Labeled and non-label electrochemical peptide inhibitor-based biosensing platform for determination of hemopexin domain of matrix metalloproteinase-14

Two labeled and non-label electrochemical peptide-based biosensors for highly sensitive and selective determination of hemopexin domain of matrix metalloproteinase-14 (PEX-14) were reported for the first time. Herein, the thiolated PEX-14 binding peptide inhibitor (ISC) or the ISC-tagged with ferrocene carboxylic acid (CIS-Fc) was self-assembled on the surface of gold electrode tested for binding with PEX-14 by non-label electrochemical impedance spectroscopy or labeled electrochemical (L-EC) transducers. The two biosensors were compared for the analytical performance of the detection of PEX-14 with detection limit of 0.3 pg mL−1 (for L-EC biosensor) and 0.03 ng mL−1 (for EIS biosensor). This work demonstrates that probing the PEX of MMPs represents a novel approach to assess MMPs-mediated cancer dissemination and provide a platform for screening the inhibitors of Matrix metalloproteinases. [Display omitted] •Peptides selected by PEX domain, which is crucial for many specific MMP functions, can also inhibit MMPs and be expected to be further promoted and applied.•Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) is a very powerful tool for the analysis of interfacial properties related to biorecognition events occurring at the modified surfaces.•First designed two EC biosensors on basis of peptide inhibitor for the determination of MMP were fabricated.•Two orthogonal transducers EIS and electrochemical readouts for widening the detection dynamic range and to introduce the internal validation.•The strategy could be easily applied as an ideal sensing platform for the detection of MMPs-mediated cancer dissemination, laying the foundation for cancer diagnosis and prognostic evaluation.