Biomarkers-based Biosensing and Bioimaging with Graphene for Cancer Diagnosis

Research progress of graphene-based nanomaterials in the diagnosis and treatment of head and neck cancer

Head and neck cancer (HNC) is the sixth most common cancer in the world, and its incidence is increasing year by year. Due to the late-stage diagnosis and poor prognosis of HNC, as well as the limitations of traditional treatment methods, it is urgent to improve early detection rates and explore alternative treatment approaches. Graphene-based nanomaterials (GBNs) have been widely applied in biomedical fields due to their high surface area, excellent photothermal properties, and high loading capacity. This literature review introduces the functionalization and biocompatibility of GBNs, followed by a focus on their applications in the diagnosis and treatment of HNC. This includes their potential as bioimaging or biosensing platforms for diagnosis and monitoring, as well as their research progress in chemotherapy drug delivery, phototherapy, and gene transfection. The tremendous potential of GBNs as a platform for combination therapies is emphasized. Finally, in this literature review, we briefly discuss the toxicity and limitations of GBNs in the current research and provide an outlook on their future clinical applications in the diagnosis and treatment of HNC.

Heteroatoms chemical tailoring of aluminum nitrite nanotubes as biosensors for 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid (a biomarker for carcinoid tumors): insights from a computational study

This study aims to elucidate the properties of aluminum nitrite nanotubes (AlNNT) encapsulated with phosphorus (P@AlNNT), sulphur (S@AlNNT), and silicon (Si@AlNNT) heteroatoms for use as biosensors for 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5HIAA).

The potential role of gut microbiota outer membrane vesicles in colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common malignant digestive tract tumor in colorectal regions. Considerable evidence now shows that the gut microbiota have essential roles in CRC occurrence and development. Most Gram-negative bacteria release outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) via outer membrane blistering, which contain specific cargoes which interact with host cells via intercellular communications, host immune regulation, and gut microbiota homeostasis. Studies have also shown that OMVs selectively cluster near tumor cells, thus cancer treatment strategies based on OMVs have attracted considerable research attention. However, little is known about the possible impact of gut microbiota OMVs in CRC pathophysiology. Therefore, in this review, we summarize the research progress on molecular composition and function of OMV, and review the microbial dysbiosis in CRC. We then focus on the potential role of gut microbiota OMVs in CRC. Finally, we examine the clinical potential of OMVs in CRC treatment, and their main advantages and challenges in tumor therapy.

Theoretical aspects of the adsorption of normal and modified base pairs of DNA on graphene models toward DNA sequencing

A theoretical understanding of the adsorption of DNA base pairs (GC, AT, CAF-T and CAF-C) on the graphene models (Gr, SiGr and SiGr-COOH) is investigated. Among the complexes, SiGr-COOH_AT is found to have the highest adsorption energies of -202.83 kcal/mol. The strong adsorption between DNA base pairs and the SiGr-COOH model leads to concomitant charge transfer responsible for the stability of the corresponding models and is verified with NBO analysis. AIM analysis discloses the high orbital overlap that signifies the strong interaction. Closed-shell interactions are observed through the positive values of total electron density, and it is also observed that Si-O(N) interaction has both covalent and electrostatic characteristics. This is the first theoretical attempt to investigate the adsorption of DNA base pairs on SiGr-COOH, which is more favourable than other models and may call for further experimental studies, which is crucial in developing new bio-sensors.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

State-of-the-art: MXene structures in nano-oncology

Cancer nanomedicine has been investigated widely and boomed in the last two decades, resulting in designing nanostructures with biofunctionalization, giving rise to an "All-in-One" multifunctional platform. The development of rational design technology with extended functionalities brought interdisciplinary researchers to work continuously, aiming to find a prevent or effectively treat the deadly disease of the century. Thus, it led to some Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approving nano-based formulations for cancer treatment and opening a vast area of promising discoveries by exploiting different nanomaterials. Two-dimensional (2D) materials have recently gained tremendous interest among scientists because of their outstanding structural, optical, electronic, thermal, and mechanical characteristics. Among various 2D nanomaterials, MXenes are a widely studied nanosystem because of their close similarity to graphene analogs. So, it is synthesized using multiple approaches and exploits their inherited properties. But in most cases, surface functionalization techniques are carried out for targeting, site-specific drug clearance, renal clearance, and biocompatible with healthy cells. Thus, fabricating a multimodal agent for mono or combined therapies is also an image-guided diagnostic agent. This review will explain the recent and emerging advancements of MXenes-based composites as a multifunctional theragnostic agent and discuss the possibilities of transferring laboratory research to clinical translation.

Evaluation of a biosensor-based graphene oxide-DNA nanohybrid for lung cancer

Lung cancer is nowadays among the most prevalent diseases worldwide and features the highest mortality rate among various cancers, indicating that early diagnosis of the disease is of paramount importance. Given that the conventional methods of cancer detection are expensive and time-consuming, special attention has been paid to the provision of less expensive and faster techniques. In recent years, the dramatic advances in nanotechnology and the development of various nanomaterials have led to activities in this context. Recent studies indicate that the graphene oxide (GO) nanomaterial has high potential in the design of nano biosensors for lung cancer detection owing to its unique properties. In the current article, a nano biosensor based on a DNA-GO nanohybrid is introduced to detect deletion mutations causing lung cancer. In this method, mutations were detected using a FAM-labeled DNA probe with fluorescence spectrometry. GO was synthesized according to Hummers' method and examined and confirmed using Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) Spectrometry and UV-vis spectrometry methods and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) images.

Aptamer-conjugated carbon-based nanomaterials for cancer and bacteria theranostics: A review

Aptamers are single-stranded oligonucleotides that link to various substrates with great affinity and selectivity, including small molecules, peptides, proteins, cells, and tissues. For this reason, they can be used as imaging agents for cancer imaging techniques. Multifunctional nanomaterials combined with imaging probes and drugs are promising cancer diagnosis and treatment candidates. On the other hand, carbon-based nanomaterials (CNMs), including such as fullerene, carbon nanotubes, carbon-based quantum dots, carbon nanohorns, graphene oxide and its derivatives carbon nanodots, and nanodiamonds, are sort of smart materials that can be used in a variety of theranostic applications, including photo-triggered therapies. The remarkable physical characteristics, functionalizable chemistry, biocompatibility, and optical properties of these nanoparticles have enabled their utilization in less-invasive therapies. The theranostic agents that emerged by combining aptamers with CNMs have opened a novel alternative for personified medicine of cancer, target-specific imaging, and label-free diagnosis of a broad range of cancers, as well as pathogens. Aptamer-functionalized CNMs have been used as nanovesicles for targeted delivery of anti-cancer agents (i.e., doxorubicin and 5-fluorouracil) to tumor sites. Furthermore, these CNMs conjugated with aptamers have shown great advantages over standard CNMs to sensitively detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Escherichia coli, staphylococcus aureus, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Salmonella typhimurium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Citrobacter freundii. Regrettably, CNMs can form compounds defined as NOAA (nano-objects, and their aggregates and agglomerates larger than 100 nm), that accumulate in the body and cause toxic effects. Surface modification and pretreatment with albumin avoid agglomeration and increase the dispersibility of CNMs, so it is needed to guarantee the desirable interactions between functionalized CNMs and blood plasma proteins. This preliminary review aimed to comprehensively discuss the features and uses of aptamer-conjugated CNMs to manage cancer and bacterial infections.

