Issue 41, 2023

Shape complementarity processes for ultrashort-burst sensitive M13–PEG–WS2-powered MCF-7 cancer cell sensors

Abstract

Biomarkers have the potential to be utilized in disease diagnosis, prediction and monitoring. The cancer cell type is a leading candidate for next-generation biomarkers. Although traditional digital biomolecular sensor (DBS) technology has shown to be effective in assessing cell-based interactions, low cell-population detection of cancer cell types is extremely challenging. Here, we controlled the electrical signature of a two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterial, tungsten disulfide (WS2), by utilizing a combination of the Phage-integrated Polymer and the Nanosheet (PPN), viz., the integration of the M13-conjugated polyethylene glycol (PEG) and the WS2, through shape-complementarity phenomena, and developed a sensor system, i.e., the Phage-based DBS (P-DBS), for the specific, rapid, sensitive detection of clinically-relevant MCF-7 cells. The P-DBS attains a detection limit of 12 cells per μL, as well as a contrast of 1.25 between the MCF-10A sample signal and the MCF-7 sample signal. A reading length of 200 μs was further achieved, along with a relative cell viability of ∼100% for both MCF-7 and MCF-10A cells and with the PNN. Atomistic simulations reveal the structural origin of the shape complementarity-facilitated decrease in the output impedance of the P-DBS. The combination of previously unreported exotic sensing materials and digital sensor design represents an approach to unlocking the ultra-sensitive detection of cancer cell types and provides a promising avenue for early cancer diagnosis, staging and monitoring.

Graphical abstract: Shape complementarity processes for ultrashort-burst sensitive M13–PEG–WS2-powered MCF-7 cancer cell sensors

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
21 7 2023
Accepted
27 9 2023
First published
06 10 2023

Nanoscale, 2023,15, 16658-16668

Shape complementarity processes for ultrashort-burst sensitive M13–PEG–WS2-powered MCF-7 cancer cell sensors

M. P. Meivita, S. Go, F. S. Mozar, L. Li, Y. S. Tan, N. Bajalovic and D. K. Loke, Nanoscale, 2023, 15, 16658 DOI: 10.1039/D3NR03573E

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