Intramicellar sensor assays: Improving sensing sensitivity of sensor array for thiol biomarkers

Area of Science:

• Biomarker Detection
• Nanomaterials in Sensor Technology
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Array-based analysis enables simultaneous detection of multiple disease biomarkers.
• Current platforms often use non-covalent interactions, limiting sensitivity.
• Thiol biomarkers are crucial indicators for various diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To enhance the sensitivity of array-based analysis for thiol biomarkers.
• To develop a micelle-based sensor array for improved disease diagnosis.
• To reduce the consumption of metal ions in sensing applications.

Main Methods:

• Incorporation of polyion complex micelles, formed from carbon dots (CDs) and anionic diblock copolymers, into sensor array design.
• Utilizing the confined environment within micelles to enhance analyte-micelle interactions.
• Support Vector Machine (SVM) analysis for data interpretation and limit of detection determination.

Main Results:

• The micelle-based array achieved 100% accuracy in identifying multiple thiols across a wide concentration range (0.5–1000 μM).
• Achieved a detection limit of approximately 0.1 μM for individual thiol systems.
• Reduced thiol biomarker detection limits by 20-fold and silver ion (Ag+) usage by 40-fold compared to non-micellar methods.

Conclusions:

• The developed polyion complex micelle-based array significantly enhances sensitivity and reduces reagent consumption for thiol biomarker detection.
• This system offers a powerful tool for both qualitative and quantitative analysis, enabling accurate diagnosis of thiol-related diseases.
• The approach provides a foundation for next-generation diagnostic tools with improved performance and efficiency.