Why Estradiol Monitoring Matters
Estradiol
(E2) is the most potent estrogen hormone, essential for reproductive health,
bone density, and cardiovascular function. However, abnormal estradiol levels
are linked to infertility, hormone-sensitive cancers (like breast and ovarian
cancer), and other endocrine disorders.
Beyond human health, estradiol has emerged as a concerning environmental
pollutant. Classified as an endocrine disruptor, it enters rivers, lakes,
and groundwater mainly through wastewater and agricultural runoff. Even trace
amounts can disturb the reproductive systems of aquatic organisms, causing
ecological imbalance.
This dual importance, clinical and environmental, makes accurate
estradiol detection crucial. Traditional methods like HPLC and ELISA provide
excellent sensitivity but are costly, time-consuming, and require specialized
facilities.
Electrochemical sensors have gained attention as fast, cost-effective, and portable alternatives. By directly measuring changes in current when estradiol interacts with a modified electrode, they enable real-time and on-site monitoring.
In this work, a novel sensor was designed by combining:
Together, this Eu₂O₃@rGO composite boosts electron transfer, molecular recognition, and overall sensitivity.
This hybrid material was then placed on a screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE), a tiny platform perfect for building a portable sensor. When estradiol is present, it interacts with the electrode surface, and the resulting electrochemical signal tells us its precise amount. When tested, the sensor showed a really low limit of detection (concentration 0.06 µM), and excellent sensitivity (2.44 µA µM⁻¹ cm⁻²). Its results were also very reliable. Most importantly, it worked not just in the lab, but in real samples: tap water, river water, and even saliva. To double-check accuracy, the results were compared with UV–Vis spectroscopy showing an excellent match.
Why This Matters
The SPCE/Eu₂O₃@rGO sensor represents a step forward in estradiol detection. It is portable, affordable, and effective. It could be used for routine monitoring of water systems, protecting ecosystems from endocrine disruption. It could also play a role in clinical diagnostics, giving a quick and non-invasive way to check hormone levels. By combining rare-earth oxides with graphene-based nanomaterials, this study opens pathways for developing next-generation sensors, a tool that could help bridge the gap between laboratory precision and real-world needs.
Read more in the article published in Electrochimica Acta:
Fabrication of an Electrochemical Sensor Based on Eu₂O₃/rGO Nanostructure for Estradiol Sensing: A Theoretical Perspective
Authors: Aleksandar Mijajlović, Vesna Stanković, Filip Vlahović, Tijana Mutić, Petar Ristivojević, Nikolaos Argirusis, Georgia Sourkouni, Christos Argirusis, Jasmina Vidić, and Dalibor Stanković https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electacta.2025.146913
