Chemical efflux imaging using an annular nanosensor array for in situ bladder cancer detection

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Nanotechnology
• Chemical Sensing

Background:

• Detecting biomarkers in biofluids like urine is difficult due to dilution and instability.
• Current methods for bladder cancer biomarker detection face significant challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a catheter-integrated nanosensor array for in-situ chemical efflux imaging.
• To enable sensitive and localized detection of bladder cancer biomarkers within the body.

Main Methods:

• Grafting an annular nanosensor array onto a biomedical catheter.
• Integrating near-infrared fluorescent single-walled carbon nanotubes and a ball-lens scanning optical device.
• Developing phospholipid copolymer-based nanosensors for nuclear matrix protein (NMP-22) detection.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated differential sensor responses between bladder cancer cells and healthy cells.
• Successfully tracked gemcitabine-induced cell death and monitored protein efflux in vitro.
• Achieved 182-fold signal enhancement for biomarker source localization compared to extracted biofluids.
• Chemically imaged porcine bladders, detecting biomarker efflux up to 2 cm away.

Conclusions:

• The nanosensor-functionalized catheter platform enables 3D chemical imaging within luminal spaces.
• This technology shows significant potential as a point-of-care diagnostic tool for bladder cancer.
• Offers improved sensitivity and spatial resolution for biomarker detection in complex biological environments.