Single-Wall Carbon Nanotubes with Adsorbed Antibodies Detect Live Breast Cancer Cells

Abstract

Monoclonal antibodies (mAb) specific to cell surface antigens overexpressed on cancer cells adsorbed to single-wall carbon nanotube (SWCNT) devices can bind to their antigens in a drop of buffer, resulting in a slight drop in conductance. Here we report detection of live breast cancer cells with a mAb-SWCNT device. We adsorbed mAb specific to insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R) onto interconnected SWCNT networks placed between lithographically patterned electrodes. Application of human BT474 breast cancer cells increased the conductance of the IGF1R-specific mAb-SWCNT devices by 3.0±0.1-fold, relative to nanotube devices with non specific mAb. Human MCF7 breast cancer cells, with greater IGF1R expression, increased the conductance by 8.0±0.2-fold, but R-cells lacking IGF1R did not. Receptor-specific mAb acted as specific nanoswitches that completed a circuit between the SWCNT and the cell surface receptors, elevating the device conductance. Such devices might detect circulating breast cancer cells in blood samples.