Thioflavin T Lasing Probe for Mucin Detection in Simulated Tears as a Targeting Strategy for Brain Tumors

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Optics
• Biochemistry
• Cancer Diagnostics

Background:

• Early detection of glioblastoma is crucial for patient outcomes.
• Mucins in tear fluid may serve as potential biomarkers for neurological disorders.
• Noninvasive diagnostic methods are highly desirable for patient comfort and frequent monitoring.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel optical approach for noninvasive detection of mucins in tear fluid.
• To investigate the potential of Thioflavin T (ThT) as a fluorescent probe for mucin detection.
• To explore the use of Fabry-Pérot cavity lasing spectroscopy for enhanced sensitivity in biomarker detection.

Main Methods:

• Utilized Thioflavin T (ThT) as a fluorescent probe for mucin detection.
• Employed steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy to characterize ThT-mucin interactions.
• Applied Fabry-Pérot cavity lasing spectroscopy to identify distinct spectral signatures of mucin-bound ThT.

Main Results:

• ThT selectively binds to mucins (MUC3) in various aqueous solutions, including simulated tears.
• Mucin binding significantly enhances ThT fluorescence and prolongs its emission lifetime.
• Fabry-Pérot cavity lasing spectroscopy revealed unique spectral fingerprints, including dual lasing peaks, for ThT-mucin complexes.

Conclusions:

• The ThT probe and lasing spectroscopy offer a sensitive and specific method for detecting mucins in tears.
• This optical approach shows potential as a noninvasive platform for the early diagnosis of glioblastoma.
• The distinct optical signatures provide evidence of specific ThT-mucin interactions beyond conventional fluorescence methods.