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Tseng YT, Chiu YC, Pham VD, Wu WH, Le-Vu TT, Wang CH, Kuo SW, Chan MWY, Lin CH, Li SC, Li YD, Kan HC, Lin JY, Chau LK, Hsu CC. Ultrasensitive Upconversion Nanoparticle Immunoassay for Human Serum Cardiac Troponin I Detection Achieved with Resonant Waveguide Grating. ACS Sens 2024; 9:455-463. [PMID: 38234004 DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.3c02240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Selective detection of biomarkers at low concentrations in blood is crucial for the clinical diagnosis of many diseases but remains challenging. In this work, we aimed to develop an ultrasensitive immunoassay that can detect biomarkers in serum with an attomolar limit of detection (LOD). We proposed a sandwich-type heterogeneous immunosensor in a 3 × 3 well array format by integrating a resonant waveguide grating (RWG) substrate with upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs). UCNPs were used to label a target biomarker captured by capture antibody molecules immobilized on the surface of the RWG substrate, and the RWG substrate was used to enhance the upconversion luminescence (UCL) of UCNPs through excitation resonance. The LOD of the immunosensor was greatly reduced due to the increased UCL of UCNPs and the reduction of nonspecific adsorption of detection antibody-conjugated UCNPs on the RWG substrate surface by coating the RWG substrate surface with a carboxymethyl dextran layer. The immunosensor exhibited an extremely low LOD [0.24 fg/mL (9.1 aM)] and wide detection range (1 fg/mL to 100 pg/mL) in the detection of cardiac troponin I (cTnI). The cTnI concentrations in human serum samples collected at different times during cyclophosphamide, epirubicin, and 5-fluorouracil (CEF) chemotherapy in a breast cancer patient were measured by an immunosensor, and the results showed that the CEF chemotherapy did cause cardiotoxicity in the patient. Having a higher number of wells in such an array-based biosensor, the sensor can be developed as a high-throughput diagnostic tool for clinically important biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yen-Ta Tseng
- Department of Physics, National Chung Cheng University, Ming-Hsiung, Chia-Yi 621, Taiwan
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, National Chung Cheng University, Ming-Hsiung, Chia-Yi 621, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Chung Chiu
- Department of Physics, National Chung Cheng University, Ming-Hsiung, Chia-Yi 621, Taiwan
| | - Van-Dai Pham
- Department of Physics, National Chung Cheng University, Ming-Hsiung, Chia-Yi 621, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Hsuan Wu
- Department of Physics, National Chung Cheng University, Ming-Hsiung, Chia-Yi 621, Taiwan
| | - Thanh Thu Le-Vu
- Department of Physics, National Chung Cheng University, Ming-Hsiung, Chia-Yi 621, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Hsien Wang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, National Chung Cheng University, Ming-Hsiung, Chia-Yi 621, Taiwan
| | - Shiao-Wei Kuo
- Department of Materials and Optoelectronic Science, National Sun Yat Sen University, Kaohsiung 804, Taiwan
| | - Michael W Y Chan
- Center for Nano Bio-Detection, National Chung Cheng University, Ming-Hsiung, Chia-Yi 621, Taiwan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, National Chung Cheng University, Ming-Hsiung, Chia-Yi 621, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Hung Lin
- Department of Surgery, Dalin Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Chia-Yi 622, Taiwan
| | - Szu-Chin Li
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Dalin Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Chia-Yi 622, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Da Li
- Department of Cardiology, Dalin Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Chia-Yi 622, Taiwan
| | - Hung-Chih Kan
- Department of Physics, National Chung Cheng University, Ming-Hsiung, Chia-Yi 621, Taiwan
- Center for Nano Bio-Detection, National Chung Cheng University, Ming-Hsiung, Chia-Yi 621, Taiwan
| | - Jiunn-Yuan Lin
- Department of Physics, National Chung Cheng University, Ming-Hsiung, Chia-Yi 621, Taiwan
| | - Lai-Kwan Chau
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, National Chung Cheng University, Ming-Hsiung, Chia-Yi 621, Taiwan
- Center for Nano Bio-Detection, National Chung Cheng University, Ming-Hsiung, Chia-Yi 621, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Chen Hsu
- Department of Physics, National Chung Cheng University, Ming-Hsiung, Chia-Yi 621, Taiwan
- Center for Nano Bio-Detection, National Chung Cheng University, Ming-Hsiung, Chia-Yi 621, Taiwan
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Klimkevicius V, Voronovic E, Jarockyte G, Skripka A, Vetrone F, Rotomskis R, Katelnikovas A, Karabanovas V. Polymer brush coated upconverting nanoparticles with improved colloidal stability and cellular labeling. J Mater Chem B 2022; 10:625-636. [PMID: 34989749 DOI: 10.1039/d1tb01644j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs) possess great potential for biomedical application. UCNPs absorb and convert near-infrared (NIR) radiation in the biological imaging window to visible (Vis) and even ultraviolet (UV) radiation. NIR excitation offers reduced scattering and diminished autofluorescence in biological samples, whereas the emitted UV-Vis and NIR photons can be used for cancer treatment and imaging, respectively. However, UCNPs are usually synthesized in organic solvents and are not readily suitable for biomedical application due to the hydrophobic nature of their surface. Herein, we have removed the hydrophobic ligands from the synthesized UCNPs and coated the bare UCNPs with two custom-made hydrophilic polyelectrolytes (synthesized via the reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization method). Polymers containing different amounts of PEGylated and carboxylic groups were studied. Coating with both polymers increased the upconversion (UC) emission intensity and photoluminescence lifetime values of the UCNPs, which directly translates to more efficient cancer cell labeling nanoprobes. The polymer composition plays a crucial role in the modification of UCNPs, not only with respect to their colloidal stability, but also with respect to the cellular uptake. Colloidally unstable bare UCNPs aggregate in cell culture media and precipitate, rendering themselves unsuitable for any biomedical use. However, stabilization with polymers prevents UCNPs from aggregation, increases their uptake in cells, and improves the quality of cellular labeling. This investigation sheds light on the appropriate coating for UCNPs and provides relevant insights for the rational development of imaging and therapeutic tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vaidas Klimkevicius
- Institute of Chemistry, Vilnius University, Naugarduko 24, LT-03225, Vilnius, Lithuania.