The potential of Graphene Oxide and reduced Graphene Oxide in diagnosis and treatment of Cancer

Nanotechnology is a pioneer field of study; for engineering smart nanosystems in targeted diagnosis and treatment in cancer therapy. The potent therapy for different kinds of solid tumors should ideally target individually the cancerous cells and tissue with no impact on healthy cells in the body. Nano-sized graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) have phenomenal chemical versatility, high surface area ratio, and supernatural physical properties. The synergistic effects caused by the well-defined assembly of GO and rGO surface generate not only essential optical, mechanical, but also electronic behaviors. Developing novel multifunctional hybrid nanoparticles with great potential is highly considered in multimodal cancer treatment. GO, and rGO are engineered as a programmable targeting delivery system and combed with photonic energy they utilize in photothermal therapy. Its remarkable properties indicated its applications as a biosensor, bio-imaging for cancer diagnosis. In this current review, we show a remarkable highlight about GO, rGO, and discuss the notable applications for cancer diagnosis and treatment, and an overview of possible cellular signaling pathways that are affected by GO, rGO in cancer treatment.

Bacterial outer membrane vesicles and their functionalization as vehicles for bioimaging, diagnosis and therapy

In this review, we summarize the bioactivities of bacterial outer membrane vesicles, including biogenesis, immunogenicity, and interactions, followed by a discussion on their functionalization as nanocarriers for bioimaging, diagnosis, and therapy.

Tailoring Oxygen-Containing Groups on Graphene for Ratiometric Electrochemical Measurements of Ascorbic Acid in Living Subacute Parkinson's Disease Mouse Brains

Ascorbic acid (AA), a major antioxidant in the central nervous system (CNS), is involved in withstanding oxidative stress that plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). Exploring the AA disturbance in the process of PD is of great value in understanding the molecular mechanism of PD. Herein, by virtue of a carbon fiber electrode (CFE) as a matric electrode, a three-step electrochemical process for tailoring oxygen-containing groups on graphene was well designed: potentiostatic deposition was carried out to fabricate graphene oxide on CFE, electrochemical reduction that assisted in removing the epoxy groups accelerated the electron transfer kinetics of AA oxidation, and electrochemical oxidation that increased the content of the carbonyl group (C═O) generated an inner-reference signal. The mechanism was solidified by ab initio calculations by comparing AA absorption on defected models of graphene functionalized with different oxygen groups including carboxyl, hydroxyl, epoxy, and carbonyl. It was found that epoxy groups would hinder the physical absorption of AA onto graphene, while other functional groups would be beneficial to it. Biocompatible polyethylenedioxythiophene (PEDOT) was further rationally assembled to improve the antifouling property of graphene. As a result, a new platform for ratiometric electrochemical measurements of AA with high sensitivity, excellent selectivity, and reproducibility was established. In vivo determination of AA levels in different regions of living mouse brains by the proposed method demonstrated that AA decreased remarkably in the hippocampus and cortex of a subacute PD mouse than those of a normal mouse.

Graphene Biodevices for Early Disease Diagnosis Based on Biomarker Detection

The early diagnosis of diseases plays a vital role in healthcare and the extension of human life. Graphene-based biosensors have boosted the early diagnosis of diseases by detecting and monitoring related biomarkers, providing a better understanding of various physiological and pathological processes. They have generated tremendous interest, made significant advances, and offered promising application prospects. In this paper, we discuss the background of graphene and biosensors, including the properties and functionalization of graphene and biosensors. Second, the significant technologies adopted by biosensors are discussed, such as field-effect transistors and electrochemical and optical methods. Subsequently, we highlight biosensors for detecting various biomarkers, including ions, small molecules, macromolecules, viruses, bacteria, and living human cells. Finally, the opportunities and challenges of graphene-based biosensors and related broad research interests are discussed.

Outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) enabled bio-applications: A critical review

Outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) are nanoscale spherical vesicles released from Gram-negative bacteria. The lipid bilayer membrane structure of OMVs consists of similar components as bacterial membrane and thus has attracted more and more attention in exploiting OMVs' bio-applications. Although the endotoxic lipopolysaccharide on natural OMVs may impose potential limits on their clinical applications, genetic modification can reduce their endotoxicity and decorate OMVs with multiple functional proteins. These genetically engineered OMVs have been employed in various fields including vaccination, drug delivery, cancer therapy, bioimaging, biosensing, and enzyme carrier. This review will first briefly introduce the background of OMVs followed by recent advances in functionalization and various applications of engineered OMVs with an emphasis on the working principles and their performance, and then discuss about the future trends of OMVs in biomedical applications.

