Non-invasive ultra-sensitive detection of breast cancer biomarker using cerium nanoparticle functionalized graphene oxide enabled impedimetric aptasensor

• Published in: Biosensors & bioelectronics 2025-01, Vol.268, p.116925, Article 116925
• Main Authors: Parihar, Arpana, Vishwakarma, Preeti, Prajapati, Pradeep, khan, Raju
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aptasensor; Breast cancer; Cerium nanoparticles; Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy; Non-invasive; Reduced graphene oxide
• ISSN: 0956-5663; 1873-4235; 1873-4235
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2024.116925

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a transmembrane protein and a key biomarker implicated in the pathogenesis of breast cancer. Early and precise detection of EGFR is crucial for effective diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic intervention. However, conventional EGFR detection techniques, such as biopsy and immunohistochemistry, are often invasive, time-consuming, and limited in sensitivity, highlighting the demand for non-invasive, highly sensitive detection methods. In this study, we fabricated a cerium oxide (CeO₂) and graphene oxide (GO) nanocomposite-based aptasensor for the non-invasive detection of EGFR using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The CeO₂-GO nanocomposite was synthesized via the sol-gel method and characterized through UV–Vis spectroscopy, FTIR, TEM, and XRD, confirming the crystalline structure of hexagonal CeO₂ nanoparticles on amorphous GO sheets. The nanocomposite was functionalized with aptamers specific to EGFR using covalent coupling reactions. The EIS analysis of the fabricated aptasensor (GCE/CeO₂-GO/EGFR-Apt/BSA) demonstrated a wide linear detection range from 10 fg mL-1 to 100 ng mL-1, with an ultralow detection limit of 1.87 fg mL-1 in PBS, 3.16 fg mL-1 in serum, 5.31 fg mL-1 in sweat, and 6.14 fg mL-1 in saliva samples. These results highlight the aptasensor's high sensitivity, specificity, and potential for real-time, non-invasive EGFR monitoring in clinical samples such as serum, sweat, and saliva. This approach would facilitate early detection of cancer and personalized diagnostics in point-of-care settings. [Display omitted] •Fabrication of (GCE/CeO2-GO/EGFRApt/BSA) aptasensor for the non-invasive monitoring of EGFR associated with Breast Cancer.•CeO2-GO nanocomposite was synthesized using the sol-gel method and used to fabricate the aptasensor.•EIS data revealed that the fabricated aptasensor shows a wide linear range of 10 fgmL-1 to 100 ngmL-1.•It exhibits ultra-low LOD 1.87 fgmL−1 in PBS, 3.16 fgmL−1 in serum, 5.31 fgmL−1 in sweat and 6.14 fgmL−1 in saliva samples.•It offers high sensitivity, selectivity, and specificity, hence can be employed for non-invasive EGFR detection in clinical settings.