Ultrasensitive Detection of MCF-7 Cells with a Carbon Nanotube-Based Optoelectronic-Pulse Sensor Framework

Abstract

Biosensors are of vital significance for healthcare by supporting the management of infectious diseases for preventing pandemics and the diagnosis of life-threatening conditions such as cancer. However, the advancement of the field can be limited by low sensing accuracy. Here, we altered the bioelectrical signatures of the cells using carbon nanotubes (CNTs) via structural loosening effects. Using an alternating current (AC) pulse under light irradiation, we developed a photo-assisted AC pulse sensor based on CNTs to differentiate between healthy breast epithelial cells (MCF-10A) and luminal breast cancer cells (MCF-7) within a heterogeneous cell population. We observed a previously undemonstrated increase in current contrast for MCF-7 cells with CNTs compared to MCF-10A cells with CNTs under light exposure. Moreover, we obtained a detection limit of ∼1.5 × 10 3 cells below a baseline of ∼1 × 10 4 cells for existing electrical-based sensors for an adherent, heterogeneous cell population. All-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations reveal that interactions between the embedded CNT and cancer cell membranes result in a less rigid lipid bilayer structure, which can facilitate CNT translocation for enhancing current. This as-yet unconsidered cancer cell-specific method based on the unique optoelectrical properties of CNTs represents a strategy for unlocking the detection of a small population of cancer cells and provides a promising route for the early diagnosis, monitoring, and staging of cancer.

Nanotechnology and Cancer Bioelectricity: Bridging the Gap Between Biology and Translational Medicine

“…[175] These involve the employment of different materials and devices, including nanoparticles, [135,174,176,177] field-effect transistors, [164] and 2D materials. [178][179][180] In this review, selected recent advancements are presented based on their action mechanisms which involve cancer bioelectricity. The main players in this scenario are novel methods for surface charge sensing, i.e., detecting the negative charge present on cancer cells membranes.…”

Recent Modifications of Carbon Nanotubes for Biomedical Applications

“…These CNTs' exceptional properties with the combination of distinctive MCF-7 cell bioelectrical signals will enhance cell-specific current signals, hence, be able to identify MCF-7 cell lines inside the population of the heterogeneous cell as shown in Chan et al's research. The study proposed that a clinically relevant CNTs optoelectronic-pulse approach can be developed to identify the cancer cells in a 3D cell structure that mimics malignant tissues developed in the human body [104].…”