Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Dots for Selective and Rapid Gene Detection of Human Papillomavirus Causing Cervical Cancer

Abstract

According to WHO, cervical cancer is considered as one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers and the fourth main source of cancer death in women in 2020 worldwide. Hence, there is a need for development of cervical cancer screening with new rapid and cost-effective methods. Although there are few methods available for HPV identification, these techniques are less sensitive, time-consuming, and costly. An ultra-sensitive, selective, and label-free DNA-based impedimetric electrochemical genosensor is developed in this study to detect HPV-18 for cervical cancer. Electrochemical analysis was performed for the characterization of the sensing platform and for the detection of analyte. A single-stranded 25mer oligonucleotide DNA probe was immobilized onto a nitrogen-doped carbon nanodot-modified ITO electrode. Furthermore, the hybridization event was measured by testing the complementary single stranded DNA sequence in the samples. The sensor could distinguish between complementary as well as non-complementary sequences. Herein, impedance quantification demonstrated a limit of detection of 0.405 fM. The developed genosensor showed high selectivity toward HPV-18 in the clinical samples. This sensing platform can be considered as a rapid and selective method for the screening of HPV-18.

Sensor detection in gynaecological medicine

“…The genosensor showed an excellent LOD of 0.405 fM and a broad linear range of 0.1 fM to 100 pM. However, the samples were not tested in a liquid biopsy but involved extraction of HPV DNA from endocervical samples, which is a more invasive approach compared to collecting blood samples [211].…”

“…However, the samples were not tested in a liquid biopsy but involved extraction of HPV DNA from endocervical samples, which is a more invasive approach compared to collecting blood samples. 211 Other genosensors for detecting HPV DNA have been extensively studied, with the majority having low LODs. 208 Significantly, an electrochemical biosensor for detecting the HPV16 E7 region achieved an ultrasensitive LOD of 1 attomole L −1 , with a linear range of 10 −18 -10 −12 M. The sensor involved singlewall carbon nanotube (SWCNT) arrays that were coated by gold nanoparticles to produce SWCNTs/Au electrodes, where ssDNA HPV probes were functionalized on the electrode's surface.…”

“…However, the samples were not tested in a liquid biopsy but involved extraction of HPV DNA from endocervical samples, which is a more invasive approach compared to collecting blood samples. 211…”

Hippophae rhamnoides L. (sea buckthorn) mediated green synthesis of copper nanoparticles and their application in anticancer activity

“…The major challenge is that malignancies cannot be prevented by simple behavioral changes; hence technology development is necessary to improve outcomes. Viruses like the human papillomavirus (HPV) ( Pareek et al, 2021 ) have helped the industrialized world significantly reduce the incidence of cancer ( McBride, 2022 ). Chemotherapy is frequently used in clinics because of its simple and useful approach.…”