Detection of carcinoembryonic antigen using aggregation-induced emission luminogens empowered triple-format biosensor

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Analytical Chemistry
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Conventional fluorescent probes suffer from weak signals and aggregation-caused quenching, limiting biomarker detection sensitivity.
• Existing methods often require high concentrations of labeled target molecules to achieve adequate signal-to-noise ratios.
• There is a need for highly sensitive and reliable diagnostic tools for early cancer detection and monitoring.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an ultrasensitive affinity sensor for detecting carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) using aggregation-induced emission luminogens (AIEgens).
• To enable simultaneous detection of CEA through visual, spectral, and computer vision analysis (NeSCV sensor).
• To evaluate the sensor's performance in clinical serum samples for lung cancer diagnosis.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of an "immune-sandwich" based affinity sensor utilizing AIEgens-functionalized microspheres as signal reporters.
• Development of three distinct detection formats: naked-eye visual inspection, spectrometer-based solution analysis, and fluorescence microscopy of solid-state complexes.
• Qualitative and quantitative analysis of CEA in serum samples from lung cancer patients and healthy controls.

Main Results:

• The NeSCV sensor achieved a limit of quantification of 1 fg/mL, significantly lower than conventional methods like ELISA.
• Demonstrated high selectivity, accuracy, and sensitivity in detecting CEA across a linear range of 1 fg/mL to 10 ng/mL.
• Achieved a 90% accuracy rate in a blind test on an independent validation cohort, confirming robustness.

Conclusions:

• The developed NeSCV sensor provides a highly sensitive, selective, and versatile platform for CEA detection.
• This technology offers potential for early lung cancer identification, treatment monitoring, and personalized medicine.
• The triple detection capability enhances accessibility and applicability in diverse diagnostic settings.