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Published on: November 9, 2017
A paper-based SERS assay for sensitive duplex cytokine detection towards the atherosclerosis-associated disease
Chunxia Li1, Yuan Liu, Xiaoyan Zhou
1Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Insights
A new sensing platform detects key cytokines, interleukin-10 (IL-10) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), for atherosclerosis monitoring. This method offers sensitive and specific detection in human serum for early disease diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Analytical Chemistry
- Immunology
Background:
- Atherosclerosis (AS) is a primary cause of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, with complex, multifactorial origins.
- Cytokines, including IL-10 and MCP-1, play critical roles in AS pathogenesis and immune regulation.
- Monitoring IL-10 and MCP-1 levels is crucial for AS status assessment and early diagnosis of related conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel sensing platform for the simultaneous detection of IL-10 and MCP-1.
- To enable sensitive, specific, and quantitative analysis of these cytokines in human serum.
- To establish a potential tool for clinical monitoring and early diagnosis of AS-associated diseases.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a paper-based surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) sensing platform using a nanoporous networking membrane and SERS nanotags.
- Implementation of a sandwich assay format for enhanced sensitivity and specificity.
- Detection and quantification of IL-10 and MCP-1 in human serum samples.
Main Results:
- Achieved sensitive detection of IL-10 and MCP-1 with a limit of detection of 0.1 pg mL-1 in human serum.
- Demonstrated high specificity, low non-specific binding, and acceptable cross-reactivity for target cytokines.
- Successfully validated the platform's practicability through duplex detection in human serum.
Conclusions:
- The developed paper-based SERS sensing platform provides a sensitive and specific method for detecting IL-10 and MCP-1.
- This assay shows potential as a candidate for clinical multi-target analysis in real-world settings.
- The platform facilitates early diagnosis and monitoring of atherosclerosis-related conditions.
Abstract:
Atherosclerosis (AS) is the most common factor causing many cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and has received considerable attention. The occurrence mechanism of AS is uncertain because it is a choronically pathological process that is influenced by multi-aspects, among which cytokines play the key roles in regulating the processes of the immune system. For example, two key cytokines, namely, IL-10 and MCP-1 (chemokine), which are involved in AS progression with varied levels, can be used for AS status monitoring and early diagnosis of AS-associated diseases. Hence, a new paper-based, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) sensing platform was established for the detection of these two key cytokines. By combining a nanoporous networking membrane as the substrate and SERS nanotags as the probe for signal reading, together with a sandwich design, sensitive and specific identification and quantification of cytokine targets in human serum were achieved with excellent sensing characteristics. The lowest detectable concentration was determined to be 0.1 pg mL-1 for both IL-10 and MCP-1 in human serum. The assay also exhibits high specificity towards target cytokine detection, with low-nonspecific binding and acceptable cross-reactivity in the presence of other structurally similar targets. Finally, the practicability was validated by performing duplex detection in human serum, which further demonstrates the high specificity of the assay for the detection of target cytokines. Taken together, these promising results illustrate that this developed sensing assay is a candidate for clinical multi-target analysis in real environments.
