Advancing electrochemical biosensors for interleukin-6 detection

• Published in: Biosensors and bioelectronics. X Vol. 13; p. 100288
• Main Authors: McCrae, Lauren E., Ting, Wei-Ting, Howlader, Matiar M.R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.05.2023; Elsevier
• Subjects: Biosensors; Disease monitoring; Electrochemical sensing; Functionalization; IL-6; Point-of-care diagnostics; Point-of-care diagnostics; Electrochemical sensing; Functionalization; Biosensors; Disease monitoring; IL-6
• ISSN: 2590-1370; 2590-1370
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biosx.2022.100288

IL-6 is a pleiotropic cytokine that exerts pathological proinflammatory effects in various acute, chronic, and communicable diseases. These diseases place a significant burden on individuals, healthcare, and economic systems; thus, rapid and low-cost diagnosis and prognosis sensor systems are urgently needed. In this review, we critically evaluate electrochemical sensors for detecting IL-6 in different biofluids. First, we investigate the roles of IL-6 structure, binding, and pathways in various pathologies and observe that detectable levels of IL-6 are present in different biofluids. Second, we discuss the functionalization and sensing approaches of electrochemical sensors using (1) antibodies, (2) aptamers, (3) IL-6 receptors, and (4) molecularly imprinted polymers for the selective detection of IL-6 with practical detection levels and wide linear ranges. Third, we explain unexpected IL-6 sensing results caused by possible interactions between sensor components, the sample environment, and IL-6 that may provide an excellent scope for future research. Finally, we believe that fabricating reliable and non-invasive IL-6 sensors with exceptional efficacy will facilitate the development of portable diagnostic and monitoring systems that may accelerate the detection speed worldwide. •IL-6 structure, binding, and pathways have strong influence in disease.•Functionalization of electrochemical biosensors allows for selectively detecting IL-6 in biofluids.•IL-6 detection can be used for non-invasive health diagnosis and prognosis.•The unique behaviour of IL-6 in sensing media can accelerate future research.