Plasmonics-enhanced spikey nanorattle-based biosensor for direct SERS detection of mRNA cancer biomarkers

• Published in: Analytical and bioanalytical chemistry 2024-12, Vol.416 (30), p.7347-7355
• Main Authors: Li, Joy Q, Atta, Supriya, Zhao, Yuanhao, Hoang, Khang, Canning, Aidan, Strobbia, Pietro, Canick, Julia E, Cho, Jung-Hae, Rocke, Daniel J., Lee, Walter T, Vo-Dinh, Tuan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analytical Chemistry; Biochemistry; Biomarkers; Biomarkers, Tumor - analysis; Biomarkers, Tumor - genetics; Biosensing Techniques - methods; Biosensors; Cancer; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - diagnosis; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - genetics; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; detection limit; Diagnostic systems; Food Science; Head & neck cancer; Head and neck carcinoma; Head and Neck Neoplasms - diagnosis; Head and Neck Neoplasms - genetics; head and neck squamous cell carcinoma; Humans; Hybridization; Keratin; Laboratory Medicine; Limit of Detection; magnetism; Monitoring/Environmental Analysis; mRNA; nucleic acid hybridization; Nucleic acids; Optical Biosensors and Biomimetic Sensors for Chemical Analysis; patient care; patients; Plasmonics; Raman spectra; Research Paper; RNA, Messenger - analysis; RNA, Messenger - genetics; Shells (structural forms); Spectrum Analysis, Raman - methods; Squamous cell carcinoma; Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck - diagnosis; Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck - genetics; Target detection
• ISSN: 1618-2642; 1618-2650; 1618-2650
• DOI: 10.1007/s00216-024-05549-6

We present a plasmonics-enhanced spikey nanorattle-based biosensor for direct surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) detection of mRNA cancer biomarkers. Early detection of cancers such as head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is critical for improving patient outcomes in regions with limited access to traditional diagnostic methods. Our method targets Keratin 14 (KRT14), a promising diagnostic mRNA biomarker for HNSCC, using a sandwich hybridization approach with magnetic beads and SERS spikey nanorattles (SpNR). We synthesized SpNR with a core-gap-shell structure to enhance SERS signals, achieving a limit of detection of 90 femtomolar. A pilot study using clinical samples demonstrated the efficacy of our biosensor in distinguishing between tissue with positive or negative diagnosis for HNSCC, highlighting its potential for rapid and sensitive cancer diagnostics in low-resource settings. This plasmonic assay offers a promising avenue for portable and high-specificity detection of nucleic acid biomarkers, with implications for early cancer detection and improved patient care, especially in middle and low-resource settings. Graphical Abstract