title: Phage-AgNPs complex as SERS probe for U937 cell identification.
abstract: The early diagnosis of malignancy is the most critical factor for patient survival and the treatment of cancer. In particular, leukemic cells are highly heterogeneous, and there is a need to develop new rapid and accurate detection systems for early diagnosis and monitoring of minimal residual disease. This study reports the utilization of molecular networks consisting of entire bacteriophage structure, displaying specific peptides, directly assembled with silver nanoparticles as a new Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) probe for U937 cells identification in vitro. A 9-mer pVIII M13 phage display library is screened against U937 to identify peptides that selectively recognize these cells. Then, phage clone is assembled with silver nanoparticles and the resulting network is used to obtain a SERS signal on cell-type specific molecular targets. The proposed strategy could be a very sensitive tool for the design of biosensors for highly specific and selective identification of hematological cancer cells and for detection of minimal residual disease in a significant proportion of human blood malignancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno d'Alcontres 31, 98158 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Germana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lentini
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Earth Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno d'Alcontres 31, 98158 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Enza
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fazio
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno d'Alcontres 31, 98158 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Calabrese
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno d'Alcontres 31, 98158 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: De Plano
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno d'Alcontres 31, 98158 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Puliafico
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno d'Alcontres 31, 98158 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Franco
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno d'Alcontres 31, 98158 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Nicolò
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno d'Alcontres 31, 98158 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Santina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Carnazza
authors.affiliation: CNR-IPCF Institute for Chemical-Physical Processes, Viale Ferdinando Stagno d'Alcontres 37, 98158 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Sebastiano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Trusso
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Oncology and Pathological Anatomy, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria, 1, 98125 Messina, Italy. Electronic address: aallegra@unime.it.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Allegra
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Earth Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno d'Alcontres 31, 98158 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Fortunato
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Neri
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Oncology and Pathological Anatomy, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria, 1, 98125 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Musolino
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno d'Alcontres 31, 98158 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Salvatore P P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Guglielmino
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D015336:Molecular Probe Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism*; D019151:Peptide Library; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman / Q000295:instrumentation*; D020349:Surface Plasmon Resonance / Q000295:instrumentation; D020298:U937 Cells
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019151:Peptide Library; D012834:Silver
keywords: Cell identification; Minimal residual disease; Phage display; SERS; U937 cells