The Growing Impact of Micro/Nanomaterial‐Based Systems in Precision Oncology: Translating “Multiomics” Technologies

Abstract

The field of precision oncology is rapidly progressing toward integrated “multiomics” analysis of multiple molecular species (such as DNA, RNA, or proteins) to provide a more complete profile of tumor heterogeneity. Micro/nanomaterial‐based systems, which leverage the unique properties of miniature materials, are currently well positioned to expand beyond rudimentary biomarker detection toward multiomics signature analysis. To enable clinical translation, the rational design and implementation of miniaturized systems should be driven by the unique clinical challenges present at various crucial cancer stages. This review features micro/nanomaterial‐based systems that are robustly tested on real patient samples for molecular biomarker detection at i) initial cancer screening and/or diagnosis, ii) cancer prognosis and risk stratification, and iii) longitudinal treatment/recurrence monitoring. Furthermore, this review discusses the use of micro/nanomaterials to facilitate sample preparation for different molecular biomarker species. Finally, this review deliberates on the recent paradigm shift of micro/nanomaterial‐based system innovation toward integrated multiomics cancer signature analysis and puts forth insights and perspectives on existing challenges. It is anticipated that this review could stimulate the propagation of new concepts and approaches to kick‐start a new generation of clinically translational technologies that capitalize on multiomics cancer signatures.

Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy for Cancer Immunotherapy Applications: Opportunities, Challenges, and Current Progress in Nanomaterial Strategies

“…Lastly, we are increasingly observing the integration of multiple molecular species (e.g., DNA, RNA, proteins) as a single cancer biomarker signature to provide a more comprehensive profile of tumor biology as compared with the use of a single molecular species. As the current research endeavors reviewed herein are mainly focused on protein-based immunoassays, it is foreseen that the use of SERS-active nanomaterials can quintessentially be extended to nucleic acid biomarkers for cancer immunotherapy applications [ 82 , 83 , 84 ]. Given the biological complexity of the molecular landscape within the tumor microenvironment, overcoming the challenge in expanding the application repertoire of SERS-active nanomaterials for multiple molecular species would fully utilize the versatility, sensitivity, and multiplexibility of SERS ( Figure 5 C).…”

Nanotechnology in emerging liquid biopsy applications

“…Along with their rapid development and structural flexibility, micro/nanomaterials also constitute ideal miniaturized sensing platforms. Recent advances in nanomaterial synthesis have led to the development of novel sensitive, specific, and robust analytical tools [1].…”

“…Previous literature reports include micro/nanomaterial-based systems for multiomics technologies and precision oncology [1], an overview of the existing liquid biopsy technologies in general [2], nanoarchitecture frameworks for electrochemical miRNA detection [4], nanotechnology-based liquid biopsy applications for ctDNA and exosomes detection [10], nucleic acids sensors for liquid biopsy applications [25] and plasmonic and supermagnetic nanomaterials for liquid biopsy applications [24,35]. The present review reports on all the nanomaterials used in emerging liquid biopsy applications, targeting all the relevant biomarkers; furthermore, the analytical performance of the nanomaterials is also evaluated.…”

Ultrasensitive melanoma biomarker detection using a microchip SERS immunoassay with anisotropic Au–Ag alloy nanoboxes

“…In recent years, innovative detection strategies have been developed which include uorescence nanoparticle probes, nanostructured devices, and surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). [9][10][11] SERS is a sensitive spectroscopic technique with the capability to detect single molecules. 12 To enhance the relatively weak Raman signal of the Raman reporter, SERS makes use of metal structures to generate plasmonic "hot spots", which increase the Raman signal by multiple orders of magnitude.…”