A dual-signal amplification platform for sensitive fluorescence biosensing of leukemia-derived exosomes

Nanoscale. 2018 Nov 8;10(43):20289-20295. doi: 10.1039/c8nr07720g.

Abstract

Exosomes as nanosized biomarkers hold great potential for the diagnosis of cancer. However, the low concentration of cancer-derived exosomes present in biofluids makes early diagnosis strenuous. Here, we developed a fluorescent biosensing platform, namely a dual signal amplification, for the ultrasensitive detection of leukemia cell-derived exosomes. The protocol consists of three steps: first, leukemia-derived exosomes containing CD63 and nucleolin were captured by anti-CD63 antibody modified magnetic bead conjugates (MB-CD63); then, a DNA primer comprising a nucleolin-recognition aptamer (AS1411) was applied to bind the exosomes which further initiated a rolling circle amplification (RCA) reaction to generate many repeat sequences for hybridization with gold nanoparticle (GNP)-DNA-fluorescent dye (FAM) conjugates (GNP-DNA-FAM); finally, nicking endonuclease (Nb·BbvCI) assisted target recycling was introduced. As a result, FAM was released from GNP-DNA-FAM conjugates, transformed from the quenching state to the emission state and thus fluorescence signals continuously accumulated. With this dual signal amplification platform, as low as 1 × 102 particles per μL exosomes could be detected. Furthermore, we have successfully applied this method for the detection of exosomes in spiked serum samples, indicating a promising tool for clinical application.

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies / chemistry
  • Antibodies / immunology
  • Biosensing Techniques*
  • DNA / chemistry
  • DNA / metabolism
  • DNA Primers / chemistry
  • DNA Primers / metabolism
  • Exosomes / chemistry
  • Exosomes / metabolism*
  • Fluorescent Dyes / chemistry*
  • Gold / chemistry
  • HL-60 Cells
  • Humans
  • Leukemia / metabolism
  • Leukemia / pathology
  • Magnetics
  • Metal Nanoparticles / chemistry
  • Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques
  • Nucleic Acid Hybridization
  • Spectrometry, Fluorescence*
  • Tetraspanin 30 / immunology
  • Tetraspanin 30 / metabolism*

Substances

  • Antibodies
  • DNA Primers
  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Tetraspanin 30
  • Gold
  • DNA