Rapid and Label-Free Detection of Breast Cancer Biomarker CA15-3 in Clinical Human Serum Samples with Optofluidic Ring Resonator Sensors

Abstract

Sensitive and specific detection of breast cancer biomarker CA15-3 in human serum is an important step toward successful evaluation of clinical treatment and prediction of breast cancer recurrence. In this work, we developed an optofluidic ring resonator (OFRR) sensor and the corresponding sensing protocols for label-free CA15-3 detection without any additional signal amplification steps. Nonspecific serum protein adsorption was minimized with effective surface blocking methods. The sensor performance for CA15-3 detection was first characterized in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) buffer and in fetal calf serum. Then the potential use of the OFRR as a simple clinical laboratory testing device for breast cancer diagnostics was tested by measuring the CA15-3 level in clinical human serum samples, and the results were compared with those of standard clinical lab tests. It was found that the OFRR was capable of detecting approximately 1 unit/mL CA15-3 in both PBS buffer and diluted serum within approximately 30 min. Our work marks the first demonstration of the optical ring resonator biosensor in real clinical applications that features low cost, simple detection procedures, rapid response time, low sample consumption, and high specificity.

Recent advances in biosensor development for the detection of cancer biomarkers

“…OFFR offers several advantages like label-free sensing, low detection time, portability and multiplex detection (Suter and Fan, 2009). Zhu et al (2009) have developed a biosensor based on OFRR for detection of CA15-3, a breast cancer biomarker. This OFFR based biosensor has been demonstrated to detect CA15-3 in serum samples.…”

Synthesis and Operation of Fluorescent-core Microcavities for Refractometric Sensing

“…LCORR biosensors have been demonstrated for the detection of a variety of different target analytes. 27,28,29,30 FCMs have several clear advantages and limitations in comparison with LCORRs. Both devices rely on the flow of an analyte through a capillary channel.…”

Optofluidics: a new tool for sensing

“…The evanescent field of the whispering gallery mode (WGM) in the core detect the refractive index change near the interior surface. This device has been successfully applied in chemical and biochemical detection like cancer biomarkers [40,41]. Using a similar approach integrated silicon optofluidic ring resonator based on ARROW waveguide has been demonstrated [42] by our group.…”