Optical Microfiber with a Gold Nanorods–Black Phosphorous Nanointerface: An Ultrasensitive Biosensor and Nanotherapy Platform

Abstract

The detection and therapy of cancers in the early stage significantly alleviate the associated dangers. Optical devices offer new opportunities for these early measures. However, the clinical translation of the existing methods is severely hindered by their relatively low sensitivity or unclear physiological metabolism. Here, an optical microfiber sensor with a drug loading gold nanorod–black phosphorous nanointerface, as an ultrasensitive biosensor and nanotherapy platform, is developed to meet the early-stage requirement. With interface sensitization and functionalization of the hybrid nanointerface, the microfiber sensor presents an ultrahigh sensing performance, achieving the selective detection of the HER2 biomarker with limits of detection of 0.66 aM in buffer solution and 0.77 aM in 10% serum. It can also distinguish breast cancer cells from other cells in the early stage. Additionally, enabled by the interface, the optical microfiber is able to realize cellular nanotherapy, including photothermal/chemotherapy with pump laser coupling after diagnosis, and evaluate therapy results in real time. The immobilization of the interface on the optical microfiber surface prevents the damage to normal cells induced by nanomaterial enrichment, making the device more efficient and intelligent. This study opens up a new avenue for the development of smart optical platforms for sensitive biosensing and precision therapy.

Combined Ultrasensitive Detection of Renal Cancer Proteins and Cells Using an Optical Microfiber Functionalized with Ti3C2 MXene and Gold Nanorod-Nanosensitized Interfaces

“…As a very promising biosensing probe, the advantages of telecommunication-band silica optical microfibers are not only analogous to those of the LPFG in a previous study but also possess a stronger evanescent field and higher sensing sensitivity. However, bare silica optical microfibers lack sufficiently high sensitivity and outstanding selectivity, which restricts their application in very early-stage clinical prognosis, diagnosis, and therapy. − As a method to address these existing limitations, telecommunication-band microfibers coated with two-dimensional (2D) material (e.g., MoSe 2 , graphene, black phosphorus, MoS 2 )-supported noble metal nanoparticles have been reported to exhibit improved biosensing sensitivities. − Despite their promise, the proposed 2D materials can only cover the UV–visible range. A new group of 2D materials composed of Ti 3 C 2 MXene has been proposed to further improve the chemical and electromagnetic properties of telecommunication-band microfibers coated with 2D material-supported noble-metal nanoparticles; thus, a new group of 2D materials of Ti 3 C 2 MXene has been proposed.…”

“…For telecommunication-band microfibers, the LSPR of metal nanostructures on the microfiber can be modulated and manipulated by controlling and optimizing the shape and size of plasmonic nanoparticles. As a representative plasmonic metal nanoparticle, the LSPR peak of anisotropic gold nanorods (GNRs) has been easily tuned into the telecommunication band by increasing its longitudinal length and aspect ratio. ,, By formulating GNRs/Ti 3 C 2 composites, the performance of devices was greatly improved in many advanced applications. , Thus, constructing optimized GNRs/Ti 3 C 2 composites on the microfiber surface may further enhance the sensitivity of the sensor for early-stage clinical diagnosis.…”

“…Most studies examining the conventional optical microfiber-based cancer diagnostic applications performed to date have mainly focused on assaying and diagnosing single proteins, miRNAs, and exosomes, ,− ,− which might produce false-positive diagnostic results in real-world clinical assays. − The combined detection of cancer cells and cancer biomarkers is a very effective diagnostic strategy that can be applied in various cancer diagnostic applications to improve the accuracy of cancer diagnoses. − …”

A sensitive MnO2 nanosheet sensing platform based on a fluorescence aptamer sensor for the detection of zearalenone

“…Optical sensor technology is effective in clinical diagnosis, food analysis, drug analysis, and environmental monitoring due to the associated low analysis cost, short analysis time and ease of operation. 14,15 Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) occurs between a uorescent donor and the acceptor (uorophore or quencher), when the donor and the acceptor are in close enough proximity (generally less than 10 nm) and the absorption spectrum of the acceptor largely overlaps the uorescence (FL) spectrum generated by the donor. Due to the relative simplicity of the analytical method, the high sensitivity and selectivity, FRET has been widely used in biochemical analytical elds, such as immunoassay and protein analysis.…”

“…Optical sensor technology is effective in clinical diagnosis, food analysis, drug analysis, and environmental monitoring due to the associated low analysis cost, short analysis time and ease of operation. 14,15…”