Ultrasensitive Optical Detection and Elimination of Residual Microtumors with a Postoperative Implantable Hydrogel Sensor for Preventing Cancer Recurrence.
Adv Mater
; 36(14): e2307923, 2024 Apr.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38174840
ABSTRACT
In vivo optical imaging of trace biomarkers in residual microtumors holds significant promise for cancer prognosis but poses a formidable challenge. Here, a novel hydrogel sensor is designed for ultrasensitive and specific imaging of the elusive biomarker. This hydrogel sensor seamlessly integrates a molecular beacon nanoprobe with fibroblasts, offering both high tissue retention capability and an impressive signal-to-noise ratio for imaging. Signal amplification is accomplished through exonuclease I-mediated biomarker recycling. The resulting hydrogel sensor sensitively detects the biomarker carcinoembryonic antigen with a detection limit of 1.8 pg mL-1 in test tubes. Moreover, it successfully identifies residual cancer nodules with a median diameter of less than 2 mm in mice bearing partially removed primary triple-negative breast carcinomas (4T1). Notably, this hydrogel sensor is proven effective for the sensitive diagnosis of invasive tumors in post-surgical mice with infiltrating 4T1 cells, leveraging the role of fibroblasts in locally enriching tumor cells. Furthermore, the residual microtumor is rapidly photothermal ablation by polydopamine-based nanoprobe under the guidance of visualization, achieving ≈100% suppression of tumor recurrence and lung metastasis. This work offers a promising alternative strategy for visually detecting residual microtumors, potentially enhancing the prognosis of cancer patients following surgical interventions.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Hydrogels
/
Neoplasms
Type of study:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Guideline
Limits:
Animals
/
Humans
Language:
En
Journal:
Adv Mater
Journal subject:
BIOFISICA
/
QUIMICA
Year:
2024
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country: