All-flexible chronoepifluidic nanoplasmonic patch for label-free metabolite profiling in sweat.

Wearable sensors allow non-invasive monitoring of sweat metabolites, but their reliance on molecular recognition elements limits both physiological coverage and temporal resolution. Here we report an all-flexible chronoepifluidic surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (CEP-SERS) patch for label-free and chronometric profiling of sweat metabolites. The CEP-SERS patch integrates plasmonic nanostructures in epifluidic microchannels for chronological sweat sampling and molecular analysis.

Interpretability-driven deep learning for SERS-based classification of respiratory viruses.

Respiratory viruses, such as influenza A/B, RSV, SARS-CoV-2 and its variants, continue to be a major global health threat, highlighting the need for rapid and accurate variant-level diagnostics. Herein, we have developed a diagnostic platform for several respiratory viruses by integrating surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) signals from three-dimensional (3D) plasmonic nanopillar substrates with interpretability-driven deep learning. The 3D plasmonic nanopillar array enables robust and reproducible capture of viral components, enhancing the SERS signal for virus-specific molecular fingerprinting.

Near-infrared long lifetime upconversion nanoparticles for ultrasensitive microRNA detection via time-gated luminescence resonance energy transfer.

Upconversion nanoparticle (UCNP)-based luminescence resonance energy transfer (LRET) biosensing offers advantages such as wash-free detection and precise biomolecule quantification. However, its sensitivity remains limited due to continuous energy transfer in co-doped UCNPs during LRET. Here we present a time-gated LRET strategy using near-infrared (NIR) long-lived luminescent UCNP donors (L-TG-LRET), achieving an 8-fold increase in luminescence lifetime without compromising emission intensity.

Dual-Pathway Lateral Flow Assay for Rapid and Sensitive SARS-CoV-2 RNA Detection via CRISPR/Cas13a-Mediated SERS.

Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) has been the gold standard for SARS-CoV-2 detection during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, its requirement for RNA-to-DNA conversion, reliance on centralized laboratory infrastructure, and lengthy turnaround times have limited its application in point-of-care (POC) settings. CRISPR/Cas13a-mediated lateral flow assays (LFAs) have emerged as promising alternatives for direct RNA analysis, yet their two-step workflows introduce procedural complexity and reduce sensitivity.

Targeting CD155 in lung adenocarcinoma: A5 nanobody-based therapeutics for precision treatment and enhanced drug delivery.

This study presents a novel approach targeting CD155, an overexpressed protein in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), using nanobodies with exceptional precision and efficacy. The significant upregulation of CD155 in LUAD, associated with poor patient outcomes, highlights its potential as a therapeutic target. An anti-CD155 nanobody (A5 Nb) is developed that binds to CD155-positive lung cancer cells with high affinity (A5 Nb K = 0.

Onsite detection of airborne antibiotic-resistant bacteria via Cas9 nickase-triggered amplification reactions.

Antibiotic resistance is a critical global health issue, with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) being major pathogens causing pneumonia and sepsis. In this study, we introduce the Cas9 nickase-triggered amplification reaction (CN-TAR) assay - onsite, real-time detection method designed to help prevent airborne transmission of these pathogens. The assay utilizes Cas9 nickase to specifically cleave target DNA, followed by rolling circle amplification for single-step detection.

Advancing pancreatic cancer therapy by mesothelin-specific nanobody conjugation.

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) is highly challenging to treat due to its poor prognosis and limited effective treatment options. Liposomal nanotechnology has emerged as a promising drug delivery platform in oncology, but existing liposomal therapies face limitations such as systemic toxicity, insufficient tumor selectivity, and low target specificity. Mesothelin (MSLN), an antigen overexpressed in PAAD, has attracted attention as a potential target for precision therapy.

Highly Sensitive 3D-Nanoplasmonic-Based Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Mutation Multiplex Assay Chip for Liquid Biopsy.

