Early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease: Magnetic hexagonal boron nitride-based immunosensor platform for total tau detection

Alzheimer's disease (AD) constitutes a complex pathological process and ranks among the leading causes of dementia globally. There is an escalating demand for diagnostic tools that are minimally invasive, timely, and accurate. The total Tau (T-Tau) protein in blood serum has emerged as a promising biomarker for the early diagnosis of AD. In this study, a magnetic hexagonal boron nitride (MHBN)-based immunosensor platform was developed to detect T-Tau in artificial blood serum. Following the exfoliation of hexagonal boron nitride (HBN), magnetite nanoparticles were deposited onto the surface of the HBN nanosheets, followed by (3-Aminopropyl) triethoxysilane (APTES) modification. The resulting MHBN-APTES nanocomposite-modified screen-printed carbon electrode acted as a matrix for immobilizing Anti-T-Tau antibodies. The analytical performance of the MHBN-APTES/Anti-T-Tau immunosensor in the presence of T-Tau isoforms was evaluated using cyclic voltammetry, differential pulse voltammetry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy techniques. The linear detection range was established at 0.5-50 pg/mL, with a limit of detection of 0.39 pg/mL for T-Tau, which is appropriate for identifying T-Tau in blood serum. The MHBN-APTES/Anti-T-Tau also demonstrated good repeatability, reproducibility, and stability, making it a dependable option for advanced applications.