Label-free microfiber biosensor for ultrahigh sensitivity detection of TNF-α protein

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Optical Biosensing
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Accurate and rapid detection of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) is vital for diagnosing inflammatory diseases and guiding treatment.
• Current diagnostic methods for TNF-α often require complex procedures, are time-consuming, or lack sensitivity for ultra-low concentrations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a fast, label-free microfiber biosensor for ultra-low concentration detection of TNF-α.
• To evaluate the performance characteristics of the proposed biosensor, including sensitivity, specificity, and detection time.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a single mode-tapered no core-single mode (STNCS) microfiber structure.
• Functionalization of the microfiber with anti-TNF-α antibodies for specific binding.
• Real-time spectral analysis of wavelength shifts upon exposure to varying concentrations of TNF-α.

Main Results:

• The STNCS microfiber biosensor demonstrated high spectral stability (0.0316 nm) and rapid detection capabilities (under 20 minutes).
• Achieved a low limit of detection (LoD) for TNF-α, with a measured LoD close to the theoretical value (1.352 pg/mL) at 1 pg/mL concentration.
• Exhibited excellent specificity, with minimal cross-reactivity to other proteins like CRP, IL-6, and BSA.

Conclusions:

• The developed STNCS microfiber biosensor offers a promising platform for sensitive and rapid detection of TNF-α.
• This technology holds potential for applications in medical diagnostics, enabling early disease detection and timely intervention.