multicenter study in Iran.

Since the initiation of the COVID-19 vaccination effort, there has been widespread concern regarding vaccine efficacy and potential side effects. This study aimed to explore the short-term side effects of four available COVID-19 vaccines (Sputnik V, Sinopharm, Oxford-AstraZeneca, and Covaxin) among healthcare workers (HCWs) in Iran. The multicenter study involved 1575 HCWs, with the majority received Sputnik V (74.1%), followed by Covaxin (15.6%), Sinopharm (6.4%), and Oxford-AstraZeneca (3.8%). The prevalence of at least one side effect after the first and second dose COVID-19 vaccine was 84.6% and 72.9%, respectively. The common side effects (presented in > 50% of the study participants) after the first dose of the vaccine were injection site pain (61.7%), myalgia (51.8%), and muscle pain (50.9%). The most reported side effects after the second dose of the vaccine were injection site pain (26.8%), myalgia (15.8%), fever (10.3%), headache (9.9%), and chills (9.2%). In conclusion, according to the COVID-19 vaccine type, different side effects might occur following the first and second doses of vaccination. These findings assist in addressing the ongoing problems of vaccination hesitancy which has been driven by widespread worries about the vaccine safety profile.

Comparing the Efficacy and Safety of Levetiracetam Versus Phenytoin for Treating the Acute Phase of Neonatal Seizures.

Objectives: Neonatal seizure is a significant problem in this life course, and its timely and effective treatment is crucial. In this study, we compared the efficacy of levetiracetam versus phenytoin for treating the acute phase of neonatal seizures. Materials & Methods: In this single-blind case-control study, 60 consecutive children with neonatal seizures referred to the Children's medical center in Tehran, Iran, in 2018 were studied. Those neonates who had at least 30 minutes of seizure after Phenobarbital treatment were assigned to receive either phenytoin (20 mg/kg) or levetiracetam (initial dose of 40-60 mg/kg) through block randomization. The efficacy and safety of the two drugs were compared between the groups. Results: The response rate was 83.3% and 86.7% in phenytoin and Levetiracetam groups, respectively, which was not significantly different between groups (P=1.000). Adverse effects were nearly similar between groups (6.7% in the phenytoin group and 3.3% in the Levetiracetam group, P=1.000). Conclusion: Levetiracetam and phenytoin are both practical and safe for treating neonatal seizures.

Developing a model to predict neonatal respiratory distress syndrome and affecting factors using data mining: A cross-sectional study.

Background: One of the major challenges that hospitals and clinicians face is the early identification of newborns at risk for adverse events. One of them is neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). RDS is the widest spared respiratory disorder in immature newborns and the main source of death among them. Machine learning has been broadly accepted and used in various scopes to analyze medical information and is very useful in the early detection of RDS. Objective: This study aimed to develop a model to predict neonatal RDS and affecting factors using data mining. Materials and Methods: The original dataset in this cross-sectional study was extracted from the medical records of newborns diagnosed with RDS from July 2017-July 2018 in Alzahra hospital, Tabriz, Iran. This data includes information about 1469 neonates, and their mothers information. The data were preprocessed and applied to expand the classification model using machine learning techniques such as support vector machine, Naïve Bayes, classification tree, random forest, CN2 rule induction, and neural network, for prediction of RDS episodes. The study compares models according to their accuracy. Results: Among the obtained results, an accuracy of 0.815, sensitivity of 0.802, specificity of 0.812, and area under the curve of 0.843 was the best output using random forest. Conclusion: The findings of our study proved that new approaches, such as data mining, may support medical decisions, improving diagnosis in neonatal RDS. The feasibility of using a random forest in neonatal RDS prediction would offer the possibility to decrease postpartum complications of neonatal care.

Clinical Risk Factors for Early-Onset Sepsis in Neonates: An International Delphi Study.

