Although the established ELISA-based sensing platforms have many benefits, the importance of cytokine and cancer biomarkers detection for point-of-care diagnostics has propelled the search for more specific, sensitive, simple, accessible, yet economical sensor. Paper-based biosensor holds promise for future in-situ applications and can provide rapid analysis and data without the need to conduct in a laboratory. Electrochemical detection plays a vital role in interpreting results obtained from qualitative assessment to quantitative determination. In this review, various factors affecting the design of an electrochemical paper-based biosensor are highlighted and discussed in depth. Different detection methods, along with the latest development in utilizing them in cytokine and cancer biomarkers detection, are reviewed. Lastly, the fabrication of portable electrochemical paper-based biosensor is ideal in deliberating positive societal implications in developing countries with limited resources and accessibility to healthcare services.

Low coordinate metal complexes can exhibit superlative physicochemical properties, but this chemistry is challenging for the lanthanides (Ln) due to their tendency to maximize electrostatic contacts in predominantly ionic bonding regimes. Although a handful of Ln 2+ complexes with only two monodentate ligands have been isolated, examples in the most common +3 oxidation state have remained elusive due to the greater electrostatic forces of Ln 3+ ions. Here, we report bent Ln 3+ complexes with two bis(silyl)amide ligands; in the solid state the Yb 3+ analogue exhibits a crystal field similar to its three coordinate precursor rather than that expected for an axial system. This unanticipated finding is in opposition to the predicted electronic structure for two-coordinate systems, indicating that geometries can be more important than the Ln ion identity for dictating the magnetic ground states of low coordinate complexes; this is crucial transferable information for the construction of systems with enhanced magnetic properties.

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