New electrochemical immunosensor developed at Khalifa University represents a significant advancement in cancer diagnostics
Gastric cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, primarily due to late-stage diagnosis. Early detection is crucial for improving patient outcomes, but current diagnostic methods have significant limitations. A team of researchers from Khalifa University have developed a groundbreaking solution: the first-ever electrochemical immunosensor for a protein marker overexpressed in various cancers, including gastric cancer.
Dr. Shimaa Eissa and Dr. Pandiyaraj Kanagavalli developed the immunosensor for Claudin18.2 (CLDN18.2) using carbon nanomaterial-based electrodes modified with polymelamine. Their immunosensor leverages carbon nanomaterials to create a highly sensitive and selective detection platform. They explored different carbon nanomaterials including graphene, graphene oxide and carbon nanotubes to identify the best substrate for their electrodes, finding that graphene and carbon nanotubes were the most suitable.
Their results were published in.
The immunosensor detects the presence of CLDN18.2 through a series of electrochemical reactions. The polymelamine layer on the carbon nanomaterials acts as both a redox-active surface and a substrate for attaching antibodies. When CLDN18.2 proteins bind to these immobilized antibodies, they cause a measurable change in the electrochemical signal, indicating the presence and concentration of the biomarker.
The method is highly sensitive and non-invasive, providing results within 30 minutes, compared to the hours required for traditional enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.
The implications are profound: gastric cancer is often diagnosed at an advanced stage due to the limitations of current screening methods. The development of a sensitive, non-invasive, rapid diagnostic tool can significantly improve early detection rates, allowing for timely intervention and better patient outcomes.
The use of polymelamine-modified graphene and carbon nanotubes in biosensing also opens new avenues for developing similar sensors for other biomarkers and diseases. Carbon nanomaterials have unique properties, including high surface-to-volume ratio, electrical conductivity, and mechanical strength, making them ideal for a wide range of applications in medical diagnostics and beyond.
鈥淥ur immunosensor results, when compared with standard techniques, showed excellent recovery percentages,鈥� Dr. Eissa says. 鈥淭his redox-probe free electrochemical immunosensor offers significant advantages by eliminating the need for external mediators, thus simplifying the process for scaling up production.鈥�
The next steps for this research include validating the immunosensor with real patient samples and comparing its performance with existing diagnostic methods. If successful, this technology could soon be integrated into routine clinical practice, revolutionizing how we detect and treat gastric cancer.
Jade Sterling
Science Writer
17 July 2024
