Visual and high-throughput detection of cancer cells using a graphene oxide-based FRET aptasensing microfluidic chip

Abstract

Rapid and efficient measurement of cancer cells is a major challenge in early cancer diagnosis. In the present study, a miniature multiplex chip was created for in situ detection of cancer cells by implementing a novel graphene oxide (GO)-based Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) biosensor strategy, i.e. assaying the cell-induced fluorescence recovery from the dye-labeled aptamer/graphene oxide complex. Fluorescence intensity measurement and image analyses demonstrated that this microfluidic biosensing method exhibited rapid, selective and sensitive fluorescence responses to the quantities of the target cancer cells, CCRF-CEM cells. Seven different cancer cell samples can be measured at the same time in such a microfluidic chip. The linear response for target CCRF-CEM cells in a concentration range from 2.5 × 10(1) to 2.5 × 10(4) cells mL(-1) was obtained, with a detection limit about 25 cells mL(-1), which is about ten times lower than those of normal biosensors. The novel fluorescence biosensing microfluidic chip supplies a rapid, visible and high-throughput approach for early cancer diagnosis with high sensitivity and specificity.

Graphene and graphene-like two-denominational materials based fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) assays for biological applications

“…The linear detection range was 0.09-09U/mL and the detection limit was calculated to be 0.00132U/mL. In the same manner, Cai et al In this FRET assay, FAM-modified Sgc8 aptamer was a donor and GO was used as a quencher (Cao et al, 2012). GO was firstly modified on the base of microfluidic channels.…”

Materials for FRET Analysis: Beyond Traditional Dye–Dye Combinations

“…Most of the GO-based FRET sensors to date use DNA-based molecular recognition, in the form of molecular beacons, aptamers, or DNAzymes, for the specific detection of a range of target analytes from small molecules, such as heavy metals and mycotoxins, to proteins including thrombin, DNA, and even whole cancer cells [170][171][172][173][174][175]. Donor species range from traditional organic fluorophores to QDs and upconverting NPs (UCNPs); the diversity reflects the superquenching abilities of the GO materials.…”

On-chip graphene oxide aptasensor for multiple protein detection

“…At the same time, the dye molecule also leaves the GO surface and the fluorescence of the dye recovers. By employing this concept, early studies on this type of sensor have demonstrated DNA sensors (i.e., sensors for complementary DNA) [11][12][13][14][15][16] and aptasensors in an aqueous dispersion of GO [17][18][19][20][21].…”