Microstructured Optical Fiber-Enhanced Light-Matter Interaction Enables Highly Sensitive Exosome-Based Liquid Biopsy of Breast Cancer

Exosome-based liquid biopsies highlight potential utility in diagnosis and determining the prognosis of patients with cancer and other diseases. However, the existing techniques are severely limited for practical applications due to the complications of high cost, low sensitivity, tedious procedures, and large sample consumption. Herein, we report a microstructured optical fiber sensor for fast, sensitive, and accurate quantification of exosomes in blood samples of breast cancer patients. Numerical simulations are applied to demonstrate that hollow-core microstructured anti-resonant fibers (HARFs) can stringently confine light in the fiber core, ensuring strong light-matter interaction and thus maximumly amplifying the signal. Taking this advantage, a AuNPs-dsDNA assembly containing gold nanoparticles, a recognizing DNA aptamer, and a fluorescent reporter DNA sequence is fabricated followed by immobilization on the fiber wall to form a AuNPs- dsDNA-HARF sensor. Cancer-derived exosomes can be recognized and captured in the fiber channel and generate dose-dependent fluorescent signals for quantification. The microfiber sensor demonstrates enhanced sensitivity and specificity, enabling the detection of single digits of exosome particles at the nanoliter sample level. In addition, by tracking exosome phenotypic changes, the proposed fiber sensor can facilitate precise drug treatment monitoring. This work provides a robust platform for exosome-based biopsy for cancer diagnosis and prediction of therapeutic outcomes.

Automated summary

This study presents a microstructured optical fiber sensor for rapid, sensitive, and accurate quantification of exosomes in blood samples of breast cancer patients. The sensor utilizes a AuNPs-dsDNA assembly containing gold nanoparticles, a recognizing DNA aptamer, and a fluorescent reporter DNA sequence, which is immobilized on the fiber wall to capture and quantify cancer-derived exosomes. The sensor exhibits enhanced sensitivity and specificity, enabling the detection of single digits of exosome particles at the nanoliter sample level. Additionally, the sensor can track exosome phenotypic changes for precise drug treatment monitoring. This work provides a robust platform for exosome-based biopsy for cancer diagnosis and prediction of therapeutic outcomes.