Time-Resolved Forster Resonance Energy Transfer Nanoassay Based on CdTe Quantum Dots for Sensitive Detection of Prostate Cancer Antigen 3

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2025

Authors

Martins, CSM (Author) Other; Nsubuga, A (Author) Other; Fayad, N (Author) Other; Su, RF (Author) Other; Gallavardin, T (Author) Other; Çaha, I (Author) Other; Hildebrandt, N (Author) Other; Deepak, FL (Author) Other; Joao A V Prior (Author) FFUP

Journal

Title: ACS Applied Nano Materials

Vol. 8

Publisher: American Chemical Society

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 0 Citations

Scopus - 0 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-019-MA1

DOI: 10.1021/acsanm.5c02176

Abstract (EN): Prostate Cancer Antigen 3 (PCA3) is a long noncoding RNA highly expressed in prostate cancer cells, making it a promising biomarker for noninvasive prostate cancer diagnosis. Simple and rapid detection using nanoprobes can potentially overcome the limitations of traditional diagnostic techniques. Here, we designed, characterized, and applied a DNA-strand displacement assay based on Forster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) between terbium (Tb) ions and semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) as a proof-of-concept for sensitive and specific mix-and-measure quantification of a synthetic DNA analogue of PCA3. The assay utilized QDs synthesized through an aqueous one-pot method. The time-resolved (TR) FRET assays achieved a detection limit of 0.65 nmol L-1 by using a SPARK benchtop fluorescence plate reader and 0.32 nmol L-1 by using a KRYPTOR Compact PLUS clinical plate reader. Despite slightly decreased performance, the TR-FRET nanoassay demonstrated reliable quantification of nanomolar PCA3 concentrations also in samples containing up to 50% of serum. These findings underscore the potential of Tb-to-QD FRET assays for rapid clinical prostate cancer diagnostics, offering a promising tool for the early detection of PCA3 in a noninvasive manner.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 12