Multiplex Identification of Post‐Translational Modifications at Point‐of‐Care by Deep Learning‐Assisted Hydrogel Sensors

Abstract

Multiplex detection of protein post-translational modifications (PTMs), especially at point-of-care, is of great significance in cancer diagnosis. Herein, we report a machine learning-assisted photonic crystal hydrogel (PCH) sensor for multiplex detection of PTMs. With closely-related PCH sensors microfabricated on a single chip, our design achieved not only rapid screening of PTMs at specific protein sites by using only naked eyes/cellphone, but also the feasibility of real-time monitoring of phosphorylation reactions. By taking advantage of multiplex sensor chips and a neural network algorithm, accurate prediction of PTMs by both their types and concentrations was enabled. This approach was ultimately used to detect and differentiate up/down regulation of different phosphorylation sites within the same protein in live mammalian cells. Our developed method thus holds potential for POC identification of various PTMs in early-stage diagnosis of protein-related diseases.

Recent Advances in Acoustofluidics for Point‐of‐Care Testing

“…However, from an application perspective, an ideal POCT device should have the ability to process complex samples (e. g., undiluted whole blood) and perform multiplexed testing. [61] However, recent developments are mostly confined to buffer or serum samples, and multimodal manipulation and multiplexed detection are less frequently covered. In such scenarios, researchers must build a complete solution that can handle solution manipulation, sample preparation and biochemical detection; and the acoustofluidic device with multiple-unit parallelization hold great promise.…”

“…For example, the Attune TM Nxt flow cytometer system [60] has successfully integrated the SAW resonator to focus cells and extracellular vesicles. However, from an application perspective, an ideal POCT device should have the ability to process complex samples (e. g., undiluted whole blood) and perform multiplexed testing [61] . However, recent developments are mostly confined to buffer or serum samples, and multimodal manipulation and multiplexed detection are less frequently covered.…”

Photonic Hydrogel Sensing System for Wearable and Noninvasive Cortisol Monitoring

“…Structural color is a signal transduction method that is battery-free and can be observed promisingly with naked-eye. , Structural color changes can be regulated by crystal lattice parameters. , Asher et al were the first to combine the photonic crystal structure with the responsive hydrogel and proposed the photonic crystal hydrogel sensor with the structural color as the signal transducing mode . Later researchers expanded the method to a wider range of potential applications, including the detection of ions, nucleic acids, glucose, macromolecules, nanoparticles, and more. ,− More interestingly, Shao et.al developed a kind of hybrid flexible conductive structural color (SC) film for monitoring of Parkinson’s disease (PD) by detecting mechanical indexes simultaneously via dual signals, i.e., electrical signals and color signals, which provides a new idea for the development of motion sensors . However, there are still deficiencies in the detection of small molecules in complex body fluids since the volume change (photonic crystal lattice change) that small molecules can cause is not large enough, and the selectivity is still limited.…”