SERS-based nanobiosensing for ultrasensitive detection of the p53 tumor suppressor

Abstract

Background One of the main challenges in biomedicine is improvement of detection sensitivity to achieve tumor marker recognition at a very low concentration when the disease is not significantly advanced. A pivotal role in cancer defense is played by the p53 tumor suppressor, therefore its detection with high sensitivity may contribute considerably to early diagnosis of cancer. In this work, we present a new analytical method based on surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy which could significantly increase the sensitivity of traditional bioaffinity techniques. p53 molecules were anchored to gold nanoparticles by means of the bifunctional linker 4-aminothiophenol (4-ATP). The characteristic vibrational bands of the p53-4-ATP nanoparticle system were then used to identify the p53 molecules when they were captured by a recognition substrate comprising a monolayer of azurin in molecules possessing significant affinity for this tumor suppressor. The Raman signal enhancement achieved by 4-ATP-mediated crosslinking of p53 to 50 nm gold nanoparticles enabled detect of this protein at a concentration down to 5 × 10 −13 M.

Ultrasound delivery of Surface Enhanced InfraRed Absorption active gold-nanoprobes into fibroblast cells: a biological study via Synchrotron-based InfraRed microanalysis at single cell level

“…Following Domenici et al ., the AuNPs were added 1:1 to a 4ATP solution in ethanol 45 . The 4ATP final concentration (0.01 g/l) was in large excess with respect to the minimum needed to achieve a full coverage of the AuNP surfaces (e.g.…”

The concurrent effects of azurin and Mammaglobin-A genes in inhibition of breast cancer progression and immune system stimulation in cancerous BALB/c mice

“…But until now, the direct effects of azurin protein on tumor markers of breast cancer (CEA, Muc1, and Krt20 genes) have not been studied. Domenici and co-workers described the specific interaction of p53 with azurin and they indicated that azurin can enter into the cancer cells and via forming a specific and stable complex with human p53 which leads to increase of tumor suppressor activity (Domenici et al 2011).…”

Protein Analytical Assays for Diagnosing, Monitoring, and Choosing Treatment for Cancer Patients

“…The biomarker p53 was linked to a gold nanoparticle and captured for SERS detection with the protein azurin, which specifically reacts with p53. Even in human serum, p53 could be linked to the nanoparticle and specifically captured with azurin [105]. In another example, whole blood samples were purified to isolate albumin and globulin of gastric cancer patients via membrane electrophoresis before SERS analysis [14].…”