Paper-based electrochemical aptasensor using Ti₃C₂ MXene for sensitive detection of Mammaglobin-A biomarker

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Nanomaterials Science
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Breast cancer is a leading cause of cancer mortality globally.
• Current detection methods are often costly, invasive, and time-consuming.
• Early detection significantly improves patient survival rates.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a low-cost, minimally invasive, paper-based electrochemical sensing platform for early breast cancer detection.
• To utilize two-dimensional Ti3C2 (MXene) nanosheets for enhanced sensor performance.
• To functionalize the sensor with aptamers for specific detection of breast cancer biomarkers.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a paper-based sensor using screen-printing technique.
• Incorporation of Ti3C2 (MXene) nanosheets onto the working electrode.
• Functionalization of the electrode with aptamers for selective binding to Mammaglobin A on circulating tumor cells (CTCs).
• Electrochemical detection using cyclic voltammetry (CV) to measure current changes upon biomarker binding.
• Validation using various cell lines and in vitro human blood serum experiments.

Main Results:

• The sensor demonstrated enhanced electrochemical performance due to MXene nanosheets.
• Achieved a low limit of detection (LOD) of approximately 4 cells/mL.
• Successfully differentiated breast cancer cells from other cell lines, confirming specificity.
• Validated quantitative detection capabilities in human blood serum samples.

Conclusions:

• The developed paper-based electrochemical sensor offers a promising solution for affordable and accessible early breast cancer detection.
• The sensor provides rapid, quantitative, and specific detection at the point-of-care.
• This technology has the potential to significantly reduce breast cancer mortality through early diagnosis.