Outstanding Graphene Quantum Dots from Carbon Source for Biomedical and Corrosion Inhibition Applications: A Review

Graphene quantum dots (GQD) is an efficient nanomaterial composed of one or more layers of graphene with unique properties that combine both graphene and carbon dots (CDs). It can be synthesized using carbon-rich materials as precursors, such as graphite, macromolecules polysaccharides, and fullerene. This contribution emphasizes the utilization of GQD-based materials in the fields of sensing, bioimaging, energy storage, and corrosion inhibitors. Inspired by these numerous applications, various synthetic approaches have been developed to design and fabricate GQD, particularly bottom-up and top-down processes. In this context, the prime goal of this review is to emphasize possible eco-friendly and sustainable methodologies that have been successfully employed in the fabrication of GQDs. Furthermore, the fundamental and experimental aspects associated with GQDs such as possible mechanisms, the impact of size, surface alteration, and doping with other elements, together with their technological and industrial applications have been envisaged. Till now, understanding simple photo luminance (PL) operations in GQDs is very critical as well as there are various methods derived from the optical properties of manufactured GQDs can differ. Lack of determining exact size and morphology is highly required without loss of their optical features. Finally, GQDs are promising candidates in the after-mentioned application fields.

A sandwich-type ECL immunosensor for the sensitive determination of CEA content based on red emission carbon quantum dots as luminophores

A novel electrochemiluminescent immunosensor was constructed based on the quenching effect between red emission carbon quantum dots and aminated graphene.

Recent advances on TMDCs for medical diagnosis

Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs), such as MoS₂ and WS₂, have attracted much attention in biosensing and bioimaging due to its excellent stability, biocompatibility, high specific surface area, and wide varieties. In this review, we overviewed the application of TMDCs in biosensing and bioimaging. Firstly, the synthesis methods and surface functionalization methods of TMDCs were summarized. Secondly, according to the working mechanism, we classified and gave a detailed account of the latest research progress of TMDC-based biosensing for the detection of the enzyme, DNA, and other biological molecules. Then, we outlined the recent progress of applying TMDCs in bio-imaging, including fluorescence, X-ray computed tomographic, magnetic response imaging, photographic and multimodal imaging, respectively. Finally, we discussed the future challenges and development direction of the application of TMDCs in medical diagnosis. Also, we put forward our view on the opportunity of TMDCs in the big data of modern medical diagnosis.

Recent advances in graphene monolayers growth and their biological applications: A review

Development of two-dimensional high-quality graphene monolayers has recently received great concern owing to their enormous applications in diverging fields including electronics, photonics, composite materials, paints and coatings, energy harvesting and storage, sensors and metrology, and biotechnology. As a result, various groups have successfully developed graphene layers on different substrates by using the chemical vapor deposition method and explored their physical properties. In this direction, we have focused on the state-of-the-art developments in the growth of graphene layers, and their functional applications in biotechnology. The review starts with the introduction, which contains outlines about the graphene and their basic characteristics. A brief history and inherent applications of graphene layers followed by recent developments in growth and properties are described. Then, the application of graphene layers in biodevices is reviewed. Finally, the review is summarized with perspectives and future challenges along with the scope for future technological applications.

Nanotreatment and Nanodiagnosis of Prostate Cancer: Recent Updates

The fabrication and development of nanomaterials for the treatment of prostate cancer have gained significant appraisal in recent years. Advancements in synthesis of organic and inorganic nanomaterials with charge, particle size, specified geometry, ligand attachment etc have resulted in greater biocompatibility and active targeting at cancer site. Despite all of the advances made over the years in discovering drugs, methods, and new biomarkers for cancer of the prostate (PCa), PCa remains one of the most troubling cancers among people. Early on, effective diagnosis is an essential part of treating prostate cancer. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) or serum prostate-specific antigen is the best serum marker widely accessible for diagnosis of PCa. Numerous efforts have been made over the past decade to design new biosensor-based strategies for biomolecules detection and PSA miniaturization biomarkers. The growing nanotechnology is expected to have a significant effect in the immediate future on scientific research and healthcare. Nanotechnology is thus predicted to find a way to solve one of the most and long-standing problem, "early cancer detection". For early diagnosis of PCa biomarkers, different nanoparticles with different approaches have been used. In this review, we provide a brief description of the latest achievements and advances in the use of nanoparticles for PCa biomarker diagnosis.

