Label-free detection of biomarker alpha fetoprotein in serum by ssDNA aptamer functionalized magnetic nanoparticles

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors in the clinic, with the characteristics of occult onset, rapid progression, and high degree of malignancy. Alpha fetoprotein (AFP) is the most important biomarker of HCC, which is widely used in early screening, diagnosis, and prognosis observation. A series of immunoassays have been developed and frequently used in the detection of AFP based on antibodies. Unfortunately, the shortcomings of antibodies, such as thermal unstable and fluctuant activity by batches, lead to the inaccuracy in the detection of AFP. In this study, aptamers instead of antibodies were adopted as the specific recognition element for AFP, aiming to seek an alternative strategy to immunoassays. An AFP-specific ssDNA aptamer was grafted to magnetic nanoparticles (Fe3O4@SiO2) via avidin–biotin interaction, and the resultant aptamer functionalized magnetic nanoparticles (Ap-MNPs) were adequately characterized and tested. The Ap-MNPs in solution exhibited a fast response to the outer magnetic field, and can be completely separated in several minutes. It was found that Ap-MNPs have good specificity to the target AFP, as the recovery of AFP (87.0%) was much higher than the competitive proteins IgG (38.9%), HSA (18.5%), and FIB (11.4%). A convenient and efficient label-free detection method of AFP in serum was developed based on Ap-MNPs in combination with high-performance liquid chromatography. The linearity of this method was over a range of 1–50 μg ml−1 with a correlation coefficient of 0.9999, and the limit of detection was 0.27 μg ml−1. This study indicated that aptamers are an ideal tool for the recognition and detection of biomarkers, and thus will find wide applications in clinical practice.

Nanoporous Covalent Organic Framework Embedded with Fe/Fe3O4 Nanoparticles as Air-Stable Low-Density Nanomagnets

“…As an indirect support, we pyrolyzed the Fe–COF at 550 °C under N 2 and recorded the PXRD of the resulting sample (Figure S2). It unambiguously revealed the presence of both α-Fe (BCC) (JCPDS: 06-0696) and inverse spinel Fe 3 O 4 (JCPDS: 19-0629). , …”

“…It unambiguously revealed the presence of both α-Fe (BCC) (JCPDS: 06-0696) and inverse spinel Fe 3 O 4 (JCPDS: 19-0629). 46,47 Fe−COF as a Low-Density Magnet. The Fe/Fe 3 O 4 particles load uniformly on the COF, rendering the composite evenly magnetic.…”

Bibliometric analysis of aptamer-conjugated nanoparticles for diagnosis in the last two decades

“…These researches focus on various detection strategies, including electrogenerated chemiluminescence [78,79], label-free detection [80,81], fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) [82,83], electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) [84], rapid detection [85,86]. The specific targets of the investigation involve thrombin [87], adenosine [88], circulating tumor cells [89], nucleolin [90], and biomarkers [91]. The combination of signal amplification by nanoparticles and specific recognition by aptamers can provide high sensitivity and specificity of diagnosis.…”

Multifunctional Iron Oxide Magnetic Nanoparticles for Biomedical Applications: A Review

“…Katz and coworkers reported the ability of DNA-modified magnetite nanoparticles to selectively detect and induce downregulation of up to 99% of target mRNA in cultured MCF-7 cancer cells [37]. In a separate work, Fe 3 O 4 @SiO 2 functionalized with a specific ssDNA aptamer showed highly selective targeting, with a recovery of 87% toward alpha fetoprotein (AFP), a pregnancy biomarker [38]. Zeng and coworkers developed a one-step method to detect thrombin using DNA aptamer-conjugated magnetic nanospheres, with a detection limit of 97 pM [39].…”