Iranian, Argentinian Scientists Produce Biosensor from Graphene

Iranian researchers in cooperation with their Argentinean counterparts succeeded in the production of a biosensor by using graphene sheets.
High sensitivity, selectivity and reusability are among the advantages of the sensor. The sensor has been produced and evaluated at laboratorial scale.

Pregabalin, trademark Lyrica, is an anti-epilepsy and anti-convulsion drug that is used for controlling convulsion and the treatment of fibromyalgia (muscular pain and toughness). The drug is also used to reduce the pain of neural damage caused by diabetes or spinal damage. Chromatographic methods are usually used for the measurement of this drug, which are very expensive. Therefore, it is important to present new methods at lower price.

The aim of the research was to produce a biosensor by using graphene and bovine serum albumin (BSA) based on theoretical calculations. Studies have resulted in the presentation of very appropriate method for the measurement of pregabalin drug in complicated matrices such as blood plasma. The proposed biosensor has desirable stability, reusability and sensitivity for the measurement of the drug. The use of this sensor can be considered a cheap method to replace costly methods, including chromatography.

Results of the research have been published in Electrochimica Acta, vol. 133, issue 1, 2014, pp. 123-131.