Addressable TiO2 Nanotubes Functionalized Paper-Based Cyto-Sensor with Photocontrollable Switch for Highly-Efficient Evaluating Surface Protein Expressions of Cancer Cells

Anal Chem. 2018 Dec 4;90(23):13882-13890. doi: 10.1021/acs.analchem.8b02849. Epub 2018 Oct 16.

Abstract

Inspired by the well-known "Wheel of Fortune", a rotatable paper-photocontrollable switch (RPPS) was designed to form an addressable paper-based photoelectrochemical (PEC) cyto-sensor for ultrasensitive detection of a cell-surface protein. By simply rotating the RPPS, a light source can selectively activate the desired working zones of the cyto-sensor. To realize the high-performance paper-based PEC cyto-sensor, a cascaded photoactive interface consisting of neat TiO2 nanotubes arrays, Pt nanoparticles (NPs), and nitrogen-carbon dots was introduced into paper fibers, gaining signal-on PEC state (NTPP for short). Then the NTPP fixed with a hairpin probe H1 allowed the hybridization chain reaction (HCR) to happen with CuS NPs-labeled hairpin probe H2 by the free primer strand (PS) triggering; hence, the CuS NPs as the emulative sensitizers were introduced onto the NTPP with the photocurrent intensity decrement for signal-off PEC state. During this process, the PS carefully designed with specific sequences can recognize the target strand (TS) of MCF-7 cells and stimulate HCR by its trigger zone. The presence of MCF-7 cells destroyed the interaction between PS and ZnFe2O4 functionalized TS, causing the PS release from the mixture of PS and TS under the help of a magnet. Then, the released PS, acting as a primer probe, realized ultrasensitive detection of a cell-surface protein. On the basis of this novel protocol, multiple-signal amplification was skillfully imported into the addressable paper PEC chip, resulting in ultrasensitive quantification of carcinoembryonic antigen in the surface of MCF-7 cells. Given the fascinating analytical performances of the developed cyto-sensor, ultralow expression of antigens for MCF-7, A549, and PC 3 cells was discriminated effectively.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Breast Neoplasms / chemistry*
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / chemistry*
  • Lung Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Male
  • Membrane Proteins / analysis*
  • Membrane Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Nanotubes / chemistry*
  • Paper*
  • Photochemical Processes
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / chemistry*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Surface Properties
  • Titanium / chemistry*
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • Membrane Proteins
  • titanium dioxide
  • Titanium