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Turn-On Luminescent Detection of Liver Cancer Biomarker β-Glucuronidase Using a Terbium-Based Paper Sensor
Shruthi Sakthivel1, Ananya Biswas1, Uday Maitra1
1Department of Organic Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, Karnataka, 560012, India.
Chemistry, an Asian Journal
|June 10, 2025
Summary
We developed a novel lanthanide luminescent probe for rapid, sensitive, and instrument-free detection of liver cancer biomarker beta-glucuronidase using paper sensors.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Analytical Chemistry
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Liver cancer diagnosis relies on sensitive biomarkers.
- Beta-glucuronidase is a key biomarker for liver cancer.
- Current detection methods can be complex and time-consuming.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel turn-on lanthanide luminescent probe.
- To enable time-gated detection of beta-glucuronidase.
- To create a rapid, simple, and sensitive assay for liver cancer detection.
Main Methods:
- Utilized terbium (Tb) and cyclen-based (Ch) chemistry for probe development.
- Immobilized the probe onto paper-based sensors for an "instrument-free" assay.
- Employed ImageJ software for luminescence signal quantification.
Main Results:
- Achieved a turn-on luminescence response upon beta-glucuronidase activity.
- Demonstrated exceptional sensitivity with a low limit of detection (LOD) of 40 ng/mL.
- Validated the assay's simplicity and rapidity using minimal sample volumes.
Conclusions:
- The developed probe offers a promising tool for early liver cancer detection.
- Paper-based sensors facilitate point-of-care applications.
- This assay represents a significant advancement in biomarker detection technology.
