Efficient Hydrogen-Generation CuO/Co3O4 Heterojunction Nanofibers for Sensitive Detection of Cancer Cells by Portable Pressure Meter

Portable, low-cost, and quantitative detection of cancer cells at home and in the field has the potential to revolutionize medical diagnostics. We first report the design and synthesis of highly efficient folic-acid-conjugated hydrogen-generation tube-in-tube CuO/Co3O4 heterojunction nanofibers for highly sensitive and rapid recognition of cancer cells through a pressure signal under visible-light irradiation. The resultant nanofibers can dramatically enhance the hydrogen-generation activity of ammonia borane under visible-light irradiation. Such hydrogen-generation reaction can translate a molecular recognition event between folic acid and folate receptor to measurable pressure signal readout through a low-cost and portable pressure meter for target cancer cell detection. Limits of detection (LODs) down to 50 cells mL(-1) in only 15 min can be achieved. This result is superior to those of the other reported methods, indicating the superiority of the new pressure-based sensor in terms of sensitivity. The present study establishes the pressure meter as a useful tool for early clinical point-of-care cancer diagnosis.