Analytical Sciences

A Fluorescent Sensor Based on Reversible Addition-Fragmentation Chain Transfer Polymerization for the Early Diagnosis of Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

Wenwen LIU,* Ligang MA,** Zhuangzhuang GUO,** Tao LIU,** Yanju LIU,** Dazhong WANG,* and Jinming KONG***

*Outpatient Integrated Systems Division, People’s Hospital of Zhengzhou, 33 Yellow River Road, Zhengzhou 450053, P. R. China
**Department of Mathematical and Chemical, Pharmacy College, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, P. R. China
***School of Environmental and Biological Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, P. R. China

We propose a novel, ultrasensitive and low-cost sensor using reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization as a signal amplification strategy for the detection of CYFRA 21-1 DNA fragment, a tumor marker of non-small cell lung carcinoma. The peptide nucleic acid (PNA) probes were firstly immobilized on magnetic beads (MBs) to capture the CYFRA 21-1 DNA specifically. After hybridization, CPAD was tethered to the hetero duplexes through carboxylate-Zr⁴⁺-phosphate chemistry. Subsequently, a number of fluorescent tags were introduced to the heteroduplexes through RAFT polymerization, leading to an amplification of the fluorescence signal. The sensor demonstrates a low limit of detection (LOD) of 0.02 fM. It has great selectivity with respect to base mismatch DNA, and high anti-interference ability in normal human serum. Overall findings of the study suggest that proposed sensor holds enormous potential to be used as a tool for the early-stage diagnosis of lung cancers.

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