Immunosensor for Pancreatic Cancer Based on Electrospun Nanofibers Coated with Carbon Nanotubes or Gold Nanoparticles

Abstract

We report the fabrication of immunosensors based on nanostructured mats of electrospun nanofibers of polyamide 6 and poly(allylamine hydrochloride) coated either with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) or gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), whose three-dimensional structure was suitable for the immobilization of anti-CA19-9 antibodies to detect the pancreatic cancer biomarker CA19-9. Using impedance spectroscopy, the sensing platform was able to detect CA19-9 with a detection limit of 1.84 and 1.57 U mL–1 for the nanostructured architectures containing MWCNTs and AuNPs, respectively. The high sensitivity achieved can be attributed to the irreversible adsorption between antibodies and antigens, as confirmed with polarization-modulated infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy. The adsorption mechanism was typical Langmuir–Freundlich processes. The high sensitivity and selectivity of the immunosensors were also explored in tests with blood serum from patients with distinct concentrations of CA19-9, for which the impedance spectra data were processed with a multidimensional projection technique. The robustness of the immunosensors in dealing with patient samples without suffering interference from analytes present in biological fluids is promising for a simple, effective diagnosis of pancreatic cancer at early stages.

Recent Advances in Nanoparticle-Mediated Diagnosis and the Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer

“…They established that protease expression was significantly higher in pancreatic cancer lines compared to control groups. Their experiment revealed that cathepsin B, MMP-1 and MMP-2, arginase and urokinase plasminogen activators, detected through liquid biopsy, represent great biomarkers for the detection of PC, thus establishing an enzymatic signature for PC and also proving that nanoparticles can be of use in the early detection of this type of cancer [ 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 ].…”

Electrospun Nanofibers: Recent Applications in Drug Delivery and Cancer Therapy

“…Electrospun NFs in combination with CNTs have also been investigated as biosensors for the detection of early stages of pancreatic cancer by the use of the biomarker CA19-9. Electrospun NFs made of poly(allylamine hydrochloride) and polyamide 6 were covered with MWCNTs, and CA19-9 detection were determined by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy [79]. This biosensor showed a good sensitivity for the antigen without the rest of the blood components could suppose interference in the detection.…”

“…In the same way as with electrospun NFs made of poly(allylamine hydrochloride) and polyamide 6 covered with MWCNTs, these NFs were also covered with gold nanoparticles for the detection of the pancreatic cancer biomarker CA19-9. In this case, lower biomarker detection thresholds were obtained with the use of gold nanoparticles (1.57 U mL −1 ) compared with the use of MWCNTs (1.84 U mL −1 ) [79].…”

Electrospinning Nanoparticles-Based Materials Interfaces for Sensor Applications

“…In addition to polymer nanofibers, the combination of MNPs and carbon nanofibers (CNFs) also attracts great interest [20,34]. Compared with other materials, the super-small size of nanoparticles not only gives them unique properties, but also makes them in an energy unstable state due to their huge specific surface area and surface energy [35].…”