Cheng W, Wang H, Zhao G, Adeel K, Zhang J, Li J. Combining a protein-targeting small molecule and a thiol-targeting small molecule for detecting a serum risk marker of liver tumor recurrence.
Talanta 2023;
263:124675. [PMID:
37257240 DOI:
10.1016/j.talanta.2023.124675]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
This work proposes a novel bioassay designed to detect the 2B receptor of serotonin in serum samples, which can serve as a risk marker for cancer recurrence after surgical resection. Traditional methods for detecting this marker are often costly and time-consuming, requiring specialized reagents and equipment. The new bioassay is designed to enable direct and reagent-less detection of the 2B receptor in serum samples, without the need of antibodies or enzymes. The assay uses a small molecule ligand for the 2B receptor combined with a thiol-targeting fluorescent dye on a compact peptide-based molecular frame. This design allows for a rapid and specific readout of the fluorescent signal upon probe-protein interaction. In addition, the covalent biosensing process used in the assay allows for signal enhancement by electrochemical cross-linking of serum proteins. The bioassay was successfully used to detect the 2B receptor in serum samples from hepatocarcinoma patients, indicating its potential as a powerful tool for early cancer detection and monitoring.
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