title: Highly sensitive SERS detection of cancer proteins in low sample volume using hollow core photonic crystal fiber.
abstract: Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) are commonly used for detecting cancer proteins at concentration in the range of about ng-μg/mL. Hence it often fails to detect tumor markers at the early stages of cancer and other diseases where the amount of protein is extremely low. Herein, we report a novel photonic crystal fiber (PCF) based surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) sensing platform for the ultrasensitive detection of cancer proteins in an extremely low sample volume. As a proof of concept, epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFRs) in a lysate solution from human epithelial carcinoma cells were immobilized into the hollow core PCF. Highly sensitive detection of protein was achieved using anti-EGFR antibody conjugated SERS nanotag. This SERS nanotag probe was realized by anchoring highly active Raman molecules onto the gold nanoparticles followed by bioconjugation. The proposed sensing method can detect low amount of proteins at ∼100 pg in a sample volume of ∼10 nL. Our approach may lead to the highly sensitive protein sensing methodology for the early detection of diseases.
authors.affiliation: Bio-Optical Imaging Group, Singapore Bioimaging Consortium, Agency for Science Technology and Research (A*STAR), 11 Biopolis Way, Singapore 138667, Singapore. Dinish@sbic.a-star.edu.sg
authors.forename: Dinish
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: U S
authors.forename: Chit Yaw
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Kiat Seng
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Soh
authors.forename: Bhuvaneswari
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ramaswamy
authors.forename: Anil
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Malini
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Olivo
mesh_terms: D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D003460:Crystallization; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000032:analysis; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D055100:Optical Fibers; D017785:Photons; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D006046:Gold; D066246:ErbB Receptors