Electrochemical aptasensor for 17β-estradiol using disposable laser scribed graphene electrodes

17β-Estradiol (E2), the strongest of the three major physiological estrogens in females, is an important factor in the female reproductive system. The abnormal level of E2 causes health issues, such as weak bones, urinary tract infections and even depression. Here, we present a novel, sensitive and selective, electrochemical aptasensor for detection of 17β-estradiol (E2). The E2 recognition aptamer was split into two fragments: the first fragment, functionalised with adamantane, is attached to poly(β-cyclodextrin) (poly(β-CD))-modified electrode surface through host-guest interactions between the adamantane and poly(β-CD). The second fragment, labelled with gold nanoparticles, forms the stem-loop structure with the first fragment only in the presence of E2. That specific recognition process triggers the change in the electrochemical signal (a change in the peak current from reduction of AuNPs), recorded by means of differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). The feasibility of the sensing design was firstly investigated on the commercially available glass carbon electrodes (GCE), with achieved a linear detection range of 1.0 × 10−13 to 1.0 × 10−8 M and a limit of detection (LoD) 0.7 fM. The sensing methodology was then translated onto single-use, disposable, laser-scribed graphene electrodes (LSGE) on a plastic substrate. The dynamic sensing range of E2 on LSGE was found to be 1.0 × 10−13 to 1.0 × 10−9 M, with a LoD of 63.1 fM, comparable to these of GCE. The successful translation of the developed E2 aptasensor from GCE to low-cost, disposable LSGE highlights a potential of this sensing platform in commercial, portable sensing detection systems for E2 and similar targets of biological interest. •A split aptamer fragments-based electrochemical aptasensor was constructed on research-grade GCEs for E2 detection.•The developed E2 aptasensor on GCE provided a linear detection range of 1 pM to 10nM with a limit of detection (LoD) 0.7 fM.•The E2 aptasensing platform was translated onto disposable, laser-scribed graphene electrodes (LSGEs) on a plastic strip.•E2 aptasensor on LSGEs provided a linear detection range of 1 pM to 1nM, an LoD of 63.1 fM and good selectivity.•The disposable E2 aptasensor on LSGEs was applied for detection of E2 in milk samples.