Electrochemical immunosensor for breast cancer biomarker detection using high-density silicon microneedle array

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Wearable Technology
• Point-of-Care Diagnostics

Background:

• Cancer is a leading cause of death globally, with breast cancer being a major contributor.
• Early diagnosis and prognosis of breast cancer rely on monitoring key biomarkers.
• Current diagnostic methods can be invasive and time-consuming.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a wearable electrochemical device for transdermal monitoring of breast cancer biomarkers.
• To utilize high-density gold-coated silicon microneedle arrays (Au-Si-MNA) as an integrated extraction and detection platform.
• To enable selective immunocapture and quantification of the epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (ErbB2) biomarker.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of high-density Au-Si-MNA for simultaneous biomarker extraction and electrochemical transduction.
• Selective immunocapture of ErbB2 using the Au-Si-MNA platform.
• Electrochemical quantification of captured ErbB2 in artificial interstitial fluid and a phantom skin model.

Main Results:

• The device exhibited a linear response for ErbB2 detection in artificial interstitial fluid from 10 to 250 ng/mL, with a limit of detection of 4.8 ng/mL.
• Successful extraction and quantification of ErbB2 from a phantom epidermis and dermis gel model.
• Demonstrated linear range of 50 to 250 ng/mL and a limit of detection of 25 ng/mL in the phantom model.

Conclusions:

• The developed Au-Si-MNA platform offers a unique approach for direct transdermal biomarker extraction and quantification.
• This technology holds potential for non-invasive, point-of-care monitoring of breast cancer biomarkers.
• The findings pave the way for advanced wearable devices for early disease diagnosis and prognosis.