Background: Despite growing evidence, there is still uncertainty about potentially modifiable risk factors for neonatal early-onset sepsis (EOS). This study aimed to identify potential clinical risk factors for EOS based on a literature review and expert opinions. Methods: A literature search was conducted in PubMed (MEDLINE), Cochrane, Embase, and Scopus databases. Articles in English, published up to May 2021, on clinical risk factors for neonatal EOS were included. Initially, a questionnaire on risk factors for EOS was developed and validated. The fuzzy Delphi method (FDM) was used to formulate the final version of the questionnaire. The validity of the risk factors was assessed using the Chi square test. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: In the review phase, 30 risk factors were approved by two neonatologists and included in the FDM phase. In total, 25 risk factors met the consensus criteria and entered the validation phase. During the observational study, 114 neonates (31 with and 83 without EOS) were evaluated for two months. The results of the Chi square test showed that cesarean section was not a significant risk factor for EOS (P=0.862). The need for mechanical ventilation and feed intolerance was observed in about 70% of neonates with EOS, and therefore considered significant risk factors for EOS (P<0.001). Finally, 26 potential clinical risk factors were determined. Conclusion: Neonatal-related risk factors for EOS were birth weight, one-min Apgar score, and prematurity. Maternal-related risk factors were gestational age and urinary tract infection. Delivery-related risk factors were premature rupture of membranes, chorioamnionitis, and intrapartum fever.

Effects of fresh bone marrow mononuclear cell therapy in rat model of retinopathy of prematurity.

Introduction: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a vasoproliferative disease that alters retinal vascular patterns in preterm neonates with immature retinal vasculature. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of cell therapy by bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMNC) on neurological and vascular damages in a rat model of ROP. Methods: Ten newborn Wistar rats were divided randomly into the control and the oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) groups. Animals in the OIR group were incubated in an oxygen chamber to induce retinopathy. One eye of animals in the OIR group received BMMNC suspension (treated eyes), and the contralateral eye received the same volume of saline injection. Then, all animals underwent funduscopy, angiography, electroretinography, histopathology and immunohistochemical assessments. Results: Compared to the saline injection group, eyes treated with BMMNC had less vascular tortuosity while veins and arteries had relatively the same caliber, as revealed by fundus examinations. Eyes in the treatment group showed significantly elevated photopic and scotopic B waves amplitude. Neovascularization in the inner retinal layer and apoptosis of neural retina cells in the treatment group was significantly lower compared to untreated eyes. Also, BMMNC transplantation decreased glial cell activation and VEGF expression in ischemic retina. Conclusions: Our results indicate that intravitreal injection of BMMNC reduces neural and vascular damages and results in recovered retinal function in rat model of ROP. Ease of extraction without in vitro processing, besides the therapeutic effects of BMMNCs, make this source of cells as a new choice of therapy for ROP or other retinal ischemic diseases.

A suggested screening method for hypothyroidism in very preterm and/or very low birth weight neonates.

OBJECTIVE: To assess thyroid function in very preterm or very low birth weight (VLBW) neonates by measuring combination levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone TSH and free T4 (FT4). METHODS: Inclusion criteria were defined as all very preterm (gestational age <32 weeks) or VLBW (birth weight ≤1500g) neonates with initial Thyroid Function Test (TFT) who were admitted to the Neonatal Intense Care Unit (NICU) of Taleghani Hospital, Tabriz, Iran, from March 2015 to March 2016. Exclusion criteria were the absence of initial TFT with any major congenital anomaly. The primary value of TSH was evaluated at 3-5 days, and mean levels of TSH with FT4 were measured at 2, 4, and 8-weeks. RESULTS: Ninety-five neonates with a mean gestational age of 29.5 weeks were included, and the mean levels of thyrotropin and FT4 at postnatal week two were 4.4mIU/L and 1.4ng/dL, respectively. Two of the patients had serum TSH concentration >25mIU/L that was considered as permanent primary hypothyroidism. Among nine hypothyroxinemia cases, two had elevated TSH levels (10.8±0.4mIU/L at the end of 8 weeks) and normal FT4 concentration, and were considered transient hypothyroidism. Seven cases had normal TSH levels (1.6±1.0mIU/L at 2 weeks, 3.5±2.8mIU/L at 8 weeks) and low FT4 concentrations. CONCLUSIONS: Combined venous TSH and FT4 concentration at the end of the first postnatal month can be an efficient approach for detecting neonatal hypothyroidism.

SARS-CoV-2 Transmission Among Healthcare Workers in Iran: An Urgent Need for Early Identification and Management.