Economical mutation detection method with high analytical and clinical sensitivity is necessary for early cancer diagnosis and screening. In this study, a novel 3D-nanoplasmonic-based multiplex mutation assay chip is developed to detect epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations. This assay kit comprises a 3D-nanoplasmonic substrate immobilized with capture probes and primer-probe sets for recombinase polymerase amplification, wild-type inhibition, and fluorescence detection, enabling multiplex detection of EGFR exon 19 deletions, exon 20 insertions, and exon 21 L858R point mutations.

Thermo-responsive 3D nanostructures for enhanced performance in food-poisoning bacterial analysis.

The growing risk of bacterial food poisoning due to global warming has necessitated the development of methods for accurate detection of food-poisoning bacteria. Despite extensive efforts to develop enhanced bacterial-capture methods, challenges associated with the release of the captured bacteria have limited the sensitivity of bacterial detection. In this study, thermo-responsive intelligent 3D nanostructures to improve food-poisoning bacterial analysis performance were fabricated by introducing a thermo-responsive polymer onto an urchin-like 3D nanopillar substrate (URCHANO).

Nanoplasmonic microarray-based solid-phase amplification for highly sensitive and multiplexed molecular diagnostics: application for detecting SARS-CoV-2.

A novel approach is introduced using nanoplasmonic microarray-based solid-phase recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) that offers high sensitivity and multiplexing capabilities for gene detection. Nanoplasmonic microarrays were developed through one-step immobilization of streptavidin/biotin primers and fine-tuning the amplicon size to achieve high plasmon-enhanced fluorescence (PEF) on the nanoplasmonic substrate, thereby improving sensitivity. The specificity and sensitivity of solid-phase RPA on nanoplasmonic microarrays was evaluated in detecting E, N, and RdRP genes of SARS-CoV-2.

Amplifying mutational profiling of extracellular vesicle mRNA with SCOPE.

Sequencing of messenger RNA (mRNA) found in extracellular vesicles (EVs) in liquid biopsies can provide clinical information such as somatic mutations, resistance profiles and tumor recurrence. Despite this, EV mRNA remains underused due to its low abundance in liquid biopsies, and large sample volumes or specialized techniques for analysis are required. Here we introduce Self-amplified and CRISPR-aided Operation to Profile EVs (SCOPE), a platform for EV mRNA detection.

Nucleic Acid Amplification Circuit-Based Hydrogel (NACH) Assay for One-Step Detection of Metastatic Gastric Cancer-Derived Exosomal miRNA.

Gastric cancer (GC) is recognized as the fifth most prevalent malignant tumor worldwide. It is characterized by diverse clinical symptoms, treatment responses, and prognoses. In GC prognosis, the promotion of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) fosters cancer cell invasion and metastasis, thereby triggering the dissemination of tumor cells.

CRISPR/Cas12a antifouling nanocomposite electrochemical biosensors enable amplification-free detection of Monkeypox virus in complex biological fluids.

The escalating global threat of infectious diseases, including monkeypox virus (MPXV), necessitates advancements in point-of-care diagnostics, moving beyond the constraints of conventional methods tethered to centralized laboratories. Here, we introduce multiple CRISPR RNA (crRNA)-based biosensors that can directly detect MPXV within 35 minutes without pre-amplification, leveraging the enhanced sensitivity and antifouling attributes of the BSA-based nanocomposite. Multiple crRNAs, strategically targeting diverse regions of the F3L gene of MPXV, are designed and combined to amplify Cas12a activation and its collateral cleavage of reporter probes.

Dual structure-switching aptamer-mediated signal amplification cascade for SARS-CoV-2 detection.

Since the outbreak of the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) at the end of 2019, the spread of the virus has posed a significant threat to public health and the global economy. This work proposed a one-step, dual-structure-switching aptamer-mediated signal amplification cascade for rapid and sensitive detection of the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein. This system consisted of two DNA aptamers with structure-switching functionality and fuel DNA, where a cascade of strand hybridization and displacement triggered fluorescence generation and signal amplification.

Multiplex Detection of Foodborne Pathogens using 3D Nanostructure Swab and Deep Learning-Based Classification of Raman Spectra.

