Subcellular spectroscopic markers, topography and nanomechanics of human lung cancer and breast cancer cells examined by combined confocal Raman microspectroscopy and atomic force microscopy

Abstract

The nanostructures and hydrophobic properties of cancer cell membranes are important for membrane fusion and cell adhesion. They are directly related to cancer cell biophysical properties, including aggressive growth and migration. Additionally, chemical component analysis of the cancer cell membrane could potentially be applied in clinical diagnosis of cancer by identification of specific biomarker receptors expressed on cancer cell surfaces. In the present work, a combined Raman microspectroscopy (RM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) technique was applied to detect the difference in membrane chemical components and nanomechanics of three cancer cell lines: human lung adenocarcinoma epithelial cells (A549), and human breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-435 with and without BRMS1 metastasis suppressor). Raman spectral analysis indicated similar bands between the A549, 435 and 435/BRMS1 including ~720 cm(-1) (guanine band of DNA), 940 cm(-1) (skeletal mode polysaccharide), 1006 cm(-1) (symmetric ring breathing phenylalanine), and 1451 cm(-1) (CH deformation). The membrane surface adhesion forces for these cancer cells were measured by AFM in culture medium: 0.478 ± 0.091 nN for A549 cells, 0.253 ± 0.070 nN for 435 cells, and 1.114 ± 0.281 nN for 435/BRMS1 cells, and the cell spring constant was measured at 2.62 ± 0.682 mN m(-1) for A549 cells, 2.105 ± 0.691 mN m(-1) for 435 cells, and 5.448 ± 1.081 mN m(-1) for 435/BRMS1 cells.

Distinguishing Different Cancerous Human Cells by Raman Spectroscopy Based on Discriminant Analysis Methods

“…There is a strong specificity to reflect the changes in biochemical components of living cells in aqueous solutions without any labelling and fixation [7], as such Raman spectroscopy has been employed in clinical diagnostics, toxicology tests, and tissue engineering [8,9]. Raman spectroscopy is a fast, accurate, label-free, and non-destructive analytical tool for the detection of the human cells at the single cell level [10,11]. It can be used to obtain the difference of the intranuclear genetic material between the cancer cells and the normal cells, and the differences of the proteins in the cell membrane and cytoplasm [6,12].…”

“…Raman spectroscopy is a fast, accurate, label-free, and non-destructive analytical tool for the detection of the human cells at the single cell level [10,11]. It can be used to obtain the difference of the intranuclear genetic material between the cancer cells and the normal cells, and the differences of the proteins in the cell membrane and cytoplasm [6,12].…”

Rapid Detection and Identification of miRNAs by Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Using Hollow Au Nanoflowers Substrates

“…for classification [40,41]. Figure 7 showed the scatter plots of the SERS spectra for three kinds of miRNAs projected into a two-dimensional subspace using principal component scores PC1 and PC2.…”

Recognition of Normal and Abnormal Cells through SERS-Active FIB-Fabricated Au Nanoneedle Array Structure

“…Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is an ultrasensitive technique that greatly enhances Raman signals of single molecule level [5]. SERS can provide characteristic spectroscopic fingerprints of clinical macromolecules such as a variety of single cells, including cancer cells [6]. Recently, few research groups have already reported the applications of SERS for clinical diagnostics by using labeling NPs agents [6], [7].…”

“…SERS can provide characteristic spectroscopic fingerprints of clinical macromolecules such as a variety of single cells, including cancer cells [6]. Recently, few research groups have already reported the applications of SERS for clinical diagnostics by using labeling NPs agents [6], [7]. The labeling NPs based SERS application technology, especially for cellular imaging or biomedical diagnostics, still has a strong need for improvement in its sensitivity, selectivity and good biocompatibility.…”