INTRODUCTION: With the increasing rate of COVID-19, particularly in developing countries such as Iran, a high number of frontline service providers, including doctors and nurses, have died, making frontline healthcare workers (HCWs) more vulnerable to psychological disorders and fear and anxiety of secondary transmission to others, especially their family members. In this study, we aimed to report the incidence of COVID-19 infection among HCWs in an Iranian referral pediatrics hospital between April 2020 and July 2020. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective cross-sectional study, HCWs and hospital staff working at Children's Medical Center, Tehran, Iran, with positive SARS-CoV-2 real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test results were evaluated between April 2020 and July 2020. RESULTS: Sixty-one out of the 1085 personnel (5.6%) including 14 pediatricians (23%), 24 nurses (39%), 9 paramedics (15%), and 14 HCWs without direct patient contact (23%) had a nasopharyngeal specimen positive SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR test. The mean age was 39.8±10.6 years. Eleven cases (18%) had underlying diseases such as hypertension and asthma. The most common symptoms were fatigue (67%, n=41), dry cough (61%, n=37), fever (52%, n=32), headache (46%, n=28), dyspnea (43%, n=24), anosmia (28%, n=17), chills (26%, n=16), sore throat (26%, n=16), gastrointestinal symptoms (23%, n=14), and productive cough (3%, n=2). Eleven cases (18%) showed lung involvement in their chest X-rays and/or CT scans. Eighteen cases (29.5%) had lymphopenia, and 20 individuals (33%) had a high level of C-reactive protein. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, in the early phase of the COVID-19 outbreak, a substantial proportion of HCWs with fever, respiratory, and other prevalent symptoms including fatigue and headache were infected with SARS-CoV-2. Therefore, implementation of infection prevention measures, isolation of confirmed HCWs, disinfection of the environment, and regular COVID-19 prevention training for HCWs are strongly recommended for the wellbeing of health workers and minimizing the spread of infection.

Recent Advances in Nanotechnology-Based Biosensors Development for Detection of Arsenic, Lead, Mercury, and Cadmium.

Heavy metals cause considerable environmental pollution due to their extent and non-degradability in the environment. Analysis and trace levels of arsenic, lead, mercury, and cadmium as the most toxic heavy metals show that they can cause various hazards in humans' health. To achieve rapid, high-sensitivity methods for analyzing ultra-trace amounts of heavy metals in different environmental and biological samples, novel biosensors have been designed with the participation of strategies applied in nanotechnology. This review attempted to investigate the novel, sensitive, efficient, cost-benefit, point of care, and user-friendly biosensors designed to detect these heavy metals based on functional mechanisms. The study's search strategies included examining the primary databases from 2015 onwards and various keywords focusing on heavy metal biosensors' performance and toxicity mechanisms. The use of aptamers and whole cells as two important bio-functional nanomaterials is remarkable in heavy metal diagnostic biosensors' bioreceptor design. The application of hybridized nanomaterials containing a specific physicochemical function in the presence of a suitable transducer can improve the sensing performance to achieve an integrated detection system. Our study showed that in addition to both labeled and label-free detection strategies, a wide range of nanoparticles and nanocomposites were used to modify the biosensor surface platform in the detection of heavy metals. The detection limit and linear dynamic range as an essential characteristic of superior biosensors for the primary toxic metals are studied. Furthermore, the perspectives and challenges facing the design of heavy metal biosensors are outlined. The development of novel biosensors and the application of nanotechnology, especially in real samples, face challenges such as the capability to simultaneously detect multiple heavy metals, the interference process in complex matrices, the efficiency and stability of nanomaterials implemented in various laboratory conditions.

Cigarette smoke-induced toxicity consequences of intracellular iron dysregulation and ferroptosis.

Despite numerous studies on the mechanisms of cigarette smoking toxicity over the past three decades, some aspects remain obscure. Recent developments have drawn attention to some hopeful indicators that allow us to advance our awareness of cigarette-induced cell death. Ferroptosis is considered a type of governed death of cells distinguished by the iron-dependent lipid hydroperoxide deposition to fatal concentrations. Ferroptosis has been linked with pathological settings such as neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, heart attack, hemorrhagic stroke, traumatic brain injury, ischemia-reperfusion injury, and renal dysfunction. This review tries to explain the causal role of ferroptosis cascade in cigarette smoke-mediated toxicity and cell death, highlighting associations on potential action mechanisms and proposing suggestions for its detoxifying and therapeutic interventions.

Plasma Concentration of Taurine Changes following Acetaminophen Overdose in Male Patients during Hospitalization.

