Optical biosensor based on weak measurement for ultra-sensitive detection of calreticulin in human serum

Zhikang Peng; Jiali Chen; Yufei Liu; Dongmei Li; Yixiao Li; Qihao Zhang; Chaoyi Chen; Ying Zhang; Jia Yao; Shuqian Wang; Qiang Lin; Yi Ruan

doi:10.1364/BOE.514443

Optical biosensor based on weak measurement for ultra-sensitive detection of calreticulin in human serum

Biomed Opt Express. 2024 Jan 16;15(2):715-724. doi: 10.1364/BOE.514443. eCollection 2024 Feb 1.

Authors

Zhikang Peng¹, Jiali Chen¹, Yufei Liu¹, Dongmei Li¹, Yixiao Li¹, Qihao Zhang¹, Chaoyi Chen¹, Ying Zhang², Jia Yao³, Shuqian Wang³, Qiang Lin¹, Yi Ruan¹

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Quantum Precision Measurement of Zhejiang Province, Center for Optics & Optoelectronics Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Information Technology in Biological and Medical Physics, College of Science, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310023, China.
² Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shaoxing Second Hospital, Shaoxing 312000, China.
³ Department of Breast Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 311121, China.

Abstract

A novel real-time optical phase sensing method based on the Mach-Zehnder interference principle has been proposed for the detection of calreticulin (CRT) levels in human serum samples. In this approach, anti-CRT antibodies are utilized to capture CRT molecules in serum, leading to a phase shift in both the measuring and reference arms of the system. By employing the concept of weak amplification within the framework of weak measurements, it becomes feasible to continuously monitor the response of CRT in real-time, allowing for the precise determination of serum CRT content at the picomolar level. Our achievement may pave the way in establishing CRT as a diagnostic biomarker for a wide range of medical applications, including rheumatoid arthritis.