Graphene-Based Strategies in Liquid Biopsy and in Viral Diseases Diagnosis

Graphene-based materials are intriguing nanomaterials with applications ranging from nanotechnology-related devices to drug delivery systems and biosensing. Multifunctional graphene platforms were proposed for the detection of several typical biomarkers (i.e., circulating tumor cells, exosomes, circulating nucleic acids, etc.) in liquid biopsy, and numerous methods, including optical, electrochemical, surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), etc., have been developed for their detection. Due to the massive advancements in biology, material chemistry, and analytical technology, it is necessary to review the progress in this field from both medical and chemical sides. Liquid biopsy is considered a revolutionary technique that is opening unexpected perspectives in the early diagnosis and, in therapy monitoring, severe diseases, including cancer, metabolic syndrome, autoimmune, and neurodegenerative disorders. Although nanotechnology based on graphene has been poorly applied for the rapid diagnosis of viral diseases, the extraordinary properties of graphene (i.e., high electronic conductivity, large specific area, and surface functionalization) can be also exploited for the diagnosis of emerging viral diseases, such as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This review aimed to provide a comprehensive and in-depth summarization of the contribution of graphene-based nanomaterials in liquid biopsy, discussing the remaining challenges and the future trend; moreover, the paper gave the first look at the potentiality of graphene in COVID-19 diagnosis.

Facile Ratiometric Electrochemical Sensor for In Vivo/Online Repetitive Measurements of Cerebral Ascorbic Acid in Brain Microdiaysate

The in vivo monitoring of ascorbic acid (AA) following physiological and pathological events is of great importance because AA plays a critical role in brain functions. The conventional electrochemical sensors (ECSs) usually suffered from poor selectivity and sluggish electron transfer kinetics for cerebral AA oxidation. The exploitation of ECSs adapt to the electrochemical detection (ECD)-microdialysis system, here we reported a facile ratiometric electrochemical sensor (RECS) for in vivo/online repetitive measurements of cerebral AA in brain microdiaysate. The sensor were constructed by careful electrodeposition of graphene oxide (GO) onto glassy carbon (GC) electrodes. Methylene blue (MB) was electrostatically adsorbed onto the GO surface as a built-in reference to achieve ratiometric detection of AA. The subsequent proper electroreduction treatment was able to readily facilitate the oxidation of AA at a relatively negative potential (-100 mV) and the oxidation of MB at separated potential (-428 mV). The in vitro experiments demonstrated that the RECS exhibited high sensitivity (detection limit: 10 nM), selectivity, and stability toward AA determination, enabling the in vivo/online repetitive measurement of cerebral AA in brain microdiaysate with high reliability. As a result, the designed RECS was successfully applied in the ECD-microdialysis system to in vivo/online repetitive monitoring the dynamic change of cerebral AA in the progress of the global cerebral ischemia/reperfusion events. More, the microinjection of endogenous AA and AA oxidase (AAOx) verified the reliability of the proposed RECS for in vivo/online repetitive cerebral AA detection. This proposed sensor filled the gap that no rational electrochemical sensor has been developed for the ECD-microdialysis system since its creation by the Mao group in 2005, which provided a reliable and effective method for brain chemistry research.

