Surface Engineering of MXene and Functional Fullerenols for Cancer Biomarker 'eIF₃d'

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Cancer Diagnostics

Background:

• Early and accurate cancer diagnosis relies on detecting specific protein biomarkers.
• eIF3d (eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3 complex, subunit D) is a significant protein biomarker for various cancers.
• Development of sensitive and selective biosensors is crucial for clinical applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel electrochemical sensor for the sensitive and selective detection of eIF3d.
• To engineer a biosensing platform using MXene and aspartic acid-functionalized fullerenol (F-Asp).
• To evaluate the sensor's performance in detecting eIF3d in synthetic serum samples.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of MXene and functionalization of fullerenol with aspartic acid (F-Asp).
• Fabrication of the electrochemical sensor by modifying a graphite electrode with MXene, F-Asp, and anti-eIF3d antibody.
• Electrochemical characterization and performance evaluation, including sensitivity, selectivity, and detection limit.

Main Results:

• The fabricated MXene:F-Asp modified electrode exhibited superior electrochemical properties.
• The sensor demonstrated a linear detection range for eIF3d from 10 to 250 ng/mL.
• A low detection limit of 0.14 ng/mL and high selectivity were achieved, with successful detection in synthetic serum samples.

Conclusions:

• The developed MXene:F-Asp based electrochemical sensor provides a promising platform for sensitive and selective eIF3d detection.
• This biosensor holds significant potential for real-time health monitoring and early cancer diagnosis.
• The innovative sensor design offers a new avenue for advancing cancer biomarker detection technologies.