| | - Evelina Voronovic
- Biomedical Physics Laboratory of National Cancer Institute, Baublio 3B, LT-08406, Vilnius, Lithuania. .,Department of Chemistry and Bioengineering, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Saulėtekio 11, LT-10223 Vilnius, Lithuania.,Life Science Center, Vilnius University, Sauletekio av. 7, LT-10257, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Greta Jarockyte
- Biomedical Physics Laboratory of National Cancer Institute, Baublio 3B, LT-08406, Vilnius, Lithuania. .,Life Science Center, Vilnius University, Sauletekio av. 7, LT-10257, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Artiom Skripka
- Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique, Centre Énergie, Matériaux et Télécommunications, Université du Québec, 1650, boul. Lionel-Boulet, J3X 1S2, Varennes, QC, Canada
| | - Fiorenzo Vetrone
- Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique, Centre Énergie, Matériaux et Télécommunications, Université du Québec, 1650, boul. Lionel-Boulet, J3X 1S2, Varennes, QC, Canada
| | - Ricardas Rotomskis
- Biomedical Physics Laboratory of National Cancer Institute, Baublio 3B, LT-08406, Vilnius, Lithuania. .,Biophotonics Group of Laser Research Centre, Vilnius University, Saulėtekio 9, c.3, LT-10222, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Arturas Katelnikovas
- Institute of Chemistry, Vilnius University, Naugarduko 24, LT-03225, Vilnius, Lithuania.
| | - Vitalijus Karabanovas
- Biomedical Physics Laboratory of National Cancer Institute, Baublio 3B, LT-08406, Vilnius, Lithuania. .,Department of Chemistry and Bioengineering, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Saulėtekio 11, LT-10223 Vilnius, Lithuania
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A Synergy Approach to Enhance Upconversion Luminescence Emission of Rare Earth Nanophosphors with Million-Fold Enhancement Factor. CRYSTALS 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/cryst11101187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Lanthanide (Ln3+)–doped upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) offer an ennormous future for a broad range of biological applications over the conventional downconversion fluorescent probes such as organic dyes or quantum dots. Unfortunately, the efficiency of the anti−Stokes upconversion luminescence (UCL) process is typically much weaker than that of the Stokes downconversion emission. Albeit recent development in the synthesis of UCNPs, it is still a major challenge to produce a high−efficiency UCL, meeting the urgent need for practical applications of enhanced markers in biology. The poor quantum yield efficiency of UCL of UCNPs is mainly due to the fol-lowing reasons: (i) the low absorption coefficient of Ln3+ dopants, the specific Ln3+ used here being ytterbium (Yb3+), (ii) UCL quenching by high−energy oscillators due to surface defects, impurities, ligands, and solvent molecules, and (iii) the insufficient local excitation intensity in broad-field il-lumination to generate a highly efficient UCL. In order to tackle the problem of low absorption cross-section of Ln3+ ions, we first incorporate a new type of neodymium (Nd3+) sensitizer into UCNPs to promote their absorption cross-section at 793 nm. To minimize the UCL quenching induced by surface defects and surface ligands, the Nd3+-sensitized UCNPs are then coated with an inactive shell of NaYF4. Finally, the excitation light intensity in the vicinity of UCNPs can be greatly enhanced using a waveguide grating structure thanks to the guided mode resonance. Through the synergy of these three approaches, we show that the UCL intensity of UCNPs can be boosted by a million−fold compared with conventional Yb3+–doped UCNPs.
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