Sensitively detecting mTBI biomarker S100B by using peptide-modified ratiometric fluorescent C/AuNCs nanoprobe

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Forensic Science
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) presents diagnostic challenges in forensic science due to subtle initial damage and significant long-term effects.
• Traditional diagnostic methods for mTBI have limitations, making biomarker-based approaches highly promising.
• S100B protein is a key biomarker for mTBI, necessitating sensitive and rapid detection methods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel peptide-modified ratiometric fluorescent nanoprobe for early mTBI diagnosis.
• To utilize carbon dots (CDs) and gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) for sensitive S100B protein detection.
• To establish a rapid and convenient diagnostic tool for forensic applications.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a ratiometric fluorescent nanoprobe using CDs and AuNCs, modified with a peptide specific to S100B.
• Utilizing the fluorescence quenching of AuNCs as a reporter signal and the stable fluorescence of CDs as a reference signal.
• Optimizing the sensing system for S100B detection and validating its performance in spiked blood samples.

Main Results:

• The nanoprobe demonstrated a ratiometric response to S100B protein concentration.
• Successfully quantified S100B in the range of 0.03–1 μg/mL within 30 minutes.
• Achieved a low detection limit of 0.01 μg/mL with good recovery rates in blood samples.

Conclusions:

• The developed nanoprobe provides a sensitive, rapid, and convenient method for S100B detection.
• This strategy shows significant potential for the early diagnosis of mTBI in forensic practice.
• The ratiometric fluorescent nanoprobe offers a promising advancement over existing mTBI diagnostic tools.