Smart dual imprinted Origami 3D-ePAD for selective and simultaneous analysis of vanillylmandelic acid and 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid carcinoid cancer biomarkers using graphene quantum dots coated with dual molecularly imprinted polymers

Measuring the levels of the biomarkers vanillylmandelic acid (VMA) and 5-Hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid (5-HIAA) is a valuable tool for clinical diagnosis not only of neuroblastoma or carcinoid syndrome, but also of essential hypertension, depression, migraine, and Tourette's syndrome. Herein, we explore using graphene quantum dots (GQDs) coated with molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) as novel dual-imprinted sensors for selective and simultaneous determination of VMA and 5-HIAA in urine and plasma samples. The dual-MIP was successfully coated on the GQDs core via co-polymerization of (3-aminopropyl) triethoxysilane (APTES) and tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS), acting as functional and cross-linking monomers, respectively. In addition, we successfully created the dual imprinted VMA and 5-HIAA shell on the GQDs' core via a one-pot synthesis. We fabricated a facile and ready-to-use Origami three-dimensional electrochemical paper-based analytical device (Origami 3D-ePAD) for simultaneous determination of VMA and 5-HIAA using a GQDs@dual-MIP modified graphene electrode (GQDs@dual-MIP/SPGE). The Origami 3D-ePAD was designed to form a voltammetric cell on a three-layer foldable sheet with several advantages. For example, they were quickly assembled and enhanced the device's physical durability with the hydrophobic backup sheet. The developed dual imprinted Origami 3D-ePAD leads to substantially enhanced sensitivity and selectivity to electrochemical signal amplification generated from increasing the electrode-specific surface area, electrocatalytic activity, and the large numbers of dual imprinted sites for VMA and 5-HIAA detection. The synthetic recognition sites are highly selective for 5-HIAA and VMA molecules with an imprinting factor of 8.46 and 7.10, respectively. Quantitative analysis relying on square wave voltammetry reveals excellent linear dynamic ranges of around 0.001–25 μM, with detection limits of 0.023 nM for 5-HIAA and 0.047 nM for VMA (3S_b, n = 3). The Origami 3D-ePAD provides high accuracy and precision (i.e., recovery values of 5-HIAA ranged from 82.98 to 98.40 %, and VMA ranged from 83.28 to 104.39 %), and RSD less than 4.37 %) in urine and plasma samples without any evidence of interference. Hence, it is well suited as a facile and ready-to-use disposable device for point-of-care testing. It is straightforward, cost-effective, reproducible, and stable. Furthermore, it allows for rapid analysis (analysis time ∼20s) useful in medical diagnosis and other relevant fields.