Abstract
The detection of cancer biomarkers has recently attracted significant attention as a means of determining the correct course of treatment with targeted therapeutics. However, because the concentration of these biomarkers in blood is usually relatively low, highly sensitive biosensors for fluorescence imaging and precise detection are needed. In this study, we have successfully developed vertical GaN micropillar (MP) based biosensors for fluorescence sensing and quantitative measurement of CA15-3 antigens. The highly ordered vertical GaN MP arrays result in the successful immobilization of CA15-3 antigens on each feature of the arrays, thereby allowing the detection of an individual fluorescence signal from the top surface of the arrays owing to the high regularity of fluorophore-tagged MP spots and relatively low background signal. Therefore, our fluorescence-labeled and CA15-3 functionalized vertical GaN-MP-based biosensor is suitable for the selective quantitative analysis of secreted CA15-3 antigens from MCF-7 cell lines, and helps in the early diagnosis and prognosis of serious diseases as well as the monitoring of the therapeutic response of breast cancer patients.
Highlights
SiO2 film in a diluted HF solution. (b) scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and optical images of as-grown GaN MP arrays on a 2-inch sapphire substrate after 300 cycles
To facilitate fluorescence sensing and quantitative measurement of the CA15-3 antigen, a highly ordered 3D structure of GaN MP arrays was grown on the surface of hole-patterned GaN arrays with an metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) system using TMG as a Ga source and high-purity ammonia (NH3) as a N source
Our GaN MP arrays are suitable for facilitating fluorescence sensing and quantitative analysis of the CA15-3 antigens secreted from MCF-7 cells
Summary
Encouraged by the recent progress in micro- and nano-fabrication, low-dimensional (e.g., 1D, 2D, and 3D) biosensors have been developed and widely used in numerous applications, including cancer cell imaging[1,2,3,4] as well as biological detection and sensing[5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18]. Fluorescence-based biosensors allow the rapid and sensitive detection of various biomolecules, which is helpful in the early diagnosis and prognosis of serious diseases and the monitoring of the therapeutic response of patients[3,4,5,6,7,24,25] In this regard, the development of highly efficient biosensors is essential for the fluorescence imaging and precise detection of these biomolecules, which have a relatively low concentration in blood. Geometry- and position-controlled GaN MPs have received significant attention as a promising template in a wide range of biological applications owing to their excellent transparency as well as mechanical and chemical stability[40,41,42]
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