Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 18, 2026

Author Spotlight: High-Quality Quantum Dot Nanobeads for Sensitive Fluorescent Lateral Flow Immunoassays
Published on: June 28, 2024
Highly sensitive detection of leukemia cells based on aptamer and quantum dots
Yating Yu1, Siliang Duan1, Jian He1
1National Center for International Research of Biological Targeting Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Biological Targeting Diagnosis and Therapy Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Targeting Tumor Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, P.R. China.
This study presents a novel quantum dot (QD) and aptamer complex for sensitive early leukemia detection. This innovation offers potential for improved cancer diagnosis and personalized patient therapy.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Nanotechnology
- Oncology
Background:
- Early detection of leukemia is crucial for effective treatment.
- Current diagnostic methods face challenges in sensitivity and specificity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a highly sensitive detector for early-stage leukemia detection.
- To create an innovative aptamer-quantum dot (QD) complex for enhanced fluorescence signaling.
Main Methods:
- Synthesized a biotin-modified Sgc8 aptamer for identifying CCRF-CEM cells.
- Conjugated biotin-appended QDs to the aptamer via streptavidin-biotin interactions, forming the QDs-bsb-apt complex.
- Assessed the specificity and sensitivity of the complex using CEM and Ramos leukemia cell lines.
Main Results:
- The developed QDs-bsb-apt complex demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity in detecting leukemia cells.
- The complex generates a stronger fluorescent signal, enabling better capture of leukemic cells.
- The study confirmed the complex's effectiveness in early leukemia diagnosis.
Conclusions:
- An innovative aptamer-QD based structure was developed for leukemia diagnosis.
- This technology has potential for in vitro and in vivo tumor cell imaging.
- The findings may guide individualized patient therapy and improve early disease diagnosis.

