New generation of electrochemical immunoassay based on polymeric nanoparticles for early detection of breast cancer

Abstract

Screening and early diagnosis are the key factors for the reduction of mortality rate and treatment cost of cancer. Therefore, sensitive and selective methods that can reveal the low abundance of cancer biomarkers in a biological sample are always desired. Here, we report the development of a novel electrochemical biosensor for early detection of breast cancer by using bioconjugated self-assembled pH-responsive polymeric micelles. The micelles were loaded with ferrocene molecules as "tracers" to specifically target cell surface-associated epithelial mucin (MUC1), a biomarker for breast and other solid carcinoma. The synthesis of target-specific, ferrocene-loaded polymeric micelles was confirmed, and the resulting sensor was capable of detecting the presence of MUC1 in a sample containing about 10 cells/mL. Such a high sensitivity was achieved by maximizing the loading capacity of ferrocene inside the polymeric micelles. Every single event of binding between the antibody and antigen was represented by the signal of hundreds of thousands of ferrocene molecules that were released from the polymeric micelles. This resulted in a significant increase in the intensity of the ferrocene signal detected by cyclic voltammetry

Nanotechnology‐based electrochemical biosensors for monitoring breast cancer biomarkers

“…The MUC-1 was detectable in the presence of 10 cells/ml of cancer cells. 246 The analytical performance in more detail is provided in Table 7.…”

“…249 Combining micelles with high-loading capacity features with magnetically enriched cancer cells/biomarkers leads to a high-performance nano/bioassaying methodology. 246 In this way, decorating pH-sensitive materials with MUC-1 Abs as signaling probes provide…”

“…The pH of the solution was lowered considering the pH‐sensitive property of the micelles led the micelles to be opened, and ferrocene was released and detected electrochemically. The MUC‐1 was detectable in the presence of 10 cells/ml of cancer cells 246 . The analytical performance in more detail is provided in Table 7.…”

Electrochemical Nanobiosensors for Detection of Breast Cancer Biomarkers

“…Mouffouk together with colleagues applied bioconjugated self-assembled pH-responsive polymeric micelles loaded with ferrocene (Fc) and antiMUC1 antibodies as a signal probe [ 85 ]. The biosensor was able to detect MUC1 in a sample containing about 10 cells/mL [ 85 ] (Approach 2).…”

“…HER2 (185 kDa) i.e., human epidermal growth factor receptor-2, belongs to a family of receptor tyrosine kinases [ 91 ]. HER2 in BC is characterized by its high expression of growth factor receptor-related genes ( ERBB2 , EGFR , and/or FGFR4 ) and cell cycle-related genes [ 85 ].…”