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Published on: May 24, 2019
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Integrated microfluidic-SERS for exosome biomarker profiling and osteosarcoma diagnosis
Zhenzhen Han1, Xinyan Peng2, Yi Yang2
1Department of Chemistry and Shanghai Stomatological Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200000, China; Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China.
Biosensors & Bioelectronics
|September 17, 2022
Summary
A novel microfluidics and SERS method enables early osteosarcoma diagnosis using plasma exosomes. This liquid biopsy technique accurately identifies cancer biomarkers, offering a less invasive alternative to traditional biopsies.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Oncology
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Osteosarcoma is a common adolescent bone cancer, where early diagnosis is crucial for patient survival.
- Conventional histological biopsy for osteosarcoma diagnosis is invasive and carries risks of tumor spread.
- There is a need for minimally invasive diagnostic methods for osteosarcoma.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an integrated microfluidics and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) method for isolating and profiling plasma-derived exosomes.
- To utilize exosomal biomarkers for the early diagnosis of osteosarcoma.
- To establish a rapid, sensitive, and specific liquid biopsy technique for osteosarcoma detection.
Main Methods:
- Integration of microfluidics for efficient plasma exosome isolation.
- Application of SERS for profiling exosomal protein biomarkers (CD63, VIM, EpCAM).
- Development of a classification model based on exosomal biomarker levels for osteosarcoma diagnosis.
Main Results:
- The method achieved highly efficient exosome isolation from small plasma volumes (50 μL) with a detection limit of 2 exosomes/μL.
- Significantly elevated levels of CD63, vimentin (VIM), and epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) were detected on plasma exosomes from osteosarcoma patients compared to healthy controls.
- The diagnostic model demonstrated high performance: 100% sensitivity, 90% specificity, and 95% accuracy.
Conclusions:
- The developed microfluidics-SERS assay is a rapid (5-hour) and effective liquid biopsy technique for osteosarcoma diagnosis.
- This method offers a minimally invasive and promising approach for early cancer detection, outperforming traditional biopsies.
- The technique's simplicity and low equipment cost support its potential for clinical application in cancer diagnostics.