Proactive management of foodborne illness requires routine surveillance of foodborne pathogens, which requires developing simple, rapid, and sensitive detection methods. Here, a strategy is presented that enables the detection of multiple foodborne bacteria using a 3D nanostructure swab and deep learning-based Raman signal classification. The nanostructure swab efficiently captures foodborne pathogens, and the portable Raman instrument directly collects the Raman signals of captured bacteria.

Multifunctional self-priming hairpin probe-based isothermal nucleic acid amplification and its applications for COVID-19 diagnosis.

We herein present a multifunctional self-priming hairpin probe-based isothermal amplification, termed MSH, enabling one-pot detection of target nucleic acids. The sophisticatedly designed multifunctional self-priming hairpin (MSH) probe recognizes the target and rearranges to prime itself, triggering the amplification reaction powered by the continuously repeated extension, nicking, and target recycling. As a consequence, a large number of double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) amplicons are produced that could be monitored in real-time using a dsDNA-intercalating dye.

Biporous silica nanostructure-induced nanovortex in microfluidics for nucleic acid enrichment, isolation, and PCR-free detection.

Efficient pathogen enrichment and nucleic acid isolation are critical for accurate and sensitive diagnosis of infectious diseases, especially those with low pathogen levels. Our study introduces a biporous silica nanofilms-embedded sample preparation chip for pathogen and nucleic acid enrichment/isolation. This chip features unique biporous nanostructures comprising large and small pore layers.

A CRISPR/Cas12 trans-cleavage reporter enabling label-free colorimetric detection of SARS-CoV-2 and its variants.

We present a label-free colorimetric CRISPR/Cas-based method enabling affordable molecular diagnostics for SARS-CoV-2. This technique utilizes 3,3'-diethylthiadicarbocyanine iodide (DISC(5)) which exhibits a distinct color transition from purple to blue when it forms dimers by inserting into the duplex of the thymidine adenine (TA) repeat sequence. Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) or recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) was used to amplify target samples, which were subsequently subjected to the CRISPR/Cas12a system.

Micrometer-thick and porous nanocomposite coating for electrochemical sensors with exceptional antifouling and electroconducting properties.

Development of coating technologies for electrochemical sensors that consistently exhibit antifouling activities in diverse and complex biological environments over extended time is vital for effective medical devices and diagnostics. Here, we describe a micrometer-thick, porous nanocomposite coating with both antifouling and electroconducting properties that enhances the sensitivity of electrochemical sensors. Nozzle printing of oil-in-water emulsion is used to create a 1 micrometer thick coating composed of cross-linked albumin with interconnected pores and gold nanowires.

ANCA: artificial nucleic acid circuit with argonaute protein for one-step isothermal detection of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Endonucleases have recently widely used in molecular diagnostics. Here, we report a strategy to exploit the properties of Argonaute (Ago) proteins for molecular diagnostics by introducing an artificial nucleic acid circuit with Ago protein (ANCA) method. The ANCA is designed to perform a continuous autocatalytic reaction through cross-catalytic cleavage of the Ago protein, enabling one-step, amplification-free, and isothermal DNA detection.

PoreGlow: A split green fluorescent protein-based system for rapid detection of Listeria monocytogenes.

Listeria monocytogenes, a severe foodborne pathogen causing severe diseases underscores the necessity for the development of a detection system with high specificity, sensitivity and utility. Herein, the PoreGlow system, based on split green fluorescent protein (GFP), was developed and assessed for the fast and accurate detection of L. monocytogenes.

Kinetics of adaptive immune responses after administering mRNA-Based COVID-19 vaccination in individuals with and without prior SARS-CoV-2 infections.

Objective: We aimed to compare the adaptive immune response in individuals with or without prior SARS-CoV-2 infections following the administration of mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines.

Methods: A total of 54 participants with ages ranging from 37 to 56 years old, consisting of 23 individuals without a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection (uninfected group) and 31 individuals with prior infection of SARS-CoV-2 (infected group) who have received two doses of mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccines were enrolled in this study. We measured the IFN-γ level upon administration of BNT162b2 (PF) or mRNA-1273 (MO) by QuantiFERON SARS-CoV-2.