Point-of-care diagnostics for rapid determination of prostate cancer biomarker sarcosine: application of disposable potentiometric sensor based on oxide-conductive polymer nanocomposite

One of the most important reasons for an increased mortality rate of cancer is late diagnosis. Point-of-care (POC) diagnostic sensors can provide rapid and cost-effective diagnosis and monitoring of cancer biomarkers. Portable, disposable, and sensitive sarcosine solid-contact ion-selective potentiometric sensors (SC-ISEs) were fabricated as POC analyzers for the rapid determination of the prostate cancer biomarker sarcosine. Tungsten trioxide nanoparticles (WO(3) NPs), polyaniline nanoparticles (PANI NPs), and PANI-WO(3) nanocomposite were used as ion-to-electron transducers on screen-printed sensors. WO(3) NPs and PANI-WO(3) nanocomposite have not been investigated before as ion-to-electron transducer layers in potentiometric SC sensors. The designated sensors were characterized using SEM, XRD, FTIR, UV-VIS spectroscopy, and EIS. The inclusion of WO(3) and PANI in SC sensors enhanced the transduction at the interface between the screen-printed SC and the ion-selective membrane, offering lower potential drift, a longer lifetime, shorter response time, and better sensitivity. The proposed sarcosine sensors exhibited Nernstian slopes over linear response ranges 10(−3)–10(−7) M, 10(−3)–10(−8) M, 10(−5)–10(−9) M, and 10(−7)–10(−12) M for control, WO(3) NPs, PANI NPs, and PANI-WO(3) nanocomposite-based sensors, respectively. From a comparative point of view between the four sensors, PANI-WO(3) nanocomposite inclusion offered the lowest potential drift (0.5 mV h(−1)), the longest lifetime (4 months), and the best LOD (9.95 × 10(−13) M). The proposed sensors were successfully applied to determine sarcosine as a potential prostate cancer biomarker in urine without prior sample treatment steps. The WHO ASSURED criteria for point-of-care diagnostics are met by the proposed sensors. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT: [Image: see text] SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00216-023-04818-0.