In vitro and in vivo Biological Responses to Graphene and Graphene Oxide: A Murine Calvarial Animal Study

BACKGROUND

Graphene and its derivatives have recently gained popularity in the biomedical field. Previous studies have confirmed that both the mechanical strength and wear resistance of graphene-containing polyethylene have been greatly improved. Therefore, it is being considered as an alternative for artificial joint replacement liners. Based on the literature, the wear debris generated from the traditional polymers used for orthopedic liners could lead to particle-induced osteolysis and, consequently, failure of joint replacement. However, the biological response of this novel graphene-based polymer is still unclear. Therefore, the current study aimed to investigate the in vitro and in vivo biological effects of graphene and graphene oxide (GO) particles on bone.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The biological responses of graphene and GO particles were tested via in vitro and murine calvarial in vivo models. In the in vitro model, murine macrophage cells were mixed with particles and hydrogel and printed into two differently designed scaffolds; the induced proinflammatory cytokines were then tested. In the murine in vivo model, the particle size distribution was measured via SEM, and these particles were then administrated in the calvarial area, referring to our established model. A micro-CT and histological analysis were performed to examine the biological effects of the particles on bone health. The data were analyzed via the one-way analysis of variance to determine the differences between the groups.

RESULTS

Both graphene and GO induced significantly higher TNF-α and IL-6 secretion compared with the control in the three-dimensional in vitro model. In the murine calvarial in vivo test, the graphene and GO particles increased the bone mass compared with the sham groups in the micro-CT analysis. Bone formation was also observed in the histological analysis.

CONCLUSION

In these in vivo and in vitro studies, the graphene and GO wear debris did not seem to induce harmful biological response effect to bone. Bone formation around the skull was observed in the calvarial model instead. Graphene-containing biomaterials could be a suitable new material for application in orthopedic prostheses due to their benefit of eliminating the risk of particle-induce osteolysis.

Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of SPION-Reduced Graphene Oxide Hybrids for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a useful tool for disease diagnosis and treatment monitoring. Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPION) show good performance as transverse relaxation (T2) contrast agents, thus facilitating the interpretation of the acquired images. Attachment of SPION onto nanocarriers prevents their agglomeration, improving the circulation time and efficiency. Graphene derivatives, such as graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (RGO), are appealing nanocarriers since they have both high surface area and functional moieties that make them ideal substrates for the attachment of nanoparticles. We have employed a fast, simple and environmentally friendly microwave-assisted approach for the synthesis of SPION-RGO hybrids. Different iron precursor/GO ratios were used leading to SPION, with a median diameter of 7.1 nm, homogeneously distributed along the RGO surface. Good relaxivity (r2*) values were obtained in MRI studies and no significant toxicity was detected within in vitro tests following GL261 glioma and J774 macrophage-like cells for 24 h with SPION-RGO, demonstrating the applicability of the hybrids as T2-weighted MRI contrast agents.

The application of graphene-based biomaterials in biomedicine

Graphene-based nanocomposites have attracted more and more attention recently in the field of biology and biomedicine. Graphene and its derivatives have been integrated with drugs, nucleic acids, antibodies, and other molecules. And these materials could be use as nanocomposite carriers or scaffold materials taking advantages of their enormous specific surface area, good elasticity and ductility, excellent biocompatibility, and outstanding mechanical strength. In addition, these composites have strong near-infrared absorbance and can act as photothermal agents to kill target cells through physical or chemical mechanisms. Along with significant advances in cell and organ transplantation, many of these materials have been explored in recent years for use in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Tissue engineering includes bone, nerve, heart, and muscle tissue engineering based on two-dimensional and three-dimensional graphene-based matrices or scaffolds possessing certain mechanical strengths and electrical conductivities, and the aim is to produce bioactive tissues to replace or repair natural tissue by promoting osteogenic, neuronal, and myogenic differentiation and myocardial cell growth. In this review, the basic properties of graphene-based complexes are systematically described and the biomedical applications of graphene-based materials in vivo and in vitro are summarized. This review first discusses the safety of graphene-based materials in terms of their biocompatibility and toxicity, and then it discusses these materials' applications in biosensing, photothermal therapy, stem cell culture, and tissue engineering. This review therefore provides a comprehensive understanding of graphene and its derivatives and their present and future applications.