Development of a microcantilever-based biosensor for detecting Programmed Death Ligand 1

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Nanotechnology
• Cancer Biomarkers

Background:

• Cancer diagnosis and immunotherapy monitoring require sensitive biomarker detection.
• Programmed Death Ligand 1 (PD-L1) is a critical biomarker for cancer prognosis and therapy response.
• Existing detection methods like ELISA have limitations in cost, time, and complexity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a microcantilever-based biosensor for detecting soluble PD-L1 (sPD-L1).
• To establish a sensitive, specific, and efficient detection method for PD-L1 in biological samples.

Main Methods:

• A microcantilever biosensor functionalized with anti-PD-L1 antibodies was fabricated.
• Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and contact angle measurements confirmed the sensing layer.
• Detection principle relies on the shift in microcantilever resonance frequency upon sPD-L1 binding.

Main Results:

• The biosensor demonstrated a linear response to sPD-L1 concentrations from 0.05 ng/ml to 500 ng/ml.
• A low detection limit of approximately 10 pg/ml was achieved.
• High specificity was observed even in complex biological matrices.

Conclusions:

• The developed microcantilever biosensor is a promising tool for early cancer diagnosis.
• This technology holds potential for monitoring cancer immunotherapy efficacy.
• It offers a sensitive, specific, and efficient alternative to conventional detection methods.