Fabrication of a Nano‐Interfaced Electrochemical Triglyceride Biosensor and its Potential Application towards Distinguishing Cancer and Normal Cells

Abstract

Hypertriglyceridemia, a condition characterized by elevated levels of triglycerides is considered a major risk factor of metabolic syndrome. The present work aims to develop a hybrid nano-interfaced enzymatic sensor that employs three enzymes to hydrolyze the triglycerides, phosphorylate glycerol and finally oxidize it to generate the electrochemical signal. Triolein, a common long chained triglyceride found in biological systems was employed as the substrate. The sensor displayed an excellent response time of 3 s and a linear range of 0.5 to 5.5 mM. The sensor was stable under both wet and dry conditions for 25 days. The capability of the sensor to detect triglycerides in biological samples was assessed by employing it to estimate total triglyceride levels in normal and cancer cells. Cancer cells displayed triglyceride levels distinctly higher than normal cells suggesting that this sensor can be employed for screening normal and cancer tissues apart from routine serum analysis to screen individuals with triglyceridemia and metabolic syndrome.