Intelligent recognition of CTCs from gallbladder cancer by ultrasensitive electrochemical cytosensor and diagnosis of chemotherapeutic resistance

Gallbladder carcinoma (GBC) is one of most aggressive and lethal malignancies. Early diagnosis of GBC is crucial for determining appropriate treatment and improving chances of cure. Chemotherapy represents the main therapeutic regimen for unresectable GBC patients to inhibit tumor growth & metastasis. But, chemoresistance is the major cause of GBC recurrence. Thus, there is an urgent need to explore potentially non-invasive and point-of-care approaches to screen GBC and monitor their chemoresistance. Herein, we established an electrochemical cytosensor to specifically detect circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and their chemoresistance. Trilayer of CdSe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) were cladded upon SiO₂ nanoparticles (NPs), forming Tri-QDs/PEI@SiO₂ electrochemical probes. Upon conjugation of anti-ENPP1, the electrochemical probes were able to specifically label captured CTCs from GBC. The detection of CTCs and chemoresistance were realized by square wave anodic stripping voltammetric (SWASV) responses to anodic stripping current of Cd ²⁺ ion when cadmium in electrochemical probes was dissolved and eventually electrodeposited on bismuth film-modified glassy carbon electrode (BFE). Taking use of this cytosensor, one ensured the screening of GBC and limit of detection for CTCs approaches to ～10 cells/mL. Furthermore, by monitoring phenotypic changes of CTCs after drug treatment, the diagnosis of chemoresistance was achieved by our cytosensor.