A sensitive fluorescence assay based on aggregation-induced emission by copper-free click reaction for rapid ctDNA detection

Min Wang; Yujuan Zhao; Xuewen He; Ben Zhong Tang; Hong Liu; Yu Zhang; Lin Han

doi:10.1016/j.talanta.2023.124562

A sensitive fluorescence assay based on aggregation-induced emission by copper-free click reaction for rapid ctDNA detection

Talanta. 2023 Jul 1:259:124562. doi: 10.1016/j.talanta.2023.124562. Epub 2023 Apr 14.

Authors

Min Wang¹, Yujuan Zhao¹, Xuewen He², Ben Zhong Tang³, Hong Liu⁴, Yu Zhang⁵, Lin Han⁶

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Marine Science and Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China.
² College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China.
³ School of Science and Engineering, Shenzhen Institute of Aggregate Science and Technology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518172, China.
⁴ Institute of Crystal Materials, Shandong University, Jinan, 250100, China.
⁵ Institute of Marine Science and Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China; Shenzhen Research Institute of Shandong University, Shenzhen, 518057, China; State key laboratory of microbial technology and microbial technology institute, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China. Electronic address: yuzhang@sdu.edu.cn.
⁶ Institute of Marine Science and Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China; Shenzhen Research Institute of Shandong University, Shenzhen, 518057, China; Shandong Engineering Research Center of Biomarker and Artificial Intelligence Application, Jinan, 250100, China; State key laboratory of microbial technology and microbial technology institute, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China. Electronic address: hanlin@sdu.edu.cn.

PMID: 37075517
DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2023.124562

Abstract

A fluorescence assay was developed based on aggregation-induced emission for circulating tumor (ctDNA) rapid detection. AIE-based probe (TPE-DNA) was constructed via strain-promoted azide-alkyne cycloaddition reaction between the azide-functionalized TPE-N₃ and the dibenzocyclooctyne functionalized DNA. AIE-based assay displayed significant fluorescence signal enhancement for the ctDNA targets. The experimental results were verified and explained based on density functional theory simulations. As a proof-of-concept, the ctDNA as the target was detected to determine the feasibility of the assay. The detection could be done within 10 min with the limit of detection of 39 pM and good selectivity without the assistance of enzyme or nano-materials. Compared with traditional click reaction, the assay has advantages of high efficiency and good biocompatibility. It is promising in rapid diagnostic of cancer marker nucleic acid with further efforts to develop intelligent miniaturized equipment.

Keywords: Aggregation-induced emission; SPAAC click Chemistry; Turn-on biosensor; ctDNA rapid detection.

MeSH terms

Alkynes
Azides*
Click Chemistry / methods
Cycloaddition Reaction
Humans
Neoplasms*

Substances

Azides
Alkynes