Integrated Device for Cancer Nucleic Acid Biomarker Detection at Body Temperature

The quantitative analysis of nucleic acid markers is extensively utilized in cancer detection. However, it faces significant challenges, such as the need for specialized detection devices and the inherent complexity of testing procedures. To address these issues, this study proposes a simplified, ra...

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Main Authors: Chang Chen, Bin Wu, Xuesong Li, Yuhang Jin, Hangyu Zhang, Bo Liu, Zhengyao Zhang, Na Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Micromachines
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/16/2/192
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author Chang Chen
Bin Wu
Xuesong Li
Yuhang Jin
Hangyu Zhang
Bo Liu
Zhengyao Zhang
Na Li
author_facet Chang Chen
Bin Wu
Xuesong Li
Yuhang Jin
Hangyu Zhang
Bo Liu
Zhengyao Zhang
Na Li
author_sort Chang Chen
collection DOAJ
description The quantitative analysis of nucleic acid markers is extensively utilized in cancer detection. However, it faces significant challenges, such as the need for specialized detection devices and the inherent complexity of testing procedures. To address these issues, this study proposes a simplified, rapid, and user-friendly platform for cancer nucleic acid marker detection. We firstly designed a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) device for the isothermal amplification reaction of nucleic acid biomarkers based on reverse-transcription recombinase-aided amplification (RT-RAA) technology. Specifically, three potential cancer nucleic acid biomarkers, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), prostate-specific antigen (PSA), and prostate cancer antigen 3 (PCA3) were amplified from human serum or urine samples in the PDMS device at body temperature. The reaction chamber was directly integrated with nucleic acid test strips labeled with colloidal gold nanoparticles, allowing for the visual observation of the detection results for the amplification products. The optimal reaction conditions, such as pH, reaction time, antibody, and streptavidin concentration, were defined after a series of optimization studies. The findings demonstrated that the optimal RT-RAA reaction time was 20 min, the primary antibodies were labeled with colloidal gold to the greatest extent at pH 8.5, and the optimal concentrations of secondary antibody and streptavidin were 1.0 mg/mL and 0.5 mg/mL, respectively. Furthermore, this novel detection approach could not only exhibit excellent sensitivity and specificity but also show high accuracy for the analysis of nucleic acid biomarkers in both clinical serum and urine samples. Therefore, the simplified and more convenient operation platform provides a new insight for the semi-quantitative analysis of cancer nucleic acid biomarkers and the rapid screening of early cancer, thereby offering a promising alternative to oncological point-of-care testing (POCT) diagnostics.
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spelling doaj-art-a3d99732ec694fcc9ee33f12c4064ce12025-08-20T02:44:35ZengMDPI AGMicromachines2072-666X2025-02-0116219210.3390/mi16020192Integrated Device for Cancer Nucleic Acid Biomarker Detection at Body TemperatureChang Chen0Bin Wu1Xuesong Li2Yuhang Jin3Hangyu Zhang4Bo Liu5Zhengyao Zhang6Na Li7Central Hospital of Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116033, ChinaChina Certification & Inspection Group LiaoNing Co., Ltd., Dalian 116001, ChinaCentral Hospital of Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116033, ChinaFaculty of Medicine, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, ChinaFaculty of Medicine, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, ChinaFaculty of Medicine, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, ChinaSchool of Chemical Engineering, Ocean and Life Sciences, Dalian University of Technology, Panjin 124221, ChinaCentral Hospital of Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116033, ChinaThe quantitative analysis of nucleic acid markers is extensively utilized in cancer detection. However, it faces significant challenges, such as the need for specialized detection devices and the inherent complexity of testing procedures. To address these issues, this study proposes a simplified, rapid, and user-friendly platform for cancer nucleic acid marker detection. We firstly designed a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) device for the isothermal amplification reaction of nucleic acid biomarkers based on reverse-transcription recombinase-aided amplification (RT-RAA) technology. Specifically, three potential cancer nucleic acid biomarkers, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), prostate-specific antigen (PSA), and prostate cancer antigen 3 (PCA3) were amplified from human serum or urine samples in the PDMS device at body temperature. The reaction chamber was directly integrated with nucleic acid test strips labeled with colloidal gold nanoparticles, allowing for the visual observation of the detection results for the amplification products. The optimal reaction conditions, such as pH, reaction time, antibody, and streptavidin concentration, were defined after a series of optimization studies. The findings demonstrated that the optimal RT-RAA reaction time was 20 min, the primary antibodies were labeled with colloidal gold to the greatest extent at pH 8.5, and the optimal concentrations of secondary antibody and streptavidin were 1.0 mg/mL and 0.5 mg/mL, respectively. Furthermore, this novel detection approach could not only exhibit excellent sensitivity and specificity but also show high accuracy for the analysis of nucleic acid biomarkers in both clinical serum and urine samples. Therefore, the simplified and more convenient operation platform provides a new insight for the semi-quantitative analysis of cancer nucleic acid biomarkers and the rapid screening of early cancer, thereby offering a promising alternative to oncological point-of-care testing (POCT) diagnostics.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/16/2/192integrated deviceearly cancer detectionnucleic acid biomarkersRT-RAAcolloidal gold test strip
spellingShingle Chang Chen
Bin Wu
Xuesong Li
Yuhang Jin
Hangyu Zhang
Bo Liu
Zhengyao Zhang
Na Li
Integrated Device for Cancer Nucleic Acid Biomarker Detection at Body Temperature
Micromachines
integrated device
early cancer detection
nucleic acid biomarkers
RT-RAA
colloidal gold test strip
title Integrated Device for Cancer Nucleic Acid Biomarker Detection at Body Temperature
title_full Integrated Device for Cancer Nucleic Acid Biomarker Detection at Body Temperature
title_fullStr Integrated Device for Cancer Nucleic Acid Biomarker Detection at Body Temperature
title_full_unstemmed Integrated Device for Cancer Nucleic Acid Biomarker Detection at Body Temperature
title_short Integrated Device for Cancer Nucleic Acid Biomarker Detection at Body Temperature
title_sort integrated device for cancer nucleic acid biomarker detection at body temperature
topic integrated device
early cancer detection
nucleic acid biomarkers
RT-RAA
colloidal gold test strip
url https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/16/2/192
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AT yuhangjin integrateddeviceforcancernucleicacidbiomarkerdetectionatbodytemperature
AT hangyuzhang integrateddeviceforcancernucleicacidbiomarkerdetectionatbodytemperature
AT boliu integrateddeviceforcancernucleicacidbiomarkerdetectionatbodytemperature
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