Changes in plasma concentration of taurine during hospitalization of acetaminophen poisoned patients have not been studied. Hepatotoxicity is a common consequence of acetaminophen overdose that may lead to acute liver failure. Numerous biomarkers for drug-induced liver injury have been explored. All biomarkers are usually obtainable 48 h following acetaminophen overdose. We have already introduced taurine as a non-specific early biomarker of acetaminophen overdose. This study aimed to follow up changes in plasma concentration of taurine during the first three days of acetaminophen overdose. Sixty-four male patients suffering from acetaminophen overdose were selected for the study. Four blood samples were taken from the patients every 12 h. Sixty blood samples were also taken from sixty healthy humans. The plasma concentration of taurine in both groups was analyzed an already developed HPLC method. Analysis of regression showed a significant correlation between means of plasma concentrations of taurine and acetaminophen, aspartate aminotransferase, Alanine aminotransferase, glutathione peroxidase, and prothrombin time during hospitalization. The high plasma concentration of taurine, 6 h or more after acetaminophen overdose, could be a useful early indicator of liver damage.

Signal Processing of Heart Rate for Predicting Sepsis in Premature Neonates.

The heart rate characteristic (HeRO score) is a figure derived from the analysis of premature neonate's electrocardiogram signals, and can be used to detect infection before the onset of clinical symptoms. The United States and Europe accept this diagnostic technique, but we require more tests to prove its efficacy. This method is not accepted in other developed countries so far. The present study aimed to investigate changes in the heart characteristics of two neonates in Akbar Abadi Hospital in Tehran. Experts chose one newborn as a sepsis case, and the other neonate was healthy. The results were analyzed and compared with previous studies. In this research, a group of five neonates was selected randomly from the neonatal intensive care unit, and cardiac leads were attached to them for recording heart rates. We selected two neonates from the five cases, as a case (proven sepsis) and control, to analyze heart rate variability (HRV). Then, we compared the differences in the heart rate of both neonates. Analysis of HRV of these two neonates showed that the pattern of HRV is compatible with reports from US studies. Considering the results of this study, heart rates and their analysis can provide useful indicators for mathematical modeling before the onset of clinical symptoms in newborns.

Classification of the present pharmaceutical agents based on the possible effective mechanism on the COVID-19 infection.

OBJECTIVES: There are several types of research on the COVID-19 disease which have been conducting. It seems that prevailing over the pandemic would be achieved only by mastering over the virus pathophysiology. We tried to categorize the massive amount of available information for useful interpretation. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: We searched databases with different keywords and search strategies that focus on virulence and pathophysiology of COVID-19. The present review has aimed to gather and categorize all implemented drugs based on the susceptible virulence mechanisms, and the pathophysiological events in the host cells, discussing and suggesting treatments. RESULTS: As a result, the COVID-19 lifecycle were categorized as following steps: "Host Cell Attachment" which is mainly conducted with ACE2 receptors and TMPRSS2 from the host cell and Spike (S) protein, "Endocytosis Pathway" which is performed mainly by clathrin-mediated endocytosis, and "Viral Replication" which contains translation and replication of RNA viral genome. The virus pathogenicity is continued by "Inflammatory Reactions" which mainly caused moderate to severe COVID-19 disease. Besides, the possible effective therapeutics' mechanism and the pharmaceutical agents that had at least one experience as a preclinical or clinical study on COVID-19 were clearly defined. CONCLUSION: The treatment protocol would be occasional based on the stage of the infection and the patient situation. The cocktail of medicines, which could affect almost all mentioned stages of COVID-19 disease, might be vital for patients with severe phenomena. The classification of the possible mechanism of medicines based on COVID-19 pathogenicity.

An Electrochemical Aptasensor Platform Based on Flower-Like Gold Microstructure-Modified Screen-Printed Carbon Electrode for Detection of Serpin A12 as a Type 2 Diabetes Biomarker.

PURPOSE: In the present study, a highly sensitive and simple electrochemical (EC) aptasensor for the detection of serpin A12 as a novel biomarker of diabetes was developed on a platform where flower-like gold microstructures (FLGMs) are electrodeposited onto a disposable screen-printed carbon electrode. Meanwhile, serpin A12-specific thiolated aptamer was covalently immobilized on the FLGMs. METHODS: The electrochemical activity of a fabricated aptasensor under various conditions were examined by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Aptamer concentration, deposition time, self-assembly time, and incubation time were optimized for assay of serpin A12. The differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) was implemented for quantitative detection of serpin A12 in K3 [Fe (CN) 6]/K4 [Fe (CN) 6] solution (redox probe). RESULTS: The label-free aptasensor revealed a linear range of serpin A12 concentration (0.039-10 ng/mL), detection limit of 0.020 ng/mL (S/N=3), and 0.031 ng/mL in solution buffer and plasma, respectively. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that this aptasensor has a high sensitivity, selectivity, stability, and acceptable reproducibility for detection of serpin A12 in diabetic patients.